Lodestar

Steve Yzerman is rumored to be the front runner for the GM spot in Tampa. I'd be sad if he gets the job. He deserves to be with a better team than them. C'mon Stevie - hold out and wait until a better job opens up.

The Tampa market aside, is it really that bad a gig? He'd have franchise cornerstones in Stamkos and Hedman, a star veteran in St. Louis who appears to have a few good years left, and a plethora of options when it comes to what to do with Lecavalier. Yzerman's not dumb, so if he's considering the job it's with good reason.

Mumford and Sons have that kind of glossy polish that the Avetts also have, but I much prefer Old Crow Medicine Show over both. O.C.M.S. is one of my favourite records in the world.

Hey everyone, sorry if there's been a similar thread, but I did a few searches and couldn't find one.

As I was saying, I'm moving to NYC this fall to begin an MFA in creative writing at The New School. I grew up on a small town on an island on the west coast of Canada, and I've never been to New York. So I'm a little freaked out.

If any members here live in NYC or have relevant experience, I'd really appreciate any advice you could give (where to look for affordable housing, where to eat, where to go out; where not to do these things as well!). I'm not totally foreign to big cities -- I've spent a lot of time in Toronto, and am currently living in Paris for a few months -- but I'd really like to arrive with at least some idea of what to expect.

This is kind of a vague request, but I'd love if anyone has tips. And if it helps to know, I'll be turning 24 in August.

Canucks fan here, would just like to say I disagree completely with Cowboy Poet.

Kane and Toews being high draft picks aside (and keeping in mind the Sedins' draft position), recent Blackhawks management has seemed extremely proactive in rebuilding the team. They've signed big-name free agents (Hossa, Campbell, Huet), made wise trades (Sharp, Ladd), hit extremely well on some late-ish draft picks (Keith, Versteeg, Bolland, Hjalmarsson), and hired a good, experienced coach in Joel Quenneville. I wish it weren't so, but they've seemingly demoralized every one of the Canucks and their fans.

Yeah that a good news maybe i gonna make a travel in london for this show.I'm french. Anyone can host me for the night or know a cheap hotel in london. I'm very interrested for that. Any french who want made the travel? I'm happy if i find other french Wilco fan. My friend don't like Wilco Thanks for the information that makes me happy.

I'm in Paris for the summer and may be interested in making the trip... I wonder what the chances are that another date or two get announced?

Been too busy this past weekend to post until now (currently sipping a beer at YVR, waiting for a flight to Paris), but that Victoria show was everything I've been dreaming of for... well, a decade, I guess. It was so surreal seeing the guys finally play my hometown, they could have done any setlist and I would have been smitten. I was nervous going in about the Victoria crowd, but I thought overall we did pretty good. I was in the second row behind a group of four young-ish dudes, all with the same swoopy little side-part, same glasses, same legs-crossed position... They were motionless the entire show until Tweedy called them out and asked if they were "____'s friends" -- he might have said Marcel Marceau? I dunno. Anyway. I can't believe it had been nearly five years since I saw the band. I got pretty emotional during both "Misunderstood" and "Hummingbird" (the latter song means worlds to me), and even "I Got You", which has never been one of my faves, seemed perfect in the moment ("I got you and it's all I need").

I waited around after the show and met the band for the first time -- all except Jeff, who never came out. That was a bit disappointing, since I would have really liked to say how much that show meant to me, and how unfuckingbelievably fitting it was for my last weekend in Victoria. But alas. Glenn seemed genuinely happy for me, and he asked me a ton of questions about my plans.

I honestly haven't listened to that much Wilco over the past few years, but my God, what a band. I think I might have finally "got" SBS!

I've seen the band four times, but I've never anticipated a show like tomorrow night's in Victoria, my hometown. I'm moving overseas on Monday, and I can't think of a more perfect send-off than having the guys here. I'm so excited I'm nervous.

I discovered them last September and they're all I've listened to since. O.C.M.S. is one of the best records I've heard in the last few years.

Leonard Cohen, April 21, Victoria, BC

Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, July 11, Seattle, WA (No Depression Festival)

... were by far the big two for me.

I had a dream where my boss and I watched Wilco from the balcony and held each other for like an entire show.

She's a fairly attractive woman, but it was weird.

I haven't heard anything, but my guess would be Expos.

 

He'd only be the second player in the Hall with an Expos cap. Gold star if you can guess the first without looking it up.

Gary Carter!

(?)

Edmonton hosted an outdoor game a few years ago, but a Vancouver-Calgary game would be a pretty easy sell with Luongo, the Sedins, Kesler, Kiprusoff, Iginla, Phaneuf, Jokinen, Bouwmeester, et al.

That being said, with the Winter Classic being one of the league's better draws for the American audience, I think they'll keep it in the US. And as a Canadian, I'm completely okay with that.

Favre's December collapses in 2008 and 2009 are more glaring than Tony Romo's.

The lack of a running game has been a way bigger problem for the Vikings than anything Favre has done.

Four turnovers in four games is a far cry from Favre's "collapses" in the past... Trust me, I'm a Packers fan.

Bahamas is opening up on the later four dates of the Canadian tour, it should be noted I guess that he's going out with Feist. But, his record is really really great (Pink Strat, check it out) and he's absolutely hilarious live, good opener!

I caught Bahamas a few months ago in Victoria, and it was the hardest I've laughed at a concert in a long time. I'd never heard of him before, but I came away a fan.

I love Bon Iver, but Blood Bank EP at #26 is ludicrous.

she misses a chord in the "all my lies are always wishes" lines (it's F#dim7, she's playing F# minor), but what great accompaniment

That distracted me, too -- it turns it into this weird power pop chorus -- but other than that, I really loved this rendition.

B/Ryan Adams

I've finally started Updike's Rabbit series. Enjoying it so far.

And I'm gonna be there!!!

Their newest one, All My Friends Are Funeral Singers, is really, really good. Several others on this board seem to agree. Their previous, Roots and Crowns, also got pretty rave reviews, though I like it a bit less.

 

Anyway (speaking of the subject) I just finally got my hands on The Swedish Sessions. Here is my lame fan boy moment. I can't listen to For Beth without getting misty eyed. This song was of course later released offically as Friends on Cold Roses and I always enjoyed that version and dug the sentiment, but hearing this original version kind of killed me. I believe the story goes that Ryan was in Sweden laying down tracks while hanging with Beth Orton. (He appears on her song Concete Sky, and I believe English Girls is about her) anyway, I can just see him writing this song a few days after meeting her and singing it to her in the studio. I feel lame typing this? Breaks my heart this song.

 

Man, I always thought that was Orton singing on "English Girls" and found it weird that she'd sing on a song like that about herself... but it turns out it's Marianne Faithfull? Equally weird.

I saw her open for Final Fantasy a few years back and wasn't too impressed, but I know a few people who are absolutely obsessed with her. Feel like I should give her another shot.

I may not be breaking any news here, but according to the Wharton website, Califone is opening in E. Lansing. My guess would be that they will open for most, if not the entire, tour.

 

Wharton Center - Wilco

According to this link, they're opening in Madison too.

I'd be ecstatic if Califone opened for the entire tour, but considering they've got a brief west coast stint lined up at the end of this year, I'd be pretty surprised.

I'm starting this at lunch today. Probably my favourite living writer.