"...Home Towns..."

Hey Folks! 

It's time for another jam for your insatiable hunger!
... Peanut Butter and Music Jam. Just like Momma used to make. So get ready to take another ride on the 'Rock It Rocket 5000', because today... we look at some HOMEGROWN TALENT!

Rocket Sauce ENGAGE!


It always nice when you're home team wins the Cup, or Series, or becomes the stage to some massive event that makes your face melt and your voice hoarse. Well I feel that about a few Bands from here in the city as well. That's right Kids and Other Kids; It's "Calm Asa Coma"!

While not as well known as Tegan and Sara may be in the music spotlight, these Gents have made a mighty big name for themselves around the Calgary area. So I'd like to give a huge shout-out and some wonderful jams from Calm Asa Coma to you folks! Every little bit helps when it comes to getting your name out, right?

CONTINUE?
Y / N / (YOU BET YOUR SWEET BOTTOM DOLLAR)

In an article written by Allison Drinnan in the Online Magazine 'BEATROUTE', Allison explains that Calm Asa Coma almost WASN'T calm, but very comatose for a short time. A few months before coming to fame and winning X92.9 radio's "X-Posure" Context (a contest set up to pit local bands with each other to win radio time and prizes), Calm Asa Coma was about to call it quits. Their founding member, and guitarist, Bret Smitstad. had left the band for other pursuits in life. Then, after coming in second and third in various other contests and battles; X 92.9 gave them the hope, and sense of appreciation they needed.

...Like a Sir. (Photo by: Chris Dowsett)

Calm Asa Coma now stands as a 4 man band again; featuring Jeff Desmeules, Jarrod Sterling, DJ McClelland, and Chris Karpuk. And as luck would have it, they are coming out with another album as of June 16th of this year titled, 'In English'.

Aside from the X 92.9 Fame, Calm Asa Coma was also featured on Breakfast Television with a live performance of a song off their first album (Calm Asa Coma) titled, "Brittney".
These amazing artists have wormed inside of my music library and rocked my mind!

However, when I say wormed, I mean that I hopped on iTunes and purchased their music LEGALLY.

I care about music. I really do. I don't know how life would revolve without it! What I DON'T support is piracy. I'm proud to say that I have never pirated a single episode of "Game of Thrones" or "Breaking Bad" or anything like that, and I SURE AS SHOOTIN' haven't ever pirated Music either. It's something I am very passionate about.

It takes a LOT to get on the music scene. A lot of time, a lot of talent, but it takes massive amounts of green to keep a band running smoothly. There are a lot of arguments for and against Piracy, and it is something I don't think that can be dissolved through simple discussion. I am aware of the excuses that say "Well by pirating, I can share their music with my friends and then the Bands name gets out faster".

NO IT DON'T. IT DON'T AT ALL, HOMEBOY.

We Gunn' Find you.. HOMEBOY.

Because while there are Local Bands in your area waiting to rock you, their music is going out un-paid for and will eventually see that their work and efforts are wasted. I am aware that buying the CD in stores doesn't give ALL the proceeds to the Band itself, that's one of the problems of having a middle-man. But it's the support that counts. Hearing "Record Sales for an Album" is MUCH better than hearing "You can find their music all over Pirate Bay".

So. in coupling with your need to CHECK OUT THIS BAND, I want to hear what your thoughts are on Piracy and how you think it affects the music industry.

In Closing, Jack Black has something to say.

ROCK IT ROCKET 5000 AWAAAAAAaaaaaayyyyyy...

"... Calm as a Coma ..."

HEY YOU GUYS! (Goonies Fans...?)

Thanks for letting me get a little creative in that first post. From here on out, it'll be a little less storytelling and a little more one-on-one music learning!

If you haven't guessed it yet,
then I feel bad for you son.
I could start 99 blogs,
and this'd be the music one!




And this week, we focus on the title of the blog from last week!!! What's that you say? "Jason, your blogs are inter-related to one another? How can that be?!"

Well folks, I'll give it away early! The titles I use for each blog post will hint at what I'll be talking about next week! For example, LAST week I titled the post, '...You're a Woman, I'm a Machine...'. So this week we'll be looking at none other than my MOST favorite band;

Death From Above 1979

I just can't seem to get enough of these guys! Both figuratively and literally. 'Death From Above 1979' or 'DFA 1979' are a two piece band that formed up in the early 2000's here in Canada! Who doesn't love a good maple after-taste when listening to music? I know I sure do! Jesse F. Keeler and Sebastien Grainger, who make up the band, came out with an EP entitled "Heads Up", and a full length album('You're a Woman, I'm a Machine') before breaking up in 2006-ish. Much to my chagrin... 

The first song I'd ever listened to from the band was, in the above link, "Romantic Rights". I can remember the precise day that this occurred, and it forever changed my life. It was at the start of my graduating year of high school, and had a peanut butter and raspberry jam sandwich(THE BEST jam in the world) when I got a text on my Nokia. My buddy had just discovered this wild new band that he needed to show me. So, sandwich in hand, I walked to his house and had my mind blown apart! I wanted - I needed more! So we looked them up and, as it turned out, they'd broken up not 2 months previous. I was devastated, but picked up their CD "You're a Woman, I'm a Machine" anyways. For the next 6 years, not a day will go by where I did NOT listen to at least one DFA 1979 track. 

A little bit before breaking up, another album had been released called "Romance, Bloody Romance". The Album was filled with electronic/dance remixes of most of their current works. In that album, I came to love a track called 'Blood On Our Hands (Justice Remix)'. The sheer flow and emotion of the piece then got me into the electronic scene a lot more and from there I grew roots in a genre I'd left previously unexplored! Up until then, I'd been mostly a Tool/Rage Against the Machine/Linkin Park fan. Were it not for this band, I would not have the positive and happy outlook I have on life today. Their music really does pick up the mood!

As of recently however, they have joined forces yet again! In early 2011, Sebastien wrote on their blog;

" ...Together again, as was always the intention, as a collaboration.

The collision of two different worlds.As this all takes shape, we will reveal it to you.All of it happening, as it always has, in our own way.Thank you all for sharing in our excitement!

Yes.
SEBASTIEN "

This was in prelude of their announcement that they would be joining and playing at Coachella in April of 2011. They had re-formed and it was glorious! There's no news yet as to a new album being released, I think most of us are still just basking in the glory of their return. Canada, once again, has a major dance/punk/metal foot in the music industry door! Lets hope this one is a little more permanent!

If you have the chance, I strongly advise you purchase the album! It's great for workouts, weddings, baby-births, candle-lit dinners, and most importantly; FOR ROCKING OUT!

See you guys next week with a brand-new band!
Till then; Happy Flying, on the 'Rock It Rocket 5000'!

"You're a Woman, I'm a Machine"

Zero meters - Ground level


The 'Rock It' Rocket 5000 has now taken off. You are strapped into your astronaut bean-bag chair of the future. The velvety fabric feels soothing, as your mind wanders to the thought of where this Rocket will take you. What new things will you discover? ... The P.A. system to your left crackles to life as your Captain gives you his speech;

*Crackle*... "Good morning, everyone... This is your Captain speaking. Welcome aboard the 'Rock It' Rocket 5000. The Weather outside will soon be far below freezing as we leave the Earth's stratosphere, so I wanted to mention that it's best to keep your arms and legs inside the Rocket at all times. As was mentioned in the pamphlets you received when you stepped on the Rocket, we are destined to take you to new facets of Music that you've never been to before. Perhaps some of you may have seen, these new Musics; or better yet, perhaps you've taken a previous tour of Music Space and have seen these 'new' Musics before. To that end, I ask that you not ruin it for those around you. This trip is a couple months long, and refreshments are whatever you've brought with you. Washrooms are located wherever... I trust you're all wearing Space Suits equipped for those situations. Lastly, I'd just like to mention that I thank-you for your participation in the 'Rock It' Rocket 5000 and if you look outside to your right, you will see that we're just about to leave the Earth's selfish pull. So, for your safely, please remain buckled until we've gotten a good distance away..."


1, 000, 000 meters - Approaching the last of Earth's Exosphere

As the Captain drones on, you start to wonder what you'll learn in the Worlds of Music. You browsed the Pamphlet and read that most planets that exist outside of Earth are very Indie, Alternative Rock, and Electronic. Further down you notice that Country music won't be on the tour due mainly to the fact that it wasn't sustainable enough to survive in Outer Space.

A Man approaches you in casual clothes and you wonder how he can casually walk and dress with the Rocket travelling at such speeds. He suddenly changes shape into a pull-down projector screen as lights begin to flash and dance across it's white face, and the lights grow dim;

Pumped up Kicks (Acoustic) - Foster the People

As the song fades and lights come up, he says;

Hey everyone! I'm your On-Board Holographic Tour Guide. ...before you question that remember; if it worked for Tupac, than it'll work in space. My name is Danger Rasmus, and I'll be introducing you to the different World and Planets of Music we'll be seeing and listening to. Many of you may have just recognized the song that was just played, but perhaps not in that fashion. I just wanted to start you all off with somewhat of a sampling to get your minds open to what we'll be discovering. There will be more information provided on the later treasures of sound, so that I can set you up for a mind-blowing experience.Thank-you for joining us on the 'Rock It' Rocket 5000.

Sit Back.

Relax.

...and most of all...

Listen.

1, 500, 000 meters - Outer Space