June 2003

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larly enlightening address, but maybe I’m just bitter because he made fun of the Archers of Loaf. Despite briefly wandering off stage—mic in hand, lounge-act style—to talk to his friends in the audience about why they do what they do (for the music man, it’s all about the music), his discussion remains centred around five key suggestions for survival and success in the biz today. 1) Find or create your own opportunities. 2) Work with other people. 3) Treat people good. 4) Take risks. 5) Stay proactive. Pretty controversial eh? He really went out on a limb with this stuff.

2:15p.m. Chad Kroeger Artist Keynote @ The Commodore Ballroom

“Tt all comes down to song writing...the proof is in

the pudding,” proclaims Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger, who recently beat the brilliant Ron Sexsmith for best

Chad Kroeger making keynote speech

songwriter at this years Juno awards. There's no accounting for taste these days it seems. The self-pro- fessed “rock guy” goes on to do a little Can Con bash- ing and to offer up such pearls of wisdom as “it takes longer to learn pure talent,” “Jonathon, my Jewish partner has a huge’ problem with. me spending money,” and “I’m probably going to get in deep shit here but I don’t really care, I already have a record deal.” By the time he launches into his tirade on the evils of independent radio promotion, I have already drifted off to sleep in order to prepare myself for the long night ahead.

7:00p.m. Detachmgnt Kit @ Richard’s on Richards In true Richards style the doors open late and Detachment Kit have already launched into their set as people begin to file into the room. The lanky, loud, Chicago rockers go to town for an energetic—albeit brief—performance. Lots of jumping, yelling, and the requisite “pretty psyched to be in Vancouver” line quickly endears them to the fast-growing crowd. 8:30p.m. My Morning Jacket @ Richard’s on

My Morning Jacket

Richards

From the depths of the dense hair that shrouds most of the members of My Morning Jacket emerges some of the most exciting rock and roll of the festival so far. Surprisingly loud and lively in comparison to what I had expected from their recordings, this show has it all—from ferocious jams to forlorn ballads. After a long and well- received set the members exit the stage one by one until only the drummer remains, pumping out a killer solo that has the crowd grinning ~ and screaming for- more. Singer Jim James returns to the stage alone, bare- foot and buried beneath his unruly hair, to perform a couple of lovely acoustic numbers before bringing the full band back. James observes, “It smells like somebody is getting their weed on” before diving into their final songs. Naturally the crowd goes wild.

9:45p.m. Mariana’s Trench @ The Royal

Weee! Another line up. Flashing my faithful media pass, I make my way into the sweltering room. Too many people...can't breathe. What all the fuss is about I have no idea, sounds like typical, obnoxious, loud rock music to me. Must get out of here.

10:15p.m. p:ano @ CBC Studio 1 Hey :

Descending into the depths of the CBC I suid

find myself entering another world. A quiet oasis amidst the loud, sweaty, overcrowded venues of nmw. Here p:ano is playing dreamy, slow motion, ethereal lullabies in front of an enrapt and eerily silent crowd. A welcome change of pace, this peaceful refuge replenishes my energies and prompts me to actually shell out some cash for a CD for the fist time during the festival.

10:55p.m. Jerk With a Bomb @ CBC Studio 1

As video images of spacemen and the words “LIFE FUNCTIONS TERMINATED” flicker across the screens to the right of the stage, Jerk With a Bomb deliver a stellar set that balances gentle country flavour with full-on raging art rock. Very orig- inal, very refreshing, very nice. 12:00a.m. Day Theory @ The Penthouse

Miss most of their set, but when I arrive the band is shirtless and a scant- ily clad woman is precariously

that a good time was had by all. 12:20a.m. Alarmbell @ The Penthouse

Featuring Ryan Dahle (formerly of Limblifter and Age of Electric) this is apparently the highlight of The Penthouse’s. roster this evening. Personally I never much cared for Limblifter or Age of Electric and I see no reason to break that trend with

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Culture

Alarmbell. It decent enough from what I can remember, but it was late and I had already heard a whole lotta music, so I think I'll reserve judgement until I hear them under different circum- stances.

! Saturday May 24

8:45p.m. Kevin Kane @ The Royal

I am a sucker for a guy alone on stage with an acoustic gui- tar. And if that guy just hap- pens to have written “All the Things I Wasn't,” one of the prettiest songs ever, well that’s all the better. Looking quite dapper in a well-worn grey pinstripe suit and his trade- mark curls, Kane takes the stage 45 minutes later than scheduled—but not surpris- ingly, he is well worth the wait. His intelligent brand of well-executed folk rock is a great way to start off what is sure to be an action-packed evening.

9:30p.m. Tennessee Twin @ The Railway Club

I am setting up shop in the back smoking pit, watch- ing the monitor and impatiently waiting for Tennessee Twin to begin, when I realize that they are already playing. Apparently the monitor was not on— oops. Given tight time restrictions I can only try and listen to them quickly on my way out of the club.

was

Jerk With A Bomb

Photos by Angela Blattman

Kevin Kane

What can I say...uh, I remember a girl singing what sounded like pretty country-fried songs.

9:50p.m. The Penthouse

Fearing a capacity crowd that even the magical media

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