Rural Alberta Advantage by ipickmynose

“Wow” “…wow. That was … great.”

I was backstage at the Bottom of the Hill for the ipickmynose presents show with the Rural Alberta Advantage. It was just me, Nils and a guy named Travis from KALX–Amy and Paul had gone back to their hotel to change. Travis had asked Nils to do a quick acoustic song to accompany the interview they just did and after a brief misstart Nils stunned me with a version of “In the Summertime.” He finished and after a long pause I could barely choke out a compliment.

the Rural Alberta Advantage – In the Summertime (acoustic) (mp3, for KALX)

If you like this you should also check out the solo piano version of the song on the RAA’s daytrotter session. And, of course, I highly recommend buying the original version if you don’t have it yet.

Nils from the Rural Alberta Advantage at the Bottom of the Hill

One may wonder how I’m so lucky. I often wonder the same thing. A great going away party has all your friends, plenty of good conversation, and maybe some beer if you’re into that sort of thing. Add to that an intimate, acoustic performance by one of your favorite musicians and it’s really hard to describe how amazing the outcome is.

John Vanderslice (myspace) did just that for my going away part. He and Jamie Riotto (on upright bass) played about an hour with no mics or amplification whatsoever. The gathered audience, sitting on the floor of my cleared out Mission apartment, was entranced. There was hardly a sound except for thunderous applause and “woos!” after each and every song. Figuring that the effect of having this show in my own apartment and for me had skewed my perspective, I said to a number of people afterwards “that was pretty good, right?” Every single one of them corrected me: “No, that was amazing.”

Thanks, JV, for making it a wonderful evening an unforgettable one. And if you were in the audience, thanks for coming. These videos and photos don’t do it justice, but they’re something I’d like to share here anyway.

Romanian Names from ipickmynose on Vimeo.

White Plains from ipickmynose on Vimeo.

Lucifer Rising, by John Vanderslice from ipickmynose on Vimeo.

I have a signed set list among my prized possessions but unfortunately I don’t have a scan of it handy. I will add it to this page eventually.

JV, by the way, has a new 7″ coming out with “Too Much Time” on it. You can get it from Dead Oceans. They’ve also posted a demo version of the song, which is flippin great:

John Vanderslice – Too Much Time (demo) (mp3)

This is emphatically not a return to form. I’ve been sharing songs with friends and I thought it was a bit silly to not share them here too.

colo(u)rful houses in Bo Kaap

I quite like this Alberta Cross song. The whole album is good, too, though I don’t love every song.
Alberta Cross – Low Man (mp3)

Volcano Choir is a side project of Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon. This track was not what I expected, but it’s quite catchy/ good. And Justin’s vocals are wonderful as always.
Volcano Choir – Island, IS (mp3)

Soul Sides has been posting some fantastic stuff lately and you’d be remiss to not check it out. Bobby Freeman’s “Good Good Lovin’” is a classic blues-based, Motown-sound track with a hard driving sax part. They posted two tracks by the Metros and both are excellent soul tracks, but I like the dark, swaggering “Since I Found My Baby” better.

They also posted these oh-those-are-funny videos of Lushlife doing acoustic covers of classic hip hop tunes. They are so funny, until you realize they’re actually quite compelling. For example, this Jay Z cover:

I definitely am going to keep my eye out for Mayer Hawthorne after a few tracks of his I heard recently. Grab the breezy, oldies- and Motown-inspired “Your Easy Lovin’ Ain’t Pleasin’ Nothin’” at MBV.

I don’t know much about Monogrenade but I quite like folky The Acorn-reminiscent track “Ce Soir” that Anyone’s Guess posted.

The B-side of the Very Best 7″, “Yalira”, available here, is beautiful and worth the listen.

I’ve been listening to the Frightened Rabbit Daytrotter session a lot. The featured version of “My Backwards Walk” is great.

And, finally, if I’m posting, I feel it’s my duty to mention the great KevvyKev’s (one of KZSU’s own) 25th anniversary Bang the Drum concert with 25 DJs and 25 MCs. It’s definitely another impressive line up. Check out all the details.

boats in Kalk Bay, False Bay

Starting with an impromptu invitation to John Vanderslice four years ago, I hosted a string of a dozen and an half bands on KZSU, including some of my favorite local bands. I’ve decided to compile some of my favorite songs from those sessions into a digital album that I’m offering here for free. I’m really excited about this and I hope you enjoy it half as much as I am.

The download includes mp3s of all the songs, the album art as a jpg and a special cut-out version of the album art* as a pdf that you can use to create your own album sleeve if you want to burn album to disc.

IPMN KZSU: the Ipickmynose sessions (zip file, mediafire link)

Here’s the tracklist:

1. Joe Pug – Call It What You Will [recorded 11.20.2008]
2. The Dodos – Fools [recorded 7.11.2007]
3. The Ian Fays – Lemon Tree [recorded 5.28.2008]
4. John Vanderslice – Dear Sarah Shu [recorded 8.25.2005]
5. The Botticellis – Betrayed [recorded 5.14.2008]
6. Beatbeat Whisper – Lulu [recorded 6.6.2007]
7. The Light Footwork – Exit Row [recorded 12.13.2006]
8. Two Sheds – You [recorded 5.21.2008]
9. John Vanderslice – Dead Slate Pacific [recorded 7.25.2007]
10. Geographer – Rushing In, Rushing Out [recorded 4.30.2008]
11. The Morning Benders – Loose Change [recorded 6.6.2007]
12. Or, the Whale – Crack a Smile [recorded 2.27.2008]
13. Toromiro – Last Couple [recorded 2.25.2009]
14. Winterbirds – Cold Hand Killer [recorded 8.20.2008]

Special thanks to: the bands, of course, for playing great sessions and creating some special music. To Smurph for engineering the sessions. To Andy and Dave for helping get together the album and make it much better than what it was in raw form.

* Astute observers will realize this album sleeve idea is influenced by the One AM Radio’s An Assembly CDr EP, which I recommend you download as well.

Song obsessions are those songs that we listen to on repeat. I noticed that my obsessions are often a week long. I also thought that other people might have similar obsessions. I’ve collected a panel of a few like-minded individuals and gotten their “song obsessions of the week.” Quite often it’s easy to explain why the song is good; it’s much hard to explain why we’re obsessed. Maybe you’ll become obsessed with one of these.

–

Adrian (me):
John Vanderslice – Dead Slate Pacific (mp3) (buy)

I’ve had various versions of this song running through my head for the last week. I’m not sure what has kept it stuck in my head–the Pacific isn’t even the ocean I’m flying over in a few days–other than it is a gorgeous song.

–

Keith:
A Girl Called Eddy – The Long Goodbye (mp3) (buy)

For my money no female singer in recent memory does pain, longing and regret like Erin Moran of A Girl Called Eddy. We’ll miss you Adrian!

–

Yup, this blog is going on hold very shortly, so this will be the last song obsession post.

Posted every Thursday, On Sale Soon is a weekly series of the tickets going on sale that weekend.

Where to get tickets: The Independent, Great American Music Hall, Slim’s, Fillmore, Shoreline, and other Livenation venues, the Warfield. Another Planet booked venues like Greek Theatre @ Berkeley, Palace of Fine Arts, etc. Bimbo’s.

This is the last week of this series. Enjoy while you can.

On sale now/ Thursday July 30:
9/18 Sea Wolf @ Slim’s
9/26 Blowoff @ Slim’s

10/14 Great Lake Swimmers @ Great American
10/18 The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, The Depreciation Guild, Cymbals Eat Guitars @ Great American

On sale Friday July 31:
11/15 Playing For Change @ Palace of Fine Arts

On sale Saturday August 1:
9/3 Mos Def, Erykah Badu @ Davies Symphony Hall
9/19 Jack’s Mannequin, Placebo, The Gaslight Anthem, The Airborne Toxic Event, The Limousines @ Event Center at San Jose State University

10/17 Brother Ali, Evidence, Toki Wright, BK-One @ Slim’s

On sale Sunday August 2:
9/6 Wavves, Ganglians @ Rickshaw Stop
9/8 David Cook @ The Fillmore
9/9 GLAY @ The Fillmore
9/10 Brendan Benson @ Great American
9/12 Michael Franti @ the Fillmore
9/15 Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, Fool’s Gold, Local Natives @ The Independent
9/24 Manic Street Preachers @ The Fillmore
9/25 Galactic @ The Fillmore
9/25 Fishbone, Living Colour @ the Regency Ballroom/ the Grand
9/25, 9/26 Tainted Love @ Bimbo’s
9/29 Crown City Rockers @ The Independent

10/2, 10/3, 10/4 Dark Star Orchestra @ the Fillmore
10/2 Collie Buddz and The New Kingston Band, Devin The Dude @ The Independent
10/3 Shinedown, Sick Puppies , Cavo and Adelitas Way @ The Regency Ballroom/ the Grand
10/5, 10/6 Billy Bragg @ Great American
10/6 The Cave Singers, Lightening Dust @ The Independent
10/9 A Hawk and A Hacksaw, Damon and Naomi @ the Independent
101/10 Buju Banton, The Shiloh Band and New Kidz @ The Regency Ballroom/ the Grand
10/10 Satyricon, Bleeding Through, Toxic Holocaust, ChthoniC @ Slim’s
10/10 Kyle Hollingsworth Band, Zach Gill @ The Independent
10/16 Wax Tailor @ Slim’s
10/17 Monsters of Folk @ Fox Theater
10/25 Gossip @ The Regency Ballroom/ the Grand
10/31 Swingin’ Utters, Throw Rag, Thee Merry Widows @ Slim’s

11/3 Atlas Sound, Broadcast @ Great American
11/5 Hanson, Hellogoodbye @ The Regency Ballroom/ the Grand
11/10 Over the Rhine @ Great American
11/30 The Vic Chesnutt Band @ Great American

–

Double check all information as venues and promoters often change on-sale times and days up until the last minute.

Or, the Whale @ Cafe du Nord during Noise Pop 2008

This week there are a couple cool events with lots of good local bands.

Friday hols Regional Bias, the Bay Bridged’s benefit show, in store for us. Two bands that I always enjoy live are playing: French Miami and Or, the Whale. I’ve seen both of these bands in recent weeks (and many times in the past) and they both put on excellent shows. John Vanderslice is also DJing. Tickets are $15-$30 if you buy now, or $20-$30 at the show.

(Incidentally, Or, the Whale have a new album coming out in September and they have three of the new songs streaming on their myspace page. Also this video/ mp3 session by Luxury Wafers is worth checking out. )

Or, the Whale – Prayer for the Road (live) (mp3, Luxury Wafer session)

7/31 French Miami; Or, the Whale @ Verdi Club, 7:30pm, $15-$30, 21+

French Miami @ SxSW

On Saturday you can go to Dork Fest at Cafe du Nord. Though I thoroughly disagree with the premise of the event (”Looking out across the cultural landscape of San Francisco there appears a disheartening absence.”) I still think it’ll be a good show. French Miami are also performing at this show, along with the Heavenly States and Railcars who I’ve been meaning to see–I’m intrigued by their experimental rock.

8/1 the Heavenly States, French Miami, Railcars @ Cafe du Nord, 7:30pm, $12, 21+

Posted every Thursday, On Sale Soon is a weekly series of the tickets going on sale that weekend.

Where to get tickets: The Independent, Great American Music Hall, Slim’s, Fillmore, Shoreline, and other Livenation venues, the Warfield. Another Planet booked venues like Greek Theatre @ Berkeley, Palace of Fine Arts, etc. Bimbo’s.

On sale now/ Thursday July 23:
8/13 Slowfinger, Orchid, Nylon Heart Attack @ Slim’s
8/17 Dickey Betts & Great Southern @ Slim’s
8/28 Hammers of Misfortune, Ludicra, Amber Asylum @ Great American

On sale Friday July 24:
10/29 Joshua Radin @ Great American

11/9 The Raveonettes @ Bimbo’s

On sale Sunday July 26:
8/17 Third Eye Blind @ Fox Theater
8/28 Marilyn Manson @ The Warfield

9/3 Brave Combo, The Pine Box Boys @ Slim’s
9/4 Mew @ The Independent
9/9 Cass McCombs, The Papercuts, Girls @ Great American
9/16 Arctic Monkeys @ Fox Theater
9/17 Phoenix, The Soft Pack @ The Warfield
9/18 Method of Defiance @ the Regency Ballroom/ the Grand
9/23 Dance Gavin Dance, Emarosa, Of Mice & Men, Tides of Man @ Slim’s
9/23 Revolting Cocks @ The Fillmore
9/24 OM, Lichens @ The Independent
9/24 The B-52s @ The Regency Ballroom/ the Grand
9/25 Billy Talent, AM Taxi @ Slim’s
9/25 Kid Koala, Adira @ The Independent
9/27 Blitzen Trapper @ The Independent

10/11 Dolores O’Riordan, Jeremy Lister @ Great American
10/15, 10/16 The David Bromberg Big Band @ Great American
10/17 Why?, Mount Eerie, Au, Serengetti & Polyphonic @ Great American
10/22 Echo & The Bunnymen @ Fox Theater

1/30/10 Nile @ Slim’s
–

Double check all information as venues and promoters often change on-sale times and days up until the last minute.

the Dodos at the Independent

There were a couple good albums streaming for free in their entirety. I recommend checking them out.

the Dodos Time to Die
Their third album is being released in physical form in September but the digital release is at the end of July. I’ve listened to it a few times through and it’s good. While there are definitely duds (mostly I’m thinking of “This is a Business”), but there are also songs that show the band continuing to write great songs (e.g. “Troll Nacht” and “Fables”). The Dodos are a great live band that’s also figured out how to put their songs on record in a convincing manner.

the Dodos – Fables (mp3)

You can pre-order it from insound.

Riceboy Sleeps Riceboy Sleeps
This is a fairly new project Sigur Ros frontman Jonsi and his boyfriend Alex. I was already obsessed with “Boy 1904″ and I loved “Happiness” on the Dark was the Night compilation. I’ve listened to this ambient-but-melodic album five or six times over the last couple days and I’m definitely going to buy it when it comes out.

Jonsi & Alex – Boy 1904 (mp3)

You can pre-order it from insound.

Posted every Thursday, On Sale Soon is a weekly series of the tickets going on sale that weekend.

Where to get tickets: The Independent, Great American Music Hall, Slim’s, Fillmore, Shoreline, and other Livenation venues, the Warfield. Another Planet booked venues like Greek Theatre @ Berkeley, Palace of Fine Arts, etc. Bimbo’s.

On sale now/ Thursday July 16:
7/30 Cava, Latin Dub Stars, Bayonics @ Bimbo’s

8/20 The Toy Soldiers, Battlehooch @ Slim’s

10/17 MGMT, MSTRKRFT, Girl Talk, Passion Pit @ Treasure Island
10/18 The Flaming Lips, The Decemberists, Beirut, Grizzly Bear, Yo La Tengo @ Treasure Island

On sale Friday July 17:
10/18 Rob Thomas @ Event Center at San Jose State University

On sale Sunday July 19
8/24 Pete Yorn @ The Fillmore
8/28 Opio & Pep Love, Bicasso, Cambo, The Understudies, JB Nimble, Venture Capitalists & Ro Knew Influence @ Slim’s

9/10 The Doobie Brothers @ The Fillmore
9/10 Perpetual Groove @ The Independent
9/17 World, Inferno Friendship Society @ Great American
9/17 Monotonix, Anavan @ The Independent
9/18, 9/19 Citizen Cope @ The Fillmore
9/29, 9/30 Mason Jennings, Crash Kings @ Great American
9/30 SOJA @ Slim’s

10/1 Datarock @ Slim’s
10/8 Teenage Jesus & The Jerks, Mika Miko, T.I.T.S. @ Slim’s
10/15 Moby @ the Warfield
10/16 Ani DiFranco @ Zellerbach Auditorium
10/22 Heart @ the Warfield

11/5 Mat Kearney @ The Fillmore
11/25 Vader, Goatwhore , Decrepit Birth, Warbringer @ the Regency/ Grand

–

Double check all information as venues and promoters often change on-sale times and days up until the last minute.

Okay, it’s just preposterous to call this a June mixtape. But I have something planned for July already.

You can download the zip file with the following:
1. mp3s of the songs
2. liner notes (pdf)
3. playlist files (iTunes txt file and an m3u file)

(for the iTunes file, simply import all the songs to your library and then go to File->library->import playlist and then select the song list (the txt file). you should now have the 2009june in your iTunes with all the songs in the correct order).

Go ahead and check out the playlist (below) or the liner notes.

Adrian’s June 2009 mixtape (mediafire link)

If you like the artists or songs, I suggest supporting them by buying their music, going to a show, buying merchandise from them or at least telling other people about them.

The playlist:

1. The National Wasp Nest
2. Octopus Project Wet Gold
3. Bombadil So Many Ways to Die
4. Silver Scooter Goodbye
5. Weezer I Just Threw Out the Love of My Dreams
6. Grand Lake Concrete Blonde on Blonde
7. Leo Kottke The Driving Year of the Nail
8. Joe Pug A Thousand Men
9. The Woodlands Until the Day Dims
10. Two Sheds You (Live at KZSU)
11. Gillian Welch Look at Me Miss Ohio
12. Jeff Mangum My Dream Girl Don’t Exist
13. Oh No! Oh My! I Have No Sister
14. the Magnetic Fields All the Umbrellas of London
15. The Album Leaf Over the Pond
16. Mogwai Cody
17. Unwed Sailor Ruby’s Wishes
18. Riceboy Sleeps Boy 1904

For the latest ipickmynose presents show, the Rural Alberta Advantage (myspace) and Half-handed Cloud (myspace) played the Bottom of the Hill last Thursday. Okay was scheduled to be the middle band but had to cancel due to illness.

Half-handed Cloud went on a bit later than the original start time due to the schedule only having two bands instead of three. The growing crowd was getting a bit restless. John Ringhofer played a half a dozen instruments–banjo, omnichord, percussion and trombone among them–sometimes accompanied by pre-recorded instruments on a tape player. He played his quirky, short and cute folk pop songs in a straight-forward but endearing manner. It was a fun set.

The venue was getting pretty full by the time the Rural Alberta Advantage went on. Having just come off their CD release two days prior and very positive review from P4k among many others, the band was obviously basking in the glow of the new attention.

Playing most of Hometowns with a couple new songs thrown in, the band came out and gave it their all. From the audience members around me, I literally heard gasps at the band’s performance, particularly Paul’s intricate and barely-contained drumming. When the RAA hit “Don’t Haunt This Place”, their third or fourth song, I don’t thing there were many at the show who were left unconvinced at the greatness of the band’s live show.

They were very appreciative throughout the show of the crowd and the reception they were receiving. And the audience was receptive–it felt like everyone was leaning forward just to be a little closer to the band.

At the end of the set, the band came out for an encore, of course. Nils led off with a convincing solo rendition of “Eye of the Tiger” that turned into a sing-along. After the song, Nils remarked that he wanted to just keep repeating the chorus because it was so much fun singing with the audience. After another song, they left the stage again, only to be called back for a second, non-obligatory encore. It was a gorgeous version of “Sleep All Day”. All in all it was a fantastic show that I was proud to be involved with.

Posted every Thursday, On Sale Soon is a weekly series of the tickets going on sale that weekend.

Where to get tickets: The Independent, Great American Music Hall, Slim’s, Fillmore, Shoreline, and other Livenation venues, the Warfield. Another Planet booked venues like Greek Theatre @ Berkeley, Palace of Fine Arts, etc. Bimbo’s.

On sale now/ Thursday July 9:
8/23 J Tillman, Moore Brothers @ Cafe du Nord

9/21 The Get Up Kids @ the Fillmore

On sale Sunday July 12
7/28 Noisettes @ Rickshaw Stop

8/7 YACHT @ Rickshaw Stop
8/14 Sekouba Bambino Diabate @ The Independent
8/20 Daughtry @ the Fillmore

9/4 Alexander Spit & Overview, Trackademicks, J-Billion, Hopie Spits Hard @ Slim’s
9/7 Israel Vibration @ The Independent
9/9 Vivian Girls, The Beets @ Rickshaw Stop
9/11 The Lovemakers @ The Independent
9/11, 9/12 Hot Buttered Rum @ Great American
9/12 The Honey Brothers @ The Independent
9/14 Collective Soul, Black Stone Cherry, Ryan Shaw @ the Grand/ Regency
9/16 Every Time I Die, Bring Me the Horizon; Oh, Sleeper; Architects @ the Grand/ Regency
9/21 In Flames, Between the Buried and Me, 3 Inches of Blood, The Faceless @ the Grand/ Regency
9/27 Sondre Lerche @ Great American
9/28 Alice in Chains @ the Fillmore

10/4 Jolie Holland @ The Independent
10/6 School of Seven Bells, Magic Wands @ Slim’s
10/8 Toubab Krewe @ Great American
10/9 Ingrid Michaelson @ Great American
10/10 Tommy Castro Band & the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Revue @ Great American
10/20 Brandi Carlile @ the Fillmore
10/29 Deadmau5 @ the Grand/ Regency

11/7 Tyrone Wells, Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers @ Slim’s
11/21 Keller Williams @ Great American

–

Double check all information as venues and promoters often change on-sale times and days up until the last minute.

On Thursday I saw the Tallest Man on Earth at the Independent. Nathaniel Rateliff and the Wheel from Denver opened.

As I walked into the club, I saw that tables were laid out, covering most of the floor. I’d been to partially seated shows at the Indie before but I did not expect this show to be seated. It definitely changes the dynamic of the show to have people seated and spaced out as opposed to crunched up against the stage.

The Wheel opened the show. A five piece with two guitars (electric, acoustic), keyboards, upright bass and drums, they played a fairly subdued sort of indie country/ alt country. While I wasn’t completely enthralled, they did play a nice set and their songs were good. They had some particularly nice moments with three vocalist harmonizing together.

It was the third time I’d seen the Tallest Man on Earth in six months. And, yet, it was still an excellent show.

After a month long tour with John Vanderslice and touring on and off for most of the last year, he’s developed new and different arrangements for some of his songs from both the recorded versions and previous live versions. Kristian Matsson is an excellent performer that uses his songs, his multi-faceted voice and movement around the stage–sitting on his chair, walking up to the very edge and looking out into the crowd–to pull people into his songs. While he may not have the banter and stories of fellow Swede Jens Lekman, he’s a gifted showman. In the end the Rickshaw show in March felt more intimate and may stay with me longer, but this show was still great.

RAA show poster by Random Found Objects

Show info:

6/9 the Rural Alberta Advantage, Okay, Half-handed Cloud @ Bottom of the Hill, 9pm, $10, a/a

Here’s a reminder, for what will probably be the last ipickmynose presents show, the Rural Alberta Advantage (myspace) are playing a great bill at the Bottom of the Hill this Thursday July 9. Locals Okay and Half-handed Cloud (myspace) are opening.

If you’ve been reading this blog, you know my love of Rural Alberta Advantage is nothing new. In fact, they released one of my favorite albums of 2008, which will be rereleased by Saddle Creek tomorrow, July 7. I saw them twice at SxSW, including an incredible, breath-taking show at Central Presbyterian. They produce driving, often-raw indie folk about Alberta. Mark my word, they will put on a good show.

the Rural Alberta Advantage – Don’t Haunt this Place (mp3)

the Rural Alberta Advantage – Sleep All Day (mp3)

Okay play broadly folk music, but with some experimental and freak folk elements. When I saw them at the Bottom of the Hill last year, I enjoyed their set.

Okay – Natural (mp3)

Half-handed Cloud is a band I’ve been following for quite a while, since I saw him open for Sufjan years ago. With folk-pop songs for people with ADD, this will be a fun way to start the set.

Half-handed Cloud – Skip the Rope (mp3)

Ticket contest:

I have two pairs of tickets to give away. To enter to win a pair of tickets to this show, email contest [at] ipickmynose [dot] com by noon on Wednesday July 8 with “Rural Alberta Advantage” (or “RAA”) in the subject line. Make sure to include your full name somewhere in there–that’s what will be on the guestlist. The winner will be chosen at random from all that email in. I’ll email the winner on Wednesday afternoon. Get those emails in now! It’s easy!

the Rural Alberta Advantage by ipickmynose

the Interview

I spoke to Nils Edenloff, who fronts the RAA and writes about his experiences growing up in Alberta for their songs, by phone last week from his father’s house in Edmonton. It was the day after their very first Edmonton show and it acted as a homecoming show for Nils. He was obviously still basking in the experience. Despite the interview taking him away from time with his family, he was gracious throughout the interview. We spoke for almost half an hour in the end and I wish I could share all of it here, but due to practical concerns, here’s just some of what we talked about.

Adrian Bischoff of ipickmynose: So you’re back in Edmonton?

Nils Edenloff of the Rural Alberta Advantage: Yeah, it was sort of a homecoming show for me.

Adrian: Have you played there with the band before?

Nils: No, this is the first time we’ve actually been able to make it west of Ontario. So we’ve been [doing] a, sort of, Canadian tour. The Alberta show have been going pretty crazy.

Adrian: Yeah, I bet.

Nils: I never, ever would have expected that when we started this the response would have been so overwhelming.

Read the rest of this entry »