Bluesfest with a media pass
Bluesfest has been rocking the capital for a week already, with a whole weekend of shows still to come. I was able to snag a media pass for the entire festival, which has been a blast! Even though I wasn’t able to make it for some of the local performances, I have thoroughly enjoyed profiling Kanata bands, practicing my photography skills and shoving my way past screaming crowds to reach the pit.
I still would not call myself a professional, but I managed to snag a few shots that I’m pretty proud of. But with my brother’s 70-300mm lens and a blue paper that lets me slide past security to the stage, the accomplishment doesn’t seem quite as impressive.
Here’s a sampling of what I took. (Note: I don’t know how to remove the option of saving photos off this page, but please don’t do it! These pictures are not for public use.)
Saturday, July 11: Rachael Yamagata
Saturday, July 11: Hey Rosetta! lead singer Tim Baker pounds the keys.
Saturday, July 11: Hey Rosetta! violinist Erin Aurich added so much to the rock tunes.
Saturday, July 11: Josh Ward plays bass and belts it out for Hey Rosetta!
Tuesday, July 14: A typical Ice Cube expression.
Tuesday, July 14: The rapper opened for Our Lady Peace on the main stage.
Tuesday, July 14: Our Lady Peace rocked the main stage. I heart Raine Maida.
Tuesday, July 14: Steve Mazur, OLP guitarist, rocks out.
Tuesday, July 14: Raine Maida climbed the stage to take video on his flip cam while singing All You Did Was Save My Life (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nK4MwL5p_o).
Watch this
It’s Friday!
Here’s a couple of videos to brighten your day.
A college dorm room light show.
A hilarious prank – I totally want to try this.
Festival frenzy
In the last couple of weeks, I’ve experienced several Ottawa festivals … and I wonder why I never bothered to check them out before. I seriously love this city.
I went to Open Doors a couple of weeks ago and visited several major buildings that I’ve always wanted to peek inside. The Supreme Court was really cool, though I’m sure it would be more awe-inspiring to see during an actual trial. Library and Archives Canada was disappointing – they basically only had one room open. The Library of the Senate was the same. We thought the event should be called Open Doorways. But I also checked out the old train station and a rooftop garden overlooking Parliament Hill – both were very cool. Not connected to the event but still cool was the currency musuem in the old Bank of Canada building, where the new building has been constructed around it.
Supreme Court
The currency museum
Last weekend, the traveling Magnetic North Theatre Festival stopped in the capital. A couple of friends and I tagged along on the Rideau Project – a series of plays in different locations (and both languages) around the city, depicting some of the historial events. Afterwards we heard a couple songs at the Franco festival at city hall. Basically, downtown at night on the weekends is awesome.
Last Sunday, a friend and I braved the threat of thunderstorms and went to Westboro for WestFest. Richmond Road is shut down to vehicle traffic and people set up shop and stages on the street. There was some pretty cool performers, including this duo.
These kids had an amazing sound ... by playing the most random things.
I heart Jon Foreman
I recently purchased Jon Foreman’s solo album Limbs and Branches, which is a compilation of the best from his four seasonally-themed EPs, plus a couple of new songs. The lead singer of Switchfoot has one of my all-time favourite voices, which is part of the reason they are on my list of top-five greatest bands. I saw them live once and the concert was phenomenal.
His solo projects have allowed him to step away from the Switchfoot sound, but his thoughtful, solid lyrics are still classic Jon Foreman. I love how mellow this album is, though the harmonica opening on Southbound Train kind of threw me off for a minute.
Here’s Jon explaining and playing my favourite song from the CD so far – called Your Love is Strong, from his Spring album.
Lost
Season five of Lost begins tonight. I am super excited. I’m not usually home on Wednesday nights, so I’ll be searching for the episodes online the next day for sure. I may have to watch the last couple of episodes from season four to remember what the heck is going on, but I’m stoked for the show to be back on.
Here’s a quick recap of what’s happened so far.
Here’s a couple of previews for the new season … it looks great! Confusing, as always, but awesome.
The Chapman’s story
A couple of months ago I blogged about Christian music star Steven Curtis Chapman and his family tragedy, when his daughter was accidently killed when her older brother hit her in his car.
Steven has been back on tour for a while, but just last week he was on both Good Morning America and the Larry King Live show to talk about his experiences with his family – how they are dealing with the loss and moving forward. Needless to say, their message is very impacting.
Below is the segment from GMA, the Larry King Live interview is also on youtube – check it out! It’s definitely worth the watch.
The Dark Knight
Last night I finally watched Batman: the Dark Knight. Wow … talk about intense.
There was so much hype surrounding this film since Heath Leger - who plays the villian Joker - died, so I had some pretty high expectations. I though Leger’s acting was terrific, though the character is extremely dark and unsettling. Christian Bale makes a fabulous Batman again, and I liked that they focused more on his humanity than his powers. It wasn’t a superhero movie. Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine are great additions as usual, but I was already a fan.
Though I definitely enjoyed the film, I was ready for it to be over after two and half hours. I think I’ve had enough high-speed chases and things blowing up for one week.
Jason Bourne
I am a huge fan of the Bourne trilogy movies … so this summer I decided to pick up the books and see if they were as good.
After recently finishing the second novel – the Bourne Supremacy – I have no idea how the makers can claim the movies are based on the books. Sure, a few things are similar in both the Bourne Identity book and film, but those situations are rare. The sequel is absolutely nothing like the written version, except for a couple of names.
The book is, obviously, much more complex. There is no way all the information could be packed into even a three-hour movie: the plot is extremely detailed and well thought-out, yet not enough to bog down the reader.
I enjoyed the books … and the movies. I just can’t put them in the same category. I don’t know how the trilogy can claim to be based on the novels – it’s just not accurate. People who die in the movie live on in the book; people who are corrupt in the film are the good guys in the novel. They are completely different stories, with the main characters just happening to share a name.
Bella
I think all of my favourite movies in the last couple of years have been independently made. Bella is no exception.
The movie by two Mexican filmmakers won the 2006 People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival – I know I’m a couple of years behind – and a few other awards as well.
It’s extremely good. It touches on family issues, abortion, adoption … death and life, but keeps an overarching theme of hope and purpose. I highly recommend it.
I think the reason I love indie films is that they usually have nothing to lose. In general, there are expectations for Hollywood pictures – we want a certain amount of violence or sex and assume we will be entertained rather than challenged or inspired.
Smaller, low budget films are free to approach tough issues, break stereotypes and make people reevaluate their own problems and dreams. I appreciate being challenged, taught something, motivated … rather then turning my brain off for a couple of hours of mindless entertainment.
You can’t turn your brain off during Bella. Watch the trailer here and then after you’ve seen the movie watch a couple of these interviews to see the impact it has had on a people. It’s incredible; stories like those make it so much more than just a film.
Sound of Music
In honour of the Sound of Music, which I saw at Centrepointe Theatre last night, I am posting some of my favourite song lyrics from the movie. The Maria was not comparable to Julie Andrews, but the production was entertaining anyway.
“Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens,
bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens;
Brown paper packages tied up with string, these are a few of my favourite things.
Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes,
snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes;
Wild geese that fly with a moon on their wings, these are a few of my favourite things …
When the dog bites, when the bee stings, when I’m feeling sad
I simply remember my favourite things and then I don’t feel so bad.”
“The hills are alive with the sound of music,
with songs they have sung for a thousand years.
The hills fill my heart with the sound of music
and my heart wants to sing every song it hears …
I go to the hills when my heart is lonely,
I know I will hear what I’ve heard before.
My heart will be blessed with the sound of music
and I’ll sing once more.”
“Climb every mountain, ford every stream,
follow every rainbow til you find your dream
A dream that will need all the love you can give,
every day of your life for as long as you live …”
That was primarily from memory - yes, I am a fan. If I could sing I would aspire to be Maria Von Trapp when I grow up. Go watch the movie, it’s a classic.
Cheryl