Habits change as we get older. For years, and with thanks to Segarini, my drink of choice was Jack’n’Coke. No matter where I went with a bar it was what I ordered. After high school I rarely drink beer, and, unless it was a quart at The Gasworks, or a tray of the old 10 ouncers at The Alpine, a JD was the weapon of choice.
We left you last week at the lobby bar of the Sheraton with Bobby Curtola, Jay Sparrow and Greg Godovitz. As with most conventions the premium site for socializing is the lobby bar (and, in more recent years, the outdoor smoking area).
Halifax has been on my mind for most of the week. I was worried for a lot of my friends as the monster Nor’easter was baring down on the city yesterday, but, as always, the city persevered. After the winter that most of the country endured no city deserved to be belted with 40 centimetres of snow and wind blast well above 100 km/h as we stare April in the face and are, at least officially, now in spring.
A year ago yesterday I was out a meeting at The Dominion Tavern when I, in a matter of about five minutes, missed three calls from different folks in Halifax.
The last place I imagined being in last Thursday night was at the Kool Haus along with about 2,500 guys who looked like they were at a casting call for Sons of Anarchy Season 7. The event was a Slayer concert.
A have a few out of town friends and we have a rule that if they are coming to Toronto, or if you are visiting their town, an email or text must be sent advising of said visit. It is by no means mandatory to spend time together but more of a “heads up going to be in your town, would love to have a pint but no obligation, and, didn’t want you to hear I was in town and didn’t reach out”. More often than not you find time in your schedule for said pint and a wee bit of a catch-up.
Before we go back to the Christmas playlist let’s recap the Rock’n’Roll Hall of Fame Class of Class of 2013. When the long list was revealed a few months back I predicted who would, and wouldn’t, be inducted this year. With the exception of Deep Purple I was pretty close to the mark picking my top five as Deep Purple, Randy Newman, Public Enemy, Donna Summer and Rush. All but the mighty Deep Purple were given the nod as well as the late guitarist Albert King and Heart. Congrats to all.
I have confused myself with the damn alphabet as I seem to find a way every week to work whatever artist or song into a column in some weird fashion. Right now there is a lot on my plate as we hit the homestretch of the planning for NXNE and I don`t have time to deal with the damn alphabet or whether or not I have confessed my love for `Candy`s Going Bad` by Golden Earring. Plus my s key snapped off the computer and my keyboard keeps shifting and screwing up punctuation.
Was (Not Was)
There might not be a more eclectic album in my collection than 1983’s “Born To Laugh At Tornadoes” by Detroit’s Was (Not Was). I mean tell me another record that has a list of guest vocalists such as Ozzy Osbourne, Mel Torme, Mitch Ryder, Doug Fieger (The Knack), Marshall Crenshaw and Sweet Pea Atkinson? Throw in some guitars by the likes of Vinnie Vincent (Kiss) and you have a stew of rock, pop, funk and torch songs. Although they had their biggest hit with “Walk The Dinosaur” in 1988 this is the record that defines David Weiss (Don Was) and Donald Fagenson (David Was).
Bullseye Records of Canada
Segarini: Don't Believe a Word I Say 