The playlist today is in honour of Grant Lawrence and his new book Dirty Windshields. There was a rockin’ book release party last Saturday, May 13 in Vancouver. The Commodore was full of friends, family, acquaintances and fans of Grant’s and The Smugglers. We had quite a few people from the R3 community there and it was a fabulous time!
The evening started with Grant reading a couple excerpts from the book. I haven’t read it yet but great reviews have been coming in. This is what it has to say about it on the sleeve of the book:
“In Dirty Windshields, author Grant Lawrence spills the salacious and hilarious details of his touring days as the lead singer of Vancouver-based rock ‘n’ roll band the Smugglers.
Formed when most of the members were still in high school, the Smugglers came of age during the grunge explosion and came into their own in the pop-punk heyday while on Lookout Records. Grant chronicles the band’s booze-fuelled, sweaty, broke and wayward successes and failures as they trekked across Canada, the USA, Europe and the Pacific Rim. In their sixteen years of touring, the “Canadian Ambassadors of Rock ‘n’ Roll” collided with the Hives, Mudhoney, the Queers, Supersnazz, Fugazi, the Dwarves, Thee Headcoats, the Mr. T Experience, the Mummies and many more.
Through fights, sexual misadventures, new friendships, dance contests, and the Smugglers’ survival credo of ambition, good times, denial, the band grew up together on the road. Told with self-deprecating wit, this is a compelling story of the growth of an independent, do-it-yourself touring band, a community and a musical movement. Crack open a can of Black Label beer, stick a Smugglers tape into the cassette deck and let the good times roll.”
Needles//Pins, Chixdiggit and The Muffs entertained and got the crowd pumped up at the party at the Commodore. And then the Smugglers came on and what great fun that was. Grant and the band were in great form. There was jumping, rolling, tumbling and crowd engagement all while sounding fantastic! What a show!! Way to go Grant!
The playlist is made up of some of The Smugglers songs, the bands that played that night and many of the bands that Grant got chapter titles from and listed in his recommended listening section. It is going to be hard for people to sit still listening to this one!
A book review:
Grant Lawrence explores highs and lows of ’90s indie touring in new book
A show review and pictures:
hello
Amazung book, I couldn’t put it down, as much as I tried
i am going to keep talking until somone stops (realizing I may have just made a rod for my own back)
did you know trivia fans that Lily Allen’s dad Keith Allen is in the video for Blur’s Country House
Did you know the there isn’t a Bass line in Prince’s When Doves Cry (I’m going to see how many song that come on the juke box I know some trivia about)
i don’t know enough about The Doors
The Doors are an open-and-shut case. And with that, good afternoon to you!
Hello hello! I’m looking forward to checking out the playlist later today!
Garf – how was JKS?
Good morning!
@BfO that’s tonight (less than 4 hours) I am waiting to talk to Jenn Garnt and Hannah Georges before I walk there
Ah (garf), I thought that was yesterday. Say hi to Jenn from Benoit (won’t mean a thing), “an older guy who chatted with you a couple of times at the Black Sheep in Wakefield”.
Good day all!
I hope you are having a grand time Garf! Despite the lack of sleep.
good morning!
@darbar @garfielduk how were/are your adventures in the land of music?
http://festivalpassport.com
for when all you have to do is play.
Gloria, from Scary Bear Soundtrack wrote a piece on Asian Heritage month and being an Asian musician:
http://ottawabeat.com/2017/05/19/asian-heritage-month-musician-look-like/
morgana, from garf, above, with my edits in **: “@BfO that’s tonight (less than 4 hours), *the John K Samson one, and* I am waiting to talk to Jenn Grant and Hannah Georgeas before I walk there”.
@morgana – Mine was amazing! I loved it. A little more sun and less rain would have made it even better but I enjoyed the week.
Oh how I wish I could use that festival pass. Travel and music go well together.
Festival Pass = retirement plan!
hitting play on todays playlist and going out to the garden. finally some sun!
Enjoy the playlist and the sun!
Retirement is just a dream for me. My son better get rich soon to take care of me. :p
I am loving the new Do Make Say Think album.
That festival pass feels like retirement goals! Only like 40 years to go!
hey everyone, what’s up?
big long weekend plans?
I’m doing yardwork!
How fun! I will mostly be relaxing and joining a parade. Monday is the start of Cathedral Village Arts Fest.
sweet.
yeah, if things get really exciting,I’ll be helping the OA2GF* move her horses from a farm about 90 minutes away to an acreage much closer.
*On Again, Off Again Girlfriend
Closer would be more convenient. Still doing the on again off again thing huh?
well, it was on for a while, then it was off. Then we were just doing stuff together.
It’s all really confusing.
Sounds like it. Things can get complicated.
I just had somebody recognize me from high school again. She was a few years younger and I don’t remember her but she remembered me before she knew my name. Other than being a whole lot heavier, I guess I haven’t changed much in 35 or so years. hehe
yeah. well, we’ll see what happens…
off to go climbing. have a good weekend!
You too! Good luck.
oh right, it’s a long weekend. I will be at work. what ever.
Well have a good weekend even with work. I am off!