Joshua Van Tassel

I started writing a little waltz

then the roofers started doing this right outside my studio -

Looks like recording is done for the day.

I’m getting things done today, here’s a clip of a new tune that’s started growing. It may end up being totally different later, but for now -

I’m working on some music for an upcoming production from the wonderful Theatre SMASH (who are running a blog now, check it out daily} and I keep getting distracted by making weird other stuff like this.

I’ve also started recording some new songs again; things have been feeling a bit stiff for the past little while but my good friend Joel Schwartz came over and brought some melody and encouragement which is what I needed.

Last but not least, if you’re in the UK reading this, I’m coming for you. I’ll be touring with a fantastic song writer named Kate Rogers in mid August, so think about al the coolest sounding landmarks and we’ll go steal them and share them with the 20 people who come here.

and ps, what is this and why are they above the subway?

So after a sobering day of adding up the ludicrous costs of having a legit iphone plan, I decided to turn to Toronto’s best friend for moving things you don’t need anymore ( and fast) craigslist. A few emails and a couple hours later I became the owner of an iphone for a fraction of the cost. I’m not on the much heralded 3G network, but to be honest I don’t care. It’s a great device, has a really unique but intuitive interface, and  it works way better then my other phone.  Pop your SIM card in and you’re off.  Now I can get back to making strange noises and feel assured that apple now knows way too much about my life and schedule.

Today, like thousands of other people in Toronto, I was very excited on getting my hands on an iphone. I, like many other people went to a fido store to line up like a big fan boy and make sure I had it right away. Hell, I even sold my ipod his week, because hey, who needs it anymore? It turns out for a number of reasons, I do -

- the fido store I went to ( King/University) is one of the main downtown dealers. they received 18 phones. Are you crazy? 18? People had been lining up since 7 am when building security allowed them inside from the pouring rain. Because I’m a bonehead I didn’t have my recorder with me, but the collective groan/cries of fury from the geek crowd when this announcement was made was almost worth the trip down. The girl at the store told us to try The Eaton center location, and a very large and very wet man yelled to all of us that he had just been there and ” the iron fisted ration-ers only had 180, and there was about 400 people in line.” When grumbles of hidden iphones in the back of the store started, and maybe we should just have a look ourselves, I was out of there…

- Next I decided to just call Fido, and after a 15 minute wait time (totally expected) and order one. I spoke with a customer service rep who was very helpful, and kindly let me know that my total would be $624. Whhhhhaaaaa?? Apparently, Apple informed the Fido/Rogers staff last night that existing customers of their services will not be able to switch their existing plan over to an iphone plan, they have to buy themselves out of their old contract, and set up a completely new 3 year contract with the iphone. Price to buy yourself out of the remaining just under 2 years? $400. Even though I’m still maintaining my service with the company and making a 3 year commitment.

So basically Rogers/Apple has this whole thing sewn up pretty tight. Whose to blame? My rep pointed all evil fingers at Apple, while Apple has been reported to be pretty red in the face at Rogers. Who knows. Either way, no GPS/Safari surfing/icalender syncing/game playing/talking for me today.

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There’s a few other sounds that instinctively come to mind when I think about the title, but anyway here’s the sound of my first car. Fresh off the craigslist used car lot came a 2 door 93 Ford Festiva, with the back seats removed making it the most fuel efficient drum moving vehicle yet. Note the sweet rally racing steering wheel it came with which is too big for my monkey hands and no power steering…now I need a clever name for a dalmatian style ride…

to my good friend and the third wheel of our tricycle …….

The oldest mc in the electrohiphopdancefreaktronica scene.

probably because it’s sunny. I’ve got a couple projects that I really need to start, and all I seem to do is make sad little songs about rainy days. Not that I don’t like great weather, I just get more done when it’s lousy outside. Anyway, here’s a part of one from this morning that’s nice but not what I wanted/should be doing….