What luck! I'm in Calgary again for Sled Island 2015!

  I made it in a whirl-wind to Calgary just in time for the Godspeed You! Black Emperor set last evening. I got out of my cab and there was Thor Harris (of Swans) on his way to the show. I high fived him, and passed on affection. I told him: "I'm from Smithers!" and he smiled with enthusiasm "Oh that's sooooo cool!" 

    Harris was in town to play drums with noise musician Ben Frost the prior evening and a spoken word performance on depression. Regretably, I missed both shows, with Frost's performance featuring opening sets from two of my favorite drone musicians from Vancouver: Loscil and Sarah Davachi. Sitting in Smithers knowing I was missing it was one of the saddest moments of my spring. My life is pretty easy, I guess. 

     Godspeed was sold out even for wrist-band holders. I tried to lie to get into the show. I said I was in the Prince George noise band "Christians" and I would like to sit in the artists lounge. The friendly and patient door man said "Oh sorry man, no lounge; come tomorrow at 3 to line up for the next show." I left. Went to the Palomino to see two awesome bands: "Spring" and "Cult Babies" from Van. The energy was tangible. I was off the plane, in a million-plus-person city, watching raw, abrasive and beautiful sound.

       No one needs Godspeed, just like no one needs coffee. Not to say that these bands were like Tea-in-the-morning-instead. They were just a different brand of high test. 

   Friends, friends, friends came to join and we moved to the #1 Royal Canadian Legion. Good move, 'cause it was "Lightning Bolt's" night. Noise. Drums. 

   Part of the charm of the Legion is not only it's great sound, but also its mature servers. Here we were watching music so loud that ear-plugs shoved deep into our ears were rendered futile, (as plugging ears doesn't prevent bone shake), and polite, charming Grandmas and Grampas were delivering drinks, and pushing chairs in. The Legion is a conceptual art piece of venues.

   PG band "Christians" came on. The band I lied about being in. They jammed with an incredible bravery. Spontaneous composition. They had no idea what they were going to play next, and it was exciting. Because they were talented and creative and into noisey, shearing sound. I've never seen a serious show that was a mystery like this one was.  

 I yelled "Prince George!" at them in between songs, and then yelled "I'm from Smithers!" They said "Ahh yeah, nice place." I'm purportedly a proud transplant of Smithers, telling everyone where I live.

   People loved the PG band, yet the "Christians" almost seemed surprised when the crowd erupted after every song. They were well recieved and they were awesome. 

    OXBOW came on next. They thundered in sexual exhibitionism. The lead singer took off his clothes, and the band shattered the space with pummelling distotion.

    I talked with the guitarist after the show and again told him about where I was living. I talk to a world-class noise guitarist and all I say is, "hey, I'm from Smithers." He was like, "oh, that's cool." And then I was like, "Anyway, see you!"  

  Then we made our way to the front for the headliners. It takes effort to get to the front of a crowded place. I'm tall and people seem to dislike when I stand directly in front of them. Two guys loudly stated their opposition to my blocking their view. I felt awkward, but stayed. 

   But the tension disipated becase "Lightning Bolt" came on. Or maybe not. The drummer obsessed about various stage problems and sound-board deficiencies. It all started with a blown fuse. At first, I felt indignant that this guy was publically humiliating the sound person. I didn't even clap after songs I felt so upset. He threw a cavalcade of insidous comments towards the mixing board. Like Donald Trump at Obama.

    Then he kept on doing it, and I realized it was more then a tantrum. This was his art.  He played the part of the insufferable, entitled rock star. Like Andy Kaufman. It was a brilliant show with a begginning middle and end. A protagonist, antagonist some tension and a good ending. There was a feel good make-up at the end. Sound guy earned his keep. 

   A show is perfect when the music and on stage act come together to create a full bodied aesthetic experience. Like you're a part of the play, not outside of it observing. Lightening Bolt created an emotional experience to be part of.

   On the way out of the legion I told a couple more people I was from Smithers, and then biked home. 

Godspeed You! Black Emperor tonight and Yo La Tango. And many, many more. I am becoming infatuated again with my hometown. Sled Island is unbeatable.