The concept for this post was blatantly ripped off from Caaleb. Check out his blog in the links - it's much more interesting than this one.
Apocalyptica
Burning Spear
Clutch
Death From Above 1979
Eric B & Rakim
Fugazi
Guided By Voices
High on Fire
Icarus Line
Joy Division
Kyuss
Lil' Jon
Meshuggah
N.W.A.
Will Oldham
Pantera
Quicksand
Refused
Sly & the Family Stone
Talib Kweli
The U.S. Postal Service
Velvet Underground
White Zombie
X
Year of the Rabbit
Frank Zappa
It's really bizarre to take a step back, and look down at a keyboard.
This arrangement of characters has been in place for much of the so-called information age, and it will stay in place, until our minds are able to formulate what we want to print at the batting of an eyelash.
And I think that is what our collective hero, Dr. Gonzo, was trying to comprehend.
For some reason, he decided to shoot himself in the head tonight. And I'm having a really hard time trying to deal with that. Most of my literary heroes are already dead (some of which chose to take their own lives), but I expected him to MAINTAIN. He showed me that yes, you can exhibit emotion in objective journalism. Yes, people do in fact care what you - their eyes and ears - have to say. And they really do like how you say it.
And he had the voice. You could just say, "well, he was a doped-up boozer who just wanted to get paid". But he knew early on what he had to do to get the job done. And that is crucial as a journalist. He realized this game is all about facade and he saw right through it. An interview should never last more than ten minutes. If you are a good writer, you should know what you want to know. He had his fun, but at the same time blew everything else of his time clean out of the water. Like a migrating duck with fresh shotgun pellets lodged in its wings. That was convention. He was the shooter. And unfortunately tonight, he decided to shoot again.
There is a certain stigma about the things he wrote. People cast it off as some random dude with a typewriter just getting high and drunk and writing about it. But it was all REAL. He connected with the reader like no other columnist or god damn editorial board does these days. He had a goal, and always went far and beyond achieving it.
You don't have to be some kind of 60s outcast, or even a stoned teenager to understand. He had a passion, and there is nothing that can debunk that kind of virtue. Our Doctor was a storyteller, and he did it way better than any of the talking heads or censored "geniuses" we have feeding us opinions in this new foul century ever could. What he did was 100% genuine and straight from the heart. He gave the middle finger to rules, and carved out a unique niche in storytelling that will never be emulated.
So, good sir, I will struggle for the rest of my life trying to understand why you did it. You won, which is why I don't get it. But maybe it'll come a lot clearer later. I love everything you have done for me, and I hope you are having way more fun wherever you are now than you did here.
Whoa...long time no post. What can I say? Been busy as all hell. Anyway, I finally have some time to post something worthwhile. Good old Sunday evenings.
This is the second installment in the "Top Ten of Toronto" series - BARS. I'll make no bones about it - I frequent many sundry establishments in this equally diverse metropolis. For anyone who enjoys a night out on the town, Toronto offers pretty much any kind of watering hole to quench your sinful thirst. From bars and nightclubs, to lounges and boozecans, this city's multitude of beverage rooms is the single reason no socialite should EVER be bored. Now I realize nights out on the town can be pricey, which is why I limit myself, but to have such profound options on a Saturday night makes any downtown jaunt truly worthwhile.
A quick disclaimer: as a contemporary urban Nish, I enjoy all the fruits of pop culture. But when it comes down to it, I am a rocker, which may reflect in this list. So if you have any suggestions for spirituous saloons, please post a comment. I generally visit all kinds of taprooms, but in terms of the old faithfuls - they tend to be the ones that serve beer and play Rock n' Roll.
Bovine Sex Club
542 Queen St. West
The rockin'est bar in the city. If you've been there, you know; if you haven't, you don't know. That's all I can really say about my favourite bar in the world.
The Horseshoe Tavern
368 Queen St. West
They don't call this place "legendary" for nothing. Everybody has heard of the Horseshoe. For almost 60 years, it has been the hub of music activity in downtown Toronto. Countless revered acts have played here, and their vibes continue to echo throughout the place. The nicest set of staff and regulars in the city, anyone can enjoy a pint here.
Phoenix Concert Theatre
410 Sherbourne
This one is definitely gonna make the forthcoming "Top Ten Live Venues in Toronto" list, but in terms of a normal weekend club to check out, it's definitely up there. They cater to all kinds of crowds, depending on the night of the week. Sundays is hip-hop, Fridays new rock, and Saturdays retro, among other themes. A very large theatre with different rooms for different vibes. Ideal if you're out with a large group of people. The only downside is you may have to get there a bit early.
The Rex
194 Queen St. West
Sometimes you just wanna chill and dig some jazz. That's what the Rex is for. Live sets begin in the afternoon and run right through the evening, showcasing local talent and some bigger names in the genre. For a nice relaxing evening sitting around with some friends, one of the best places to do it at is the Rex. For some reason, jazz makes you feel cooler and at peace with the world.
The Drake Hotel
1150 Queen St. West
The Drake made the preceding list in this series, based on one meal. A little lame, yes, but it was damn good. But what isn't lame is the Drake as a bar. Again, a multi-roomed locale which provides a variety of music and moods in each one. Probably the coolest atmosphere out of all the bars listed here, with a very classy and sexy crowd night in and out.
Mick E. Fynn's
45 Carlton St.
One of the ongoing beacons of booze for me and the old Ryerson crew. Across from Maple Leaf Gardens, so it has a killer view. But regardless, it's a good old-fashioned pub with lots of games and screens to enjoy any sporting event. Still attracts a big Ryerson crowd on a Thursday night, but for us old folks/alumni it's a great place just to meet up and tip some back.
Alto Basso
718 College St.
I had to pick a bar in Little Italy, so it was a toss-up between this one and the Lava Lounge. Two very different places, but a blast nonetheless if you're doing a College Street bar-hop. Dig them both to see for yourself.
Fez Batik
129 Peter St.
I usually only hit Toronto's "Clubland" about 2-3 times a year. I don't like going to bars early, standing in line, overpriced drinks, bad music, or shitty crowds. But Fez Batik is like a diamond in the Rough. Intimate, a cool atmosphere, and decent tunes. I'm not knocking the club scene, but this is something I can dig a bit more than the other options down there.
Bier Markt
58 The Esplanade
If you like beer, you should cart your arse immediately to the Bier Markt. They serve 100 different beers from all over the world - with a good portion of those on tap. Obviously, a joint of such international calibre is gonna be a bit expensive, but it's absolutely worth it. Whenever I pine for my days in Germany, I head here for some of the more authentic German beer.
Club Matador
466 Dovercourt
There are a few reasons this shouldn't even make the list. First, it's not a "legit" bar. Second, it's gone seriously downhill in recent years in terms of "service". Third, what service you do get is hella expensive. But I'm optimistic and hoping for a return to former glory. When last orders are called at 2AM and you still wanna party, this is your place. Great cover bands and a generally cool old venue, and the novelty never truly wears off.