Watch Ed, Kevin, Tyler and Jim sing the National Anthem on December 3rd while the Buffalo Bills host the New York Jets at Rogers Centre.
From Ed...
We're thrilled to be hosting the NFL in our hometown, it'll be an honour to sing the anthem.
Kickoff is at 8:20 PM EST, check your local listings for details!
hi everyone,
i am writing this on board a 747 heading home from a trip to Prague, and Paris..
I went to Prague to perform with Lou Reed at a very special event .
It was a gala event celebrating the twentieth anniversary of the Velvet Revolution and the fall of the Iron Curtain.
It was held by former President Vaclav Havel, who invited Lou, Joan Baez, Suzanne Vega and Renee Fleming to perform.
It was quite a thrill and honor to be a part of this evening, and the people of the Czech Republic were very passionate and celebratory.
We performed Lou's songs "I'm waiting for my man," "Dirty Blvd.," and "Guardian Angel," as a trio (along with Fernando Saunders on bass).
We then played PERFECT DAY with Renee Fleming and the orchestra..
check it out : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4iGlVyXoDU
So now back to Toronto to rehearse with Ty, Jim, and Ed.
We are getting ready for these upcoming Christmas shows.
Should be fun.
i hope we see you somewhere along the way...
bye, kev
Barenaked Ladies will be performing at the XLO Acoustic Xmas, December 7th at Mechanics Hall in Worcester, MA!
This exclusive show will feature sets by Barenaked Ladies, Kris Allen, Ingrid Michaelson and Josua Radin.
A special online ticket sale for XLO E-club members only will take place this Friday, October 30th at 10am est. If you haven't already joined the XLO E-club, sign up today: http://www.wxlo.com/goout.asp?u=http://www.wxlo.com/els/elsSignupFrm.asp?newmember=1
On Friday, October 30th, you'll go to www.mechanicshall.org to purchase tickets online.
Tickets will go on sale to the general public via Mechanics Hall on Monday, November 2nd, at 10am est. On Monday, you'll be able to call 508-722-0888 for ticket sales.
Barenaked Ladies, All-American Rejects, Five For Fighting, & more!
Wednesday, December 9, at the Murat Theatre
Doors @ 6:00pm, Show @ 7:00pm
On Sale Friday!
Live Nation Pre-Sale Tickets Available 10/29
Reserved Tickets: $39.99 & $29.99. A limited number of four-pack tickets available for only $99, while supplies last. Tickets on sale Friday, October 30, at 10:00AM from the Murat Centre Box Office, charge by phone to 877-598-8703, or buy online from Live Nation - don't forget about No Service Fee Wednesdays!
Freeloaderz can buy the best tickets before everyone. Check your email for the VIP pre-sale link to buy advance tickets from 12:01AM Wednesday 10/28 through 9:59AM Friday 10/30.
Follow WZPL on Twitter @wzpl for #JingleJam updates, or Friend them on Facebook.
Listen to Z99.5 to win free tickets, backstage passes, and even be the Official Photographer of Jingle Jam 2009!
This is 24 Hrs late, but courtesy of the fabulous Jimmy Shaw, I had my socks blown off last night at Massey Hall in Toronto. METRIC were absolutely on fire as they burned through a tight set of angular and catchy songs, mostly from their latest album - Fantasies. I've seen this band grow and develop over the years, and have always been blown away by Emily's stage presence and the ridiculously tight rhythm section of Jules on drums and Joshua on bass. Joules is one of the most inventive drummers out there, with propulsive, funky beats almost always highlighted by off-beat hi-hats and cool accents. I always felt that METRIC are a stellar live band, but it's so great to see them perform what are easily the best songs of their career so far. Fantasies is full of incredibly rich songs, both lyrically and melodically. Two songs for me are battling it out for the fictional Pop Song Bridge Of The Year Award - Twilight GalaxyandCollect Call. Both we're performed immaculately last night, with Emily in great voice, moving through the slippery bridges with confident panache. What more can I say - I love Metric - and I urge you all to check out Fantasies. Big thanks again to Jimmy and the Band for an amazing night.
Ok, so it wasn't really "Bring your dog to work day"... but I brought mine anyway. Scully accompanied me to rehearsal today, so she wouldn't be alone in the house all day. Kevin LOVES dogs. When they're around he immediately starts speaking a language no human (or dog) could possibly understand. They seem to love him back. Robin (Our front of house sound guy) was kind enough to bring in some dog biscuits for Scully, having gone home to grab something. He placed the biscuits in front of Kev, and said "These are DOG biscuits". Well, Ol' Kev was quite wrapped up in the discussion we were all having about what to call this record. For some reason I took on the tone of the narrator of one of those old school Disney wildlife features. That tone is gone now. Sorry. We may have decided on a title by the way... not telling. Ok, back to the story. Kev begins absent mindedley crunching away at the dog biscuits, then looks in his hand, and asks "Are these dog treats???!!!". Robin says while laughing "Yes! I TOLD you that!!!", which Kev denies. And then says genuinely, "They're not bad, actually". I think he didn't ask until the second one!
- Ed
Spike Jonze took a masterpiece, and made it in to a masterpiece. I just took my kids to see the Spike Jonze/Dave Eggers adaptation of the timeless Maurice Richard… Damn, I knew I was going to do that! Maurice SENDAK book, “Where the Wild Things Are”. It’s always a risk to take something that people have such strong attachments to, and change it in ANY way. This adaptation was obviously done with love, respect, admiration, and a genuine sense of fun, and imagination. I recommend it to anybody who likes things that are fun.
- Ed
Just finished a really fun show in Primm, NV. Thanks to all the fans who made the trek. The shows are starting to feel REALLY good. Who’da thunk that rehearsing would work??!!! We spent a day in L.A. at the start of the week doing a photo shoot for the record. I think it’s our best yet. Relaxed vibe, and everybody felt good. It was a long day, but I think we’ll have some really great shots. There was also a really sweet version of “For You” that happened spontaneously during the shoot, and was captured on video. We’re going to try to post it soon.
Looking forward to Thanksgiving at home (Which is this weekend up in Canadia!). There are a few shows shaping up for December that we’re all looking forward to. We’re all anxious to be playing. Especially the new songs. It’s always tough when you have new material, but people don’t know it yet. Even when a record is out in stores, it’s hard on an audience to hear a lot of new stuff… but that’s where the band is at, so naturally it’s what we want to play! We’re in a tougher spot, cause it’s not even out yet!! We’ve been doing 3-5 new songs per show. I look forward to being able to play more. We’re really proud of this record, and can’t wait for everybody to hear it.
I really enjoyed playing “Leave” tonight. Kev rocked the S#!T out of it!!! It was a fun show all around. I think we need to take some live tracks from our Michigan show in the summer, and some like tracks from tonight, and release an E.P called Jim Creeggan in Primm Muskegon… Thank you, Thank you very much. Try the veal.
tyler
I'm currently regrouping in my hotel room in Primm Nevada. The hotel is Buffalo Bills. It looks like a big grain elevator except for the roller coaster that sends screaming people past my window every 20 minutes. At first I thought it was a Harley Davidson Hog blowing it's muffler off into my room, but after I had the guts to peak outside my window, I realized it was just some folks having a thrill. I'm cool with it now. It's amazing how you can get used to anything. Maybe I just know what it's like to be a screamer.
We just played one of my favourite shows this fall at The Fresno Fair. It was our first show after actually rehearsing for a couple weeks. We were really sitting on the grooves. Tyler drew a comparison between us and a real famous hockey team ( maybe it was the Edmonton Oilers with Gretzky and Messier?). But I'm hesitant to encourage that kind of comparison, because with enough support, Tyler will actually lobby to turn us into a hockey team. I'm not saying I don't like getting in the corners, and keeping the passes tape to tape, but I still enjoy playing the bass and singing.
I'm looking forward to sitting on some more grooves tonight. Hope to see you at the show. If not I'll look for you screaming outside my window. Ahhhh!!!
jim
Tyler has been named Entertainment Director of the Molson Hockey House for the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver! Read the news below courtesy of the Vancouver Sun!
Molson’s Hockey House the place to toast Canada's game in style
VANCOUVER — Molson Canadian Hockey House will have it all during the 2010 Olympics — top-flight entertainment, food catered by renowned chef Wolfgang Puck and a chance to rub shoulders with past and present Canadian hockey heroes.
But you can't just walk in and buy a couple of pints to enjoy while watching live games on one of three, 40-foot, high-definition screens.
It will cost $500 a day to get in — or $8,500 for a 17-day pass that includes a private box. Both prices include all the food, beverage and entertainment you can take in at the Olympic hockey hospitality venue.
"When you look at events like the Super Bowl, Formula One and Ryder Cup, we're cheap," said VisionCo. president Jordan Bitove, a partner in the $15-million venue that will operate on the northeast shore of False Creek during the Games. "We're actually a deal and we're all-inclusive with that price."
He expects the venue will host more than 50,000 fans throughout the Games. At $500 a visitor, that works out to total revenues of more than $25 million.
Bitove expects a strong demand will justify the price, but acknowledged prices could drop if the demand falls off. "It was a bull economy when we planned this and now it's a bear [economy], so we're very sensitive to that."
VisionCo. is an equal partner in the venture with Hockey Canada and the International Ice Hockey Federation. Hockey Canada will have a 15,000-square-foot Hockey Canada House for hockey players and their families, while the IIHF will have a 9,000-square-foot lounge for its special guests.
Construction of the 81,000-square-foot facility — to be the largest temporary freestanding pavilion ever built in Canada — will begin on Oct. 15.
Hockey Canada president Bob Nicholson noted that close to 500 relatives of players from the men's and women's hockey teams will enjoy the facilities of Hockey Canada House, along with the players themselves.
"Everything that we do is focused on winning gold," he said. "To attach a whole entertainment [theme] around it will make it that much better."
Vancouver Canucks icon Stan Smyl will be the venue's "official ambassador," hosting special guests and hockey alumni who visit the facility. Former Canuck Trevor Linden also will help out in a similar role.
Games-time appearances at the venue are expected by former NHL stars Paul Coffey, Cam Neely, Luc Robitaille, Peter Mahovlich, Danny Gare and Russ Courtnall.
The facility also will host daily live concerts, with the Barenaked Ladies and comedian Sean Cullen among the scheduled acts. Barenaked Ladies' drummer Tyler Stewart will serve as the venue's entertainment director.
Bitove said Cullen and fellow comedian Brent Butt will create a lot of original hockey entertainment content for the venue, with Cullen working with the men's and women's team and alumni to create a nightly hockey karaoke show.
The venue will operate from 11 a.m. until 2 a.m. daily during the Olympics; more than 350,000 cans of beer are expected to be consumed there during its operation. Wolfgang Puck Catering will cater for all three venues at the facility.
Tyler has been dubbed "The Party Commando", he has been given an open invitation to a big party that Kev's Dad (Big Pat) will be having some day. When there is no hope that a party will happen, Tyler will defy all odds, and tear the roof off the sucka. Back Stage before our Rockford show, Tyler made it happen once again. He utilized the sound of a funk band playing next door to get things started right. Kevin was really there for him too. It's just that there was a really interesting article on the Beatles that limited his ultimate participation. I can't believe I got the whole thing on tape>
Click here to watch the video...
