WESTBOUND AND DOWN

A call from Eagle-Com Marketing in Delta, BC brought me and Janice to the West where I spoke about Christian radio to our agents and a group of ministry reps. Great meeting Elmer Hildebrand from Goldenwest Radio whichs owns CHVN in Winnipeg, and others.

After the day in Delta, Brett picked us up and took us to White Rock where we went searching for "a good time, not a long time" - but no luck. However, the wharf and scenery were beautiful.

Later we drove to Seattle for two days of sightseeing. And here are some of the sites.

EMP, Seattle - the music museum - Kurt Cobain's much used sweater and guitar.

The Compound - owned by Tooth and Nail - where Brett works.

 EMP, one of the displays is a photo gallery dedicated to the 1972 Stones tour.

 Mars Hill Church, where Brett handles audio on a team of 14, not including musicians.

 EMP, the setlist from the last show performed by Nirvana.

 Found a gym - Rain Fitness. It was awesome!

 Leaving the gym, this view of the Space Needle, with a Coke truck on the way! Mmmmm!

 The Space Needle. It's big. Very big. I spent an extra $10 for a VIP pass, which walked me around the 40 minute line-up, directly to the elevator. Bah ha ha!

 The Gum Wall, downtown Seattle. Patrons jam their gum on the wall before entering the theatre.

 Janice enjoying the Gum Wall.

 Me, with Elmer Hildebrand of Goldenwest Broadcasting.

 Janice, me and Catherine Robertson of Eagle-Com Marketing, who initiated the Western visit.

  Me and Brett, on the Wharf of White Rock.

 The Compound where Brett works.

The Compound, the studio that produced "The Coldest Heart" by The Classic Crime, "The Title Track" by The Fold, and "Godspeed" by Anberlin.

 Just outside of Oak Harbor, Washington - Deception Pass - the gateway bridge to the island.

 EMP, Eddie Van Halen's Kramer Guitar.

 Janice and me, at Golden Gardens, in north Seattle.

 View from the ficticious Frasier Crane's condo.

In Oak Harbor, where Gretyl Baird (Brett's wife) is from, and me in the Flintstone Mobile.

MUD VOLLEYBALL 2012

A great day at Mud Volleyball. JP Smits did an awesome job of organizing the event. It's the first year for a concert performance, outside, in the afternoon, complete with pro-staging! Dan Bremnes performed a great set, ending with U2's "Where The Streets Have No Name".  

Jason Dunn, formerly with Hawk Nelson, did a solo set, but I missed that, unfortunately.  I was a little concerned I might get dunked in the mud and wisely brought a change of clothes - but they weren't needed. Bah ha ha!

The action was held in a field in Kimberly, near Flesherton, basically a couple concession lines past nowhere. 

Always great to partner with Mud Volleyball and the great team at Gentle Shepherd!

Above, Cory, James, Juan, Dan and Tyler.

Cory from Langley and Juan from Columbia.

Dan, debuting "Hear Your Voice" - his new radio release!

Juan, James and Dan.

Juan and me, prior to the show.

Once we got him of skype, Juan's solos were blistering!

Tyler from New Brunswick on bass - keeping it solid.

Organizer and mascot - JP Smits, after a swim in the creek - and me. He's already brainstorming next year's event which will be bigger and muddier than ever!

LIFE SUMMER SHIN-DIG

We were shin-digging in the heat in the Oro Station Super City Centre off Lake Simcoe.  A smashing fun time in the sun with a live band featuring the Luke Langman Orchestra, fun on the seadoo, catered dinner - and parking tickets courtesy of the Oro Station Ministry of Party Poopers.  Swell.

Good fun. Here's what we captured on film.

 Junky Rhodes schmoozing with staff and living it up!

Kyle Jenkins (3SN host) - man, what a bod! 

The Luke Langman Music Experience - with Erik on bass and Frank on drums. Luke and the boys played some originals, some impressive covers and - I think I heard George Thorogood!

 Various LIFERS and unrelated associates - Steve Jones, Paul Firminger (88.1 Toronto), 

and some people I don't know. Maybe drifters.

 The party-people - Tim Maassarany and Andrew Hamilton in centre.

 Andrew and Steve - and the gang in the background.

 Glen Sye (LIFE sales sitting, me standing, Junky texting, still.

Janice, me and the poodle.

Me, Kyler and Janice.

PEOPLE KNOW YOU BY YOUR FIRST NAME

I don't know what is happening to me. I'm listening and loving COUNTRY music! Tonight I went to see Dean Brody in Gravenhurst - I loved it!  I used to think country music was adored only by hicks, with trucks and all the other stereotypes. Haha!

Dean is a B.C. native, who moved to Nashvegas and after five years he decided he missed Canada and came home. He's a proud Canadian - "Canadian Girls" is his newest song.

Country music is alot like Christian music - it's a lifestyle genre. People live the lifestyle and there's a connection between everyone. Dean's songs remind me of John Cougar Mellencamp - country-rock with singalong lyrics.  In Christian music Relient K and The Rocket Summer evoke the same audience participation with their singalong songs.

The five-piece band were tight and love playing together.  And with only 300 people in the sold-outaudience, and mixed ages, it felt like a massive campfire of 300 people - and everyone singing the songs!

"People know you by your first name, and what kind of truck you drive...."

THE NEW SPIDERMAN

It didn't live up to the hype. Not even close.

I'm amused when actors with British accents take on American accents. It blows me away! Knowing that, I wait for them to slip up in their dialogue. Andrew Garfield pulled off a fabulous Bronx accent. I thought it was convincing.

Let's compare Andrew Garfield to Toby Macguire. Toby - just can't act. I've watched a number of his movies and it seems like he plays the same guy in every movie and I'm never convinced he's into the role. He just reads lines.

When he was introduced in 2002 as Peter Parker, he was ok. I thought his portrayal was a lovable, sweet kid. Garfield plays a bad-ass version which is evident by his actions - no skateboarding in school halls, which he does anyway, and referring to breaking secrets "they are the best kind". It's a different Peter Parker - and that's ok. Despite the difference in portrayal, Garfield is far more convincing than Macguire.

The best scene in the movie (photo above) is near the beginning in the subway car where Peter Parker is discovering his gifts while they are out of control. Fast-paced and funny, and you feel the experience.

The worst scene would be everything after the first hour. It's super fast-paced, non-stop action that doesn't let up. Add to it the loud audio track of crashes and thrashes and I found myself numb to the excitement because it didn't stop. Then I got tired of it. Then I just wanted the movie to end.

There's no Mary Jane. There's no newspaper storyline. His webbing super-power is created by Peter, not part of his DNA. All of that is fine. Different is good. But different without sucking in the viewer is kinda boring.

The memorable scene in Spiderman 2002 was "the kiss" - with Spiderman hanging upside down in the alley. It's become "one of the best kisses in film". I read that somewhere.  In Spiderman 2012 there are no scenes that even match that. 


Uncle Ben, who projected "goodness" in the first movie ("With great power comes great responsibility" - almost quoting Luke) - is watered down and to "use whatever gifts you have, wisely".

Here's the verdict:
Andrew Garfield - yes.
The CGI's - awesome.
The script - meh, ok.
The character development - poor.
Oh, and Sally Field? Oh dear... time has not been good to her.

MICHAEL SWEET

Michael Sweet turns 49 today. Wow - happy birthday!

I was at a music showcase in Nashville many years ago. It was the year everyone in the industry was buzzing about the new solo album by Michael Sweet.

At the evening showcase there were 6 performers, each playing a couple of songs for the captive crowd of radio people - DJs, PDs, MD, plus sponsors, other artists, booking agents - all industry folk, probably 400 in total.

I remember 4 Him performed. It was nice. Very inspirational. I've forgotten the other artists but it was "nice".

Then the roadies did a set change and the atmosphere changed. A new vibe of excitement swept through the auditorium. Older people were moving back and young fans were pushing up to the front. I was in the second row, waiting to see this guy - Michael Sweet.

The lights went down. Concert lights heated up the stage, followed by a couple of anthemic power chords and then - BLAM!  Michael Sweet was there!

He rocked it! It was exhilarating. In the front row were the boys from Whitecross, all fist-pumping and cheering on their friend on stage.

After six songs it was over. I was dripping in sweat and buzzing from excitement. The only thing I could compare it to was the first time I saw Springsteen, before the fame, when the power was real and the vibe was electric.

I bought Michael Sweet's album. It was, and still is - amazing! It's one of the few albums I can listen to from beginning to end - and love it all. Today, it's a bit dated - it's the classic rock, semi-metal, hair-band rock - and it still excites me!

Happy 49th Michael!