Ok so yesterday was Scene Fest 09 in St Catherines On. For those of you who don’t know Scene is a 1 day outdoor/indoor, Punk, emo, indy, hardcore, hip-hop, fun festival that takes place in various bars in the downtown core of St Catherines. For $25 in advance or $30 the day of, you get a wristband that allows you to freely navigate the downtown and go in and out of what seems like EVERY bar. The day consists of about 200 bands and and maybe 10 venues with 20 stages.

On the morning of Scene I woke up to find the skies gray graphite and knew it wasn’t looking good for the day. Although most of the stages are indoors, there are 3 or so that are unprotected including the main stage @ Market Square. Upon arrival to the market square area where all the bands do merch, I could easily notice the event had been greatly effected by the weather.

I had expected this years Scene lineup to be the largest one yet and was disappointed because I knew the complications that would arise should the skies open up.

The first band I saw at Scene was Polar Bear Club on the main stage. Rockin as always and expected. Please check this band out if you haven’t yet! They are the sweetest dudes ever and are so easy to get on with. They had a great crowed and I think made a lot of new fans. This band is very deserving.

Dinosaur Bones @ Merchant Ale House
I’m not sure exactly how long Dinosaur bones has been a band but I think this was their first time playing Scene. The band is, in my mind, kind of like a Killers meets Strokes indie-party band. The Ale House was completely packed and people were outside packed around the open street windows. This band rules. Very explosive and ambient. Great live show and crowed involvement.

Cancer Bats @ Market Square
By the time the Bats took the stage it was starting to rain. I think this would have put a damper on anyone else’s set except the Cancer Bats and their engaged fans seemed to thrive from it. The messier it got in front of the stage the more the band seemed to get pumped up and the more the fans threw down. As soon as their set was done kids split in two directions, half into the merch area, and half to shelter from the rain. Liam from the Cancer Bats arrived in the merch area shortly after and graciously bowed atop a table to the kids going wild beneath. This band has come a long way from jammin at Ruminel.

Scheduled to play after The Cancer Bats on the main stage was Every Time I die. But it was instantly clear things were not going to work out because of the rain or at least be delayed. I was talking to my bassist Chuck and overheard a rumor the ETID was going to now be playing @ L3 (where I played 2 hours previous). So i booked it to L3 and right after I did a swarm of every kid in the Niagara region rushed the door and caused the club to be locked down. I hung around for a few but it wasn’t looking good for me so I dipped around back and used my band wristband to get into the club. Once inside I realized they weren’t letting anyone into the club and that the Johnstones were about to play to the fans of theirs that had already gotten inside.

The Johnstones @ L3
The Johnstones are fucked. I see these kids everywhere promoting the fuck out of their band. They are kinda like a ska punk party band? They all have eccentric looks and act erratic to the max on stage. They do covers, Originals, trade off instruments, the works. The band kinda got robbed though because they were set up at 9:25 to play but weren’t suppose to go on til 9:40 so they waited for more people to come in, but the club had already been rushed and the doors closed while the police tried to gain control on the street of the kids and the line-up. The Johnstones were asked to cut their set short and I had the best seat in the house for ETID.

So after the Johnstones ended I was hanging with Ian Stanger and we were waiting for ETID or to at least find out what exactly was going to happen and when. We had heard so many rumors by now and nobody really even knew how 1000 kids would get into a 300 cap. venue to see the band they all most likely shelled out $25 bucks to see. At about 10:30 I decided I had waited enough and dipped out of the venue. I still don’t know what happened with Every Time I Die.

What I do know is Scene Fest is a good thing, and as long as people are willing to put on shows, I’m willing to go to them and to play them. Music is the greatest thing in the world. For me one of the best parts of Scene is seeing all my friends in bands that are out working hard all year long.

Shout Outs to Bryan from A wilhelm Scream, Polar bear club, goose and Sights and Sounds, The Reason, Stereos

…for those who follow their dreams.

Last night I got to play the Phoenix with Strike Anywhere and Propagandhi. Needless to say it was an amazing show. For over 10 years now I have been going to the Phoenix to see shows and have seen some of the best shows of my life there. Over 8 years ago I saw Strike Anywhere and my fav band Good Riddance play there and getting to step foot on the same stage as that show made my life. All my heroes have graced that stage and it was magical to be there.

Tomorrow is Scenefest in St Catherines. Should be a sweet day. We play @ 7pm @ L3. so add us to your schedule and come jam with me.

HERE IS MY LIST OF BANDS I WOULD LIKE TO BE SEEING TOMORROW

Check back monday for the Scene post.

Leaving today for 4 shows. Should be fucking fun. got some good ones with The Video Dead, Strike Anywhere, and Propaghandi. Sunday is big SCENEFEST in st Catherines. We are playing @ 7 @L3. Everytimeidie is playing that show so im happy.

Keep up on twitter!

What a nice day out. Im thinking no shirt for a portion of today.

So today I checked out the new Denzel Washington movie remake of Pelham 123.
Although Denzel is my favorite actor, the previews for this film had me feeling like I might be disappointed. I think this is mainly because Denzel played a more refined roll of the transit employee and his behavior was very controlled as his job would require.
The whole movie was shot in about 4 locations similar to 16 blocks or the Phone booth.

The action in this movie was very mild but the suspense allowed for the time between events to pass without feeling like nothing had happened in a while.

Highlights

The shootout in the center of an intersection.
The ending.
Denzel being paid $9 million to sit down for 3 months.
John Travolta saying “mother fucker” more than anyone in any movie ever.

Go see this movie for no reason and with no expectations but popcorn and experience.

On the way out of the theatre I saw a DOPE SUV with these nuts rims that look like the rear end of a 45 caliber gun. I couldnt get a picture but ill be looking for one in the future. super rad!

Its no fucking secret toronto was bumpin this weekend with NXNE, Edgefest, Taste of Italy, and The MMVA’s. What most of you dont know is that we played a show @ the Sound Academy with Brass Munk.

After our show we headed out to the Universal Music Canada after party @ Cobra, and then ended up at the MMVA afterparty @ Circa. It was my first time at Cobra and the place was rammed. The walls are all decked out in these crazy skulls and the lights on the low ceiling were sick. We were drinking free but i bought one drink and honestly for two dollars more you can buy a bj and a drink in some parts of town.

Had a wicked time hanging with Aaron and Rob from Stereos as well as our good friend bry from A Whilhem Scream.

I’m starting to think Perez hilton is just an actor…

Like my new site look? hate it? let me know!!!

more soon

so last night outside out Sneaky Dee’s a girl was offering out cigarettes for people to try. so i took two and told her i was going to review them on here.

Ok so here is the concept as explained to me: The cigarette is a normal tasting camel brand cigarette. However when you give the filter a little squeeze at any time during your smoke, it will change the flavor to menthol tasting.

As seen in the first picture, the filter contains a small blue bead which releases the menthol taste. The bead takes a little bit of force to crack and is kinda hard to find in the filter.

Although I hate menthols, I have to say this is quite a unique idea and innovative to say the least. I would like to see cigarette packs that have regular AND kingsize smokes in one pack.

I met someone today from Edmonton,  although they do not know shawn killgreen, they might be one of the coolest people ever.

Her and her friends are part of a yarn bombing crew. Now i know that this may not initially make sense but check their site to get caught up.

Ok so I just got a video treatment from the one and only Jason Mewes today.

The video is for our song “Let’s start a riot” and its pretty sweet.

It starts off with a chain gang and carry’s on through a sewer party to a show. That’s all I am going to give away for now. but lets hope everything works out and it all goes through.

THE ARTIST LIFE have a bunch of shows coming up in the next  little bit, starting this coming Saturday in Cambridge.
Im super excited to play The Phoenix (my favorite venue) as well as the GO SKATEBOARDING DAY show @ The Sound Academy.
Please scan the dates below and come out!

Just saw The Hangover. Laughed the whole time. Seriously, funniest movie I have seen in a long time.
Go see this movie!