aural fixation

I think it's time to take a break from rock shows. I've seen 25 bands over the last week-and-a-half, and, while a lot of them were fantastic and I'm glad to have seen them, I need to diversify a little.

And I don't mean going to the jazz festival, even though that's a great suggestion (Tortoise with Fond of Tigers? Bebel Gilberto with Sekoya? Amon Tobin? Hells, ya!).

OK, can I tell you how much Yacht kicks ass? It's true. One guy with a laptop and a mic, and it was one of the most energetic shows I've seen for a long time. Architecture in Helsinki was also particularly awesome. And, despite the lack of a crowd (until well later into the evening during the band that nearly put me to sleep), 011 was a lot of fun.

What I want to do is hear people talk about stuff. Or maybe just not always listen to music.

Tuesday night there's a lecture at the library on guerilla gardening (planting in abandoned lots illegally) that I will probably miss. And the new exhibits are all open at the art gallery, including that crazy huge "Monet to Dali" exhibit from Cleveland. Fuse is on Friday night (the all-nighter 6pm-6am) and, while I'm sure there will be talking tours of the new exhibits, there will also be DJs and bands playing, which means more music. Sigh. I just can't get away from it. (Life is so *hard*.)

Thursday night Rose Melberg is playing at Video In with Julie Doiron and Calvin Johnson, so I'll (gladly) have to see that. Wednesday is both a dance party fundraiser for an AIDS hospice that one of my friends is DJing and a lecture at the library for World Refugee Day (which includes some opportunity to feel what it's like to be a new refugee at the border). But the following week I'm going to try to see a few movies, including one my friend organises once a month at BLIM. And the Wednesday night walks are finally scheduled on John Atkin's website (the first is Japantown on the 27th. Who's with me?).

Of course, if the weather would just suck less I would spend every waking minute outside doing stuff. But I'm a fair weather everything.

Today's a pretty good looking day. Not the weather, but as far as doing stuff goes. I'm shortly on my way to the train station to get on a bus for the last Secrets of the City tour of the season (to be started up again in the fall). It's free today only and I have no idea where it's going to be, which is the whole fun of the "secret" part. And today is also the Main Street Day Festival, so I'm going to drink lemonade and look at cute stuff for sale on the street, and hopefully see Rachel and my tiny buddy Augie.

Good times are waiting.

Currently listening :
The New Transistor Heroes
By Bis
Release date: 06 May, 1997