#rockfest2017 Parts 1 & 2

Video footage from Amy.Volume on Instagram covering Friday @ Rockfest in Montebello, Quebec. Footage includes clips of AFI, Dance Laury Dance, Bad Religion and The Offspring. 

Video footage from Snapchat (@amyvolume): 

Heading back for round two this afternoon. Looking forward to sets from Eagles of Death Metal, Alexisonfire, Queens of the Stone Age and Iggy Pop. IGGY POP!! Punk legend!! 

TIPS: wear boots - wear comfy footwear that can survive the sloppy muck & mud. Maybe bring extra socks, too! 

Bring cash. Sun screen. A rain coat or poncho. A hat.  

Pro TIP: if you're driving, bring snacks and water in the car. After a long day at Rockfest, you'll be happy you have some H2O and sustinance for the ride home.  

*Written from the perspective of a 31/f with rheumatoid arthritis (I always take Tylenol before spending all day on my feet) accessing privilidged areas reserved for Media. 

Clothes Giveaway

I've reached out to a couple local charities who are not currently accepting donations for women's clothes (maternity/regular) or children's clothes. Since I'd prefer these items go to someone for FREE, I thought I'd offer them up to you before they go to Goodwill. 

If you are interested in any of the items, contact me and we can arrange pick up or drop off. The above link contains women's clothing, mostly maternity wear (sizes M to L) in fair to mint condition. There are also a few non-mat items. Any Qs? Contact me.

Happy Mother's Day, Internet.

Everyone's sharing photos of their mom on social media today. Maybe not "their mom" exactly... but it's nice to see motherly figures have their day.  

To that effect, Happy Mother's Day to the caretakers out there. Being a mom is the ultimate caretaking job. For example: I just made a bath for Aurora and the second I put her in it, she pooped. Everywhere. Haha! I've been pooped, peed and puked on at least once per day for the last week or so and I wouldn't have it any other way. It's cosmic payback, I guess. 

God bless technology for allowing us to give our moms shoutouts. For those whose folks aren't online, aren't available or who've passed, sharing a nice memory and/or photo can be cathartic. I had the pleasure of receiving a bunch of baby pics of me from my mom today. 

Me and mom!  Snappy dresser, eh?

This was my 1st Christmas, I think. Dad was 33 or 34 here. What is he drinking from? Is that a cup or a Barbie toilet?? 

Mom had me at 23. She beat me by 5 years. So young! 

Me and dad.  

Me at the cottage! Sweet boots! 

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there doing their absolute best.  

It really is Baby's Day though, isn't it? ;) 

What if Social Media Could Save Your Favorite Local Venue?

I've had this idea for a while now and don't know what to do with it. Maybe if enough people care, the idea will reach someone or a team of savvy tech people who can make it happen. I had shared this idea, funnily enough, via Facebook a year or two ago and it turned some heads. Now the urgency to be heard (and have it implemented) is greater because Ottawa is losing another historic live music venue... Zaphods. #sad

THE IDEA

What if Facebook Event Invite pages had an option to donate an unspecified monetary amount towards the venue? I get invited to loads of awesome events on Facebook because I follow a lot of musicians. I generally opt out of events these days as I've been pregnant, sick or staying at home with baby. It doesn't mean I don't want to support your band - or, on a grander scale - the venue. If I could click "Yes" "Maybe" or "No" with the option to donate the door price/ticket price/or PWYC (pay what you can), I would. Not every time. But more than ZERO times.

Giving your targeted guests the option to throw a dollar, ten dollars or more towards your event allows guests the privilege of being like "hey, I can't make it out but you rock and I wanna support you." 

Find tickets?: If you know you can't make it and maybe don't wanna pay a full ticket price yet still want to support the band/venue/event why not add a PWYC option?

Like I said - this idea could potentially help give dying scenes the boost they need to stay afloat. It's not always finances keeping fans and friends away from shows/events... We want to help. 

#RIPZaphods

10 Albums of Significance

There was a post circulating Facebook a while back that had people posting their Top 10 Albums. Not necessarily their faves - but albums that held some significance in their lives. Generally, I refrain from hopping on those types of bandwagons but this was one I wanted to jump on I just couldn't think of the albums. 

It wasn't easy coming up with a Top 10 list but after much deliberation: I did it! 

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Starting off with an absolute classic and Canadian legend. I can easily credit him/this album as my "gateway" LP to rock music. If I remember correctly, my dad bought me this CD from CD Warehouse when I was really young. 
"So Far So Good" is full of Cancon hits that was the right mix of 90s love ballads with ass kicking bangers. It was so good, I felt proud gifting this on cassette to Emily K. in elementary school. Had my first slow dance to Everything I Do (I Do it For You) with the boy I shared my first kiss with, too! This album is solid gold. A must have for Canadian 30 somethings.

Fave track: Please Forgive Me
 

Got into emo, screamo and harder rock in my teens. Thrice was the perfic mix of technical guitar riffs, harmonies, California surf-punk vibes with a harder edge. Thrice continues to make music and push the limits on their sound. I dropped off at Vheissu, but their second LP, The Illusion of Safety, stands tall as my fave Thrice record. 

Fave track: The Beltsville Cruicible

The Beatles final album isn't my favorite but it go the most play in my car. I'm a bigger fan of the early Beatles and in a way, this album kinds comes full circle. It's also kinda sad.

Fave track: Let it Be

I was nine years old when this album came out and it's still in my car. It still gets play. Oasis is my favorite band. I never did see them live, but I caught Noel last year at Bluesfest which was a total dream come true. Maybe one day...  Fun fact, my preferred Gallagher (Noel) allowed Liam to sing lead vocals on their smash hit Wonderwall if he could sing lead on the album's next track which, of course, was Don't Look Back in Anger. Noel didn't care to sing Wonderwall but he put up a stink to strike a deal that would lock him in for lead on the album's strongest song, in my opinion.

Fave track: Don't Look Back in Anger
 

1...2...3...4... Punk rock! PUNK ROCK. Real. Gritty. Fast. Simple. Hard. Ahead of their time, man.

Fave track: Havana Affair

As far as absolute guitar legends goes, Jimi's music was palatable, poetic and poppy enough for me to follow. Yeah, we've all been down the Yngwie Malmsteen, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai wormhole before and they're friggin' awesome, too. This album spoke to my soul. Hendrix was beautiful - still is.

Fave track: The Wind Cries Mary *featured on the Original North American release

Metallica's self-titled, fifth studio effort is an album most of us call "The Black Album." This album was my introduction to classic thrash metal. 

Fave track: Through the Never

My best friend in elementary school gave me this CD when Iris broke out and Johnny Rzeznik was on the cover of all the teen magazines. I was way into this album when most girls were asking for Britney Spears' record. I'd pick this LP over any Spears joint, every time.

Fave track: Black Balloon

Pop punk and maybe a little emo, I jumped on the Ataris late. Still regret not seeing them at Maverick's a few years ago. Dang! This band is surf-punk fun when you need a break from the blink.

Fave track: San Dimas High School Football Rules

Since it's impossible to pick ONE blink album, I'm going with their live one. I know every single word to every single song on this record, including the stage banter. 

Fave track: Going Away to College