Saturday, July 30, 2011
Get ready for the ∞+1 Prairie Tour 2011!
Kevin Armstrong performs "Opera for Heathens" with special guest opener dOUG nORMAL!
Wednesday, August 3rd, 8PM
The Spadina Freehouse
608 Spadina Crescent East
Saskatoon, SK
No cover
Thursday, August 4th, 8PM
Cathedral Freehouse
2062 Albert Street
Regina, SK
No cover
Saturday, August 6th 8PM
The Loonie House
90 Grove Street
Winnipeg, MAN
204-589-3440
Tickets $15
Tuesday, August 9th, 8PM
The Creative Centre
1843 Hamilton Street
Regina, SK
Tickets $10
Edmonton International Fringe Festival
Yardbird Suite
11 Tommy Banks Way
Saturday, August 13 (6:30 PM)
Sunday, August 14 (10:45 PM)
Monday, August 15 (4:45 PM)
Tuesday, August 16 (9:00 PM)
Wednesday, August 17 (12:30 PM)
Thursday, August 18 (2:30 PM)
Saturday, August 20 (10:00 PM)
Tickets $12/$10
Looking forward to seeing you there!
Kevin
Kevin Armstrong performs "Opera for Heathens" with special guest opener dOUG nORMAL!
Wednesday, August 3rd, 8PM
The Spadina Freehouse
608 Spadina Crescent East
Saskatoon, SK
No cover
Thursday, August 4th, 8PM
Cathedral Freehouse
2062 Albert Street
Regina, SK
No cover
Saturday, August 6th 8PM
The Loonie House
90 Grove Street
Winnipeg, MAN
204-589-3440
Tickets $15
Tuesday, August 9th, 8PM
The Creative Centre
1843 Hamilton Street
Regina, SK
Tickets $10
Edmonton International Fringe Festival
Yardbird Suite
11 Tommy Banks Way
Saturday, August 13 (6:30 PM)
Sunday, August 14 (10:45 PM)
Monday, August 15 (4:45 PM)
Tuesday, August 16 (9:00 PM)
Wednesday, August 17 (12:30 PM)
Thursday, August 18 (2:30 PM)
Saturday, August 20 (10:00 PM)
Tickets $12/$10
Looking forward to seeing you there!
Kevin
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Music of the Night
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Why Mike Portnoy Leaving Dream Theater Could be a Good Thing
After rocking my world for the past 16 years, and the rest of the world for 25, Dream Theater is about to undergo arguably its most important line-up change: Mike Portnoy is no longer with Dream Theater. Okay, stop sobbing, blow your nose, wipe away the tears, and listen to why you may have reason to celebrate.
1. Every line-up change has resulted in a surge of creative energy.
Going all the way back to Dominici's departure, upheavals in the line-up have immediately resulted in a classic album... LaBrie's entrance brought us Images and Words. Sherinian's contributions led to the amazing recording of A Change of Season. When Rudess joined, he brought with him the wizard's magic, and out came Scenes from a Memory. However, once each new lineup settled it, it has often then resulted in creative stagnation. A new drummer, and a new perspective, should break DT out of the rut they've fallen into the past couple of disks. (Is it just me, or do they keep re-recording Octavarium?)
2. Portnoy is a control-freak.
Perhaps this shake-up will lead to a more even distribution of duties within the band. I'd be curious to hear James singing more of his own texts. I'd love to see Myung's step more to the forefront (his skills have been on the back-burner since WDADU), and I would love to see Rudess play a larger role in the band than playing the harmony lines to Petrucci's leads No disrespect to Portnoy's massive contributions, but he himself has said that he has had a hand in EVERY ASPECT of the band. Perhaps it's time for a new vision.
3. A new production style
My biggest personal criticism of the band has been that since Portnoy and Petrucci took over production duties, every disk sounds like a guitar-and-drum spectacle, with a few special guest musicians thrown in. As much as I can understand any musician wanting his/her performance to be at the fore-front, it shouldn't be at the expense of the other musicians (see the Myung comment above).
4. Portnoy's no longer the "property" of DT
Mike Portnoy is certainly one of the most talented and skilled musicians in the world. Now, without the huge time commitment to DT, he can dedicate himself to other projects more definitely. Dream Theater will stay Dream Theater, and from the sounds of it, they aren't planning to let this development slow them down in the slightest. So why not look forward to all of the other spectacular music Portnoy will be involved with, and no longer on a part-time basis? With more time to commit to other interests, he is helping enrich the music scene exponentially with every project he commits himself to. And if he finds the one project he can commit to to the extent of DT, perhaps we will all have some new favourite bands.
5. Give the poor guy a break.
I believe if ANYONE were to commit as much time and energy as Portnoy has to DT, numerous side projects, raising a family, touring, performing, writing, producing, editing, filming, etc, they'd have been burned out before Beverly Hills 90210 was canceled. If he has the sac to define his limits, and stick to them, despite pressure from the other members, then all the more power to him. As we know, DT has a history of reunions, and maintaining strong ties with ex-members. I KNOW FOR A FACT that we have not seen the end of Portnoy's collaboration with DT.
After rocking my world for the past 16 years, and the rest of the world for 25, Dream Theater is about to undergo arguably its most important line-up change: Mike Portnoy is no longer with Dream Theater. Okay, stop sobbing, blow your nose, wipe away the tears, and listen to why you may have reason to celebrate.
1. Every line-up change has resulted in a surge of creative energy.
Going all the way back to Dominici's departure, upheavals in the line-up have immediately resulted in a classic album... LaBrie's entrance brought us Images and Words. Sherinian's contributions led to the amazing recording of A Change of Season. When Rudess joined, he brought with him the wizard's magic, and out came Scenes from a Memory. However, once each new lineup settled it, it has often then resulted in creative stagnation. A new drummer, and a new perspective, should break DT out of the rut they've fallen into the past couple of disks. (Is it just me, or do they keep re-recording Octavarium?)
2. Portnoy is a control-freak.
Perhaps this shake-up will lead to a more even distribution of duties within the band. I'd be curious to hear James singing more of his own texts. I'd love to see Myung's step more to the forefront (his skills have been on the back-burner since WDADU), and I would love to see Rudess play a larger role in the band than playing the harmony lines to Petrucci's leads No disrespect to Portnoy's massive contributions, but he himself has said that he has had a hand in EVERY ASPECT of the band. Perhaps it's time for a new vision.
3. A new production style
My biggest personal criticism of the band has been that since Portnoy and Petrucci took over production duties, every disk sounds like a guitar-and-drum spectacle, with a few special guest musicians thrown in. As much as I can understand any musician wanting his/her performance to be at the fore-front, it shouldn't be at the expense of the other musicians (see the Myung comment above).
4. Portnoy's no longer the "property" of DT
Mike Portnoy is certainly one of the most talented and skilled musicians in the world. Now, without the huge time commitment to DT, he can dedicate himself to other projects more definitely. Dream Theater will stay Dream Theater, and from the sounds of it, they aren't planning to let this development slow them down in the slightest. So why not look forward to all of the other spectacular music Portnoy will be involved with, and no longer on a part-time basis? With more time to commit to other interests, he is helping enrich the music scene exponentially with every project he commits himself to. And if he finds the one project he can commit to to the extent of DT, perhaps we will all have some new favourite bands.
5. Give the poor guy a break.
I believe if ANYONE were to commit as much time and energy as Portnoy has to DT, numerous side projects, raising a family, touring, performing, writing, producing, editing, filming, etc, they'd have been burned out before Beverly Hills 90210 was canceled. If he has the sac to define his limits, and stick to them, despite pressure from the other members, then all the more power to him. As we know, DT has a history of reunions, and maintaining strong ties with ex-members. I KNOW FOR A FACT that we have not seen the end of Portnoy's collaboration with DT.
Labels: band split-up, Dream Theater, metal, Mike Portnoy, progressive metal, rock
Friday, February 06, 2009
Poor Micheal Phelps. The guy goes to a party, and the next thing you know, the always-right American people cut him off at the legs (though this brings him down to normal height. That guy is tall! He just has to jump in the water, and before his feet are wet, his hands are touching the other end of the pool), and throw him to the sharks for being a normal college student. But I guess it's impossible to reconcile in the tiny minds of most, that one can be a hard-working, successful, talented athlete, and still partake in leisure activities.
Are there no pictures of him drinking a beer? A shot? Falling down drunk, puking all over the street, passing out on a bus bench? Perhaps, but that is of little interest to anyone because it fall under the category "acceptable behaviour", since it's not illegal, or against "God's will" (whatever that is). But take one hit of the devil's lettuce, and YOU'LL NEVER WORK IN THIS TOWN AGAIN, BOY! His endorsement deal with Kellogg's won't be renewed, which I find ironic, considering the increased consumption of their product that would be caused by the hoards of millions of muncheid-out kids who will obviously be inspired to become pot junkies since Mr. Phelps was photographed holding a bong.
Is he a bad "role model"? NO! This guy accomplished more in his early 20's than most people will accomplish, or even aspire to accomplish in 6 lifetimes. He works hard, is disciplined, trains his ass of, sets goals, achieves them, sets new goals, achieves them too, and should serve as an inspiration for generations to come. Why should ONE PICTURE end that? I think the "bad role models" are the ones who profit in other people's pain and mistakes: the guy who sold the picture (I'm sure he didn't just give it away with the intention of making the world a better place), the newspapers who published it, and all of the narrow-minded people who are quick to judge, and not so quick to forgive.
SO WHAT if he got (gets) high? It's certainly not performance-enhancing. He's not in competition (a point the IOC brought up when they chose not to punish him), and he would probably pass any drug test administered right now, and at any point in-season. About the only people I can see him really having let down are the ones like me who wish he would just own up to it and tell every one to screw off, since it's none of their business anyways. If more people would do that, perhaps we could make some headway into dispersing the myths that using marajuana leads to a dismal life of failure, amotivation, addiction and abuse. There are other drugs that fit that bill very well, and they are legal, acceptable, and even encouraged by our society. They have done wonders to raise the mortality rate and health costs, not to mention tear families apart, something grass has never (as far as I've read, and I've read a lot) been proven to do. Alcohol anyone? Cigarettes? Unnecessary prescription drugs? Or perhaps we just need a marajuana lobby, with good role models like Michael Phelps showing that most people's half-formed ideas on the subject are false.
Are there no pictures of him drinking a beer? A shot? Falling down drunk, puking all over the street, passing out on a bus bench? Perhaps, but that is of little interest to anyone because it fall under the category "acceptable behaviour", since it's not illegal, or against "God's will" (whatever that is). But take one hit of the devil's lettuce, and YOU'LL NEVER WORK IN THIS TOWN AGAIN, BOY! His endorsement deal with Kellogg's won't be renewed, which I find ironic, considering the increased consumption of their product that would be caused by the hoards of millions of muncheid-out kids who will obviously be inspired to become pot junkies since Mr. Phelps was photographed holding a bong.
Is he a bad "role model"? NO! This guy accomplished more in his early 20's than most people will accomplish, or even aspire to accomplish in 6 lifetimes. He works hard, is disciplined, trains his ass of, sets goals, achieves them, sets new goals, achieves them too, and should serve as an inspiration for generations to come. Why should ONE PICTURE end that? I think the "bad role models" are the ones who profit in other people's pain and mistakes: the guy who sold the picture (I'm sure he didn't just give it away with the intention of making the world a better place), the newspapers who published it, and all of the narrow-minded people who are quick to judge, and not so quick to forgive.
SO WHAT if he got (gets) high? It's certainly not performance-enhancing. He's not in competition (a point the IOC brought up when they chose not to punish him), and he would probably pass any drug test administered right now, and at any point in-season. About the only people I can see him really having let down are the ones like me who wish he would just own up to it and tell every one to screw off, since it's none of their business anyways. If more people would do that, perhaps we could make some headway into dispersing the myths that using marajuana leads to a dismal life of failure, amotivation, addiction and abuse. There are other drugs that fit that bill very well, and they are legal, acceptable, and even encouraged by our society. They have done wonders to raise the mortality rate and health costs, not to mention tear families apart, something grass has never (as far as I've read, and I've read a lot) been proven to do. Alcohol anyone? Cigarettes? Unnecessary prescription drugs? Or perhaps we just need a marajuana lobby, with good role models like Michael Phelps showing that most people's half-formed ideas on the subject are false.
Labels: contoversy, drugs, hypocrisy, marijuana, Michael, Phelps, picture, sports, swimming
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Big Brother is listening. Really, he is. Or she is. I couldn't hear the gender of the person who cut the line. Or perhaps it was a sexless computer (if there is still such a thing these days).
(Telephone Conversation. Party one is in Canada. Party two, Germany. March 23, 2008 Approx. 19h (7PM) CET)
P1: "...when he was STONED."
P2: "Whoops. Now you've triggered the listening devices." (giggle)
P1: "No. In order to do that, you'd have to say TERRORIST!"
P2" "Shhhhh!! Now they're going to come to your house!" (maniacal, uncontrollable giggling)
P1: "I wonder if the listening devices are tuned to listen to pick up on words like BOMB, TERRORIST, WEAPON in Arabic, since that's the Lingua Franca of Terrorism. It would only make sense... Hello?"
(Silence)
P1: "Hello?"
(Dead silence, followed by the beeping of a severed connection.)
An attempt to call back yields the following results:
1. One ring, then the phone picks up.
"Hello?" (followed by an echo of my own voice. No response, just the sound of breathing on the the other end, then a button being pushed).
"Hello?" (another echo, another empty moment)
A third attempt re-establishes contact.
I'm still feel freaked out.
If you don't hear from me for a while, please write letters on my behalf:
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
RE: Unlawful detainment at Guantanamo Bay
Love,
Kevin
(Telephone Conversation. Party one is in Canada. Party two, Germany. March 23, 2008 Approx. 19h (7PM) CET)
P1: "...when he was STONED."
P2: "Whoops. Now you've triggered the listening devices." (giggle)
P1: "No. In order to do that, you'd have to say TERRORIST!"
P2" "Shhhhh!! Now they're going to come to your house!" (maniacal, uncontrollable giggling)
P1: "I wonder if the listening devices are tuned to listen to pick up on words like BOMB, TERRORIST, WEAPON in Arabic, since that's the Lingua Franca of Terrorism. It would only make sense... Hello?"
(Silence)
P1: "Hello?"
(Dead silence, followed by the beeping of a severed connection.)
An attempt to call back yields the following results:
1. One ring, then the phone picks up.
"Hello?" (followed by an echo of my own voice. No response, just the sound of breathing on the the other end, then a button being pushed).
"Hello?" (another echo, another empty moment)
A third attempt re-establishes contact.
I'm still feel freaked out.
If you don't hear from me for a while, please write letters on my behalf:
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
RE: Unlawful detainment at Guantanamo Bay
Love,
Kevin
Labels: big brother, conspiracy, eavesdropping, surveillance, wire tapping
Saturday, January 26, 2008
I just Googled "Road Stories", my musical play that we performed in Montreal, and came across this review:
http://www.blork.org/blog/fringe99/
Road Stories
Rating: Huh?
The program for this performance states "this isn't high art", which caused me to breathe a sigh of relief considering the overall "Huh?" level I've been experiencing throughout the festival. Road Stories is good old fashioned storytelling, somewhat embellished with the occational song and a bevy of enthusiastic although not professional actors playing out the story of a six-week cross-county road trip.
The main characters are a loosely tossed together handfull of musicians in search of cheap adventure on their way to a gig in Halifax. This is supposedly based on a real-life road trip, which makes it even more fun.
There is no big theme, and not all of the anecdotal skits really come together, but there is continuity running through the show, along with recurring characters and ideas. Something some of the "high art" people should take note of.
I liked it. It was straight-up and not pretentious. I would not want the whole Fringe to be like this, but I like the fact that the Fringe is (at least in theory) open and full of variety. Frankly, I think the festival could use a few more shows like this one.
http://www.blork.org/blog/fringe99/
Road Stories
Rating: Huh?
The program for this performance states "this isn't high art", which caused me to breathe a sigh of relief considering the overall "Huh?" level I've been experiencing throughout the festival. Road Stories is good old fashioned storytelling, somewhat embellished with the occational song and a bevy of enthusiastic although not professional actors playing out the story of a six-week cross-county road trip.
The main characters are a loosely tossed together handfull of musicians in search of cheap adventure on their way to a gig in Halifax. This is supposedly based on a real-life road trip, which makes it even more fun.
There is no big theme, and not all of the anecdotal skits really come together, but there is continuity running through the show, along with recurring characters and ideas. Something some of the "high art" people should take note of.
I liked it. It was straight-up and not pretentious. I would not want the whole Fringe to be like this, but I like the fact that the Fringe is (at least in theory) open and full of variety. Frankly, I think the festival could use a few more shows like this one.
Hi everyone,
First of all, happy 2008. One of my resolutions is to keep this damn blog more up-to-date. The other resolution is that I will create (or go out and find) lots of exciting projects to post here about.
I'm sitting in my room in Zürich right now, enjoying the wonders of wi-fi, and grooving to old Toad the Wet Sprocket songs on MySpace:http://www.myspace.com/toadthewetsprocket
In my opinion, one of the best bands of the 90's. They got me through my first love, my first heartbreak, my first cross-country trip, and served as a model for my own burgeoning songwriting projects. Their cassettes played incessantly on my walkman. Fear was one of the first cd's I bought when I started to switch from cassettes. (I have a collection of about 2-300 at home, mostly of guitar gods and hair-metal. Or combinations of both, like Yngwie.) Cool stuff, check it out.
American politics are sure fun to watch! It's like a rhetorical wrestling match, body-slamming personal records, clothes-lining morals, and the finishing move: the scandal! 1-2-3-you're out! See you later, Giuliani.
I'm going for Hillary. Obama is cool, but Hillary is HOT! I wonder if when she's elected, I could get a job as an inter-boy. Hmmm...
I love you all,
Kevin
First of all, happy 2008. One of my resolutions is to keep this damn blog more up-to-date. The other resolution is that I will create (or go out and find) lots of exciting projects to post here about.
I'm sitting in my room in Zürich right now, enjoying the wonders of wi-fi, and grooving to old Toad the Wet Sprocket songs on MySpace:http://www.myspace.com/toadthewetsprocket
In my opinion, one of the best bands of the 90's. They got me through my first love, my first heartbreak, my first cross-country trip, and served as a model for my own burgeoning songwriting projects. Their cassettes played incessantly on my walkman. Fear was one of the first cd's I bought when I started to switch from cassettes. (I have a collection of about 2-300 at home, mostly of guitar gods and hair-metal. Or combinations of both, like Yngwie.) Cool stuff, check it out.
American politics are sure fun to watch! It's like a rhetorical wrestling match, body-slamming personal records, clothes-lining morals, and the finishing move: the scandal! 1-2-3-you're out! See you later, Giuliani.
I'm going for Hillary. Obama is cool, but Hillary is HOT! I wonder if when she's elected, I could get a job as an inter-boy. Hmmm...
I love you all,
Kevin
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Here is a Christmas video that will change the world!
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
Meinem Profil hinzufügen | Mehr Videos
We actually sold a CD over the internet on CD Baby. I can't wait until the day when that isn't such a kick anymore, since I will be selling sooooo many!! :)
Kevin
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
Meinem Profil hinzufügen | Mehr Videos
We actually sold a CD over the internet on CD Baby. I can't wait until the day when that isn't such a kick anymore, since I will be selling sooooo many!! :)
Kevin
