Friends of C.

Up on a mountain

2009-01-05T16:31:00.006-05:00

I remember the first time I heard Andre Charles Theriault play: It was a summer's night in Bramalea and a bunch of like-minded kids gathered atop a hill in Bramalea to sings about love and tell stories about the fourth dimension.

And here's this guy who looks totally conscious and unconscious all at the same time, playing a song that immediately inspired me. And then he played another. And another. And another. Every song he played there, that night, was just as remarkable as the last.

. . . so it shakes to read this:

I CAN'T SEEM TO WRITE ANY SONGS AT THE MOMENT (AND FOR THE PAST LONG TIME BEFORE NOW)....I NEED TO TAKE A BREAK FROM TRYING TO WRITE THESE SONGS....I WILL BE PLAYING A SHOW DEC 20th IN MISSISSAUGA AND MAYBE ANOTHER IN TORONTO AND THEN TAKING A BREAK....perhaps playing one show here and there just because some friends might be coming down this way on tour. ANYWAYS THIS BREAK WILL LAST UNTIL I AM ABLE TO WRITE SONGS AGAIN...IN THE MEANTIME I HAVE JOINED ANOTHER BAND AND WE ARE PRACTICING AND IT'S FUN.... YOU CAN STILL ORDER C.DS FROM ME BY MESSAGING ME...AND I APOLOGIZE TO THOSE WHO I HAVE BEEN SLOW RESPONDING TO...THINGS HAVE BEEN CRAZY THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT I WUV YOU.

But I understand.

Don't be a stranger, Andre.

=babbalawn=

2008-12-29T13:52:00.005-05:00

Back in 04 . . .

Three guys got together in a Brampton basement to get high and play acoustic guitars.

Fast forward to the end of '08 . . .

Three guys will once again get together in a Brampton basement to get drunk and play electric guitars, keyboards and drums.

BABBALAWN!!!!!!!!!

RIVERS!!!!!!

2008-12-24T14:25:00.003-05:00

Oh man, you're going to love this video of the 'Varz and Jermaine Dupri.

Ho ho ho.

One hour, 43 minutes and 32 seconds

2008-12-23T15:16:00.006-05:00

Pitchfork don't mean shit.

In keeping with Friends of C. tradition, here are the 25 best songs of the past 12 months.

Enjoy.

25. Amadou & Mariam - Africa
24. Jay Reatard - Painted Shut
23. King Khan and The Shrines - Welfare Bread
22. Deerhunter - Microcastle
21. The Bicycles - Once Was Not Enough
20. Human Highway - Sleep Talking
19. The Welcome Wagon - Half A Person
18. Death Cab For Cutie - You Can Do Better Than Me
17. Sebastien Grainger - American Names
16. No Age - Eraser
15. Fleet Foxes - Blue Ridge Mountains
14. Human Highway - All Day
13. Tokyo Police Club - Your English Is Good
12. Born Ruffians - Foxes Mate For Life
11. Islands - J'aime Vous Voire Quitter
10. Woodhands - I Can't See Straight
09. Black Mountain - Stay Free
08. Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks - Real Emotional Trash
07. Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks - Gardenia
06. Islands - Vertigo (if it's a crime)
05. Andre Charles Theriault - So Fast
04. Rivers Cuomo - Can't Stop Partying
03. Fleet Foxes - Ragged Wood
02. Fleet Foxes - He Doesn't Know Why
01. Death Cab For Cutie - Bixby Canyon Bridge

DOWNLOAD - The Top 25 of 2008

Whites only party

2008-12-20T11:30:00.006-05:00

The City of Brampton is pulling out all the stops for their annual New Year's Eve Party.

The City, which expects more than 40,000 people to show up for the all-day and night event, will be shutting down six blocks to accommodate the hoards of Bramptonians flocking to the downtown core.

According to the press release, the event will appeal to everyone in your family. And it's true; but only if your family is white.

Ice skating, marshmallow roasts, Bananas in Pyjamas, The Arkells, David Usher and Our Lady Peace? Who planned this thing - Archie Bunker?

According to the 2006 Census, 57 per cent of the people living in Brampton identified themselves as visible minorities.

It's pretty safe to say the crowd downtown on Dec. 31 won't be 43 per cent white. Somewhere in the neighbourhood of 90 per cent might be more accurate.

Email specialevents@brampton.ca to find out what gives.

jpeg(s) of the day

2008-11-10T21:51:00.002-05:00

vuvox is the new flickr

jpeg of the day - 14.09.08

2008-09-14T20:04:00.003-04:00

Ballin'!
Enjoy the new Cassie Campbell Community Centre everyone.

Grizzly Adams did have a beard. And so do I!

2008-08-12T17:34:00.005-04:00

Apparently Brampton has been a buzzin' in the ten weeks I've been gone. So here's a rundown of what I've missed:

All-ages friendly venue and seedy strip club, The Sword and Shield, shut down. Check out TorStar's take here

Musician, actor and all-around good-guy Darcy McMann abruptly moves out of his Nelson St. apartment in favour of greener pastures.

The City of Brampton thinks a large hotel - think Hyatt, Crowne Plaza, The Fairmont, etc. - will help revitalize the downtown core and has hired a consultant to create a prospectus. The Guardian has the story.

West Nile is BACK!

Pearson is making noise again. Seems the trial flight path isn't exactly working out.

The Brampton Junior Golf Tour has been a resounding success.

What's happening now:

Community in Blooms goes down this week.

Two newish venues, Trilogy Concert Club(formerly Hooterville) and West 7(formerly Nashville North), are open for rock shows. No word yet, however, if they are open to having local indie bands play.

Ambush The Night seems to be working again.

Stabbings, shootings and Hogweeds sadly dominate the paper.

So, if I've missed anything simply let me know. I enjoy reading comments, especially YOUR comments.

Talk to you in a bit.

Rib 'n' Roll Eve

2008-05-22T17:40:00.003-04:00

As I was driving down Main Street this morning, I couldn't help but notice a large stage being erected in Gage Park. "Holy shit," I yelled out my window. "It's Rib 'n' Roll weekend!"

Ribs, beer, live music and Brampton's nicest park usually make for a decent time. But, when you add about 500 people to the mix, things get really interesting.

That's right, the Rib 'n' Roll festivties are something to behold; because afterall, people in Brampton usually aren't too keen in supporting community events.

Check it out -- The party runs Friday night and all day Saturday.

Keepin' It Fresh w/ The Beekeepers

2008-05-16T16:54:00.004-04:00

So, Brampton's friendliest band, the Beekeepers Society, is at again -- the formidable fivesome have just posted a new/old song on their myspace site; and it's just in time for the long weekend (well played, guys). The pop gem, called, "Turn up the gain" is everything you'd expect from the 'keepers: smart, smooth and uhhh, really fucking cool.

Word on the street (Nelson St.) is they're currently recording a follow-up disc to last year's First Year Film School.

Oh yeah, one more thing: Have you seen the stills for their new video? Check it!

jpeg of the day - 30.04.08

2008-04-30T13:21:00.003-04:00

Here's another sweet picture:

New Years Day on Pfeiffer Beach

The Weekender

2008-04-18T16:51:00.003-04:00

Everyone's favourite bar band is back in Brampton this Saturday night at Tracks Brewpub for a free show.

And why should you care? Well, here are five reasons:

1. The Big City Nights Band are easily one of the most entertaining bands to come out of Brampton in recent memory.

2. Tracks is the BEST (best atmosphere, best location, best homebrew, etc.) bar in town.

3. You'll get to mingle with the coolest bunch of kids in Flowertown

4. Big City Nights have promised three sets. So, that means, you'll hear tracks from their first album, "Born to Bar Band," their upcoming release, "A Steamroller Named Desire" and probably one or two Neil Young covers.

5. It's good to support live music in Brampton at venues like Tracks.

Check out their video for "Why I Didn't Hate Summer 2003."

The Village

2008-04-18T14:48:00.002-04:00

Golfers rejoiced earlier this week when Peel Village opened its doors for play, marking the beginning of another golf season.

The nine-hole course is in its 20th year of operation under the City of Brampton.

As beautiful - and relatively inexpensive - as the Village is, it is unfortunately next to impossible to score a decent weekend tee time. My advice is this: Call a MINIMUM of five days ahead and ask for Larry David.

Digging with Tim Horton's.

2008-04-18T08:39:00.007-04:00

Ever wonder just how many Tim Hortons are in Brampton?

Probably not, I know. But, I want to know. So I did a little Bill Lidstone inspired digging.

According to TimHortons.com Brampton currently has 30 Tim Horton's inhabiting the city. That's right -- 30! Don't believe me? Well, check out the Tim's store locator.

Fascinated with the store locator option, I kept locating --Mississauga, Hamilton and London -- and found something weird. Missassuaga has exactly 30 Tim Hortons. Hamilton has exactly 30 Tim Hortons. And London, you guessed it, has exactly 30 Tim Hortons.

Hmmmm -- odd, right? Right!

It's just not Ontario either. Calgary, 30 Tim's; Winnipeg, 30 Tim's; even Fair Trade loving Vancouver, 30 Tim's.

So what gives? It appears that the maximum number of Tim Horton's in any one major Canadian market (read: town, city, region) is 30. Looks like your dreams of opening a successful Tim's are over. Or are they?

Here's the deal according to the Tim Horton's Canadian franchise application form: "Please be advised that at the present time, we are not actively recruiting for new franchisees in any province
other than Quebec." Okay, cool. So it IS possible then. Now all you're going to need is the $500,000 for the franchise license and a English/French dictionary. Sweet.

jpeg of the day - 15.04.08

2008-04-15T09:41:00.004-04:00

Yeah, I like to take pictures too.

Here's one:

Rumour has it this place was once home to a Icelandic immigrant farmer back in the sixties.

Check it out for yourself -- HERE