Toronto, I hate you. Okay I lied.
The drive from Montreal to Toronto was fast and hot. After a somewhat late start (made even later by our decision to poster a little bit in Montreal for our show there next week. And getting bagels. We had no choice but to get bagels.) we made quick time to Toronto and arrived just in time for load in and soundcheck. The rain that had been falling off and on since Kingston decided that it was the perfect time to become a torrential downpour. Thank you very much Toronto. Fortunately it was hot and it almost felt good for a while.
Sneaky Dees is a decent sized venue staffed with very friendly folk and a helpful soundman (whose name I think is Steve but I don't know if he actually told us his name.) And it has a nice sized stage too; so luxurious compared to what we're used to. After setting up we needed food immediately and opted to not bother going on an extended trek for something that might end up sucking and had some mexican food in the restaurant part of the bar downstairs. Ridiculous proportions meant that we were stuffed with beans cheese and rice for the remainder of the evening.
The Parkas openened, apparently with a very different lineup than usual. Mr. Parka had a nice Blue Rodeo style voice and a mellow set. Mitch Willer/Miller/Diller played second. I liked his set quite a bit. Very quirky songs and some nice piano playing, coupled with very personal lyrics. For the mathematically inclined: Burt Bacharach + Dashboard Confessional = Mitch Willer.
Our set was a bit loose. Must have been first show jitters, because I just couldn't play the notes like I wanted to. I wasn't hitting sour notes, I just found that too often I would play a not and it would buzz a painful aount, or I would hit the fret and it wouldn't sound at all. Still, people seemed into it, so hopefully that meant that Spen and Matt were able to cover up my mistakes.
After the show was more evidence that Toronto doesn't like us: unable to find anyone with a place for us to crash for the night, we took the soundman's suggestion of leaving the downtown core to find more affordable accomodations in Etobicoke. Affordable being a $110 room in a skeezy motel staffed by a dude from a David Lynch movie. The room itself had that smell that means: this room isn't clean, but at least it's "clean". IE, some sort of off-smelling disinfectant smell coupled with ancient body odour. Whatever. We were all tired, and the place had such amenities as satellite television and free ice and ice bucket. I slept well at least.
Today was another day. Toronto has redeemed itself in so many ways. Halifax people sightings: Elizabeth who I barely know but used to volunteer at the Khyber and went to NSCAD, Rob Benvie, Seth Scriver, and by far the best, most awesomenest and coolest beyond belief: Swintak. Awesome Swintak, who just happened to be getting ready for a trip to Halifax, and told us that we were totally welcome to crash in her apartment while she's away. No more dodgy motels for us, baby!
Other great things that happened today: we discovered this morning that Motel di Crapolla is about 100 meteres away from Lake Ontario and is right next to a nature park. A lovely walk where we got to see butterflies, ducks, geese and a complete view of the Toronto skyline ensued. We ate at Lotus Garden, a great all-vegetarian Vietnamese restaurant where authentic dishes are cooked with fake meats. And finally we shopped for records and comics, thus making Spen a very happy boy. I think Matt and I are reasonably content too.
Sneaky Dees is a decent sized venue staffed with very friendly folk and a helpful soundman (whose name I think is Steve but I don't know if he actually told us his name.) And it has a nice sized stage too; so luxurious compared to what we're used to. After setting up we needed food immediately and opted to not bother going on an extended trek for something that might end up sucking and had some mexican food in the restaurant part of the bar downstairs. Ridiculous proportions meant that we were stuffed with beans cheese and rice for the remainder of the evening.
The Parkas openened, apparently with a very different lineup than usual. Mr. Parka had a nice Blue Rodeo style voice and a mellow set. Mitch Willer/Miller/Diller played second. I liked his set quite a bit. Very quirky songs and some nice piano playing, coupled with very personal lyrics. For the mathematically inclined: Burt Bacharach + Dashboard Confessional = Mitch Willer.
Our set was a bit loose. Must have been first show jitters, because I just couldn't play the notes like I wanted to. I wasn't hitting sour notes, I just found that too often I would play a not and it would buzz a painful aount, or I would hit the fret and it wouldn't sound at all. Still, people seemed into it, so hopefully that meant that Spen and Matt were able to cover up my mistakes.
After the show was more evidence that Toronto doesn't like us: unable to find anyone with a place for us to crash for the night, we took the soundman's suggestion of leaving the downtown core to find more affordable accomodations in Etobicoke. Affordable being a $110 room in a skeezy motel staffed by a dude from a David Lynch movie. The room itself had that smell that means: this room isn't clean, but at least it's "clean". IE, some sort of off-smelling disinfectant smell coupled with ancient body odour. Whatever. We were all tired, and the place had such amenities as satellite television and free ice and ice bucket. I slept well at least.
Today was another day. Toronto has redeemed itself in so many ways. Halifax people sightings: Elizabeth who I barely know but used to volunteer at the Khyber and went to NSCAD, Rob Benvie, Seth Scriver, and by far the best, most awesomenest and coolest beyond belief: Swintak. Awesome Swintak, who just happened to be getting ready for a trip to Halifax, and told us that we were totally welcome to crash in her apartment while she's away. No more dodgy motels for us, baby!
Other great things that happened today: we discovered this morning that Motel di Crapolla is about 100 meteres away from Lake Ontario and is right next to a nature park. A lovely walk where we got to see butterflies, ducks, geese and a complete view of the Toronto skyline ensued. We ate at Lotus Garden, a great all-vegetarian Vietnamese restaurant where authentic dishes are cooked with fake meats. And finally we shopped for records and comics, thus making Spen a very happy boy. I think Matt and I are reasonably content too.
posted by Evil Robot Boy | 8/11/2005 09:28:00 PM
3 Comments:
I should have told you about the best hostel in Toronto (it's just around the corner from sneaky dee's, maybe 5 minutes away, & super cheap & clean & maybe my favorite place in the whole city) although it sounds like you did get the full rock and roll hotel experience at the icky place by the lake ... hope tomorrow is better ...
Um... I didn't realize you guys hadn't lined up a place to crash. I'm sure you could have stayed at my sister's house. Maybe next trip we can hook you up!
BB
D'oh! I totally forgot that Amanda lives in Toronto. Oh well, at least you hooked us up with your mom for the trip back. Splitting the driving up in two days is looking more and more attractive.
Post a Comment
<< Home