^^Does living in Alberta affect your appreciation of bands with Alberta in their title? I remember there was a band called "The British Columbians" and I loved them mainly for their name.
Now that you mention it, I really enjoy Alberta Cross too, but absolutely not in the same way. Their name pretty much just drew me to listen to them initially.
Definitely the case with The RAA though. Listening to songs like Four Night Rider, Edmonton, Frank, AB, etc I get a feeling like I connect on a completely different level than someone who doesn't live here.
Driving through Frank, AB and seeing the impact of that rockslide, or knowing exactly what he's talking about when he's singing about riding his bike for 4 days (from Fort McMurray to Edmonton "through the fort that smells") just elicits this feeling like he's singing about my childhood if it happened in a different town.
The intro to this video explains Purple City, which is something that oh so many of us Edmontonians do/have done. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyXyJuog1oQ and the fact that he's singing about it honestly makes me a little bit giddy every time I listen.
It's like they're the local band that made it, except they were never a local band from here.
**edit** Tornado '87 sends chills down my spine, having very nearly been in a tornado myself, and knowing what a defining moment that was for this city. Fun Fact: our slogan "City of Champions" had nothing to do with the Oilers or Eskimos winning championships. Rather, it had to do with the community response after the tornado.
Part of what I like about Minus the Bear is their northwest themed lyrics to be sure. I know seattle's not in the name, but I Dr. Garbanzoured that's kinda on topic.
Alex: that was truly a very interesting post, thank you. I really love the RAA, but I can see how some of the lyrics would really hit home, if, well Alberta was my home.
Posted by alex on Mar 4, 2011, 2:36pm
Sorry if I rambled on there, haha.
I think one of the draws of The RAA is that the lyrics are pretty accessible for anybody living anywhere. Like all lyrics, they trigger your memories regardless of where you live, and whether you know where Edmonton is on a map or not.
The thing that really gets me is that our local "modern rock" station doesn't play them. That's a real head-scratcher to me. I've talked to the program director about it though, and he's a fan, he's just trying to bring the rest of the station around.
I think one of the draws of The RAA is that the lyrics are pretty accessible for anybody living anywhere. Like all lyrics, they trigger your memories regardless of where you live, and whether you know where Edmonton is on a map or not.
The thing that really gets me is that our local "modern rock" station doesn't play them. That's a real head-scratcher to me. I've talked to the program director about it though, and he's a fan, he's just trying to bring the rest of the station around.
Don't worry about rambling, that was seriously very interesting.
And commercial stations don't care about music, and never will. I do hope the RAA makes it on the radio there, but don't cross your fingers.
Posted by alex on Mar 4, 2011, 2:48pm
I'm going to continue to push for it to happen. I guess the next step would be actually persuing a career in radio, but that just seems like a foolish thing to do with the current state of the music industry.
You don't want to work at the radio, trust me. However, it is a fact that RAA is Canadian, and that every radio station has to play Canadian content per CANCON. I also know from experience that if the demand is there ( i.e song requests/emails) radio stations will fold and play what the people want.
All I am saying is keep trying, because you can likely make it happen.
Posted by alex on Mar 4, 2011, 3:25pm
working on it.
back to album talk though, I can't get behind this version of Barnes' Yard. I keep going back to the version from their Daytrotter session. Maybe it's just because I've become so used to it over the past few months and this new version just seems less genuine.
That daytrotter session was amazing. I especially loved "in the summertime". But I totally know what you mean about Barnes' Yard, I think it can be attributed to what you heard first is best kind of thing.
After driving through Frank, AB on numerous occasions I cannot help but feel the devastation that occured on the night of the slide, and the overall loneliness of the area. Thhe lyrics in that song are probably the best of both albums. It's quite an amazing place to visit if you haven't been before, and one of my favorite spots in Alberta to take visitors to.
After driving through Frank, AB on numerous occasions I cannot help but feel the devastation that occured on the night of the slide, and the overall loneliness of the area. Thhe lyrics in that song are probably the best of both albums. It's quite an amazing place to visit if you haven't been before, and one of my favorite spots in Alberta to take visitors to.
Absolutely. I drove through last year on the way to Sasquatch at night and didn't see anything because it was dark, then on the way back during the day I saw it and it really floored me. I imagine that must have been what it was like for people in the area who were not affected by the actual rockslide, but knew the area before and after.
Just a complete change and a feeling of utter helplessness.
I couldn't imagine the feeling of dread those people felt waking up at 3:00 in the morning to the sound of a falling mountain. Shit that would not be cool.
I will have to check out that Daytrotter set when I get home from work. I've heard numerous performances but not the RAA.
As a brief side note...Alex, do you happen to know anything about Sled Island this year? I am assuming that you attend it each year. I would have posted this under the "Other Festivals" thread but I Dr. Garbanzoured since you were in this one you could shed some light.
I couldn't imagine the feeling of dread those people felt waking up at 3:00 in the morning to the sound of a falling mountain. Shit that would not be cool.
I will have to check out that Daytrotter set when I get home from work. I've heard numerous performances but not the RAA.
As a brief side note...Alex, do you happen to know anything about Sled Island this year? I am assuming that you attend it each year. I would have posted this under the "Other Festivals" thread but I Dr. Garbanzoured since you were in this one you could shed some light.
Oddly enough I've never attended Sled Island. It usually falls on my birthday, so I've usually got other things going on. This year it's happening June 22 - 25th, and they're just taking applications for bands to play right now.
^That's the same info that I have based on their website. I just Dr. Garbanzoured I'd throw that out in case someone's heard otherwise...Thanks Alex, and you should attend some year.
Posted by alex on Mar 4, 2011, 5:13pm
I probably will. This year New Music West is in Edmonton though, so chances are I'll get to see most of the bands here.
Maybe once the lineup comes out I'll see about taking in a day or two.
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