: : : October 27, 2001 : : : 11:46 PM : : :

Somethings happen always

The Preston School Of Industry show was awesome! I really didn�t know exactly what to expect since I heard only a couple of songs. But the show was really great.

The doors opened at six, so I got there about ten after thinking that I would get in quickly and there would be a few people inside already. However, I had to wait outside for a while and I was the first in line. Boy did I feel cool standing there. Actually I did: it was really windy and I wasn�t wearing a jacket. Fortunately about ten minutes later a couple got into line behind me. They were from San Diego and were here on vacation. The guy told me that they wanted to do something so they checked one of the local free papers and found out about this show. The two of them were Pavement fans (him especially so) so they made sure to come. I hung out with them the whole night. Before the show we were talking about bands from San Diego, bands related to Pavement and a bunch of bands that are playing here in the next little while. They even asked me about Sloan. =)

The first band on stage was The Standard, from Oregon. They were really cool. The lead singer was at times yelling in his mike and at other times sort of sounded like a sheep. They really rocked the bar and the few people fortunate enough to be there already. The second band was The Shins, from New Mexico. They were pretty good, but near the end of their set the songs all started to sound the same.

In the Georgia Straight there was an interview with Spiral and at the end he asked the interviewer if he knew the New Pornographers because he really liked them. The last sentence told Carl Newman to go to the show. Well I did see him in attendance, as well as Kurt and John. Before PSOI�s set I noticed that Carl and Spiral were talking by the merch and later noticed a 7� in Carl�s hand.

PSOI was more rocking that I thought they would be (funny how the solo projects are more like that). There was plenty of guitar and even a drum solo when the band got back on the stage for their encore. During the set the band even did a rocked out version of �Coolin' By Sound.� I figured a Pavement song was going to be played (but I would have bet money on "Two States").

As cool as that was, the best part of the show was when they came back for the encore. Spiral asked if the rest of the band knew any cover tunes. He then asked if they knew �Billie Jean.� Of course, hearing those two words made me perk up. They began playing it, then Spiral said that the singer for the Shins (I can�t remember his name) knew the words, so Spiral asked him to come up. Ohmigod! That was the best cover of �Billie Jean� I have ever witnesses. Better than Sloan and better than Moist. The guy started dancing and posing like Michael Jackson, and there were pelvic thrusts galore. Then to top it all off, he proceeded to do the worm. I really hope my pictures turn out well for that. When it ended, Spiral said they couldn�t follow that up. They played one more tune and were gone. Stupid early show. They had to be off by 9:30 so the Latin/Rave party could start.

Well, us three really enjoyed the show. The guy got a bit inebriated from the Canadian beer so he was quite friendly. He gave me a hug and thanked me for telling them where they should go and about the scene before I headed off to the merch table. That kinda weirded me out: getting a hug from someone I didn�t know. I bought an EP and an import single. Too bad the new album wasn�t there. I also scored a couple posters and a postcard. I bumped into the couple again and they bought the EP too.

We then left the bar. This time the wind was from the north so I began to freeze. A couple blocks later I would have to part ways with the couple. They told me if I was ever near San Diego to check out their �burb. Hugs were exchanged again, and I told them I hoped they had a good time here and in Victoria. Then I quickly walked to the SkyTrain to go home. I quickly stopped off at Timmy�s to get a hot chocolate and an apple fritter. That warmed me up, but probably isn�t the best thing for dinner.

=)

Hey punk, hey punk, where you going with that baseball bat?