Very Nice Indeed

Originally written as a thread on twitter, via https://twitter.com/ShortFilmSunday, to honor #NNVN10 and having used "Robots" as a #shorts selection.  Only adjustments is one or two typos.


As you may know, around these parts we've got a lot of love for the indie Canadian type musics & those fine folk who create it #FoR3ver #R3LAX #CBC3 #TrueNorth #BTBAT #NNVN10 . 💖♭🍁🎹🥁🎸🎤⏺💖 I grew up in Michigan (where's that mitten emoji already!?!?!) with parents who listened to

@BuffySteMarie and

@Lightfoot365, an aunt who dug

@JoniMitchellcom & neighbor who adored #TheBand. All good things.So in 2001, after mum had been seriously ill, we decided to travel. Her dream was to hike the #EvangelineTrail & I'm an #LMMontgomery scholar from way back. We misread a schedule & booked ourselves tickets to

@folkharbour

to see Raylene Rankin & headed east for 3 weeks in August. Turned out Raylene had been the year prior. I'd missed an opportunity to see #TheRankinFamily a few years prior in Baltimore so a bit sad (& silly that I misread). But I'm been lucky to see & meet

@JimmyRankin

a few times since. & on that trip we went to

@TheRedShoePub

& a dance in Glencoe, Orangedale, etc. And at #LFHF we saw Peggy Seeger,

@aprilverch

, Chris Whiteley & several of his family & loads of others, most notably

@StephenFearing

. I'd discovered him via the liner notes of

@barenakedladies

"Gordon". The bands they listed were a 'to-do' list for me. We saw #SF perform a couple times over the weekend & met him (well, my mom had him sign a cd). So we were thrilled the following spring when he did a show at

@Schubas

in Chicago. As it was a small crowd we got to chat & get to know him a bit. Over the next couple years we & other friends saw #SF perform solo in Chicago & at #Kraftbrau in Kalamazoo & with @colinlinden and @leeharveyosmond as @therodeokings. I call

@StephenFearing

my 'gateway drug' for #musics. We had such good experiences seeing/meeting he & the other #RodeoKings and their extended family. I started traveling over to #Toronto, including an amazing #LastWaltz anniversary event at

@GlennGouldCBC

, where I discovered

@luke_doucet

,

@GreatLakeSwim

, @OhSusannaMusic and met http://trevorweeks.com. He shared photos and told me to start listening to #CBCRadio3, where I heard

@craignorriscbc

,

@amandaputz

,

@LisachristCBC

,

@LanaGay

,

@vishkhanna

,

@Tariqmusiq

& was soon part of once in a lifetime community. That would've been 2006/2007. Since then I've had so many amazing experiences, seeing tons of these bands I love in Toronto, Hamilton, Chicago, Los Angeles, Ann Arbor. via Trev, I discovered

@ElliottBROOD

who I love dearly & saw more of in LA than family

So my connection to

@danmanganmusic

& #NNVN10 & the follow up, #OhFortune, are all tied up in this world. So many memories of first meeting at

@mariposafolk

& again at

@HomeCountyFest

. A late night after last call where we all went to Trev's hotel room for PBR. I kept trying to show people a clip of Ice Cube performing #StraightOuttaCompton with @TheRoots & @danmanganmusic insisted we all watch 'double rainbow' dude. & oh the interrupting #MorrisDancers in London.

I feel such a strong connection to that album. Lyrics like: "So find dodge and then get out of it It's about as country as I get So you ain't living 'til you're living it Not dead 'til you die" hit home as I left Chicago for Los Angeles. and if you know me "So I've gotten used to coffee sweats" is my motto. I absolutely cried at "Basket" at

@TheSatelliteLA

, along with the screaming & cheering. if you're Dan &

@KentonLoewen

&

@GordonGrdina

I probably brought you brownies. Along with

@thewoodensky

,

@wearewhitehorse

,

@goodlovelies

,

@therealpackad

,

@wintersleep

, &

@ElliottBROOD

I for sure dumped cookies & scones & cupcakes & loads of love in thanks for your #musics. Again, I saw more of some of them than family for about 4 years and friends like

@N2DS2W

are what sustain me to this day. Well, as I said, I've wandered a bit. We chose "Robots" as our #shorts selection on 27 October because it's the 10th anniversary of "Nice, Nice, Very Nice". #NNVN10. There's no dust on this record. While

@danmanganmusic

has grown & progressed, it's still a wonderful listen. It's a great intro to his writing, tho any of his records are worth your time. And the Mike Lewis directed video for "Robots" is terrific. Dan has worked with some excellent Canadian filmmakers over the years & his videos are a great intro to that community. I've been so very lucky. I shower them with baking because it's the smallest way to repay what I've gained. I've been a guest more times than I can mention. Have lovely records signed & little nicknacks (

@ElliottBROOD

bottle opener is cherished around here). I've loved being around this insanely creative community. So many crazy memories - taking shelter under a stage from a storm in Guelph, a late afternoon swim in Couchiching, day beers & a sneak preview of #MountainMeadown by the pool at Weekswood. I've posted flyers, hosted house shows, introduced musicians to one another & to directors, subbed in at merch tables. The lot. I love it. Every minute of it. Not because of the freebies. Because I love being surrounded by creative people. It's the reason on here we're friends with bakers and comics and writers and brewers and dancers and not just filmmakers. The communities where I can talk about art & what it means to me are the most important. I've named a lot of bands. Over the years, I've done my best to support them. Go check them out. If you DM me, I might even send you a 'gateway' tune or two, on the condition you spend money on an independent musician in return. So thank you to

@danmanganmusic

for #NNVN10 and the other music in those 10 years. Thank you to

@StephenFearing

and

@TomWilsonArt

/

@leeharveyosmond

&

@colinlinden

- my dear 'brothers'. & to

@ElliottBROOD

&

@wearewhitehorse

for being a bit of 'family' in LA. To

@BahamasMusic

,

@thewoodensky

,

@goodlovelies

,

@wintersleep

,

@OhSusannaMusic

,

@N2DS2W

,

@john_teeter

,

@kittythefool

,

@davidceliamusic

,

@daveborins

,

@mikecelia

,

@seanpinchin

,

@robyndellunto

,

@discothistle

,

@therealpackad

,

@Tariqmusiq

,

@vishkhanna

,

@amandaputz

,

@secondmeanest

,

@craignorriscbc

,

@madswilson

,

@Thompsonwilson_

,

@b0undless

,

@GrantLawrence

,

@LanaGay

,

@LisachristCBC

,

@vespista313

,

@cbcradio, and so many more for all their roles in this journey.

This was meant really to be a quick ode to

@danmanganmusic

and what #NNVN10 means to me & it's such a part of a larger picture I wanted to paint. Thanks for listening. There are some very very nice treats you can pre-order here: danmanganmusic . Again, I know I wandered a bit so thanks for your time. #FoR3ver #musics #indie #shorts #film #shortfilmsunday

Lou

i was never lucky enough to see Lou Reed live so the story that is in my brain is a late Sunday night at the Corktown in November - maybe 5 years ago? HMA award wknd. following the Frankie Venom tribute. that Tom Wilson highjacked the stage & schooled the house band for a bit & finally broke into Sweet Jane. which was fantastic. & about 1/2 thru Tim Gibbons hit the stage with what started as a full-ish bottle of beer & danced his arse off in that way exhausted people do when they hear a song that is part of them.
The first 2 people I thought of were them & Karl Knack who for sure has given me greater appreciated for Lou. I still crack out New York on a Saturday morning & let it soak in along with the coffee.
I can't make you feel what I feel. My ears are plugged from a cold & everything sounds like I'm listening from under water. including this news.
It doesn't seem real there's a world without Lou Reed in it making music.
Do something really truly brave this week if you really want to honour him.
I will.







Note:  This might be a rerun.  I wrote it on FB back in 2013 & it shows up in 'memories' but can't recall if I reposted here. Too tired to look. 

#HomeMadeFilmFest #May2019Edition

of course, it happened by accident. It's dour chilly Easter Sunday & I'm procrastinating a million things I should be doing (mostly cleaning).
Fell into watching "Peter's Friends" and have decided for the next 9 days, I should watch at least one film that made me fall in love with a place I'll get to visit.
I know it's not a perfect film but there's some bits to like quite a lot. It's the first film I remember Imelda Staunton from. And she & Hugh Laurie pull off a tough storyline in a somewhat uneven script. plus, Tony Slattery making everyone wholly uncomfortable is always worth a wathc.

There's some absolute musts - "Pride" - because I'll get to see a good bit of Wales and see Bronwen Lewis sing in Swansea and I'll take a picture with Mark Ashton blue plaque and visit 'Gay's The Word'.  And a Richard Curtis, as I'll be meeting up with Emma (& hopefully him).
Something Shakespeare, I guess. I might cheat & count "Endeavour" as an Oxford contribution. Maybe 'Wimbledon"?

But tons of options. I'm definitely open to suggestions.  Is there a film you love that takes place in England? Or even if it's somewhere I'm not going - what's the film you adore that  makes you want to travel to a special spot?
I want to hear your best story.
I'll be updating here.  And posting throughout the trip.

21 April - "Peter's Friends"
22 April - "Finding Your Feet"
23 April - "Little Dorrit"*
24 April - "The Snapper"
25 April - "Notting Hill"
26 April - "Bend It Like Beckham"
27 April - "Pride"
28 April - "Howard's End"
29 April - "Truly, Madly, Deeply"

Eventually, "Upstart Crow" got thrown in the mix. This list is just a tiny dent.  I'll visit "84 Charing Cross Road" & wander by the Savoy, I hope. Hammersmith Broadway for the Rik Mayall memorial and hopefully a visit to the Comedy Store.
I could visit a million times & never take in enough of the culture.  It's just beautiful.





*I did Little Dorrit in bits throughout but didn't do another film on the Tuesday, when I started.

Storytelling

It might be the occasion I disagreed the most with Len Goodman. It's certainly the only time I've seen the sweet tempered, patient & normally laughing Keo Motsepe angry. And boy was he angry.

It shouldn't be a secret that I adore a dancing show.  My love for #DWTS fades with every year that it's more a commercial for ABC and so I'm more invested in #Strictly for sure.  But there's tons of talented dancers, particularly from before it just became a cycle of pulling troop from #SYTYCD (some of them are wonderful but it doesn't provide variety). He's one of the "Burn The Floor" recruits and I tend to be fans of them.

For most of the years he's been on, Keo gets the partners that will go out in round 1. He gets a pounding in the press but it's not his fault.  He's a good trainer and choreographer. He's gotten the older contestants and sometimes ones who don't want to be there. But in his 4th cycle as a pro, Season 22, he got Jodie Sweetin.  They were great together.  She was a better dancer than the judges gave her credit for & the judges dance with the two of them & Nyle & Peta is a real highlight of the show.  
It was a tough season, as the football players always get votes and Wanya Morris was really good. And Ginger Zee, being an ABC employee, went longer than Jodie or Kim Fields, although skill wise they were pretty equal.  Jodie was the strongest for sure.

I was worried on switch up week.  Keo is well taller than Kim Fields and they were assigned a Viennese Waltz so the height can matter with frame. But they were given the perfect song- "These Arms Of Mine" by Otis Redding.  And in a shock of creativity, they didn't just slap a bridesmaid's dress on & make them spin around in circles.
It was a real genuine story, set in early 60's, so true to the era of the music. A sparse apartment and a portable record player.  It's perfect.
And it's a beautiful dance - romantic but also sexy as hell and their connection is lovely.
If you think about that time - they maybe would have to dance at home because they couldn't get in clubs. Or had maybe been somewhere like the Checkerboard in Chicago or Webster Hall in NYC and wanted to keep dancing at home.
It evokes Ruby Dee & Ossie Davis for me - the costumes and even a bit of resemblance.  

  I've watched it once or twice a year since then. I still love it. And I still don't get the scores. Len hated it. Hated it. Maks gave Keo a really hard time about the height difference, which I thought was dealt with beautifully. Their frame is spot on.  Extension is perfect and graceful.  It's a solid 9 and honestly I'd maybe give it a 10 because it was so different from any other Viennese waltz we've seen. It was groundbreaking.  
and they got 6's and 8's.  I can't even watch Len's criticism. I know he's a pro & whatever. I think the concept just eluded him.  That part of American history isn't something he'd be invested in.  Aware of for sure, but not invested in the way others could be.

A friend asked me yesterday "What qualifications do you need to be a storyteller?"   I guess my only answer would be inspiration and desire.  Quite of lot of my opinions about that dance are just the story it evoked for me. But that's what makes it so great in my head. I felt like that was a real couple with a story to tell. That dance was just a slice of life of people I wanted to know more about. I'm eternally grateful to Keo for creating it & the two of them for dancing.
It's a lovely piece of business and I hope they know how much it meant to some folk.
Art can be storytelling on so many levels. What a dance or a painting or a song makes you feel and the connection that's personal to you? That's the greatness of it. 


Again, a lovely bit of dancing and more. Give it a watch.


"These Arms Of Mine" 

London

It was a book, naturally, that made me fall in love with London.  "Black Hearts In Battersea" by Joan Aiken.  I was maybe 9?
I mean, I knew England existed by then. Of course. But that was the turning point. It'll always be one of my favorites. I still own a couple copies. If I see it used, I pick it up. So I can pass it on to a friend if I need to.
They paint pictures, those stories.  They form an idea in your head of what places look like. & you k now your imagination won't have proper geography or what you think a word might mean. I was befuddled by 'waistcoat' for years (we'd call that a vest here).
But if my head I see bridges and rivers and old warehouses turned to pubs and buskers and street markets and stray animals and schemers.  And some of that isn't too far off.

I'll take the book with me. I might even stay in Battersea if I can find a spot. For sure I'll get a picture on an obliging bridge.  And raise a pint to Joan.  And to Simon & Sophie & Dido & all those painters & students & fighters & even the royals & the tales she told.
Because she created a world I've been in love with for 40 years. And I know it's not real. But I think I'll see a glimpse of it.

I wish....

just a bit of twitter stream of consciousness.


There are days when it takes everything I have not to load up the car & drive west. I mean, the car might not make it across the Mississippi & I for sure don't have enough gas money to get my heart home but the road is calling. This is absolutely one of those days. But what I'll do instead is load the dishwasher & try to finish some holiday shopping & miss my Grandma a ton & try to keep the plants alive & try to offer some kindness, even if it gets ignored. I will pay the water bill & the electric bill & the phone bill & make a pot of soup so I can eat at work. and bake a treat for Ian & the sweet ladies working under the steel every day. I will listen to some funnies & maybe watch something sad & wish I knew... ..which box #LoveActually was in so I could listen to the commentary. And I will post a #short 47 hours too late & beat myself up about how I'm coping with stress and how I'll manage to find a place to sleep in England. And how I'll pay the rent when I'm not working for a month. And be excited about meeting so many of the lovely folk I know from here. And getting to visit Dan's pub. and see Marek play softball. And talk to Sean about writing. And to Sian & Tiff about comedy. and to Lucy & Phill about music and comedy. and maybe get to pat Buddy on the head. and hug Emma in person for being my hero. Yesterday was the birthday of one of the best humans I know. I told him I'd be away from him for a few weeks & it's been a few years. I'd give anything to have bought him a beer. I can't wait for the day I get to return and catch up. I have so many good people in my life here & I do not regret the time I've got to have with the kids but I miss him terribly. I'm not where I'm supposed to be. But I will just keep working hard until I can be. Tomorrow and the next day and the next I will walk about 10 miles & try to be as kind & useful as possible. Some of these are good things and some not so nice. That's life, right? But....it's not an 'enjoy being an adult day' for sure.