Day One

I have survived day one of Way Home! I'm dirty and sweaty and don't have cell service, so I'll update once I can get a stable connection. Highlight of the day was Delta Spirit... Dissapointment sadly was Neil Young. He sounds great, but needs to give the Monsanto shit a rest. Photos to follow!!

Way Home, here I come!!

Greetings, faithful readers!

The rumours are true, I am off to Way Home this weekend! I'll be live tweeting (follow me @Heather_M01) and blogging the festival, so stay tuned for live coverage of Neil Young, Modest Mouse, Alt-J, and pretty much everyone else! Have any special requests for artist photos/videos/set lists? Let me know, and I'll make sure to check them out! Festival lineup can be found here!

Stay tuned!!

A Modern Day Cover Letter

Dear potential employer,

You're a record label who needs an executive assistant. You also just so happen to be home to a few of my favourite bands. I'm a music nerd, who just so happens to be well educated AND in need of a job. So far, I feel that we're a good match.

You need someone who's organized, efficient, and comfortable working in a fast-paced environment. Someone who's comfortable communicating with individuals and clients at all levels of the organization. Someone who can multitask and solve problems. Someone with an eye for detail. Someone who might point out typos they happened to notice while reading the ad for the job in question (it may be presumptuous, but I have an eye for details and I think this proves it).

 You're also hoping for someone who has stellar interpersonal skills, the ability to anticipate needs, someone who can collaborate and work well with others. You want someone diplomatic and engaging, who knows their way around a computer and who has maybe worked in the music industry before.

I still feel that we're a good match. 

Before going back to school, I worked in the heart of the tourist industry in Niagara Falls - the definition of a fast-paced work environment. For nearly 10 years, I cooked, tended bar, and served at some of the busiest restaurants in the area, where multitasking and organization weren't skills I learned, but methods of survival. Anticipating guest needs, communicating effectively, and collaborating with my team were necessary steps in making good tips. An eye for detail and a sense of urgency made my job easier. Despite the laundry list of things restaurant staff are responsible for, being diplomatic and engaging was always job one.

All of the skills I learned in the tourist industry trenches translated easily to Public Relations, the field of study I chose to pursue upon returning to school. And PR ended up being a fantastic gateway to the place I long for the most - the music industry.

While in school, I had the opportunity to intern for the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, which a lot of people found confusing at first (I'm a bit more Moneen than Mozart). I loved every minute of being involved with a not-for-profit organization committed to bringing music to the masses, even if the type of music wasn't what I was used to listening to. I also had the opportunity to undertake a second internship with Errant Entertainment, where my research, writing, and editorial skills were put to good use (check out my interview with Sumo Cyco here).

Alas, my days as an intern are over, but my thirst for being part of the music industry has not been quenched. This, potential employer, is where you come in. I'm passionate, organized, well versed in computers (Windows, Mac, all social media platforms, Google docs... I'm even learning HTML and CSS as we speak!), and I would be a great addition to your team.

In closing, thanks for taking the time to read my blog. I hope to hear from you soon. And if not, I hope you clicked through my blog posts and at least enjoyed what you read. Also, here's my favourite song by my favourite band (Yes I know this particular B Side wasn't released on your label, but I did really really enjoy Damage and can't wait for the next album).

Don't Quit Your Day Job - Musicians Before They Hit the Big Time

As some of you may know, I've recently graduated from a post-grad program in Public Relations. And, like most new graduates, I'm finding myself in that career limbo. I just completed a brief stint that allowed me to combine some of the skills I've learned in PR, some of the ones from HR, and ALL of the ones from my life as a restaurant brat. It wasn't exactly the PR job of my dreams, but managing a small restaurant was interesting, challenging, and frustrating. Plus, it allowed me to flex my culinary muscle. And it paid the bills.

I don't have that job anymore, but it got me thinking. Everyone has to start somewhere, and our favourite musicians are no different. Some jobs might have been a little more glamorous than others,sure. But from cooks to civil servants, strippers to upholsterers, hell even grave diggers, each of them paid their dues. So, in honour of starting somewhere, and in hopes of making it big someday, I bring you "Don't Quit Your Day Job - Musicians Before They Hit the Big Time".

1) Gene Simmons - Assistant to the Editor at Glamour and Vogue

Before his days of rock and rolling all night and partying every day, Gene Simmons worked at the top fashion magazines in the US. This may or may not come as a surprise; his hair and makeup are the stuff glam rock dreams are made of!

Love Gun
Detroit Rock City
I Was Made For Lovin' You

2) Debbie Harry - Playboy Bunny 

She really was dreaming during her 'pre-Blondie' years of the 70's at New York's Playboy Club. Harry admits that more often than not, she was half asleep thanks to experimenting with drugs. You'd probably need to be in order to handle the constant creepers.

Dreaming
Hanging on the Telephone
Atomic








3) Jack White - Upholsterer

Jack White was always somewhat of a musician, however his first paying gig was as an upholsterer in Detroit. After his apprenticeship, he opened up his own shop, Third Man Upholstery which boasted the slogan "your furniture's not dead." The business didn't do so well (some people didn't dig on the hand written poetry inside the furniture), and now thanks to Jack White and Third Man Records, "your turntable's not dead" either.

Love Interruption
Entitlement
Hotel Yorba







4) Rod Stewart - Grave Digger

On the morbid side of this list is everyone's favourite soft-rocker, Rod the Mod. Before joining the Dimensions, Rod Stewart worked at the Highgate Cemetery in north London. He maintains he did more plot marking and manual labour than physical grave digging, but it did lead him to a brief stint as a labourer at a funeral home in North Finchley.
Reason To Believe
Maggie May
Stay With Me

5) Courtney Love - Stripper

She's both loved and hated the world over, and she's probably the least surprising addition to this list. Grunge Princess Courtney Love did whatever she had to do to make it big. She began stripping at Jumbo's Clown Room in Hollywood in the early 90's to finance her band, Hole. Miss Love gained exposure, traveled, made the money she needed for her band, and picked up a heroin addiction to boot.
Doll Parts
Miss World
Malibu






6) Ian Curtis - Civil Servant

The late Ian Curtis worked as a civil servant in both Manchester and Macclesfield while trying to make it big with his band, Joy Division. The biopic Control tells the story of how Curtis met a girl in the dole office who also suffered from epilepsy. He was inspired to write the song Control after she had an episode in the office.
She's Lost Control
Love Will Tear Us Apart
Disorder

7) Morrissey - Inland Revenue worker

He was looking for a job and then he found a job as an Inland Revenue worker. Stephen Morrissey dealt in taxes before starting his early punk band the Nosebleeds. That didn't last long, however. After posing the question to NME "I work for the Inland Revenue - am I still allowed to be a punk?", he quit Inland to go on the dole and make music.
Everyday is Like Sunday
Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now
Bigmouth Strikes Again

8) Tom Waits - Pizza Cook


It didn't take long for Tom Waits to be promoted from dishwasher to pizza cook after he was hired at Napoleone's Pizza House in San Diego. It was the 60's, he was playing with the R&B/Soul outfit The Systems at the time, and the experience inspired Waits to write songs for his albums Small Change and The Heart of Saturday Night.
The Ghosts of Saturday Night (After Hours at Napoleone's Pizza House)
The Piano Has Been Drinking
I Can't Wait to Get Off Work (And See My Baby on Montgomery Avenue)

So, for all my readers out there who happen to be in the same boat that I am, remember that everyone on this list made it, and we will too. Use your situation as motivation to get to where you really want to be. Hold your heads high, keep the tunes cranked even higher, and keep on keepin' on. Jukebox Hero out!

Phil's Playlist - Songs That Remind Me of My Dad

Everything I know and love about music, I learned from my dad. He started teaching me as early as he could (Beatles songs served as my lullabies), and he introduced me to all of my favourite bands. And as I grew, I read his books about David Cross and John Lennon. I learned what I could about the stories behind our favourite songs. I memorized and dissected all my favourite lyrics. I discovered new and sometimes unusual (read: Kate Bush) artists. And I came to rely on the various albums that acted as soundtracks to our days and our rainy nights. To this day, one of my favourite things to do is turn the lights down, turn the record player up, and just appreciate the magic - something I've definitely picked up from my father. He inspired me to keep listening, keep learning, and keep discovering new music. Dad, I'm cool because of you. You've always been there to support me, and even when you're miles away, all I have to do is put on a record to feel your presence. Thank you for a lifetime of great music and unconditional love. Happy Father's Day!

The Beatles - Octopus's Garden

King Crimson - In The Court of the Crimson King

The Beatles - Come Together
Lou Reed - Take A Walk on the Wild Side
Jethro Tull - Thick as a Brick
Supertramp - Crime of the Century
Pink Floyd - Brain Damage

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Runnin Down a Dream
Kate Bush - Babooshka
Marianne Faithfull - Broken English
Lynyrd Skynyrd - That Smell
Dave Matthews Band - Crash Into Me
Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells
Traffic - The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys
Led Zeppelin - No Quarter

Coldplay - Politik

Fine Young Cannibals - Johnny Come Home 

Rock Out to Relieve Stress (and possibly save lives)

This post was originally written for the Hamilton Hive, and can be found here.

“You need coooolin’, baby I’m not foolin’…” Sometimes, stress really does get the best of us. Trust me, I'm the queen of anxiety, I would know. Sometimes, I don’t know how to handle it, and I know I'm not alone. And I know I'm not alone in being over some of the advice I'm given during stressful situations. Seriously, DO NOT EVER tell me to relax. It's a death wish. And I love when people shrug it off and say "I work out when I'm stressed, it totally helps". That's all well and good, but the reality of it is, I don't always have time for that. When it’s crunch time, sometimes all you have are five minutes to get your shit together. So what then?

GET THE LED OUT!

Now, I know this term seems like the exact opposite of de-stressing, especially because it is most commonly used as a request to speed things up, but hear me out. Getting the led out is also commonly how fans of the band Led Zeppelin refer to putting on their favourite album and cranking it up; rocking the hell out, and losing themselves in those five minutes of their favourite songs (eight minutes, two seconds if you put on Stairway). And they're on to something. Studies show that listening to music not only aids in stress relief, but has positive effects on our moods, and can even improve our memory functions. Most importantly, music of any genre stimulates brain activity, which aids in productivity. All it takes is one song to get you going, and it can be applied to any stressful situation, at any job, for music fans of any genre. For example:

You just can't seem to get going: You've already checked your email twice, you're out of new updates on your news feed, you're on your third cup of coffee for the day, and you still can't focus. You've got a fever, and the only prescription is a well-crafted playlist. Studies have shown that listening to music while performing repetitive tasks increases efficiency. Listening to music that’s familiar also helps you focus at the task at hand. So choose some old, up beat favourites at the start of your work day, and get ready to get things done. Try some LCD Soundsystem, Arkells, or Metric.

You have a clash with a co-worker or your boss: Nothing helps alleviate tension like a good old-fashioned sing-a-long. If you’re frustrated with a co-worker or want to avoid a confrontation with a boss, head to your car on your lunch break. Turn on your favourite song, turn it up, and rock out. Lose yourself while you’re pretending to be Debbie Harry, Jack White, or Mick Jagger. You’ll come back feeling relieved and more confident, and the increase in brain activity will help in discovering creative ways to resolve conflict. Led Zeppelin, The Strokes, and The White Stripes usually work for me.

You’re nervous before a presentation or meeting: Everyone has a certain song that makes them feel invincible. It might be that song that comes on at the end of your run that you find yourself running faster to. It could be the one that you always play while getting ready for a night on the town. Before a big meeting, if stress and nerves are taking over, step back and put on your iPod. Listen to a song you know will boost your energy and confidence. Like an athlete getting ready to take the field, you can pump yourself up before you have to perform. I used to listen to Basement Jaxx before wrestling tournaments in high school, but Public Enemy and Refused are also super helpful.

You can’t think of any new ideas: Ever hear of the Mozart effect? Well, there’s no better way to stimulate the brain than by listening to music – it stimulates the parts of the brains responsible for motor actions, emotions, and creativity. If you’re having trouble brainstorming, writing, or coming up with new ideas, throw on something classical, ambient or melodic. It has been suggested that listening to Mozart can increase the big C’s: creativity, concentration, and cognition. So turn it on, turn it up, and get those creative juices flowing! Get your Mozart on, or check out a couple of my other favourites from The National and Washed Out.

So the next time you find yourself faced with a mountain of stress, don’t run and hide. Get the led out! Reach for your headphones and partake in a little musical therapy. Your brain (and your co-workers) will thank you for it.

Songs in the key of Barb – A Mother’s Day post from The Jukebox Hero to her actual hero

Anyone who knows me knows how much I appreciate music. Growing up, there was never silence in our house; silence always provided the opportunity to put on a record. There was always a soundtrack to our dinners, to the thunderstorms that rocked Goodsir Cres, and to our afternoons spent cleaning the house (that specifically was Queen’s Greatest Hits – the one with the maroon album cover). It’s safe to say that my deep rooted love for all things rock’n’roll comes from my parents, specifically my mother. She’s the only woman I know who faithfully listens to Psychadellic Psunday. I’m so eternally grateful that my mother raised me on some of the greatest classic rock that the world will ever know (and not Garth Brooks). Lucky for me, my mom has pretty great taste in music... except for Bob Seger - let's face it, he kind of sucks. I suppose that everyone has their vices, I mean, I 'not-so-secretly' love disco and nobody gives me shit for it. But all crappy albums aside (and I do mean all... she has ALL HIS ALBUMS on vinyl), I’m so lucky to have someone support my interests so wholeheartedly. Someone who took me to concerts when I was little, someone who sang backup when I wanted to be Aretha in the car, and someone who turned her favourite Carole King album into my lullabies. I give my mother credit for a lot of things, and I regularly tell her how much I love her and how much I appreciate her unwavering support. What I don’t acknowledge regularly enough, however, is the fact that we’re kindred spirits. I couldn’t be more proud to be my mother’s daughter – I am all that I am thanks to you. So happy Mother’s Day mom, enjoy your day (and your playlist). I love you!

James Taylor – Sweet Baby James

Carole King – Tapestry
John Cougar Mellencamp - Pink Houses
The Rolling Stones - You Can't Always Get What You Want

Aretha Franklin – Respect

Joni Mitchell – California

The Guess Who – These Eyes

Simon and Garfunkel – America
Neil Young - Down By The River
Queen - Another One Bites the Dust

Chicago – Does Anybody Really Know What Time it is?

The Beatles – Here Comes the Sun

Buffalo Springfield – Rock and Roll Woman

Harry Chapin - Taxi

Carly Simon – You’re So Vain

Three Dog Night - Never Been to Spain
Van Morrison - Moondance

Bob Seger – Night Moves