I never got a chance to see The Deadly Snakes play live while they were around, partly because by the time I discovered them, they were on the verge of breaking up. In fact, The Deadly Snakes played their last show a mere 21 days before my 19th birthday, and since it wasn’t an all-ages show, I didn’t get to go (the idea of sneaking into the Silver Dollar never even entered my 18-year-old mind).
I kept listening to the Snakes, especially the flawless double-LP version of Porcella, and my wounds began to heal. After all, how many other great bands did I never get to see live whose music I still listen to and love. The Snakes were different in that I actually had the chance to see them play, unlike say, Royal City, who broke up before I ever caught on to their music. Nevertheless, after a few years I realized it was time to look ahead and put the whole episode behind me.
Of course, on October 17th 2009 they played on-off reunion show… in Portland, Oregon. So, good news I guess, at least they will play if someone makes the right offer. Can someone in Toronto please book them??? Until then, seeing André Ethier sing Snakes songs with Steamboat will have to do (I really appreciate it, guys).
When Rick White asked me to help film the Blue Fog Revue last week, there was no way I could say no. Besides playing in one of my all time favourite bands, Rick is also part of the Blue Fog Recordings family, having released 3 solo albums for the label he helped start close to ten years ago. Some other bands on the label include $100, André Ethier, Castlemusic… basically a bunch of bands I really love. The entire active roster was on the bill last Friday at Lee’s Palace, but if you happened to miss it you can check out selections from the evening on YouTube. I filmed the whole night alongside Rick, and he’s been busy editing the footage all week.
I also bought a digital camera, finally. Maybe I’ll start posting photos?
Just a quick blog post tonight because I have to be up early tomorrow to leave for Sackville. I shot this on Sunday at the Dakota, where Steamboat were finishing up their eight-week residency. They brought out special guest André Ethier for a few jams, including the song Cop Killer from his last album Born of Blue Fog. I’d say the night was a success — when I got there after work it was at capacity and there was a group of Steamies (official name for Steamboat fans) up front dancing their butts off the whole night. Anyway, check out Steamboat and André if you haven’t already, they’re both 100% radical and wholeheartedly endorsed by the proprietor of this blog (me).
