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!