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FinaL Fantasy aka Owen Pallett, July 16, 2005, The Blue Room, Peterborough, Ontario.

See what happens when you turn 26!!!

You go to a small show, in a small town, and stay up too late, then sleep the entire day after. I feel like I sometimes live in an old age home, all I ever do is sleep and eat. The Final Fantasy show last night in The Blue Room at the Trasheteria in P-Town was incredible, except for the the extremely late start time (doors at 10pm?) with the first band (a guy with an acoustic guitar, that sung like Mr. Cobain, and a turntablist) starting at midnight. I felt like I was at Lee’s, minus the Toronto hipster crew. Final Fantasy finally hit the stage at a little after 1am. His set consisted of tons of new material, none of which he played at the Danforth Music Hall show and tons of older favourites. The new songs were amazing, with Owen layering more and more violin and percussion (knocking on the back of the violin to create drum-machine like rhythm) to create a visceal wall of sound. His vocals were strong as ever and the show pinnacled with an audience request (…it was me) of Mariah Carey’s “Fantasy”, which had two incredibly drug neanderthals disco dancing at the food of the stage, and the crowd all singing along. Owen started the cover by saying he didn’t think he could do it without someone singing back up, but he was wrong because it sounded better than ever. He also covered a tune by Joan Of Arc (but I have no idea what’s it’s called) and it too was equally brilliant. I also want to say thanks to the idiot that decided to walk right in front of me during “This Is The Dream Of Win And Regine”…I was using my digital to take video of the song, in an attempt to post it here, but alas, the jackass’ head filled my entire screen for the last 45 seconds of the show. Oh, by chance if the guy who taping the show via digital camcorder reads this, can you contact me, I’d love a copy. At last, here the the pictures from last night:

I absolutely HATE that work gets in the way of updating, I think I need to just start doing it while I’m at work. So here’s what happened in the last week:

Stream DCFC’s new single “Soul Meets Body” from their upcoming album Plans, here (or download it from various torrent sources).

Tons of shows have been confirmed for Toronto:

September 10, 2005 – Stellastarr* – The Horseshoe (according to this site, this show has been postponed, and a new date is TBA)

September 16-18, 2005 – Ear To The Ground Festival - Already Confirmed: DFA1979, The Hidden Cameras, RJD2, Kid Koala, The Frontier Index, Tricky Woo, LAL, Holy Fuck, Saul Williams and The Old Soul – Early Bird tickets for the entire fest on sale now for only $40!!

September 18, 2005 – The National w Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! – Horseshoe Tavern

October 1, 2005 – Antony and the Johnsons w CocoRosie – St. Pauls Trinity (Tickets On Sale Now)

October 9, 2005 -The New Pornographers - The Docks (WTF!!)

October 18, 2005 – Franz Ferdinand w TV On The Radio - Ricoh Colisseum (On-Sale August 20th $36-$42)

Not to mention the DCFC are planning an North American tour for October (lets hope for a small to mid-sized Toronto venue and no Docks!!!)

Pitchfork has news on the Xiu Xiu/Devandra Banhartsplit 7″.

Tonight I’m heading out to the boons aka. Hickville aka. Peterborough to see Final Fantasy at the Trash. I’ll post pics when I’m back.

Brandon Flowers of The Killers joined New Order onstage at T In The Park!!! Mr. Flowers must have been in idol heaven!!!

New Order’s setlist:

’Regret’
’Krafty’
’Crystal’
’Transmission’
’Atmosphere’
‘Waiting For The Sirens’ Call’
‘True Faith’
‘Bizarre Love Triangle’
‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’
‘Temptation’
‘She’s Lost Control’
‘Blue Monday’

WS confirm that “My Doorbell” from Get Behind Me Satan will be their next single, and it will include live tracks recorded on their South American tour.

The Decemberists announce massive US tour, including amazing supporting bands (Sons And Daughters!!!). The Toronto date is slated for October 13 at the Phoenix.

Missed your favourite artist’s performance at LIVE AID 8? Check them out here(in Quicktime) here.

Lauren Hill reveals the real reasons she left the Fugees here. I think she’s a little jaded.

TinyMixTapes has new dates for the New Pornographers tour in support of their new disc Twin Cinema.

Anyone know where to download torrents of Being Bobby Brown?
Email me.

Stream the first episode of season five of the Surreal Life here. This year’s cast is amazing, I can’t WAIT to see Janice Dickinson and Omorosa go at it.

Babyshambles has been pulled as support for Oasis’ UK tour. Seems that Mr. Doherty was a no show for his first show, so the Gallaghers have replaced him with the Zutons. Ms. Moss must be keeping him very busy.

DCFC have posted the tracklisting for their new album, Plans, due out August 30, 2005. Seth Cohen wannabes the world over hold their breath in anticipation.

Now Magazine talks to Ian Parton, ringleader of The Go! Team about their sampling problems. About two weeks ago, Owen Pallett (Final Fantasy) was their coverboy, and discussed Rufus Wainwright, videogames, and his fear of going solo. Check it out here.

Here’s a picture of the cottage that we stayed at while away on vacation. I needed to get away from the city, and in terms of music and literature, I had a very productive time. I read two books while away, Love Monkey by Kyle Smith, and A Million Pieces by James Frey. Love Monkey was the perfect cottage read, light, easy and it didn’t really make me think. It’s in the same vein as High Fidelity and follows the love life, or lack there of…, Tom Farrell, a 32 year old writer for a tabloid, cleverly titled, Tabloid. Farrell is your typical manboy, too into his music and himself to hold down a steady girlfriend, and when he finally finds the one he wants, she’s taken. Smith has been described as the boy verison of the girl who wrote the Bridget Jones series, books for men about relationships.
A Million Pieces in a dramatic memoir of a 23 year old in rehab trying to concur his drug and alchohol addiction. I’ve been obsessively into memoirs this past year (I have inhaled all of Auguesten Burroughs and David Sedaris’ books), and this one is by far my favourite. Unlike Burrough’s Dry, Frey’s A Million Pieces put me in Frey’s fucked up shoes, I felt like an addict trying to kick my vices. His storytellying is suberb.

Rocking the iPod for the last four days:
Xiu Xiu - La Forest (Chromewaves has news about another show in Toronto in September!!!)
Wolf Parade – Wolf Parade EP (Pitchfork finally reviewed it today)
Sufjan Stevens - Illionois (9.2!!!)

Back from the cottage.
I was boling some corn on the stove and watching the one channel the television there could receive. The news was on, and they were covering the London transit bombing. I can’t believe they struck again.