Loop, there it is.

The Locusts Have No King will bring their rock and twang to The Loop TONIGHT (January 22nd, 2009) with fellow Windsorites and alt-rockers A.S.K. (Another Saturday Knight) beginning at around 10 in the p.m.

A.S.K. is fronted by Chad Howson who is a local artist, musician, and supporter of all artistic Windsor endeavors. Their sound is somewhat Interpol influenced and they are sure to contribute some good old fashioned dirtied up sound and bassy vocal melodies.

When A.S.K. wraps up, The Locusts will take the stage and do what they're there to do. These guys have good story-telling tunes that maintain the snap necessary in any good driving tempo. They compliment each other very well and represent how well individual strengths can come together in bands when egos are checked and appreciation is apparent. These guys make for kick-ass nights and are always lots of fun so if you can't get there tonight, catch them somewhere down the road and let me know what you think.

As for the Loop; these days the Loop is known for Saturday night groovin' and some classic (and not so classic) DJ jams. I'm not dissing this at all. I mean, I often find myself at the Loop at the end of a Saturday night with the old boogie boots on after a few and it's been tons of fun. All I'm saying is that this is Windsor's best rock venue and it is underutilized. The Loop is a big-ass room with a big-ass stage. You fill that place with people who love live music and it can move. The halls and the bathrooms smell like piss, there's graffiti everywhere and it just embodies what a rock venue should. Opportunities to catch a live band at the Loop are not nearly as frequent as they once were, so keep your ear to the ground and do it when you can. Hope to catch some of you there tonight.

Taloola: Awesome Joint and it's Fun to Say.

I don't know if this post will reach anybody in time to alter their plans for this evening, but in the event that it does, Dave Dubois (of Windsor's, The Locusts Have No King) will be releasing his solo EP at Taloola Cafe (396 Devonshire Rd.) in the earlier part of the evening. Dave's set starts and finishes early, which allows plenty of time to pursue other endeavours as the night progresses, so there's no excuse to avoid dropping in. More importantly, Dave is a great singer/songwriter and an awesome guy. Music at Taloola is stripped down and personal and makes for one of the finest and most engaging experiences the city offers. I don't know exactly what it is, but eveybody who steps foot in that place seems to do so with a mind that is prepared to tap feet in time and throw a couple bucks in a hat for the musician's benefit. It's a very welcoming place complete with good, healthy grub and cold Steamwhistle's. I believe the operating procedure for Saturday night is that Dave will play a one hour set starting around 8:30. If nobody reads this in time, I won't be surprised or hurt and I imagine Dave won't be hurtin' for bodies, but keep Taloola in mind for some other Saturday evening primer, or anytime you have a hankerin' for a warm place in support of local art. When I have a bit more time I'll figure out how to leave sound bites and pictures, but that time is not now. Thanks for reading folks.

Well, the first thing I post on here must surely admit my relative ineptitude and unfamiliarity with this technology and process, but I'll work it out, and this will hopefully become more reader-friendly as we go. Secondly, I want to make it clear that when I end my personal profile with "if you don't like it, I don't give a shit," I'm not being a prick, I'm just hinting at what I feel is a crucial and incredibly admirable element of the whole process of writing and performing music. I think musicians have to maintian a certain edge that says "screw you" or "I don't give a shit" from time to time. To have your music survive in a place like Windsor (and really anywhere) you have to understand that sometimes it may feel somewhat thankless. Your songs might not always catch people the way you had hoped, or there may not be places who think your shit is worthwhile, but the psyche of a musician has got to be like his/her fingers... callused. I don't want to sound like a total hippy or motivational speaker (but if I sound like one, I hope it's like Chris Farley's old bit on SNL) but music has got to come from such a persevering force within, that regardless of what happens outside of oneself, you have to keep playing and understand that if you ever stop, you'll lose touch with an amazing experience and only shift the aforementioned stresses to some other aspect of life which will surely be less fulfilling. I hope that this blog can highlight some of those Windsor musicians who keep strummin' through both the literal and figuarative smog. I gladly raise a glass (and likely 6-10 more) to many of you, and I hope that if nothing else, this may get some more bodies in Phog, Billie's etc. or direct some much deserved attention your way. My next post will start speaking of such folks more directly and name some places, times and previews where you reading can see and hear what I'm talking about. Keep Rockin' Ya'll.... (OR YOU'LL BE LIVING IN A VAN DOWN BY THE RIVER!)