Best of 2009.. in Music.. according to me!

Only pure energy! Volcanoless in Canada - Brandon Folk Fest - Brandon, Manitoba - July 26, 2009, originally uploaded by Cody La Bière.

This year came and went very quickly as it seems, so I've compiled a list of what I thought was the highlights (for me) for 2009 in music, the best concerts I went to, the best albums I've heard and the best songs! Feel free to add what you enjoyed music-wise for 2009 to the list!

Top 5 shows of 2009
1) Dan Mangan at the 2009 WCMAs in Brandon at the Double Decker (heh, and Mangan comes right onto Radio Two Drive right now!)
2) Trooper at the Wheat City Rodeo at the Keystone Centre in Brandon
3) Library Voices at the 2009 WCMAs in Brandon
4) Volcanoless in Canada at the Brandon Folk Fest in Brandon
5) Constantines opening up for the Weakerthans in Winnipeg at the Burton Cummings Theatre


Top 10 albums of 2009
1) Corb Lund - Losin' Lately Gambler
2) We Are Wolves - Invisible Violence
3) AC Newman - Get Guilty
4) The Wheat Pool - Hauntario
5) Metric - Fantasies (This is a very overrated album but it's a VERY good album)
6) United Steelworkers of Montreal - Three on a Tree (This album brings back some amazing memories of Quebec, July 2008)
7) Les Trois Accords - Dans Mon Corps
8) Dan Mangan - Nice Nice Very Nice
9) Damien Robitaille - Homme autonome
10) Handsome Furs - Face Control

Top 15 songs of 2009
1) Ali Milner - Crystal Clear
2) Fred Fortin - La mervielle masquée
3) La patère rose - La marelle
4) Damien Robitaille - Homme autonome
5) Joel Plaskett - Through & Through & Through (This is a shocker for me but play count never lies)
6) Corb Lund - Long Gone to Saskatchewan
7) The Wheat Pool - Two Far Apart
8) We Are Wolves - Me As Enemy
9) We Are Wolves - Paloma
10) Jean Leloup - La plus belle fille de la prison
11) Les Trois Accords - Dans Mon Corps (dans mon corpssss, dans mon corps, y a une jeune fille!")
12) AC Newman - All of My Days and All of My Days Off
13) Jesse Matheson - The French Song
14) Zeus - Fever of the Time
15) Le Nombre - Vile et fantastique

Photo of the day - December 30, 2009

Old shed in Pipestone, Manitoba, originally uploaded by Cody La Bière.

I just went into town today and realized everything is decaying like crazy, nothing seems the same anymore

Review: Corb Lund's Losin' Lately Gambler album!

Time to switch to beer.., originally uploaded by Cody La Bière.

Well I’m sitting here on the computer at my parents farm in the middle of nowhere. It’s -10C out, which really isn’t that bad considering it’s a very cold winter so far. So today I decided why not finally open up my new Corb Lund CD and give it a listen? So here I am!

I will be “somewhat” reviewing Corb Lund’s new album “Losin’ Lately Gambler” album. While writing the review (and listening to the album), I’m having myself a St James Pale Ale by Half Pints Brewery in Winnipeg, Manitoba. First about the beer, it’s a light tasting Pale Ale, the type of beer that if you enjoy an Alexander Keith’s India Pale Ale or a Molson Canadian, you will love this beer! It’s cloudy in appearance compared to a Canadian or Keiths but it’s a very smooth beer, light enough for picky prairie folks to enjoy it, yet tasty enough for a beer connoisseur to enjoy for something on the lighter side. The beer is 4.8% and has an IBU of 11.

Well this was supposed to be about me reviewing Losin Lately Gambler… so here we go! The album starts out with a folky tune titled Horse Doctor, Come Quick. The song has some light fiddle, and lots of banjo.. as any prairie country song does.  It’s giving me shivers, pretty damned good! Half way through the song.. it turns somewhat jazzy, I really am liking this song. “Veterinary surgeon, horse doctor come quick, a dip and a drench, a mineral lick…” ..Ah mineral licks, a block of salt that are used for cattle, I remember we would take off a chunk of that stuff when being little and the farm kids would lick it as if it’s a snack.

Track 2. It’s Steer Rider’s Blues.. the title gives it away, a very bluesy tune, but of course since it’s Corb Lund, it has a country sound to it. Another toe tappin’ song. “I won a bunch of buckles by the time I turned fourteen, and still the pretty ladies don’t want nothin’ to do with me”. This bluesy/countryish/1960s sounding song is good too!

Track 3. A Game in Town Like This. As you can tell, this album is already very farm/agricultural/cowboy themed. As a farm boy myself, I can relate to a lot of this album already and this is only track 3. I’m familiar with this song as I hear it quite a bit on CBC Radio 2’s Radio 2 Drive. This is a great slower song, it can almost be a ballad. This is a song I like to listen to while driving down the #2 highway in Manitoba headin’ to the farm to see the family at the farm. “Who would go to Vegas with a game in town like this?”

Track 4. Alberta Says Hello. This song shows the love of Alberta that Corb Lund has, this could be one of those epical songs that could be used tourism reasons, like Runnin’ Back to Saskatoon. Another soft country song. I’ve noticed so far that Corb has a much lighter sound for his songs than most country songs. It’s almost not even country music, more a folk-country, not much steel guitar and not much twang.. personally I prefer it without it anyways! “Tell her that the Oilers are scorin’ goals, tell her that Alberta says hello!”

Track 5. Talkin’ Veterinarian Blues. Wow this seems like the most country style song of the album. Yet it’s another acoustic that I can tap my foot too. “Tag in the ear, shots in the hip, the dehornin’ paste and… snip, snip, snip. Welcome to the world little buddy, it’s no picnic.” This song reminds me of growing here on the farm, every spring my dad and his friends would spend a Sunday afternoon dehorning the calves and giving antibiotics. I don’t know how those guys did it year after year, but they did!

Track 6. It’s Hard to Keep a White Shirt Clean. This has a very je ne sais quoi sound to it, has a country sound to it but jazzy too. A song about keeping a white shirt clean. Wow, a true farmer wouldn’t care about keepin’ a white shirt clean, hell my farming dad constantly wears the same plaid shirt day after day with a big hole over the pocket area, yet refuses to get it fixed or throw it out. “A half a cup of bleach, in with your sheets, it’s hard to keep a white shirt clean”.

Track 7. Long Gone to Saskatchewan. Wow.. we’re at track 7 already? Okay, it’s time for me to refill my glass with Half Pint’s St James Pale Ale! One minute…  Okay I’m back with a foamin’ glass of St James Pale Ale.. now to listen to Long Gone to Saskatchewan! I’m very familiar with this song too. As the title says, long gone to Saskatchewan. Basically a few years ago when the price of an acre in Alberta went through the roof, many Albertan farmers moved to Saskatchewan for cheaper land. Lots of stand up bass in this song, which I like, I really like this song and it’s definitely his most recent hit. “Well it’s a hell of a battle to try to raise cattle in the prettiest place on the hoof. Oil refiners and lot sub-dividers got land prices right through the roof.”

Track 8. Devil’s Best Dress. This song is very different, reminds me a bit of Tequila Sunrise by the Eagles. However, I don’t care for the song but the lyrics are solid as always. I’ll probably skip this song when it’s on my iPod. “I can’t say I love you, I don’t hardly know you. They warned me about you from the start.”

Track 9. The Only Long Rider I Know. This song starts out rockin’, very rockin’ for a country musician, a country rock theme song, the guitar riff reminds me of something by the Guess Who circa 1973, that being said, it’s not the best song on the album, but it’s a good one anyways. I could see this on the local rock radio stations on the prairies, like why not? Actually.. this song is actually growing on me as the song is playing. “He’s shed a few good tears between Criollo ears, and all he knows is the trail goes on, it goes on and on.”

Track 10. Chinook Wind. Ah Chinook.. Something we don’t experience here in Manitoba. Is it just me or is Corb’s voice more twangier than all of the other songs on this album? Vocal wise this the most country song on the album, but yet another solid song.. so far I’m very impressed with this album and the album is near finished! “If you need me you can find me here waitin’ on a change.”

Track 11. This is My Prairie. A sad song about Corb’s love of the Canadian prairies, this flat flat place that has wheat, oats, barley, cattle and sunflowers as far as the eyes can see! A bit of banjo which is neat.. where did the banjo go in the previous songs? I like this song too but not one of my favourites on the album. The song is a criticism of the environmental damage occurring on the prairies from the mega-oil drilling projects taking place all over the prairies, a sad ballad about the part of Canada Corb calls home. “My children are sick and the aquifer’s bled, they want a big pipeline right thru Pop’s grave.”

Track 12. Time to Switch to Whiskey (Live in Australia). The final track of the album. Wow we’re already here. I LOOOOOVE this song, as a prairie boy, I relate to this, growing up sitting in the back of the truck drinking a beer with dad, my uncle and a few cousins.. then as soon as the beer’s gone, time to drink whiskey and Coke. This song is a classic even live. I’m very happy to see that this song is actually included on the album as a bonus. Toe tappin’ redneck anthem for any prairie folk. “Smoke your grass and fish for bass and burn that purple gas.”

Wow, now the album is done. So what’s my thought? Well this is the very first country album I have ever owned in my life (if you don’t count Les Trois Accords’ Live album En Beau Country). I love it, however I hate country music. Corb’s music appeals to me though. This new album is very solid, some of his best work is on this album. He’s proven time and time again that he’s one of the best songwriters and musicians in general in Canadian country music and Canadian music in general. The whole album brings back memories of growing up on the memories, especially with themes of raisin’ cattle, veterinarians, drivin’ down the road, on the brink of bankruptcy on the farm. Don’t give me some twangy steel guitar filled album about John Deere tractors and Fishin’ in the Dark, this is an amazing album! Now I wish he would return to Brandon, Manitoba for a concert, or even better.. have a small town Manitoba tour! Play towns like Virden, Reston, Boissevain.

While the album is now done, my beer is not, so time to finish my beer!

Cheers!

Tracklist:

1.  Horse Doctor, Come Quick (3:56)
2.  Steer Rider’s Blues (3:01)
3. A Game in Town Like This (4:21)
4. Alberta Says Hello (3:22)
5. Talkin’ Veterinarian Blues (3:40)
6. It’s Hard to Keep a White Shirt Clean (for Willie P. Bennett) (2:34)
7. Long Gone to Saskatchewan (3:31)
8. Devil’s Best Dress (2:32)
9. The Only Long Rider I Know (3:59)
10. Chinook Wind (3:31)
11. This is My Prairie (3:49)
12. Rye Whiskey/Time to Switch to Whiskey (Live in Australia) (4:38)

La vie future

Gloomy farm day, originally uploaded by Cody La Bière.

I graduated with a double major Arts degree in Political Science and French back 6 months ago. Since then, I've applied for dozens (if not hundreds by this point) of jobs. Each time I would apply, if I ever heard back from the job, it would always end up with We regret to inform you that.. or you did not state... ...so we regret to inform you, so each and every time, I would end up just as jobless as I have been for.. forever.

I've revised my resumé, I've applied for almost anything (fast food/restaurant aside), I've even gotten people to check out my resumé, it's solid but nobody will hire me it seems.

With this being said, since even before I was near graduation, my mom, like any other mom, nagged me asking me if I found a job yet, every time I talk to her, she asks if I've heard back from any of the employers, sure enough, nope.. I haven't. Now she's telling me to go back to school (this time Community College) and get "office courses" as nobody is hiring me. But.. why would I need office courses to begin with? I've worked moreso in an office environment than anything else to begin with.

She gets all angry about it too now, I've been branching out my options, looking to see who is hiring and where, and sure enough, usually I don't hear back.

Getting the rejection letters on a regular basis hurts my self esteem, why keep going if nobody is going to hire me? Well I need to get out of this hell hole of an apartment and get out of Brandon for once and for all.

With that, my confidence went into the toilet, because I spent 6 years getting a bleeping Arts degree in Politics and French and it's more worthless than a Philosophy degree it seems.

When I started university, I was planning on getting a Business Administration degree, but politics was more up my alley it seemed. My advisor at the time said that politics would probably be my best option over time, as there are limitless possibilities for it, especially with the french aspect of it, I was guaranteed a job "immediately!" She said "that's a great combination for a degree, you will be able to easily find something when you finish! Whether it be working for a television station, to working for a political figure to working for something such as CSIS."

I really have my doubts. I'm a hard working individual, I'm willing to take on a task, and I want to learn new things.

I thought by now I would have done well for myself, probably be living in Winnipeg or Ottawa, have myself a nice place, my own car, make enough money to go to the Vancouver Olympics in February, thought I would be able to stop worrying about money for once.. but life doesn't work that way.

I really do hope 2010 turns out to be a much better year for me, I need to get out and do something, instead of waking up at 4PM 7 days a week, and only going outdoors when I need groceries.. then again.. who would want to go outdoors in this -47 windchill?

Lastly, with all this stress on me from my parents, myself, and others because I don't have a job, I've been feeling physical pain from this stress more than any other stressful period in my life. This is just not healthy for me. I can handle a bit of a headache, but headache plus twitching (of eyes, of legs, of arms, of neck, of feet) plus chest pain plus other pains is just making things worse.

I would say "FML", but I try not to be some emo jackass like that, even if I do seem emo right now! Haha!

Well all I can really do is keep applying for jobs, and hope I stumble into someone who has high connections in high places.. if only!

Photo of the day - December 8, 2009

Coca-Cola Christmas ball ornament bottles (2009), originally uploaded by Cody La Bière.

I uploaded this picture of Christmas ornament shaped Coke bottles only days ago, and it's gotten well over 200 views in just the week and half since I've uploaded them. It's crazy. It's also the 36th most viewed picture I have on Flickr, considering I have nearly 3000 photos, and I have MANY photos I would consider more important or interesting than a picture of an ornament shaped Coke bottle.. but ah well I guess! People like it I guess!

Stuff Cody Likes - December 6, 2009

Favourite pub in all of Manitoba!, originally uploaded by Cody La Bière.

Well I haven't done this in a while, it's a return of Stuff Cody Likes!

• Lo Pub! This is my absolute favourite pub in all of Manitoba! The very first time I went into the pub just after it opened, I didn't know what to expect. At that time, I didn't have a pub that I would call home whenever I was in town (in Winnipeg). Lo Pub wowed me on the first visit. Everytime I visit Winterpeg, Manisnowba, I always have to visit the Lo! They always have live music every night (or else karaoke), and they really put emphasis on local beer. They sell imperial pints of Half Pints and Fort Garry beer for an AWESOME price! I love Half Pints!
• Unibroue Beer. I loveeee Unibroue beer (Unibrew, not Unibrow). Every year they have a collection sampler pack of beer in time for Christmas, but this year they aren't selling it in Manitoba. So we don't get to try Unibroue beers that are in Manitoba. Oh how I love a good pint of Unibroue beer!
• GST cheques! I love GST cheques... but I hate GST (of course.. and every time the GST goes down, retailers/businesses increase the prices at the same time). But I love how they come by just in time for Christmas season! I just love free money! Ha
• High Definition TV. Wow.. I wish all channels were available in HD, and also the channels didn't look like I was watching the TV station was off of the internet (very choppy feeds.. talking about you CBC HD and TSN HD). But the true high quality HD channels are drool worthy! 
• A&W's french fries. Most of my friends think A&Ws french fries are bad, but I looooove their fries! Even when they are cold. BUT.. their poutine is gross... bleh.
• Lastly... REAL POUTINE!

Photo of the day - December 4, 2009

Snowy leafy bush, originally uploaded by Cody La Bière.

I hate snow

Review: Swanson's "New" Hungry Man Sports Grill Buffalo style chicken strips

So it appears that Swanson has changed some of their TV dinners. I'm not a fan what-so-ever of TV dinners because they're fatty, greasy, and just not healthy. But when you have a very busy schedule, sometimes a TV dinner is the quickest thing you can eat, sadly.

Swanson's changed their Hungry Man Sports Grill with Buffalo "style" chicken strips. Well, lets just say you get much less food and pay just as much (if not more) as before. Previously, the TV dinner would include about 6 strips of Buffalo Chicken strips, a portion of corn, crinkle cut fries and a Duncan Hines chocolate brownie. The Buffalo Strips were SPICY.

So, what do you get in the new Hungry Man Sports Grill? Now, you get 4 breaded chicken strips, Potato wedges covered in cheese sauce and a Buffalo sauce to dip your strips or your cheesy wedges into.

So what did I think of it? First off the strips.. compared to the old style Buffalo Strips they had before, I LOVE the new chicken strips much more than the old ones... BUT.. the portion size appears (or just seems like it) much smaller, plus instead of getting an insane amount of chicken strips, you get only 4. I didn't like the old Buffalo "style" strips, so when I finished the strips I was happy, but now.. I'm still grumbling after eating. As for the sauce that's included to dip the strips.. I didn't dare try it, it looked like a mixture of acid and ketchup (and bubbling). So I stayed away from that. As for the cheesy wedges. I LOVE the wedges, but the only problem: I hate the cheese sauce. The cheese sauce ruins the wedges for me. It would have been nicer if instead of having wedges covered in this cheesy goop, there was a compartment for the cheese sauce, like the Buffalo sauce. So whenever I do have a TV dinner with the cheese fries now, I thaw out the cheese and the wedges so I can remove most of the cheese off it. The wedges on their own are pretty good.. for a TV dinner. Compared to fries.. it's much better, plus it has a pseudo-homemade taste to it (compared to crinkle cut fries).

Edit: I did eventually try the sauce on it. My review stands - the sauce should be in its own spot. Now the most recent version of this TV dinner no longer contains the buffalo sauce, and as a replacement - different (crispier) chicken fingers with corn, mashed potato and brownie. I prefer this more. As for the sauce, I don't like the goopy sauce. It makes the chicken fingers in the Beer Battered version of this product quite mucky.

What sucks is that they got rid of the corn and the brownie. I don't care for corn so I usually threw that out before cooking anyways, but the brownie.. the brownie always guaranteed that the meal would fill me up. If they call it a Hungry Man (well a Hungry Man Sports Grill), they should have LOTS of food to fill up a hungry man, instead of a tiny portion.

So all in all, it has its ups and downs. The strips are delicious compared to the old style Buffalo strips, but the portion has shrunk a great deal, the wedges are GREAT but the sauce has got to go (or have its own compartment for those who don't want cheesy goop), and they need to bring back ATLEAST an after-meal snack with a brownie or SOMETHING! I regularly see this on sale at Wal-Marts and Real Canadian Superstores here in Canada for $5 (Sometimes $3 if on sale). Five bucks is just too much for that amount of food, it would be better to just make everything by hand instead.. even if time is limited.

Photo of the day - December 3, 2009

It's a Moody Manitoba Morning.. and I don't like it that way, originally uploaded by Cody La Bière.

It's officially winter here in Brandon, Manitoba. Bah humbug.

Albums I want.. or NEED!!!

We Are Wolves - Québec, Québec, originally uploaded by Cody La Bière.

Well Christmas time is upon us, and here in Manitoba we got our first "permanent" snowfall of the year today on December 1st, no sight of above 0C weather in site.

So I started doing something, and I'm starting to wonder what albums I need, cuz as much as I love listening to Burton Cummings' "Above the Ground" album, I need to diversify with newer albums.

So I've compiled a list of albums I want.. scratch that, NEED!

1. We Are Wolves - Invisible Violence. Last Christmas I bought he previous We Are Wolves album and it was one of the best purchases I've done music wise, a mixture of rock, techno and multilingualism. What's not to love? I was never sold on this band until I saw them LIVE... man... man..... man!!!! Wow..
2. Les Trois Accords - Dans Mon Corps. Les Trois Accords keep trying to discover new styles of music every so often, going from crazy rock that you can sing to while plastered out of your mind, to Prairie style country music. This is a very upbeat dancy sort of album, from what I've heard.
3. Dan Mangan - Nice Nice Very Nice. Okay, time for an English album. Mangan's a great musician. I saw him perform live here in Brandon and was wowed but he didn't have any more CDs to sell when I wanted a CD. Robots need love too!
4. Jean Leloup - Mille Excuses Milady. This is a musician I've loved for quite a long time now, but I have yet to buy ANY of his CDs, so it's time I bought a CD of his, well he's a freaking legend in la belle province!
5. Damien Robitaille - Homme autonome. Robitaille is my absolute favourite hors Québec musician. His songs are upbeat, just plain.. very catchy! His newest album Homme autonome is NO exception it seems (from what I've heard, again!)
6. Navet Confit - LP3/Papier vampire. I guess as you can tell, most of my list is consisting of Francophone musicians, I guess that's what interests me right now. Confit is another great musician. 
7. John K Samson - City Route 85. Well this is moreso an EP than an actual album, but nothing wrong with Monsieur Samson! I'll get it one day.
8. Dumas - Traces. Great musician, bout time he came out with a new album!

Wow that's all I can think of, do you have any other suggestions? I'm very open to anything non-francophone also, I really didn't expect most of my list to end up being French-based. I'm always up for new Canadian music!

Photo of the day - December 1, 2009

Lookout Charlie, there's a new bartender in town!, originally uploaded by Cody La Bière.

Nuff Said!

Photo of the Day - November 29, 2009

Retro Labatt Blue beer bottle, originally uploaded by Cody La Bière.

Today's photo of the day is of a retro bottle of Labatt Blue from the mid to late 1980s. About three years ago my landlord was doing renovation in the building, and it's obvious they haven't done any spring cleaning in twenty years, so it was time they did. I found a small box full of old beer bottles, and one of the bottles was this oldschool Labatt's Blue bottle. The shape of the bottle has changed since to a more uniform industry standard with a longer neck.

Why I hate contests like iCoke

Roll up the rim to uh.. lose?, originally uploaded by Cody La Bière.

Back in 2005 Coca-Cola changed how they did contests in Canada. Back when I was growing up (and for many years after), their contests consisted of looking under the liner of a Coke product, and the liner would tell you if you won something or not. Sometimes you would win another Coke, sometimes a bag of chips, sometimes a prize much larger than that.. but usually.. nothing.

Now, Coke wants you to do everything online. Now you can no longer randomly get a free Coke anymore. Many Coke products have a PIN number that you have to enter through their website at iCoke.ca. Through that, you can enter contests, buy "products" and if you submit enough pins, it will give you the option to use your POINTS to buy a "free" 591 Coca Cola product.

I think iCoke is just a stupid promotion. I've used it for 4 and a half years, I've submitted easily hundreds (if not thousands) of PINs, and the only thing I've got to show for it is an email from the iCoke customer service regarding a point disagreement I have. Well a month back I bought a Coke at Burger King. If you buy a large Coke, you get 1000 points, however I only got 500 (well not really a big difference), but they refused to give me the points I was guaranteed.

I haven't won a single item on iCoke in the 4.5 years I've been on the site. I doubt most of the general iCoke population will ever win anything, also anything you do buy is heavily inflated. You would have to purchase up to 84 bottles/cases of Coca Cola to get THIS ugly Olympic hat, which would probably retail for $15/tops. Points wise, you would have to spend many many more dollars just for a cheap hat.

Also, iCoke gives you the option to "win a Coke", but the only way you can WIN a Coke it seems is if you submit a bunch of PIN codes, and after 8 or 10 PINs, you can use the 8-10 PINS to get a "free" Coke. Um.. it's not free. 8 pins? Seriously?

I'm no longer going to enter the iCoke contest, it's a waste of time, especially after 4.5 years of entering codes. I would have expected to win something by now, atleast a pair of tickets to a movie. But nope, nothing. iCoke is a waste of time, and a poor promotion.

Pepsi Access is just as bad. I wish soda companies would bring back the traditional liner promotions, but I guess they're saving hundreds of thousands of dollars by not letting any random person winning a product. Atleast we still have Roll up the Rim to Win.

Photo of the day - November 27, 2009

Timmies murder.. oh noez!, originally uploaded by Cody La Bière.

Isn't it a crime to murder a Timmies? If it isn't, it should be!

One of my favourite tropical memories..

Cerveza por favor!, originally uploaded by Cody La Bière.

One of my favourite tropical memories in Mexico wasn't consuming more beer than I could handle, all you can eat buffets, 38C weather when it was -40C in Manitoba.. hell all of those were awesome but it was..

Canadian culture in Mexico! I was overwhelmed (well I get overwhelmed easily) to see so much Canadian culture in Mexico. Well one day, while resting from a long day of being in the ocean, I was flipping through the TV channels. I see this Hugo Boss ad, the song that's being used for the commercial was Shakin' All Over by Chad Allen and the Expressions, or better known as The Guess Who (LINK). I was in awe! Well that wasn't all, as soon as the show came back from commercial, it was a CANADIAN television show, I can't remember the name of it, but I think a drama/crime show. During one scene, they play DJ Champion's "The Plow". It just couldn't get better than that!

While going into the town to go buy souvenirs, I discovered a Scotia Bank. Wow.. just wow. Part of me wanted to visit just to see if I would get Canadian money out of the ATM ;)

Not long later, I go into a small shop, and in the corner of the shop they have a box that they use for garbage like pieces of paper, plastic, tape, etc. The box was a McCain French Fries box from Canada. Seriously?

Lastly, in the same afternoon, I was continuing my walk in town, and I see a vehicle with a retro Ontario licence plate.. why would an Ontario licence plate be doing in Mexico, thousands of kilometres from Ontario? Wow

Seeing so much Canadiana in a country so far from home had me in awe, if anything will ever beat that, I think it'll be time to annex a tropical island!

Photo of the day - November 22, 2009

Sad man in the rock, originally uploaded by Cody La Bière.

Sad man in the rocks

My concert year of 2009

The Sheepdogs at the 2009 Rock the Block, originally uploaded by Cody La Bière.

2010 is only many many days away, and I cannot see myself going to another concert in this year, so I'm going to list (almost) every concert I went to in 2009. I know I'll be missing some, but I'll try my best.

February:

• Hawksley Workman. He performed here in the Wheat City on February 24. I was a fan of his music for a while (When you gonna flower?!). I was surprised to hear that he was coming to the Wheat City for his only Manitoban concert. Most of the crowd that I talked to were from outside of Brandon, and assumed I was too. He put on a very very entertaining show. Personally, I wasn't a big fan of his music, but he really knows how to entertain a crowd live. Very funny guy and likes to communicate with the audience

March:

• United Steelworkers of Montreal. While working in Quebec City, the United Steelworkers of Montreal were one of the many bands I saw live. I was blown away by the music ranging from sweet lullaby love songs to gruff trucker tunes. I was excited to see them perform in Brandon. They performed in Brandon on March 26. I was shocked by the attendance, including barstaff there was probably only 10 people there. I felt bad for the band. However, even with just the 10 of us, they still gave their all, and they were telling us how much they enjoyed playing there, they loved the acoustics and the atmosphere.

April:

• The Perms. This band is originally from Brandon, and I was communicating with the bassist of the band for quite a while. I learned that his mom grew up in my hometown. They were a very entertaining band, definitely a great pub rock type of band. They had their CD release party here on April 4th in Brandon, they'll be playing another show in a few months from now, I know I'll be going as it was a very very enjoyable time, plus you got to support your local music scene as much as you can! I hope CBC Radio 3 starts to play more of their music on the radio again, it's been pretty rare as of lately
• The Constantines. The Constantines opened up for the Weakerthans in Winnipeg at the Burton Cummings theatre on April 17th. They were much better than I expected, another band that's much better live. They had a treat for the audience.. they had John K Samson of the Weakerthans perform with them for a few songs.. wow, that really got the crowd moving!
• The Weakerthans. The Weakerthans were the main act at the Burton Cummings Theatre on April 17th. I saw them 9 months earlier in Quebec City, and personally.. I preferred the Quebec performance more. Perhaps it was because at the Quebec performance I was so homesick that the Weakerthans were the one thing to cheer me up, as well as I was surrounded by Manitobans at the concert, us Manitobans will travel in packs just to support our own! I was pleased to see Rusty Matyas accompanying the band as Jim Bryson was touring with The Tragically Hip at that time. He's a cool guy, he was the original bassist for Novillero, and is also the guitarist for the rock band The Waking Eyes, that guy is going far!

July:

• The Constantines. When I heard the Constantines were coming to the Wheat City on July 25, I was shocked. Why in the world would a great rock band from Toronto come to a small farm town in the middle of the prairies? They performed at the Folk Fest here in town. This concert was not a concert for me.. I didn't get to see the band perform as I was doing security backstage (I was pissed off, let me tell you). The concert sounded good, but I was in so much emotional pain that I couldn't enjoy the music. I did get to chat with the drummer of the band for a few minutes, he was very intrigued with some of the old buildings in Brandon.
• Volcanoless in Canada. I had heard of this band through friends before, but either than that.. nothing at all. This day was worse than the day of the Constantines show. Only a few hours prior to the show on July 26, I was physically assaulted on the street, so I was contemplating not showing up at the concert. I didn't know what to expect with Volcanoless in Canada, I knew they were an acoustic group but thats all. I was blown away by Volcanoless in Canada. They are an acoustic rock group from Saskatoon, and don't be fooled by that.. they rock the acoustic guitar as if they are playing electric guitars. They have found a way to successfully rock out (big time) with only acoustic guitars. Everyone at the concert appeared to be enjoying the band just as much as I was, and almost everyone was dancing! That's a band I'll check out again one day. I'm surprised they haven't received much attention yet, they deserve alot of success for the future!

September:

Western Canadian Music Awards. September 17 to 20th in Brandon, MB. I was very very pleased with how the Western Canadian Music Awards turned out. Not only did industry folk from all across the nation come to town, but also big musicians and general music fans came to town just for the heck of it! It's the first volunteer experience I signed up for where I actually enjoyed my entire time!

• The Sheepdogs. The Sheepdogs helped start off the WCMA festivities by performing the 2009 Brandon University Rock the Block concert in downtown Brandon, other performers included (but I couldn't watch as I was working merch from 8:30 to 2:30AM) Library Voices, Default, Mariana's Trench and State of Shock. The guys seemed like a very cool and mellow band when they were hanging around town, and their music is just as good! Their music is a mixture of hard indie rock meets The Allman Brothers/Southern Rock, I really enjoyed it as I always have time for a classic rock style show. They really rocked the show. I hope to see them again one day if they ever perform in Brandon again. They played in Brandon that weekend atleast 3 or 4 times, I hope they had a great time. However, after that performance, I had to work merch booth. It was an excruciating experience. I will never volunteer for merch ever again. I never knew what a merch booth person has to put up with. I was told that my shift was 4 hours or so, but it ended up going from 8:30 to 2:30. I felt unappreciated the entire time working there. I never got a single break while working there. When we were finished selling the merch, we got in shit from a band for short changing them for merch sales. However, they had sold an item of their merch for three different price points throughout the night, so the price changes were not accounted into the lack of funds. Then again, that band made very few sales as well. I will never volunteer as merch guy ever again. Phew.. now onto the next one!
• Adaline. Wow, I really enjoyed myself for this show. A few weeks prior a few people I knew recommended for me to check out this amazing musician from Vancouver named Adaline. Close to the concert date she was having problems to find a piano for the Brandon show, so a friend asked me if I could helped, so I tried. I saw her perform at the Double Decker, not knowing what to expect. She is an amazing girl, such a sweetie too. I was really blown away by her performance, her song Whiter/Straighter really caught my attention. She is a very belle femme who dresses up in a very nice 1930sesque style of clothing (I think?). This girl is going to go far! I chatted with her quite a bit that weekend (or probably annoyed her, ha! I kid). She's a genuinely nice girl, very funny, and she appeared to be enjoying her short stay in the city!
• Dan Mangan. Immediately following Adaline, Dan Mangan came onto the very small step of a stage that the pub had. I knew that Mangan was well loved on CBC Radio 3, but I wasn't entirely familiar with his music either than Robots. The pub was entirely packed for his performance, and I could see that a large chunk of Brandon came out just to see him (wow!). He put on a very solid acoustic set. Performed his great tunes such as The Indie Queens are Coming and Robots. For his song Robots, he had these group of guys he referred as those roudy bunch of farmers in the back join him on stage and sing with him, and he made sure everyone would sing along with the chorus. I didn't realize that these roudy farmers were actually the Edmonton rock/country band The Wheat Pool! I later realized that afterwards.
• The Wheat Pool. After a few years of loving their song The Geographic Centre of Canada, which I know is actually about Brandon, Manitoba, the Wheat City, the town they were visiting (no matter what you say!), I finally got to see them. There was a nice attendance for that show. They delivered a very entertaining set performing mostly new songs off their brand new album Hauntario (which hadn't been released yet at that time, but they sold it at that show!), but they also performed a few of the fan favourites like Geographic Centre. I was loving it! Throughout the show the band was giving shoutouts to CBC Radio 3.. this was actually the first time I have ever seen a band give a shoutout to Radio 3 before! A bunch of us Radio 3 fans roared! After the show was done I chatted with the band for a bit, got some merch and took some pics. They were great guys, really seemed to enjoy their time in Brandon, as much as I annoyed them over the weekend, ha ha!
• Quinzy. Another band I never heard of until that weekend. This band is from Winnipeg, and first thing I thought of them when I heard of them was a cross between Novillero and a few other Winnipeg bands, they have some really catchy songs. They will be getting more well known in the Winnipeg music scene soon enough. How can they not?
• Delhi 2 Dublin. We started off the September 19th concert experience by checking out this band from BC. I had never heard of them until the day before. Delhi 2 Dublin was possibly the most-wowing show for the audience at the WCMAs. Delhi 2 Dublin has a fusion of techno, music from Delhi, and some classic Irish fiddlin'. After the concert finished, there was a very long line just for people to buy the CD! I know many people want to see them booked for future events (ie Folk Fests and whatnot). Definitely an eye opener of a band
• Ali Milner. Ali is another musician that a friend recommended to me. I bumped into this girl while finishing up a panelist discussion session I was looking after. She was looking for her mom, she introduced herself and she was very very friendly the second I met her. I decided to check her out as I was recommended to in the first place. Like many other musicians, I didn't know what to expect. Ali has an amazing voice, very mature and very powerful, that plus the piano equal wow! Let's just say that Ali is the first musician I have ever seen that not only I enjoyed, but also MY SISTER enjoyed. Me and my sister hate each others musical tastes, but we both agreed that Miss Ali Milner put on a great show! I just wish she had CDs to sell at the show! 
• Library Voices. Thanks to CBC Radio 3, I've heard Library Voices more than a few times in my life, so when I heard they were coming to Brandon, I had to go. The choice of the venue for the band was kind of weird.. a sketchy nightclub. However, they performed a very energetic show that everyone enjoyed.. minus a few sketchy drunks who were only there to get drunk on a Saturday night. The band consisted of what appeared to be something like an 11 piece ensemble. I loved it! But on the downside, the band looked fatigued by the time the concert began since they arrived to Brandon earlier than most people and they performed at the Rock the Block concert a few days earlier. Even if they were fatigued, they were still great live. It's just awesome to think that there's so much great live music just in your own back yard.

October:

• Trooper! Raise a little hell! They performed a concert at the Westman Place arena in the late evening on October 24. They were performing as part of the Wheat City Rodeo. Most years the Rodeo gets a country band (ie Corb Lund) to perform, but this year for the Saturday show they got the kings of Canadian party rock, Trooper to perform. This was the second time I have seen Trooper live, and I was more amazed this time than the last time I saw them! They played all the hits like We're Here for a Good Time, Boys in a Bright White Sports Car and of course.. Raise a little Hell! Trooper is a band that is guaranteed to satisfy the music tastes of the population of South West Manitoba, from the young to the old! I had a brief chat with the lead singer Ra McGuire after the show. As usual I got star struck when I met him, but that was eased quickly as he is a very friendly guy. We discussed current music trends in Canadian music, he really likes The Weakerthans and Wintersleep, and wishes for one day to collaborate with the Weakerthans on something, now that'd be the day!

Now for the future, as I have no job right now.. I don't know what my concert-going future will be like, I may travel to Winnipeg once every few months as I have done for many many years, or I may just refrain from concert-going until further notice.. who knows! I hope 2010 will be another enjoyable year of music, live and not live.

Photo of the day - November 19, 2009

Atleast the Tractors are still there, originally uploaded by Cody La Bière.

This picture still brings back bad memories.

The ups and downs of 2009

Who you looking at?, originally uploaded by Cody La Bière.

This year is only weeks away, this has been a very very crazy year, it has had some ups and some downs, so here's my ups and downs for 2009.

UPs:

• In June, I graduated from Brandon University with a double major Arts degree in Politics and French. It took many years, many sleepless days, but finally got it done!
• I volunteered my share of events throughout the year. I volunteered for the Folk Festival here in the city, with that I got to see some live shows. I also volunteered for the Western Canadian Music Awards. That was a huge blast as it was not in any way any work. It was a fun time since while working I got to chat with some of my favourite musicians and watch panel discussions from industry insiders. I also made a few new friends at that event!
• I was asked around February to do an intro for the CBC Radio 3 program the R3-30. The episode was entitled Salute to Facial Hair. I was very proud of that, and also my idea of user-submitted show ideas has brought in a new feature to the R3-30.
• Just this week I was featured in a blog entry on the CBC Radio 3 website: Link
• I am now on the board of directors for a provincial political party for my constituency. I really never expected it.

DOWNs:

• My post-university job search officially began in February, and I have yet to find a job. I have contemplated to move to Winnipeg, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec and Moncton for a job. NOW I'm willing to move to anywhere and everywhere if I have to. The only job offer I actually got this year was to work on a farm.
• Due to program issues, I was supposed to graduate with a double 4 year degree, but I ended up with double 3 year degree.
• Volunteering for the Folk event here was one of the worst things I ever have done. I got a vibe that the volunteers didn't feel appreciated. I certainly wasn't appreciated. They screwed over my hours, especially since I could not work evenings. I ended up with only evening shifts. I also missed the only bands I wanted to SEE LIVE. I will never volunteer for that organization ever again.
• Since I don't have a job, I get 10-15 emails from my mom each and every day like clock work with jobs to McDonalds and whatnot. Mom, stop it.
• Many times I don't know when to stop drinking, and it has hurt the one I love. But thankfully.. I'm doing better now.
• I'm still living in Brandon. I've never thought I would still be living here. I always imagined I'd be moved out of Brandon immediately after graduation. Sadly that hasn't happened. Also, people from Brandon are so.. je ne sais quoi. Not a very welcoming community. I've only made a few friends in the 6 years I've lived here. Also, each and every time I walk on the main drags of the city, people drive by and give me the finger, honk their horn (people who I don't know), and people yelling obscenities at me. Even one time, these 100lb wannabe gangsters drove by, swore at me. I gave them the finger and they turned onto the next intersection, jumped out of their car and pushed me, yelled at me, punched me. Of course, nobody even dared to slow down or stop as this was happening. That's Brandon hospitality for you!

Photo of the day - November 17, 2009

Pipestone Manitoba Tornado - June 23, 2007, originally uploaded by Cody La Bière.

This photo still scares me, two and a half years later. Just looking at it makes me twitch.

Sometimes.. it's the little things that matter most!

Library Voices at the 2009 Western Canadian Music Awards in Brandon, Manitoba, originally uploaded by Cody La Bière.

As most of you may know, I've been out of work/out of school for a while, so it has taken a toll on me. I've been applying for jobs quite a bit, online, offline, local, national. Nothing hurts more when you are ambitious to get a great job in a great city then you get an email back saying "We're sorry to inform you that your application does not meet our criteria.

I've been feeling sick lately (not H1N1) and the feeling of rejection has only made it worse, but sometimes it's the little things that matter most.

I turned off my cellphone and computer a few hours ago so I could nap. I wake up and see a message from my friend Pat going "Wake up! There is a blog post in your honour!" I was thinking what in the world? as I didn't know what she was talking about.

So I head over the CBC Radio 3 website, and there was a blog entry just about me. I was in awe. It was a pretty aweful day to begin with, but it gave me a big smile.

Sometimes it's just the little things that matter. Great friends, which I'm lucky to have, are very important.

There was a quote from Adaline, a musician from Vancouver that made me even happier:
I met Cody during the Western Canadian Music Awards after one of my showcases. His love for music is infectious! I only wish more people were as passionate and positive as him! Thanks for supporting us Cody!

Sometimes, you just don't realize how great some things are, I'm lucky to have friends who like good music, who actually like the music you like, who will come all the way from Winnipeg just for a weekend of gigs! (Winnipeggers don't like travelling elsewhere as it is!)

While I've had my ups and downs with music sites, CBC Radio 3 has rocked, I won two Sirius satellites from them back in 2007, I was on the live edition of the R3-30 on this final Radio Two broadcast, and they had me introduce the R3-30 for the Salute to Facial Hair. All that gives me a smirk

Check out the article at CBC Radio 3, it made me laugh too!

Photo of the day - November 15, 2009

Legislature of Manitoba, originally uploaded by Cody La Bière.

Photo of the day - November 14, 2009

Retro Labatt Blue beer bottle, originally uploaded by Cody La Bière.

Beer labels were cooler back in the 80s

Photo of the Day - November 13, 2009

Waste 8( Recycling, originally uploaded by Cody La Bière.

My 10 goals for 2010

Vieux Quebec mural, originally uploaded by Cody La Bière.

I graduated university in June, and since then, I haven't done anything or gone anywhere. I need a new outlook and direction in life for 2010, so here's 10 goals I have for 2010.

1. GET a job. This is a no-brainer. I've been unemployed since my job in Quebec finished 14 months ago. I've applied to hundreds of jobs already, not a single call back. I need to focus on actually getting one.
2. Move. I know Brandon is not a prime location for future opportunities, so I need to find something that is outside of the city. If it means moving to Winnipeg, so be it. I am open to moving to Winnipeg, Ottawa, almost anywhere in Quebec and even the Maritimes.. if it means employment.
3. Lose weight. Every year is different, sometimes I lose weight without noticing, or gain weight without noticing, but I need to lose it.
4. Cut down on the beer. I'm hungover as usual
5. On the other hand.. I want to start a 52 week Beer project, where I try one different beer a week, whether it is something new or something I've had before. It would be interesting. Go from Kokanee to Red Stripe to Hoegaarden to who knows what.
6. Travel more. I need to discover more of this country, I need to learn more about my own backyard. Also, I need to travel to new places. Road trip anyone?
7. Cook healthier. I need to stop relying on frozen tv dinners and other frozen foods. This also goes with moving, as it's impossible to cook healthy food in this building as people steal your cookware. I want to make homemade stuff like cookies, bread, and steak in a dark beer marinade.
8. Be more confident, open up more, evaluate who my friends are. This is a big one I need to work on. I know I'm not confident and I need to work on that. I need to open up more since I usually keep everything to myself. Lastly, I need to evaluate who is/is not a friend as I need to stop getting screwed over time and time again. I would prefer it if they would just already delete me from facebook instead of keeping nights at the bar a secret to me, and if they think I'm whiney or a fat loser, TELL ME, instead of saying it on someone else's god damned Facebook wall where everyone can see.
9. Improve my French and learn more Spanish. People think I'm fully bilingual in English and French, it's not true. I've been learning French all my life, but I still can't write an essay without looking at my Bescherelle or my French/English dictionary.
10. Get my finances on track. I'm sick of being broke, sick of not being able to save money for the future. I need to start saving money, put money into the future. Also, stay away from buying stuff I don't need (ie a brand new computer when the newest Apple product comes out.. seriously).

Political manure

Mon héro!, originally uploaded by Cody La Bière.

As many of you know, I recently graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science back in the spring. During the past 6 years, I was fairly involved with the political scene locally and at times federally. I've seen wheelin' dealin' going on in politics, lots of "WTF JUST HAPPENED?!" and whatnot.

At one time, I was a big fan of the PC Party... while the party near its demise was no longer a very right of centre party it used to be, by its end it was just an alternative to the Liberals. Like many supporters, I just couldn't support the party when the merger with Harper's Alliance occured.

So what did I do? For six months I started to think what party I was aligned with most. I was confused.. I even signed up for "more information" from the NDP, but I never joined the party. I ended up getting coerced into joining the federal Liberals.

You see.. for most of my life when I was interested in politics, I hated the Liberals as most of their policies were anti-West, pro-Ontario/Quebec. I've seen alot of bullshit go on because of these policies, but I had to swallow my ego and just move on with life.

For 5 years, I had a membership with the Liberals. I even met Stéphane Dion only weeks after he announced his intention to run for the leadership of the Liberal Party. I had known at that time that he would be the next leader of the Liberals. While he was indeed nerdy, he was able to relate his 5-step plan for the environment for the farmer-based audience he was speaking to. The farmers were convinced, as the policies would increase interest on the prairies (ie production of ethanol). 6 months later he was crowned leader of the Liberals.. but he was a weak leader at best.

So look what happened.. the Liberals tanked in the polls because Stephen Harper and Mike Duffy were able to make Dion look bad, so he was pushed to resign as leader. Ignatieff was now the leader of the Liberals.

For four and a half years, all I ever heard was this man named Michael Ignatieff was poised to win the leadership of the Liberals. His supporters said how Iggy was the outsider messiah for the Liberals, who will return the Liberal to the majority style governments of the early 90s.

Well.. that will never happen. Just looking back at the four by-elections this week. The Liberals did aweful in each of the four ridings. Sure it's just a by-election, but still, it's bad on Ignatieff. What's the Liberal Party going to do? Their support is not going to go up, it is only going to go down. Ignatieff will never be Prime Minister of Canada. Plus it's too late to "form a coalition" as we now realize that the West hates the idea of a coalition, unless if the Conservatives back it ;) 

So when the next election happens, whenever Harper or Iggy pushes it, Harper will still be leader, the Liberals may LOSE seats in Quebec, lose its only seat in Manitoba (which is inevitable) and the Liberal Party will be scratching their head wondering where they went wrong.

They will be looking for another leader to replace Iggy. By then, the NDP will be much more stable of a political party than the Liberals will be. The Liberals need to get a leader/team who can make HARPER look bad instead of Harper making THEM look bad. The party needs to refrain from becoming a revolving door of leaders going from having Chrétien stepping down as leader in 2003, Martin in 2006, Dion in 2008, and Iggy sometime within the next year or two.

I will not be renewing my membership with the federal Liberal Party at the end of the month. I have no need to as all I ever get is letters asking for donations, and letters from the provincial wing of the Liberal Party (sorry but I just don't support you, I'm involved with another party). The party does not deserve my money. Plus Ignatieff trying to force an election in September was poor politics. That plus the lack of actual leadership in the Liberal Party, and a lack of direction is why I will never be a member again, until the party can get its metaphorical head out of its metaphorical ass! Get a leader who IS competent, one who can relate to the Canadian population, who is someone who you would like to have a beer with. Until that happens, the NDP is more likely to become the official opposition in the near future.

Photo of the day - November 12, 2009

Lookout the Bobcat with no eyes, originally uploaded by Cody La Bière.

Lookout the Bobcat

Photo of the day - November 10, 2009

Lone prairie camel, originally uploaded by Cody La Bière.

Photo of the day for November 10, 2009.

Lone Prairie Camel. Her name is Sara, she is one of the only "camels" on the Canadian prairies. According to her plaque:
"This camel is emblematic of Manitoba's only desert* 10km North on PTH #5"


Sara can be found in Glenboro, Manitoba along the #2 highway.



*Kind of bit of a lie. There's a bit of a desert/sandhills near Lauder, MB, although it's pretty small

My life according to the Weakerthans

The Weakerthans - festival d'été (Quebec City, Quebec) - July 4, 2008, originally uploaded by Cody La Bière.

Pick Your Artist: The Weakerthans

Using only song names from ONE ARTIST, cleverly answer these questions. Tag 15 people. You can't use the band I used. Try not to repeat a song title. It's a lot harder than you think! Repost as "my life according to (band name)"

Are you a male or female?:
None of the above (LOL!)

Describe yourself?:
Anchorless

You feel like?:
Greatest Hits Collection

Describe where you live:
One Great City

If you could go anywhere,where would you go?:
Sun in an Empty Room

Your favorite form of tranportation?:
Left and Leaning

Your best friend?:
Plea from a cat named Virtute

You and your best friends are?:
Aside

What's the weather like?:
Slips and tangles

Favorite time of day?:
Night Windows

If your life was a TV show,what would it be called?:
Civil Twilight

What is life to you?:
Tournament of Hearts

Your fear?:
Hymn of the Medical Oddity

What is the best advise you have to give?:
This is a Fire Door You never Leave Open

Thought for the day:
Sounds Familiar

How i would like to die:
Bigfoot!

My soul's present condition:
Pamphleteer

My motto:
Confessions of a Futon-Revolutionist

Dix chansons que j'aime!

la nuit à Québec, originally uploaded by Cody La Bière.

French music from Quebec is very underrated outside Quebec. While many fans of Canadian music know of Cœur de Pirate and Malajube, there's many musicians that get overlooked. Here's 10 songs from Francophone Quebec that I love!

1. Les Cowboys Fringants - Les Étoiles Filantes. A nice mixture of traditional French folk music mixed with a bit of pop to it. Great band, very catchy songs!
2. Damien Robitaille - Homme autonome. Well Damien is actually a Franco-Ontarien, but I just had to include a song by him in the list. His songs are always very catchy. This guy is going to go FAR in the French Canadian music scene!
3. Les Trois Accords - Dans mon corps. Honestly, the first Francophone band I have ever been interested in was this band back in 2005. Their song Saskatchewan is a fricken classic. But they're back with a brand new album.
4. Pépé et sa guitare - La solution. One of my favourite joual speaking musicians. He's a blast live, and his songs are so catchy that I saw 200k drunk-as-fuck people on the plains of Abraham at 3AM slurring his songs word for word. It was a great time (minus getting trampled on).
5. Mononc'Serge - Saskatchewan. Who doesn't love to make fun of the Gap province? As a Manitoban, I had to include this song. So true
6. Robert Charlebois - Entre Deux Joints. Robert Charlebois is a legend in Quebec. EVERYONE in Quebec knows who he is, what songs he sings, etc. It's like Burton Cummings in Manitoba. He would even look a bit like Burt if he grew a stache. He had major influence on the Quebec music scene, and at one time he co-owned the greatest brewery in Canada, Unibroue!
7. Jean Leloup - Tangerine. Like Charlebois, Jean Leloup was very influential on the Quebec music scene. I discovered Leloup's music back in 2006 when he went back to his real name for an album, Jean Leclerc. For some reason I suspected that they were the same person, but never realized it. That was one of the only concerts I missed while in Quebec City that I really wish I never missed.. he's a freaking legend in Quebec.
8. Omnikrom - Danse la poutine. This song makes me laugh each and every time. Only in Quebec would there be someone rapping about poutine!
9. Les Vulgaires machins - Être un comme. One of my absolute favourite rock bands from Quebec, always rocking, all the time!
10. Les Prostiputes - Je veux danser avec toi. This bands name is a play on words, so each time I read it, I get a chuckle from it. You can easily guess why. Les Prostiputes, likes Les Vulgaires machins are a great rock band.

These 10 songs, along with many many many other songs have influenced my tastes today, and I have been able to accept Franco-Canadien music into my life regularly. Heck.. most of the albums I buy now days are by French musicians. A band doesn't have to sing in English to sound "good", because a language doesn't define the greatness of a band. Listen to music that makes you happy, makes you try to sing the words, even if you can't speak the language!

Stuff Cody Likes - November 2, 2009

Ra and the Weakerthans, originally uploaded by Cody La Bière.

I can't believe how old this blog is.. but time for Stuff I Like!

• Live Music, this includes classic rock bands such as Trooper to indie rockers like Dan Mangan or The Weakerthans
• Chocolate Danishes from Tim Hortons. Tim Hortons here in Brandon, MB now stocks the delicious treat at one of their locations, it's the greatest! Previously, I had to stop in Portage la Prairie or Winnipeg if I wanted a chocolate danish, but no longer!
• Les Trois Accords. Check out their new music video for Dans mon corps. LINKY
• Halloween treats on sale! I just bought a package of 125 mini chocolates (Kit Kats, Coffee Crisp, Smarties and Aero) for $7.30, when it was being sold for Halloween double that price. MMMMMMM!!
• Bande à part. I love the site, and personally, I like it more than CBC Radio 3 for choice of music. But I had a rift with one of the employees/interns for me running a Bap fan group a year back.
• Blanche de Chambly. I had my first Blanche de Chambly in many many weeks for Halloween, that is liquid wheat gold!
• My Burton Cummings costume. The costume was very popular, people LOVED it, people recognized exactly who I was without even looking at my tshirt. I guess it helped being from Brandon, Manitoba where the Guess Who's 2000 reunion concert is still talked about. Edit: Now don't go asking me to grow a stache for Movember, I'm not going to do it as I've many people say they'd pay me not to grow a mustache!

How music changed my life..

Apres Les Breastfeeders, originally uploaded by Cody La Bière.

This is long.. but frankly, I haven't been a fan of music for that long, usually we like music at a fairly young age. However for me, I didn't start to like music until around 1998, at the age of 13. I never had been a fan of music prior to that mainly because we only had farmervision and my parents didn't really ever listen to the radio.

The first band I ever became a fan of was Sloan, their hit Money City Maniacs was dominating the charts in Canada. I loved how it sounded, starting off with that alarm. Who knew this song would be one of many that changed my life.

Fast forward a year to 1999, Lenny Kravitz has a mega-success (and a grammy) with his cover of American Woman, this song would change my life. I didn't realize that this song by Mr Kravitz was actually originally a song by a group from Winnipeg! I became a big fan of the Guess Who almost immediately. I even watched the Guess Who's first concert in almost 20 years live on TV while they were playing at the Pan Am Games closing ceremonies.

The Guess Who changed my life. I was able to branch out my musical tastes, from there I became a fan of Neil Young, Big Sugar, Bachman-Turner Overdrive, Trooper, and from there.. it exploded.

At this time, I was a numismatist.. an expert on coin collecting, and no I will not buy that penny off of you for a dollar. I still more than you ever will about it. I even published SEVERAL articles, and even won awards for it.. but when I started to discover music.. I had no more time for numismatics.

Over time I became bigger fan of music, I saw the Guess Who, Alice Cooper, and a few other bands over time.. but since I lived at the farm.. I couldn't really go to concerts. When I finally got to university, I was going on regular trips to Winnipeg just so I could see a live show!

I discovered a website called CBC Radio 3 back in June 2003, I found out the site thanks through Macromedia (now Adobe) profiling the site as their site of the month. I was a fan of their combination of stories plus with untapped Canadian music. That's where I first heard the Weakerthans. How would I have known that this site would have changed my life alot?

Well this site CBC Radio 3 started podcasting a weekly music program once a week back in spring of 2005, I listened since the same week it first came out.. although I'm many many many months behind as it is. Thanks to CBC Radio 3, I was able to branch out my tastes even more. From there I discovered bands such as Novillero, The New Pornographers, Weakerthans (as I said before) and Stars.

In 2006 I took a "French Music" course in university, we learned the music of Jacques Brel, Serge Gainsbourg (featuring Bridgette Bardot for many songs), and Quebec legend Robert Charlebois, we were expected to know what the songs were about, the theme, etc. This is where I developed an interest in French music, and honestly.. I like to think I'm an expert at some of it. I became a HUGE fan of the Quebec scene.

I went to Quebec City for the first time in 2006, they have a concert festival there every year called the Festival d'été (Summer Festival), the fest features big name acts to local up and coming acts. One of the bands on the list was called "Les Dales Hawerchuk", I nearly peed myself laughing when I saw that. However only weeks later I discovered bande à part. I became a huge fan of not only that band, but also Les Trois Accords, Les Breastfeeders, and many others.

I've written many reviews, blogged alot, taken alot of photos, met many bands, been interviewed through CBC and through other mediums about music. I've been told that I need to get into the music industry. Maybe one day.. maybe one day.

Music is in my soul, its in my blood, I have made more friends though music than I ever have through politics clubs or though university courses. I've even met people randomly at concerts (such as Le B!)

I am so greatful that music has influenced my life, it's that one thing that has always been there. Whether I'm homesick in Quebec City to facing a breakup to being bored driving down the Trans Canada heading back to Pipestone.

I'm thankful for the friends I have met thanks to music, some of them are musicians themselves. I have made alot of connections, I have gotten alot of great opportunities thanks to music. One day I hope to meet Mr Grant Lawrence and Mr R3-30 in person, as I've heard their voices on the interweb, on CBC Radio 2, and through podcasts for many many years, they seem like a member of the family to me, since I hear them so often.

I heart music, whether it's music in joual to music in three different languages (ala We Are Wolves/Nous Sommes Loups). Vive la musique!

5 Reasons why I Love/Hate concerts!

Oh Garbage Tree, Oh Garbage Tree, originally uploaded by Cody La Bière.

At a concert, it can be a very enjoyable time, or a very aweful time, depending on the music, around the environment, etc. So here's 10 reasons why I love concerts and hate concerts.

LOVE

1. When a band/musician you love is playing all your favourite tunes, it's always an enjoyable time, you sing every song word for word, have the best time in the world.
2. When bands have autograph sessions, it gets much of the audience talking after the show. I find that a band cares about their fans if they have an autograph session or stick around for a bit after the show.
3. Say if you're in a different community, but at a packed venue, almost always you will be with people who are just as big of fans of the musician as yourself! I remember one time being at a Les Dales Hawerchuk concert in Quebec City and this guy walks up to me.... all because I had a Winnipeg Jets t-shirt on! We discussed hockey and music for easily 10 minutes, really cool guy!
4. Merch! For me, I try to make a habit of getting a tshirt or poster after the show. It gives me a memory of the show. But for me, I rarely ever wear a merch tshirt because I just want to remember the night!
5. Encores! One of my favourite parts of a show. At almost every gig, it's expected of a band to play an encore. It's always fun, whether the band plays a few new songs or the hits, people always an encore. 
6. Bonus: I LOVE live music. As Neil Young said on "Union Man:" live music is better, bumper stickers should be issued!

HATE

1. Alcohol. I love drinking a beer at a venue, but most of the time when people drink at a concert, there's going to be people who make an ass of themselves, they're not there to see the music, they're there to get plastered! At one concert I was at, this 50 some year old lady was trying to get up to the front of the stage and she was wasted a bit too much, she spilled half her cooler all over my clothes. At times I wish it was a dry event, but then again, I do love beer.
2. People who budge in line/crowd. Whether you're waiting for the concert venue to open up, in line to get a beer/merch or just near the front of the crowd watching the concert. I hate when people push their way through, say if you are in a very snug spot as it is, then a pair of drunken buffoons come on by pushing you so they can get up closer. Alot of the time they'll yell at the stage with "play x song" (lots of times its not even a song the band plays!)
3. Merch prices! $50 for a t-shirt is a bit overkill. The most I ever paid for a t-shirt was $65 at a concert I paid $200 for a ticket to go see! I love cheap merch. $10-15 CDs and $20-30 t-shirts are always good! For cheap merch, I have seen tour posters sell from one dollar to twenty!
4. Bands that are asses to the audience. Dude! We're there to have a good time! Don't treat us like you don't want to be there! If someone's throwing alcohol at you or whatnot, you have a reason to be grouchy (that's another thing: here in Brandon: every concert I go to there's always one person who tries to throw alcohol at the bands).
5. Concerts on Sundays. Personally I have never been a fan of concerts on Sundays, particularly here in Brandon or in Winnipeg. I don't have an actual source of transportation so it's difficult for me to usually get to a concert. Any other day of the week it's better. Oh and Greyhound made me miss an hour of the Weakerthans before. Why? The last bus of the evening leaves at 11:30PM, while the concert is going on until midnight. So I have to leave at exactly 11PM so I won't miss the bus. But I just paid $30 to see that concert? Anywho, screw Greyhound! I hope they pull out of Manitoba for good.

Stuff Cody Hates - October 22, 2009

United Army S_rplus Sales, originally uploaded by Cody La Bière.

Here we go!

• Maple Bugs - they are some of the nastiest looking bugs ever known! They roam around areas with Manitoba Maple trees in the trillions, ugly, disgusting and they like to go on you.
• My "apartment" - Where I live, it's more like a dorm, you get your own room, but shared kitchen, living room and bathrooms. With this, this one guy, let's call him smelly, tends to watch TV 20 hours a day. He sits in the same chair each time too, a beigish Laz-e-boy. Well since he moved in, it's now brown. He never showers, so ya, you can see why he's named smelly. Other room mates like to bug you when you're eating. Personally, I prefer to eat my dinner in peace rather than people asking me a million questions. Same goes with watching the newest episodes of The Office. Leave me the F alone! Oh and my landlords are always around. The male landlord always sits on the couch, mainly because he's avoiding his wife (the other landlord), cuz she's um... annoying as fuck? He always changes the channels on you when you just leave the room for a minute, and steals your spot.
• Winter. I hate winter.
• Not finding a job - seriously, I'm sick of it. My resumé looks awesome too.
• Twitter - It's annoying. I also hate trends, especially the whole Balloon Boy/Kanye trends. Also, please stop with the fake death reports. Thank you.
• The single life - While it's nice to be single for the first time since I was living in Quebec City, I do miss the comfort of having a sweetheart by your side, who likes to cuddle, and do whatever the fuck in the world, always interested in what you have to say. No job and no girlfriend make things worse than just no job. Boo urns.
• The Simpsons since 1999 or so, seriously. Fire the Simpsons staff please, the writers are AWEFUL. Also while you're at it, fire the entire SNL staff, with exception of a few people. MacGruber can stay. Also why the F did NBC replace My Name is Earl with Weekend Update: Thursday Edition?

Stuff Cody Likes - October 20, 2009

Subway steak sub, originally uploaded by Cody La Bière.

Time again for another installment of shit that I like!

• Subway Steak Subs - The steak sub in the photo looks rancid or whatever, but Subway's Steak (or Steak n Cheese) sub they have in Canada is DELICIOUS! It's my alltime favourite Subway sub (even more than their limited time Parmesan Chicken Sub). I like it on an Italian (H)erb and Cheese bun, and with a drooling of their Barbecue sauce. It's a treat I love to spoil myself with. When I lived in Québec, I treated myself to this delight once a week. They have this sub in the US too, but personally.. it's aweful. First off.. they don't have BBQ sauce in the US.. cmon! Subway's BBQ sauce is sweet with a nice kick of spiciness! The one I had was FULL of meat (good), but the meat tasted very very salty (bad). Plus they put ketchup on the sub instead (bad). While I love ketchup with beef, it made the sub aweful. So next time you go to a Subway (in Canada of course), try their Steak sub!
• Samuel Adams beer - Usually I'm not a fan of American beers, but Sam Adams beers rock. I like their Wheat Ale and their Summer Ale the most, mmmm! Now if only they would bring it up to Manitoba/Canada!
• Weeds - Awesome TV show!

My photo of the day

Prairie sunset, originally uploaded by Cody La Bière.

I wish Manitoba still got cool looking sunsets like this.. this late in the year, but since Manitoba is on its way to having a very long winter, with too much snow. So it's gloomy, cold, and boring out. Plus the sunsets only last a very short period of time. Oh summer, how I miss thee!

Obsession with mobile technology!

Rogers Blackberry Pearl 8120 phone, originally uploaded by Cody La Bière.

Back in 2005 I worked for a call centre here in Brandon. I dealt with customer service (billing/tech support/sales) with a cellphone carrier in the US. While working there, I developed an interest in cellphones. Back then I had a Motorola C350 cellphone on Rogers. It was middle of the road for when I got it. It had text messaging/internet web capabilities. Plus back when I bought it, it was one of the only colour screen phones back then. Little did I know I would become obsessed with cellphones only months later.

Since I had an alright paying job at the call centre, I decided to buy a new phone. Something with power, something I can use to take pix on the go or whatnot. I bought a Motorola V635. The phone was a boring flip, but it was a nice phone for back then.. this was when the RAZR was starting to become HUGE.  It took decent quality pictures for back then, it had a 512mb memory card, and I could use my own ringtones!

In 2007 I upgraded to a HTC TyTn, which was a smartphone that had touchscreen capabilites. Finally.. I got my first PDA phone! I listened to alot of internet radio on it, such as CBC Radio 3. The camera was crap but I didn't care.. since I had a nice shiny new camera anyways. It was neat how I could customize the phone to my liking. It felt like a mini-computer! But the problem was.. Windows Mobile is a memory hog! The phone itself was aweful. I had to close multiple programs manually just so I could send a TEXT or make a phone call! I got sick of that phone soon later.

Then last year.. I got an iPhone 3G.. oh boy, it changed my life! It allowed me to finally use internet on the road, wherever I was, whether I'm on the Trans Canada near Portage la Prairie, or on the couch watching a TV show! it was an amazing device! I have never had a phone that was attached to me THAT MUCH in my life! I loved the ability to listen to web radio, send emails, listen to music, watch youtube, all without hassle! It cost me an arm and a leg, but it was worth it! I was planning on unlocking it so I could use it in the US under T-Mobile.. but my luck changed.. the phone DIED, it wouldn't make phone calls, it wouldn't access the internet. It was now a glorified iPod. Sure enough I called Rogers and they replaced it for free within 2 weeks!

Around the same time, I won a Blackberry Pearl from Rogers! This isn't your regular Blackberry Pearl candybar smart phone. Unlike almost all other Blackberries.. it had WIFI capability. This meant I could now use my phone on the farm just by using wifi. There's no GSM (Rogers) service at my parents farm, so whenever I wanted to make a call/text at the farm.. I was out of luck! The blackberry helped immensely. I made calls without having to go outside (to try to get SOME service), and text with ease.

Out of all the phones I owned, the only one I really enjoyed using was the iPhone. It's simple to use, very straight forward, and I have applications to customize it to my liking! So I can easily post photos to flickr while on the road, or as I said before, listen to internet radio! I found the Blackberry just slow and not really accommodating for the user. The TyTn loved to lock up every other minute, plus Windows Mobile is the worst mobile OS I have ever used. SO SLOW! Plus Internet Explorer on Windows Mobile is the greatest joke for an internet browser, ever! The Moto phones were good.. for someone who doesn't really ever use a phone. But if I was to use a Moto now, it would be too boring for me. I like to use the full internet whenever I want to, instead of WAP websites.. websites on WAP are just BORING! I'll always cherish my iPhone since it helped me when I was lost in a different city, it kept me in touch with my family while living in Quebec without internet, and it allows me to carry less devices while I'm on a walk. Now I no longer need to carry a cellphone AND an iPhone with me when going for a walk! It rocks! But now, I want to use the iPhone for more, I want to tether it to my computer.. only problem is that Brandon and Manitoba has only EDGE data outside of Winnipeg.. so the only speeds you get are dialup speeds! Very very slow :(

But what will be my next phone? Who knows, probably the successor the the iPhone 3GS. I would love to try out a Google Android device next, but personally.. I'd still be much happier with an iPhone either way. If I ever get sick of iPhones, I do know that I will never go back to Windows Mobile.. horrible OS. I feel sorry for those who have Windows Mobile phones that only have a touch screen.. those are hell to type on! Windows Mobile sure doesn't seem like an OS that should be in the toucheable market.