[concert] Sarah Slean, Gentleman Reg / Moby, Buck65

Date: April 16, 2005 (Saturday)
Time: 5:30pm door
Venue: Phoenix Concert Theatre

Went to see Sarah Slean on Saturday. It was an early show (at 5:30!) so we decided to go to the gig and eat dinner after the concert.
Opening for her was Gentleman Reg. He probably came on around 6:30? We were standing off centre on the left side, near the speakers.

[Gentleman Reg]
He's just a fun act, I thought. The band consists of a singer/guitar, and another guitarist. It was funny when the guitarist forgetting how the song went (where there was this pause to play the beginning of the song to make sure). There was another happening where the singer (Reg) forgetting what key the song was in. He started to play the music on his own, and then when the guitarist needed to come in, he promptly reminded him that he was off-key. Silly, not very professional, but hey, it didn't bug me. ;) They were rather playful about it, saying how 'professional' they are... I really liked his "boyfriend" song where he started singing "boyfriend, boyfriend, where are you? I've got no money, I've got no boyfriend..." hehehe, very catchy. His voice and style of songs reminded me of another band, but really not sure who.

[Sarah Slean]
She was dressed in this red corset and blue skirt with a bit of flare at the bottom just below her knee. She came out barefoot, too! She started with my favourite song - Eliot - so I was actually happy after the first song (I would've been fine to leave after that! ;)
I got to sneak in my camera and we were fairly close to the front, so I got some good pictures of her! Pretty nifty!
During one of her songs, as she was adjusting the microphone by the keyboard, she cut her finger and she was bleeding. Eeek! She was licking her finger all throughout the song and made a big deal out of it. She said there's like enough blood on her keyboard that she needs to take a picture of the mess. ;) She got a band-aid after the song. I thought it was fun.

All in all, it was such a fun concert... After the show I guess we could've hung around and wait for Sarah to come out, but I was soooo hungry that we ended up going out for dinner instead. Went to this Vietnamese restaurant close by, and then went home happy. Yay.

~~~~~~~

Date: April 18, 2005 (Monday)
Time: 8pm door
Venue: Phoenix Concert Theatre

I could not believe how 2 concerts we wanted to attend ended up being so close together, and on top of that, at the same venue. I doubt there were anybody that were at both concerts except for us. Just strange... but neat! It's also funny that all of the concerts had happenings...
The crowd... what can I say about the crowd other than TALL?! Compared to the crowd at the Sarah Slean concert (which was a lot of girls, and not too tall guys), Moby crowd consisted of a lot (and I mean a lot) of tall guys (many with shaven head ;). It doesn't help when they all stand in the front blocking people like me (asian girl). So, for this concert, I seem to have pictures that didn't turn out, and all my picture has the back of this one big, bald guy's head! ;)

[Buck 65]

Buck 65 is a one-man band ... this guy carries around DAT player, CD player and a turntable with record... he does everything on his own. He cues up either the DAT or CD, and then raps and does some DJ stuff on his turntable while he's at it. I like his music a lot, and he usually have a lot of interesting things to say, but his gig didn't work so well, as one of the song that the audience requested, the DAT suddenly stops mid-song. Oops. ;) He ended up playing another song, oh well.
He had some confetti in his pocket and was throwing them during songs... it's kinda cheesy, I know, but I think it really worked well.

[Moby]

Moby. The last time I saw him was at a big venue @ Molson Amphitheatre a la Area 2. It's such a big difference between that venue and this one. So small... I kinda appreciate the small venue, but this can't be a good thing for Moby. Whatever the case, he is still amazing. He did not have the same band members as the Area tour for this one. Which is unfortunate because I was really looking forward to his basist from the last tour. Oh well.
It was a tone down concert with a lot of acoustic stuff, but he also turned it up a few notches by playing some of his old club anthems. He also did some Canadian tribute where he played a Neil Young and Leonard Cohen, which was very kewl.

Phew, no TTC strike

Just a quick note - that the TTC strike didn't start. There was a tentative deal that they have struck over the weekend. I'm just so glad that there wasn't a strike. :)

TTC Strike! Ugghhh!!!

At around 2:45pm this afternoon (friday, of all days), the TTC union announced that they will be withdrawing their services as of Monday morning. Monday bloody morning! They announce that they are going on strike, but they don't go on strike this weekend, they want to strike on Monday? Gawd, just to piss off hard working Torontonians who need to commute to work.

Seriously, if they are going on strike, I would much rather they try to have the strike so that it would not disrupt too many people who has nothing to do with the problems between the TTC owners and TTC workers. WE pay for the TTC. A LOT. I don't think we need to be punished for their problems.

I have so much negative feelings about the TTC these days. I mean, for years, I have had problems with the TTC. They don't care if people smoke at the bus waiting area of the station (where it's clearly marked that there's a fine). The constant delays. Never knowing when the bus / trains would come. Their problems in the mornings when the trains are running slow but they don't let the public know what's wrong. Constant bickering about how they don't get any money. Rude bus drivers.

Okay, I side tracked... I hope the strike doesn't last too long, because they are pretty much taking away my freedom. I need to reschedule my life around needing a ride or waiting for a ride. I am sooo against strikes. I wish they make striking illegal for necessities, such as garbage (a few years ago), doctors and nurses, and transportation.... maybe hockey too. ;)

Strikes basically affects many people to get what they want. It reminds me of a kid who'd whine and cry so they can get that lollipop at the store.