Gruesome Greg

If you missed me last week, it’s cuz I was too busy to blog due to staying up all nite–all weekend–checking out bands at Canadian Music Week.

With the Olympics in full swing, I didn’t wanna miss a gold medal performance by Canada to watch a black metal doc. (On the other hand, had they been screening Such Hawks, Such Hounds I woulda been seriously conflicted…) But as the Royal extended its run into early March, I started reading some of the reviews and interviews about the flick, and decided to check out its final screening on Thursday.

Alas, tis not a piece of VANOC-unapproved poetry by Vancouver poet laureate Brad Cran, but rather, a song from another B.C. artist that wouldn’t be allowed within shouting distance of the Games: the Dayglo Abortions.

Last week, I talked about my Thursday trip to Cleveland to see the mighty PENTAGRAM in concert. So, what did I do on Friday? Glad you asked…

It’s been about a week since I returned from The Mistake on the Lake, with many memories of my stay. The wildly energetic performance of almost- 60-year-old Bobby Liebling, the massive collection of artifacts at the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame–the bitchy cab drivers who didn’t wanna break a 20, the prying border guards who searched my bag… Well, they weren’t all fond memories. But all in all, twas a highly enjoyable excursion.

A couple years ago, I saw Blue Cheer at Sneaky Dee’s, in what turned out to be Dickie Peterson’s last performance in Toronto. (May he rest in peace.) Few musicians worshiped Blue Cheer as much as Bobby Liebling, the Pentagram singer who turns 60 this summer. In what could be another “last chance” gig, I’ve made the decision to catch Liebling and company on their January tour as it stops within driving distance of The Big Smoke next weekend.

Toronto hard rockers Ape have made it their New Year’s Resolution to go after A Primitive Evolution, a local band that goes by the acronym A.P.E. Presumably, they don’t have the cash to pull a Satriani and serve them at their next public performance. So they’ve decided to post on every message board they can think of — and maybe tear down a concert poster or two.

…that I’ll ever attend took place last nite, when the Dayglo Abortions made their annual January cross-country trip to the Queen Street venue. That’s no knock on The Matadors or Oi Polloi; between my work and radio commitments, twas the gig that best fit onto my calendar.

A little FYI for ya: I’ll be ringing in the New Year on CKLN tonite with my Top 10 albums of 2009.

White Cowbell Oklahoma is now 10 years old, which makes them the same age as a fifth-grader. As a collective unit, that is; there are at least a couple geezers in the band. I wasn’t aware that the oldest of them, the skullet-headed Sergeant, had left WCO, giving them one less voice, guitar, and rhinestone-studded cowboy outfit. (He was always the best-dressed member, too…) But alas, they’ve soldiered on with their slimmed-down lineup, and celebrated their 10th anniversary in style last nite at Lee’s Palace.