Will the Madness Never End?!?

Jeez-louise - will the madness never end.

Since my last post, things have been, as always, ridiculously busy. Only currently, even more so, my mind is getting frantic, as evidenced, by my excessive use of commas.

Trying to get stuff ready to fly out to Calgary tomorrow evening. Gonna emcee a wedding this weekend. Yikes.

Some highlights of the madness of these past few days:

1. Saw Cronenberg's "A History of Violence". Brilliant. Gory as hell and the sex scenes were emotionally graphic. In retrospect, that's far better than they typical sex scene in holiday: hollow and contrived.

2. Went to the Bruni's for Easter dinner. The Bruni clan rules.

3. I am burning out from working so much. Looked through my organizer. Of the 108 days that have passed in 2006, there have only been 4(!) days where I've not done something yoga related.

That's a lot of yoga teaching and training. It's gotten me razor sharp, but at this pace, if I keep on sharpening, I'm gonna round off the edge.

4. Heard a great quote on CBC from a graphic artist doing a comic book about Mark Twain and Nicola Tesla teaming up to fight crime:

"Thunder is impressive, but it is lighting that does the work" - Mark Twain

Look at the people around you. Do they tend to be thunderous?

I Have Seen the Future, and it is Final Fantasy

Hello - just wanted to write a quick blurb about a show Hil and I saw (with LK and AZ) this last Sunday at the Music Gallery.

Right now, the Music Gallery is my hands-down favorite for best music venue in TO - it's a tiny church on John Street, just off of Queen! I don't know how the people that put this event on were able to develop such a solid rapport with the church folks, but you can imagine the delight of hearing incredible music in a smaller church setting. Stained glass, sitting in pews, or for those that want to get closer, on the floor itself. Everything has such a "music first! make money for the promoter last" sort of feel.

Opening acts were interesting, as the show was called "The Man Show". First band, Mattias was BORING. Whatever happened to showmanship? One trick pony, uber boring band - Angela astutely pointed out how we could do that - ie play one-note melodies of straight up quarter notes.

Second act, was Mantler. Mantler is a keyboard playing, singer guy. Dressed in a top hat and suit, scruffy Mantler sang songs of beautiful poetic images, and with so much sincerity, that you couldn't help but love him. Reputedly big in Germany, it'd be nice to see Mantler get some Canadian support. (That name is a hindrance though: M + Antler, and you get Mantler?)

But the penultimate moment of the evening was Final Fantasy - aka Owen Pallett. Classically trained, super young, and brimming with creativity, Owen is currently one of the "big things" on the Toronto music scene. And with good reason. Using a loop machine, he is able to make the most devestating and beautiful sounds on a violin. Stuff that will make the hair on the back of your neck stand on end . For the first time, it's all rather dismaying seeing tiny Owen screaming into the soundbox of the violin to distort his voice, or pounding the housing like a drum. His songs are futuristic - at times avante guard and strange and then soaring into beautiful crescendos with a classical flavour. Contrast and colour, power and precision. This guy is incredible - ultra innovative, supernatural.

He should be touring more, as he seems to be releasing a new album.

If he comes to your neck of the woods, do not miss him.

You will be missing the future.

http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/features/artistprofiles/f/final-fantasy/

Advanced Hip Flexor Opening Technique

Why I Haven't Posted...

Hi Guys,

Well, it's been a whole slew of days since I last posted - and it's because I've been super busy.

Taught 16(!) classes this week... which for myself, is unheard of. I know some folks can do more, but I'm not that strong. But, it seemed like everyone needed subs at the last moment, and then some regular committments came back up too.

On the outside of that, been trying to get ready for Stu's wedding, as well as somehow, continually half-assing my english correspondence course.

Ridiculous how I get myself so busy. Was talking to Hil the other night about how it feels like we live more in a day, than some folks do in a week.

Is that good?

Sometimes...

j

Matchpoint: Riveting Social Tennis

Friday night, myself, Hil and the mighty Leslie K went to the Kingsway (great area!) to catch Woody Allen's Matchpoint.

While Woody's star has diminished of late (and deservedly so, for some lacklustre scripts and his perverse home life), I'd heard good things of this latest offering.

In a similar vein of seriousness to his other brilliant piece Crimes and Misdemeanours, Matchpoint is an incredible film. A tale of adultery, fame, riches, and more, Matchpoint plays much on the theme of how luck is something that is vitally important - even if it can't be accounted for. Luck can swing when one's life is in a balance.

While I could go to great pains and give a plot synopsis, it would really be missing the point at conveying how much I enjoyed this film. At times, the script is so tight, and the scenes so exact, that it "reads" like a Dicken's parable. This is Woody's finest film, and his craftsmanship is superb - note his masterful use of music to build tension, the shots that linger (Hil's point) and spot-on casting. Everyone in this film is perfect for the role - and the scene where an enviable Rhys Meyers tears apart Scarlet Johanson's shirt is worth admission alone. Caliente!

So, check it out. Matchpoint. Winner!