Joshua Van Tassel

(on facebook? go to www.joshuavt.com for the full post)

I love that I get emails like this from time to time – -

“I’m also glad you emailed because I have been meaning to get in touch with you about some amazing sounds I came across the other day. I was down at Cherry Beach after a couple of cold days, and the lake had frozen for about 30 feet from the shore. Every time a wave came through, the ice popped and cracked and shifted and made the most amazing sounds. I thought of you. Tragically I went back the next day to experience it again, but it was too warm and the ice had melted. I guess the moral of the story is that if you’re ever in the Cherry Beach area, take a pop down and hopefully the ice will sing for you, too.”
tara is a great artist and photographer herself, go have a look…..

And I love that one of my favorite freaks has made a new record that sounds like it’s going to be completely awesome.

(on facebook? hmmm go to www.joshuavt.com)

I’m not having one yet, don’t worry. Nor am I looking to have one right now either, so don’t you get nervous….here’s one of my students who I’ve mentioned on here before who says the darnedest things. I’ve tried to explain in the past how his mind seems to work, but I figured an audio example would give a little context. and also check out his devastating groove for 2 bars, you’d better believe I’ll use it in something.

Headed to Vancouver this aft., and as usual I’ll throw some pictures up when I can. I’m so dreadfully unaware of what’s happening at the Olympics that I feel like a fraud going there, but I’ll memorize the medal count on the way and try to fit in.

ps – link correction, go here for info about Peggy Baker and co’s show at the Enwave starting this week. She’s also featured on the cover of NOW this week, so you know it’s cool. Go. Do it. Buy tickets.

(on facebook?go to www.joshuavt.com for the full post)

…. Beck is prolific. Prolific enough that this is the second time I’ve blogged about him in the past few days. Part of his prolificness is his very expansive website and all the little treats on it. Like this, a super in depth interview with Tom Waits. Too long to cut/paste the whole thing here, but follow the link and scroll to the bottom for the 2-parter. While you’re at it you’ll pass by another interview with Will Ferrell. Here’s a quick part of it that made me laugh and think. – - – -

BH: I wonder, in a way, if it’s good to put yourself in those positions where you don’t have the equipment, you don’t have those crutches. But I think we’re so attuned to hearing it at that volume and having to feel that impact? There’s something maybe uncomfortable now to just hearing somebody’s voice in a room singing.

TW: I guess it’s like when you make dinner at home. You shove the bowl across the table and you throw a fork and you drop the napkin.(Laughs.) You make due. I don’t know if it’s all cosmetic. I guess you can tell when something is primarily cosmetic and lacks the structural integrity. I think we all have an instinct about that. Where does this “Best” thing come from? Is that human? Is that American? Is it all over the world? Everyone wants the best eye surgeon, the best babysitter, the best vehicle, the best prosthetic arm, and the best hat. There’s also the worst of all those things available and they’re doing rather well. (Laughs.) Denny’s is doing great. It’s always crowded. You have to wait for a table.

And here’s something I’ve been working on today. coming along but not there yet. I want a Paul Simon party vibe with some weird sounds that have yet to appear. Save that for late night headphone work. I’m having fun though, haven’t left the house in 2 days and am unsettlingly ok about it….

(on facebook? go to www.joshuavt.com to hear the message)

I have a lot of wonderful and creative and slightly twisted friends, and for this I’m extremely thankful. Over the years they’ve left me my share of nonsensical and confusing voice mail messages, but this one certainly takes the top prize.

Key line (sung in a sultry r and b voice) – ” Do you have one of those fancy toliet paper rolls?

then a second voice – ” I bet you sampled it. I bet you sampled it!”

Thank you Ronley/Stacey/Willow.

(on facebook? Oh no. You’re missing half the fun, go to www.joshuavt.com right away.)

Had a great new ears eve in NS with the band too. We were in Antigonish, played a great show and were put up in a super relaxing little cottage by the water. Couldn’t have been better.

Back in Toronto now, feeling good but sort of thrown into the middle of things as this city tends to like to do to us. She waits until I’m feeling totally relaxed and positive then gives the urban bitch slap to keep me on big footed toes. Basically my apartment is upside down, my car is property of the Toronto Police department and a bunch of gigs are canceled. Wanna talk about the glamorous and romantic lifestyle of musican? Don’t call one in January. You’ll hear enough expletives to make a one armed sailor try to cover both his ears, and more whining then a breast feeding baby at Hooters.

Anyway, it’s a New year and I’m done with complaining. Keeping it positive, fresh starts to be made, things to do, bettering my self to begin today. Hey, I did a yoga class and it felt great! Thats a start for sure. Put a new table in the studio! That’s useful. There we go, feeling good already. Time to be a functional member of society. Blogging will be back on schedule in ‘10, I promise.

I’m ready. Bring it. I’ll slap you back, Toronto, you wintery cold mistress.

(on facebook? go to www.joshuavt.com for the video)

(on facebook? go to www.joshuavt.com)
like this, unexpectedly on the street car, is good –

good rehearsals with good people are good too

†

making weird music can be good too. Started to do a bit of that again.

and, hey, tomorrow is my birthday. That’s good right? If you’re in Toronto, come down to the Dakota, we’ll be hanging out there celebrating all that is holiday related……

(on facebook? go to www.joshuavt.com for the audio)
Hey, he said it. The oncoming train kind of makes it sounds like the apocalypse. You never know the colorful characters you may meet on our transit systems.

(on facebook? probably cant see much. go to www.joshuavt.com)

on facebook? Go to www.joshuavt.com for the full picture/video content
Charming Sudbury, why haven’t I come to visit you sooner? Oh right, there’s not really anything here. No offense to anyone from Sudbury of course, we actually met some really interesting locals last night as a matter of fact.
Like Morgan, who could of been 16 or 32, it was hard to say. She did inform us that “Calgary was her favorite place I Toronto, it’s so nice that it’s right on the water. ” Or her boyfriend Chad who wanted us to play our first set again because he couldn’t remeber the name of his favorite song but he’d kn ow it when he heard it and cmon he bought a cd and a poster and he deserves it and uh oh he has to go because he got banned from the bar last week for dealing coke and there’s the owner. Or Michael, a lovely gentleman who has been hearing the record on CBC and wanted to come check it out live. We promised we’d play his tune in the second set, which we did, but he didn’t notice bcause he fell asleep at his table. Either he got really drunk without me noticing or he was just really sleepy. Or we suck.
Gonna try and get some sort of little video up each day, here’s one now……..

The stage looked super green last night too in a Lou Ferrigno/80’s hulk way. Overall, show was great and we had a lot of fun. See you tomorrow?