It's not that I've not been writing, just not stuff I'm ready to share with anyone yet.
But I'm back thanks to spring and a renewed interest in sharing my shit online.
I've taken on a new obsession since we've last been together: Sam Roberts Band. Sigh and heart flutter.
Awesome music, lyrics that both speak to and confuse me and some delish eye candy as far at the members of the band go.
I first came across them at the movie theatre spring 2014. Yes really. The Cineplex preshow used to have a SiriusXM clip with a Canadian band/singer featured and Sam Roberts Band was on for their new album Lo-Fantasy.
We see A LOT of movies at our house. I love going to the theatre and getting swept away into a story. There are few movies I've not enjoyed (Agnes of God I'm looking at you) and few I've walked out of (JFK booooring). And I'm a total snob as far as where I sit. I'll Sheldon out and find the optimum seat for sight and sound and I'm willing to arrive 45 minutes early to get said seats.
Needless to say we see a lot of preshows and here's this cutie pie of a singer promoting his song Shapeshifters which is catchy to say the least. And he's Canadian. AND speaks fluent French and Spanish. I'm interested enough to google.
My job changed since my last post and I now have a minimum of a 2 hour daily commute which has allowed me to listen to music other than Top 40 crap and really appreciate stuff like Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Neil Young, The Whos (original and Guess) etc. and every time I'd hear certain songs I loved and shazamed them guess who was singing them? Yep, Sam Roberts Band.
To the iTunes store! Between iTunes and Youtube I realize I've missed out on SRB for almost 15 years!!!!! My excuse is that they weren't around when I had control over the radio and for 12 years the soundtrack to my life was Disney/Dora/Sesame Street/The Wiggles and then Top 40. But now my music options were wide open and I was ready for something that wasn't repetitive, autocorrected or fully computerized.
So I snowball into SRB addiction. First comes a few downloads from iTunes, then tickets to see them at the Kee (omg I'm dying, they were awesome), then more downloads and the husband begins to realize that there's at LOT of SRB in my life.
Then husband goes above and beyond and gets me the best birthday gift ever. 4 tickets to SRB in Buffalo for me and 3 friends!!! Whaaaat a girls weekend in Buffalo that culminates with a live Sam Roberts Band show? Yes please and thankyouthankyouthankyou.
Best concert ever! Seriously front row, got to touch the man himself, sang to every song and couldn't hear out of my left ear for two days. Awesome.
Here's a sample of some older Sam Roberts Band for your (okay my) enjoyment.
Now I'm hooked. I'm a junky. I'm watching youtube videos and reading articles like there's a test at the end. That brings us to the 2015 Junos.
BFC mentions: SRB is nominated for Junos, you should check out the website and be a seat filler so you can see the show.
You have my attention.
And as I research the Junos, I discover I CAN MEET THE BAND!!! My heart stops then starts then stops again. Logical brain says: Calm down woman, you're in your 40's and are taking this too far. Illogical brain shoves logical brain to the rear screaming: DO IT DO IT get the free tickets to meet him and kidnap him and make him sing for his freedom!!
With age comes wisdom and I take a little from column a and from column b and calmly order tickets for me, BFC and SILS, fill out the request for seat filler and quietly plan another SRB weekend.
BFC goes above and beyond and gets me and 10kmom tickets to the charity hockey game that Sam's playing in. Exqueese me? How'd I miss that?!? Oh right, screaming teenage Mel is still coming to terms with the fact she's meeting the band and has a singular focus.
So, last Friday I had the distinct pleasure of attending the
2015 #JunoCup in Hamilton. A charity event which pits former pro-hockey players
such as Wendel Clark, Rick Vaive and Gary Roberts against The Rockers including
Chris Crippin from @Hedleyonline, Jon Gallant from @BillyTalentband and your
favourite and mine, #14 Sam Roberts from @samrobertsband
I was
impressed by the number of Rockers vs NHL Greats (31-12) and by the number of
fans in the crowd. As a hockey fan (what
true Canadian isn’t?), I was expecting a good time but I was really impressed
with how much fun this event was. I’ve
seen my fair share of live pro hockey games and the Greats still had “it”. They
skate like they’re floating over the ice and instinctively know where their
fellow players are and where the pucks coming from.
Intermission brought some fun little skill games and then
the second half brought out why I was there: Sam.
Instead I distract myself by taking photos of him waiting to
play in the second half:
Who knew Sam Roberts was such an amazing skater? He
obviously has skill and loves to play. He’s able to keep up with the alumni and
has a fierce competitive streak (as evidenced by the fact he was in the middle
of the action during every shift).
I
thoroughly enjoyed the night and had some luck with the camera. I was able to
print off some of my better shots and present them to him at #JunoFanFare the
next day as a memory and got a special Mel original 8 x 10 picture signed by
Sam.
The
first step is admitting you have a problem and I’d go watch @samrobertsband open
an envelope.
Keep Chasing the Light.
Love Mel
On Twitter @samrobertsband
On Facebook Sam Roberts Band
Instagram samrobertsband
you had me until Neil Young. I guess it could be worse, could be the Hip.
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