I watched Maroon 5 last night at the Molson Amphitheatre and was enthralled. They are like a group of kids playing in their basement. The funny thing is when I checked out their site today I learned that they did just that. Of course they did. Playing guitar and experimenting with their sound. Developing into the great players they are today. The 3 of them on stage playing mean guitar it truly was a flashback experience. It felt like the 70’s and I could imagine these guys playing in their parent’s basement on some old orangie brown shag carpet.
The drummer of this group is also an amazing player. Tons of non-stop energy; I wonder if he collapses after the show. My view of the keyboard player was a bit obscured despite the 3rd row centre seats. It could have been because I was so close to the stage that I could not see him way up there. The band is a very well oiled machine with great songs and a great stage presence. I had a great time and as I write this I have Maroon 5 on my stereo, rather loud.
The concert was a double bill that opened with Sara Beralis. I did not catch much of her act but what I did hear was great. Adam from The Counting Crows came on stage and introduced her claming she would be touring on her own very soon. I share his belief; she will be there no doubt.
The reason I missed her (Sara) was we were backstage with the guitar player from The Crows. My friend Rondi is connected and invited me to the show. We went backstage and had a beer and a chat. About 10 minutes before the Crows hit the stage we came out and took our seats.
The Crows are also an amazing band. I enjoyed their set and I now need to hit the HMV or some of the second hand CD stores. I need to get the Crows into my collection.
Whoever came up with the idea of these 3 acts on one stage in one night knows what they are doing. The build up was perfect. Each act generated more energy for the next; they compliment each other perfectly. What a great night of music. I left a bit deaf and no doubt I have lost a portion of my hearing, but what a way to go!
Thank you Rondi for inviting me, I had a great time. Next time the latte’s are on me!
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
I saw a pig
Yesterday, while walking home from work, I spotted a pig. This pig was in the scoop of a bobcat. As I watched, in a haze of disbelief, I realized I was seeing live what I had heard about from sources like Fast Food Nation and some of my friends. I watched and realized I cannot eat another pig.
As I stood there watching, with my dog, I noticed that there was at least 2 pigs in the scoop. I wondered how they got in there; it would be painful to just be scooped up by one of those machines. I cannot say for sure, however, I thought at least one of the pigs was alive. If it was I am sure it was terrified and in a great deal of pain. It was unnatural the way it was being bounced around. I reasoned that it was actually dead. Which lead me to wonder how it died. Was it on the truck on route to this slaughterhouse? I have learned, what should have been obvious after seeing a few truck loads of pigs, that the trucks are exposed to the elements. No heat in the winter, no cooling in the summer, no food no water....no wonder.
I think it is awful how we treat animals. On the surface I have no problem being a meat eater. I enjoy burgers, chicken and steaks. What makes me sick is seeing how we treat these animals before we kill them. We may be able to explain it away with economic reasons but truly there is no justification for the horrors we subject them too. I am left, as we all are, with a choice. Take the blue pill and all is ok, we return to the numb unknowing state we like to live in. Or take the red pill, take a stand and do something about it.
I hope you all take the red pill. If you need a little more to encourage you I defy you to watch this video and then tell me it’s all ok. Hell, they are just animals. Oh wait, so are we.
If you must eat meat, eat cruelty free meat. Free range grain fed chickens for example.
As I stood there watching, with my dog, I noticed that there was at least 2 pigs in the scoop. I wondered how they got in there; it would be painful to just be scooped up by one of those machines. I cannot say for sure, however, I thought at least one of the pigs was alive. If it was I am sure it was terrified and in a great deal of pain. It was unnatural the way it was being bounced around. I reasoned that it was actually dead. Which lead me to wonder how it died. Was it on the truck on route to this slaughterhouse? I have learned, what should have been obvious after seeing a few truck loads of pigs, that the trucks are exposed to the elements. No heat in the winter, no cooling in the summer, no food no water....no wonder.
I think it is awful how we treat animals. On the surface I have no problem being a meat eater. I enjoy burgers, chicken and steaks. What makes me sick is seeing how we treat these animals before we kill them. We may be able to explain it away with economic reasons but truly there is no justification for the horrors we subject them too. I am left, as we all are, with a choice. Take the blue pill and all is ok, we return to the numb unknowing state we like to live in. Or take the red pill, take a stand and do something about it.
I hope you all take the red pill. If you need a little more to encourage you I defy you to watch this video and then tell me it’s all ok. Hell, they are just animals. Oh wait, so are we.
If you must eat meat, eat cruelty free meat. Free range grain fed chickens for example.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Fire and Space
I walked on fire, literally; burning hot coals at 2400 degrees. I walked and I focused and I made it across and it transformed a part of me. I was discussing the experience today and I realized that most of life is the figurative of that literal experience. To transform (which is different than change) one must walk the coals and the coals lie in the space between:
The Space Between
The tears we cry
Is the laughter keeps us coming back for more
The Space Between
The wicked lies we tell
And hope to keep safe from the pain…
This is the one side. The side I have been on for many years. It is the side of the space where we, I, cry and laugh and remain to “keep safe from the pain”. What I have learned is that when we step out onto the coals, with help from a soul that knows, we may leave some of what we are behind but we gain.
The Space Between
Where you're smiling high
Is where you'll find me if I get to go
The Space Between
The bullets in our firefight
Is where I'll be hiding, waiting for you
The rain that falls
Splash in your heart
Ran like sadness down the window into...
The Space Between
Our wicked lies
Is where we hope to keep safe from pain…
Then there is that other side. And if we are hiding are waiting it is not truly in the space but on the far side. The truth about the space is that we can transverse it with focus commitment dedication and with someone who is willing to scream the truth into our face. Scream it and whisper as we scream and whisper to ourselves. The firefight, the falling rain the wicked lies are all things we do to ourselves in our failed attempts to protect ourselves from the pain.
When I crossed the coals I burned the arch of my right foot. I saw in my mind a flash of bright white light as the coal seared into my flesh. I kept on going. I moved forward and when I stepped into the cool grass on the other side I was awakened. I now know that I can step into that space again and again. I can even be burned and still move forward and reach the other side. Because of that literal experience I now look forward to more spaces.
I am truly grateful to my beautiful friend Barb for whispering into my ear.
The lyrics…Dave Matthews Band…Under the Table and Dreaming
The Space Between
The tears we cry
Is the laughter keeps us coming back for more
The Space Between
The wicked lies we tell
And hope to keep safe from the pain…
This is the one side. The side I have been on for many years. It is the side of the space where we, I, cry and laugh and remain to “keep safe from the pain”. What I have learned is that when we step out onto the coals, with help from a soul that knows, we may leave some of what we are behind but we gain.
The Space Between
Where you're smiling high
Is where you'll find me if I get to go
The Space Between
The bullets in our firefight
Is where I'll be hiding, waiting for you
The rain that falls
Splash in your heart
Ran like sadness down the window into...
The Space Between
Our wicked lies
Is where we hope to keep safe from pain…
Then there is that other side. And if we are hiding are waiting it is not truly in the space but on the far side. The truth about the space is that we can transverse it with focus commitment dedication and with someone who is willing to scream the truth into our face. Scream it and whisper as we scream and whisper to ourselves. The firefight, the falling rain the wicked lies are all things we do to ourselves in our failed attempts to protect ourselves from the pain.
When I crossed the coals I burned the arch of my right foot. I saw in my mind a flash of bright white light as the coal seared into my flesh. I kept on going. I moved forward and when I stepped into the cool grass on the other side I was awakened. I now know that I can step into that space again and again. I can even be burned and still move forward and reach the other side. Because of that literal experience I now look forward to more spaces.
I am truly grateful to my beautiful friend Barb for whispering into my ear.
The lyrics…Dave Matthews Band…Under the Table and Dreaming
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