It was grade eight, Ashley and I wanted to drink before the middle school dance. She pocketed a couple of wine coolers from her parents cellar and I asked my mom to drop us off at the corner store. We went in for a moment, peeked out of the window, and seeing my mom had pulled around the corner in her standard blue Mazda, we left the Big G and turned down a side street to crack our “Kanadian Koolers.”
My eleven year old blonde bobbed brother sitting in the front seat describes my mom checking the rear view mirror, seeing us thirteen year old girls leave the store to then exclaim “she's drinking!” while quickly slamming the car into reverse and ripping down the block to cut us off. “Get in the car”, she yelped.
Upon realizing that I was caught, I tore the label off of my drink while Ashley sent her's flying into the urban woodland. My mom inspected my drink while I claimed “I bought it at the store, it's a non alcoholic cooler, I swear!” She lets me keep the drink, which I finish in the back seat of the rusty Mazda before being dropped off at the front doors of my Junior High dance.
So proud of outwitting my mother, I spend the rest of the dance exaggerating my drunkenness and asking peers if my pupils are dilated.
Listening to More or Les rap, I am reminded of this story and other found mischievous memories of grade eight sleepovers, house parties and school dances.
More or Les is a humble hip hopper from Toronto, Ontario whose video features Jenga, Connect Four, Nintendo, and the Electric Slide. He's not too proud to spit about his lacking sense of style, busted music gear, or affinity towards Pop n Chips over Gin n Juice.
Let's all get Middle School giddy at the Long Live the Queen Closing Party! Let your pupils expand to the flows of More or Les, Ghettosocks, Ambition and Brandon Dramatic. Feel free to pass notes, ask Les to dance or be a wallflower, Sunday May 22nd at Gus' Pub.
Free Pop & Chips.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Featured Band: BAHAMAS
When I was a young boy
My mama said to me
There's only one girl in the world for you
And she probably lives in Tahiti
I'd go the whole wide world
I'd go the whole wide world
Just to find her
Or maybe she's in the Bahamas
Where the Carribean sea is blue
Weeping in a tropical moonlit night
Because nobody's told her 'bout you
No doubt Bahamas coined his stage name from the Wreckless Eric tune covered on Pink Strat, “Whole Wide World”. Slowing the tempo into a heartbroken romp around the tropics to find the love of his life, I raised my imaginary hand and didn't say “pick me”, but day dreamt it was.
When you listen to Bahamas debut, you too may be washed away to a tropic island by the vowels that ooze out of his vocal chords or the simple plucking of his electric guitar. Bahamas, aka Afie Jurvanen, spent his early music career standing in the palm tree shadows of Feist, Hayden, Howie Beck, Amy Millan, Jason Collett and other artists who longed to claim his talents for their own. This spring he will take the big stage at the North Street Church, limping from the road, to earnestly claim your hearts.
Why am I hanging around in the rain out here
Trying to pick up a girl
Why are my eyes filling up with these lonely tears
When there're girls all over the world
Is she lying on a tropical beach somewhere
Underneath the tropical sun
Pining away in a heatwave there
Hoping that I won't be long
I should be lying on that sun-soaked beach with her
Caressing her warm brown skin
And then in a year or maybe not quite
We'll be sharing the same next of kin
Lonely love no more? Come see Bahamas perform May 22nd at the North Street Church to potentially be his next girlfriend.
My mama said to me
There's only one girl in the world for you
And she probably lives in Tahiti
I'd go the whole wide world
I'd go the whole wide world
Just to find her
Or maybe she's in the Bahamas
Where the Carribean sea is blue
Weeping in a tropical moonlit night
Because nobody's told her 'bout you
No doubt Bahamas coined his stage name from the Wreckless Eric tune covered on Pink Strat, “Whole Wide World”. Slowing the tempo into a heartbroken romp around the tropics to find the love of his life, I raised my imaginary hand and didn't say “pick me”, but day dreamt it was.
When you listen to Bahamas debut, you too may be washed away to a tropic island by the vowels that ooze out of his vocal chords or the simple plucking of his electric guitar. Bahamas, aka Afie Jurvanen, spent his early music career standing in the palm tree shadows of Feist, Hayden, Howie Beck, Amy Millan, Jason Collett and other artists who longed to claim his talents for their own. This spring he will take the big stage at the North Street Church, limping from the road, to earnestly claim your hearts.
Why am I hanging around in the rain out here
Trying to pick up a girl
Why are my eyes filling up with these lonely tears
When there're girls all over the world
Is she lying on a tropical beach somewhere
Underneath the tropical sun
Pining away in a heatwave there
Hoping that I won't be long
I should be lying on that sun-soaked beach with her
Caressing her warm brown skin
And then in a year or maybe not quite
We'll be sharing the same next of kin
Lonely love no more? Come see Bahamas perform May 22nd at the North Street Church to potentially be his next girlfriend.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Featured Band: THE CHITZ!!!
When I was fifteen I stole my parents minivan, picked up seven of my friends and drove to Chocolate Lake. My friends drank, we skinny dipped, got back in the van, I drove everyone home and never got caught. Had I been stopped by the police, the van would have been seized, my friends and I would most definitely be grounded, and I would have been banned from getting my license until I was eighteen.
The Chitz are the fifteen year old inside of all of us. Stealing vehicles, skinny dipping and driving through rotaries while sucking on their flasks, and waving darts out of the window. Only they went through every stop sign, gave the cops the finger, proceeded to have a show down car chase and drove straight into the swamp infested swimming hole.
They are reuniting for a special show at the beautiful North Street Church Saturday May 21st. Don't miss the mayhem that will surely ensue when Halifax's 90's punk group tackles the stage.
The Chitz are the fifteen year old inside of all of us. Stealing vehicles, skinny dipping and driving through rotaries while sucking on their flasks, and waving darts out of the window. Only they went through every stop sign, gave the cops the finger, proceeded to have a show down car chase and drove straight into the swamp infested swimming hole.
They are reuniting for a special show at the beautiful North Street Church Saturday May 21st. Don't miss the mayhem that will surely ensue when Halifax's 90's punk group tackles the stage.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Featured Band: Hooded Fang
We love a band that isn't timid of a good snuggle.
Perhaps it was this anonymous depressed fan that said it best about the Toronto based folk sextet: “I couldn't understand any of the lyrics, but the music sort of made me think of some bipolar man trying to go as hard as he can because he knows that as soon as he comes down he's going to kill himself..." The Queen feels this band is more apt to spiral your thoughts into the up side of your manic depression rather than the later.
The Hooded Fang perform at Long Live the Queen Saturday May 21st at Gus' Pub.
http://www.myspace.com/hoodedfang
HOODED FANG - Sleep Song from Mitch Fillion (southernsouls.ca) on Vimeo.
Perhaps it was this anonymous depressed fan that said it best about the Toronto based folk sextet: “I couldn't understand any of the lyrics, but the music sort of made me think of some bipolar man trying to go as hard as he can because he knows that as soon as he comes down he's going to kill himself..." The Queen feels this band is more apt to spiral your thoughts into the up side of your manic depression rather than the later.
The Hooded Fang perform at Long Live the Queen Saturday May 21st at Gus' Pub.
http://www.myspace.com/hoodedfang
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
EXCLAIM is for ELOQUENT
Halifax's Long Live the Queen Announces Initial 2011 Lineup with Bahamas, Hooded Fang, the Heavy Blinkers
By Gregory Adams
From Pop Montreal to Music Waste to Sled Island, Canada is privy to some pretty great music festivals. One of the newest additions to the game is Long Live the Queen, which had its inaugural run last year in Halifax. The 2010 version of the arts and culture celebration, which featured performances from Julie Doiron and the Luyas, was clearly a success, as the fest has announced it will return this May.
Long Live the Queen will take place from May 19 to May 22 in Halifax and will feature a number of acts gracing stages across the city. The initial lineup includes Bahamas, Hooded Fang, the Heavy Blinkers, Play Guitar and Old Man Luedecke, among others. You can check out the rest of the preliminary lineup here.
On top of the music performances, the fest will feature a number of other activities. From literary readings and comedy performances to community yard sales and music lessons, Long Live the Queen is poised to toast the entire arts community.
More details are to come, but maybe circle the dates on your calendar. You might just have to take off for the Maritimes this may long weekend.
By Gregory Adams
From Pop Montreal to Music Waste to Sled Island, Canada is privy to some pretty great music festivals. One of the newest additions to the game is Long Live the Queen, which had its inaugural run last year in Halifax. The 2010 version of the arts and culture celebration, which featured performances from Julie Doiron and the Luyas, was clearly a success, as the fest has announced it will return this May.
Long Live the Queen will take place from May 19 to May 22 in Halifax and will feature a number of acts gracing stages across the city. The initial lineup includes Bahamas, Hooded Fang, the Heavy Blinkers, Play Guitar and Old Man Luedecke, among others. You can check out the rest of the preliminary lineup here.
On top of the music performances, the fest will feature a number of other activities. From literary readings and comedy performances to community yard sales and music lessons, Long Live the Queen is poised to toast the entire arts community.
More details are to come, but maybe circle the dates on your calendar. You might just have to take off for the Maritimes this may long weekend.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Long Live the Queen Announces Initial Festival Line Up for the 2011 May Long Weekend
Long Live The Queen Press Release: March 7th, 2011
1. Initial Festival Lineup
2. Get to know the Queen
3. Press for the Fest and LLTQ Contacts
1.
Long Live the Queen is pleased to announce it's initial festival line up and 2nd year as an annual arts, music, and culture festival. Taking place from Thursday, May 19th, until Sunday May 22nd this year's festival will include performances by Ambition, Bahamas, Bike Rodeo, Brandon Dramatic, The Chitz , Cobra Camaro, Deadhorse, D'Eon, Doctor Ew, Doldrums, Duchess Says, Envision, Ghettosocks, Gianna Lauren, Handsome Dan and his Gallimaufry , The Heavy Blinkers, Hooded Fang, The Inadequacies, Jef Jef, Jom Comyn, Jon McKiel, Kite Hill, Klarka Weinwurm, Lisa Bozikovic, Milks & Rectangles, More or Les, Old Man Luedecke, Play Guitar, Prospectors Union, Rebekah Higgs, Sister, These Hands, Tonka & Puma, The Wilderbeats, Whiskybent & Hellbound.
2.
Long Live the Queen is beginning it's second year as a cherished music and arts festival in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The Queen was created by musicians and artists for their community. In 2010 this festival was host to 40 bands including Julie Doiron, Diamond Rings, The Luyas, Ghettosocks, Laura Barrett, Wordburglar, Yellow Jacket Avenger, Julie Fader, Cousins and Iron Giant.
In addition to music showcases, the festival also hosts literary readings, stand up comedy, music video screenings, community yard sales, one on one music lessons, a festival record store, and an artist's market. Concerts will be held at the North Street Church and Gus' Pub as well as free musical performances on Bellaire Terrace on May 21st from 9am until 4pm.
The Queen is designed with care to represent multiple genres of music. The festival's daytime market showcases local visual artists. Music lovers may attend affordable concerts in special venues transformed by local artists to encourage a unique and comfortable festival experience. Shows do not overlap each other in order to support every band.
3.
Media Reaction to Long Live the Queen 2010
“I'm shaking the cobwebs from my head and the cigarette stink out of my living room. My ears are ringing and my feet are sore from dancing. I want more. Long Live the Queen indeed!” The Coast
“Judging from the stellar lineup and the enthusiasm of the sellers in the Artists’ Market, this could grow even bigger and be Halifax’s version of Pop Montreal.” Spins and Needles
"It’s not hard to be impressed by the hustle displayed by organizers responsible for the Long Live the Queen festival about to take over Halifax. Honestly, they are doing everything right to help a grass roots, community focused festival get the traction to stick around and grow.” Herohill
“Everybody who’s attended a music festival knows the wrenching, horrible feeling of looking at a set times list and noticing that their two favorite bands, maybe even the two they’d traveled all those hours by car to see, are playing at the exact same f#$&ing time on different stages. The organizers of Long Live the Queen hate this feeling, and make it a point, out of respect for the performers, never to schedule bands’ sets on top of one another.” We All Make Music (Music Festival Fever: WAMM’s Top Five Music Festivals)
“Five bands is a lot to schedule but the LLTQ crew pulled it off and the crowd loved every minute of it, from the first band. All in all a superb job, and we hope to see the return of the festival next year.” Off the Dial
“ What do I think of a festival that showcases this regions incredible talents and crashes through the ordinary and mundane? I say Long Live the Queen!” Shandi Mithchell (Author and Winner of the Regional Commonwealth Prize)
More Information: www.longlivethequeen.ca www.thequeenhalifax.blogspot.com
Print/Radio/Digital Media – Nathan Doucet 647-210-0169 nathan@longlivethequeen.ca
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Noisography Review
Great Review and Photo's of the Long Live the Queen Fundraiser featuring, Bike Rode, Myles Deck, Cursed Arrows and Peeler curtsy or Noisography:
http://noisographyreviews.blogspot.com/2011/01/show-review-lltq-festival-fundraiser.html
http://noisographyreviews.blogspot.com/2011/01/show-review-lltq-festival-fundraiser.html
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