SOUNDTRACK: RHEOSTATICS-Fall Nationals, Night 5 of 10, The Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto (December 12, 2005).
This series of shows contains the final Rheostatics live shows that are left to write about–except for their “final shows” and their “reunion shows. This was the 5th night of their 10 night Fall Nationals run at the Horseshoe. Ford Pier was on keyboards.
This show is just under 2 hours. The site notes: “The entire audio had a major sound issue part way through “The Land Is Wild” and into “Superdifficult.” I used a Mark Slogget Soundboard mixed track to bridge the glitch. Better than just cutting it out.” I can’t even tell.
As the show opens, Martin says “Hi there. Shhhh.” And then plays a delicate “Digital Beach” which segues into a rather quiet “Earth/Monstrous Hummingbirds.” After which Martin says, ” I see what you mean by curveball night, Dave.”
Dave says that this is the Winter Nationals, the Traditional Monday Night Free for All. If we play any of these songs too well, you can always request a refund. This set will definitely feature excessive keyboard solos (it doesn’t really).
After an almost expectedly sloppy “Soul Glue,” Dave talks of playing a song from 1987, “Woodstuck” that they recorded on their first trip to Vancouver. I wonder whatever became of that recording. Ford talks about Ceez English (sp?) who produced that record and then became a porn mogul.
Introducing “P.I.N.” Martin says he has three chords, literally and the truth and a standup drummer and the Thundergod Tim Vesely.
Introducing “I Dig Music,” Dave says, “Were’ gonna fuck this up real good.” M.P.W. forgets the words to his part and then seems to make up some comical ones “Seymour Slime.” When it’s over Dave says,”Okay we know that now, let’s do it again.” Mike notes: “the long list of ‘Oh yeah, right.'” Dave then says that Martin will be starring in the biopic of Seymour Stein.” Martin is upset: “What? What are you saying about me in front of my friends?” “It’s the leather vest.” Much chatter about vests in general.
They move on to the most rocking version of “Sunshine at Night” that I’ve heard. There’s some really loud ripping guitars.
Dave says, “Here’s a hockey song. I vowed I would never write another hockey song, having written two books and a bunch of songs already. I’m a hacker. A hacker in everything I do.” The keyboards sound great on “The Land is Wild,” they add nice effects and accents.
Ford mentions that every night so far he has peed in the same urinal. So tonight he peed in the one with the picture of Garth Brooks. “Didn’t care for it.” Martin jokes: “It’s the tight tight tight jeans. Garth is th e puking stall.” Dave: “I saw on the TV that he got married to Trisha Yearwood.” Mike: “Trisha Urinal?” Martin: “She Pro-tools country, right? Autotune country. Robocountry.”
They play a quick and pretty “Superdifficult,” ironically (or not) with Martin’s robotic voice
Dave talks about the upcoming shows and promises that guest vocalist night will be the best one yet. And I’m not just blowing smoke out my ass or up your ass. Martin: “Do you have to be so vulgar?” Dave: ” It’s refreshing swearing at someone other than my children.”
They play a lovely “Try To Praise This Mutilated World.” I really love when they come out of the poem (you can really hear the poem on this recording). Martin agrees that he loves that song.
They play a slow and rather shambolic version of “Record Body Count.” At the end, Martin plays a groovy chord and Mike notes: “Sounds like he died in Reno.” Martin agrees, although he says Rio. “You can always count on that triangular A chord to make you sound jazzy.”
This leads to a really long “Desert Island Discs” with these picks:
Dave: Ramones-Rocket to Russia; Sly and the Fmaily Stone; Tom Waits-Heartattack and Vine.
Ford: Violet Archers-End of Part One; Martin Tielli-Operation Infinite Joy; (Mike: brown nosing) and the book on tape of Dave Bidini’s last book and Faceless Forces of Bigness DVD. Hey, I know who is signing the paychecks.
Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Ron Koop: Miles Davis-In a silent way; that new album by Pete Eccles-Party of One’ (Tim: remember you’re on a desert island by yourself for all of eternity. ) Can I change my choice? (Mike: no food, try and get albums that have food in them) Led Zeppelin 2.
Tim: Bob Marley-Survival; Ry Cooder-Paradise & Lunch; Vic Chesnutt–Is the Actor Happy?
Audience member: Rush-Moving Pictures; Rheostatics-Harmelodia; Elliott Smith-XO
Mike: Deep Purple-Machine Head; Gentle Giant live record from 1978; Steve Reich-Music for a Large Ensemble (Tim: definitely sounds like a party of one).
Martin: I don’t listen to music. Dave: “You’re more of a ring tone guy, right?” Mike: “What’s your favorite movie that you own.” Dave: “Hold on that’s different music.” They play a ripping fast song. Martin: “Local Hero, anything by John Cassavetes. I like movies, not music. Movies got it all. Music, pictures, sound, light and (ha ha) great acting.
Dave ends the song properly with the E minor chord and Martin says “I remember when you discovered how menacing the E minor chord is.” Dave: “That’s right, if my kids won’t eat, E minor.”
What’s on the platter next?
The French song? Tim doesn’t want to do the French song. Dave’s not going to remember the words to some song, he’ll do it tomorrow?
After “Power Ballad For Ozzy Osbourne” Dave says, “That’s Roger Lord on the keyboard. I mean Jon Lord.” Then Selina Martin comes out to sing “Dope Fiends and Boozehounds.” It’s followed by “Self Serve Gas Station” which ends with Martin playing a really rocking version of the song and then the band filling in while he solos.
They start “When Winter Comes” which turns into a with all kinds of things: a quick run through “Song Of Flight” (with some really heavy guitars) and then onto what sounds like Martin trying to play the “Four Little Songs” ending and then finally getting it where they jam it out. And then Dave begins the lyrics to the second section of “When Winter Comes” (in the blue Canadian winter). Dave ends there and says thanks, but Martin and Mike play a rocking ending to the show before they take an encore break.
Dave comes out to play “Song Ain’t Any Good” on solo acoustic. 3:37 Someone shouts out for “Holy Macinaw, Joe” Dave says that song is called “Horses” which makes people cheer, but he says, “this song’s not gonna come within 100 feet of that song.” At the end of the songs, Dave says, Tim we missed your bad drumming. Your good bad drumming you know what I mean.
Dave says “We have many Americans who come up to see us during Fall Nationals. This is Rich and Greg from For Wayne, IN. This is their big 5.” They ask for a picture of the band and then one of them all giving him the finger.” Mike notes that Taylor from Planet of the Apes And M*A*S*H’s Frank Burns are both from Fort Wayne, IN,. Rich and Greg sing “Take Me in Your Hand.” They’re okay, one of them is a little flat.
Dave then says, we’re going to do one and a half songs. And remember tomorrow is totally free. We’re playing with Kat Burns and Leeroy Stagger (and we’re gonna suck). Mike: Leroy Stagger? Really? He’s Caroline Mark’s hairdresser.” They play “Song of the Garden” and end the whole show with the ending of “When Winter Comes” (the warm Victoria ending).
It’s a solid show and almost 2 hours long.
[READ: July 12, 2017] Shattered Warrior
I haven’t read anything by Sharon Shinn, but I did recognize her name (and Ostertag’s as well).
The story is set in a village (presumably on Earth). Collen Cavanaugh’s home world was conquered by the Derechets, an alien race who are large and smart and have super strong technology. They are using this planet’s resources for fuel and weapons. And they take no guff from anyone–stepping out of line gets you work detail that will likely kill you.
Coleen’s family was very rich (they have a large house called Avon), but that couldn’t save them from being killed in the war (this is really dark story). So Colleen is by herself in a remote house. However, she must travel to the city every day to work (she has very little left).
One of the Derechet is nice to Colleen but the main boss Corvo is really nasty.
This was a pretty enjoyable story, but I had a few complaints about it. The first one I’ll start with right away.
The bad guys are named Derechets, there’s another bunch of gangs called Chromatti. Their existence is rather confusing. They fight each other mostly, but they also cause trouble for the non Chromatti citizens. And then , just to make things more confusing, there’s also a group of rebels called the Valenchi. But everyone says that Valenchi aren’t real.
So I had a problem with these three names Derechets, Chromatti and Valenchi which while not exactly similar are similar enough as to be confusing-sounding (they all have a ch sound in them, two of them end in i). I’m also not sure how to say Derechet. It’s also not entirely clear what’s up with the Chromatti until much later in the story but their presence is felt.
But the real problem I had with the story was the dialogue. It’s really heavy-handed. On page 13 Colleen tells Tim, “I’m not lonely.” On page 20 Tim says the only reason she comes to the city is because she is lonely. On page 23 a new character can’t believe she lives all alone and reiterates that she lived alone since her family was killed. Collen says “I’m fine.” Another character reiterates that everyone needs someone to love. And she ends the pages by saying “you should never let yourself love anyone because you’ll always lose them.”
As the story moves along, the Chromatti start hanging out near Avon and while most of them are reckless sad violent, one of them is very kind to Colleen.
So, most of the Derechets are mean to her, except for one guy who has a thing for her.
Most of the Chromatti are mean (they eventually smash in her house) except for the one guy who has a thing for her.
And then later, one of the other workers shows her how to do something she shouldn’t because he has a thing for her.
So there were some clunky parts of this story, but the main battle and planning sections were quite good. Colleen is informed that her niece, Lucy, was discovered alone and she is welcome to bring her home (for a price). Lucy’s mother was killed and Lucy has been by herself for years doing who knows what. She is distant and hard.
The title of the story comes from a constellation which the Chromatti guy who likes Colleen shows to her.
But the warriors are also the people of the home planet who want to get rid of the Derechets. They have found a way to strike back (and its pretty clever). But it’s going to mean joining forces with possible enemies and possibly fictitious rebels.
But what about all the men who love Colleen? How can she decide? Should she decide?
The ending is pretty satisfying. It doesn’t end entirely, but it sets things in motion for what might happen next. It makes me think there will not be a sequel (it doesn’t need one, really). And I was really caught up in the end of the story. Further, the artwork was great.
But I found the incessant repeating that Colleen was (or was not) lonely to be a bit much. And is she apparently the only pretty eligible woman on the planet?
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