Last night I watched the film The Impossible starring Ewan McGregor and Naomi Watts about a family who is ripped apart by the 2004 tsunami. I didn’t cry once. I cried several times. The film is emotionally driven as loneliness, loss, empathy, and shared humanity feature in every scene. A welling soundtrack accompanies all of … [Read more…]
[if I were to have my own, self-produced radio show… ] Good afternoon, this is Radio Zaakistan. I’m your host, Zaak Robichaud. To open this series I’m going to steer you through my early childhood in music and if you listen long enough you’ll hear how Joni Mitchell got me bit by a guard dog … [Read more…]
I took Blaise to his first orchestral performance a couple weeks ago. It was an earlier and shorter performance, a part of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra‘s Rush Hour Series, so it worked well for a young lad. I had to get there early as the parking was about 4 blocks from the Jack Singer Hall … [Read more…]
When I first moved to Calgary just over 3 years ago, I was pessimistic and quite negative about the city’s maddening sprawl, crazy city parking rates (second highest in North America), lack of urban vibe, unprogressive transit system, and high prices. Since this time, even though I am still irked by all of these negative … [Read more…]
I’m on the cusp of finishing Home Movies Vol. 19 and one of the components I always include is a music montage. I like to use a tune we listened to during that time but that also works (is positive, energetic, etc.). These are my past selections: 2003 Spring in Edmonton: Life is Beautiful (Amy … [Read more…]
One of my faves since ’92, R.E.M. has broken up. Their 80s material was always their best, but I have to say, I really enjoyed all of their albums right to the end. Cheers to great music for over 3 decades! MIKE MILLS “During our last tour, and while making Collapse Into Now and putting … [Read more…]
Well, this was pretty sweet! Two of my favorite bands one after the other with my wife and some great friends in the inner circle just a few feet from the stage. Amber dropped me off at Magnetic Hill so I could get in line early, which didn’t do much aside from me getting the … [Read more…]
You see, I’m not as hard core as some, but this was my third time seeing U2. It was a brilliant concert; best I’ve seen them. The June 1 show at Commonwealth Stadium was postponed for nearly 12 months when Bono hurt his back last year. I attendedwith my sister Saison, her husband Dean, and … [Read more…]
from Gil Scott-Heron (1949-2011) You will not be able to stay home, brother.You will not be able to plug in, turn on and cop out.You will not be able to lose yourself on skag and skip,Skip out for beer during commercials,Because the revolution will not be televised. The revolution will not be televised.The revolution will … [Read more…]
2001: Shave my head for the first time, work as a youth pastor at Red Willow Community Church in St Albert AB (Events: Just Shoot Me, Gerta’s Eclipse, and fall retreat in Nordegg), canoe the Mackenzie River in NT, camp at Elk Island National Park, attend plays at the Citadel Theatre, travel to Halifax NS … [Read more…]