Event | June 2009 | MMcKennedy

Happy July 4th Of July Bolton

The 2009 Bolton Fireworks Display will be at Wheeler Field on Saturday, July 11th.  Don’t miss this free community event for a potluck BBQ, games, live music and of course the incredible fireworks display.

Bolton Fireworks Display (click for larger view)

It’s time for the annual Bolton fireworks extravaganza! If you and your family want to see an incredible display of fireworks join us n Saturday, July 11th for a potluck BBQ (burgers and dogs will be provided -sorry all you vegetarian/vegan folks – my guess here is that you better bring your own eats! but please bring a dish to share), fireworks display, live music. bonfire, games.  This event is BYOB.

Fireworks (click for larger view)

Fireworks (click for larger view)

Family Fun

Fun for the entire family starts at 4:00pm on Saturday, July 11, 2009.  Feel free to bring outdoor games to play.  Chairs and bug spray (seriously, don’t forget the bug spray!) are always helpful and pets are best left at home. Live music precedes the fireworks display, which starts arount dusk.  Come ready to kick up your heels and see one of the area’s best firework shows!

A friendly reminder:

This free community event is fueled entirely by dontation.  Please contribute any amount you can to the Fireworks Fund.  Contributions may be left at the town office, placed in the drop bucket at Jericho Center Country Store [map], or brought to Johnny Streeter, Master of Ceremonies, on Cemetery Road in West Bolton [map], Vermont.  For driving directions to West Bolton see this map.

Parking is first come first serve (and it gets packed!).

Please watch out for kids walking on Nashville and Stage Roads, there aren’t any streetlights and the roads are narrow so please be cautious. Do not drink and drive!

See you on the 11th!

Music | New Release | Metric | March 2009 | M.McKennedy

Today the Canadian band Metric announced the availability to pre-order one of five packages (or all of them if you have money to burn) of their 2009 new music release named Fantasies.

Metric Fantasies (click for larger view)

I woke up today, checked my email as usual and there it was, an email from ilovemetric.com telling me I could pre-order Metric’s latest musical masterpiece (I assume it’s a masterpiece because everything else I have heard from them is):

“FANTASIES! The new album from METRIC is now available for pre-order at ilovemetric.com. Order it on vinyl, CD with deluxe hardcover artwork or digital download now and immediately receive MP3s of the extended album version of “Help I’m Alive” plus extra-special bonus tracks. The band has also assembled a limited edition package that is only available at ilovemetric.com while supplies last.

Be the first to get it from us!

xox metriclovesyou”

There are five different products avaliable for pre-order, all include a  download link for the full album which will be emailed by March 31, 2009, and Immediate download of “Help I’m Alive” (album version), “Gimme Sympathy” (acoustic version) and “Nobody Home” (Pink Floyd cover).  CD versions will ship by April 14, 2009.

1. Digital Download: $8.99 - Premium DRM-free 320kbps MP3 or FLAC (highest audio quality download available) and artwork
2. Hardcover Digipack + Digital Download: 15.99 (+ shipping & handling) - Deluxe, hardcover digipack CD, exclusively available at ilovemetric.com and live performances, album art and a high quality print
3. Vinyl + Digital Download: 24.99 (+ shipping & handling) – 12in. vinyl, album art and a high quality print
4. Hardcover Digipack + Vinyl + Digital Download: 36.99 - Deluxe, hardcover digipack CD,  exclusively available at ilovemetric.com and live performances, 12in. vinyl, album art and a high quality print
5. Fantasies Limited Delux Edition: 64.99 – This is the big one! Limited to 500 sales.  Includes personally signed autographs from all the band members, 2 high quality prints, a bonus track called “Waves”, 7 in. vinyl, VIP fan pass,  Deluxe, hardcover digipack CD, 12 in. vinyl, album art and more!!

Metric: Josh Winstead, Joules Scott-Key, Emily Haines, James Shaw

Metric consists of vocalist Emily Haines (who also plays the synthesizer), guitarist James Shaw, bassist Josh Winstead and drummer Joules Scott-Key.  I highly recommend checking out their other recordings dating back to 2001:

New Release | Metric | Feb 2009

The band Metric has finally given us something to look forward to!  April 14, 2009 is the official release date for their 4th full-length recording called Fantasies.

Metric - New Album April 2009

Here is what Metric has to say, “Our new album – FANTASIES – will be in stores across the USA & Canada on April 14, 2009 and in the rest of the world shortly thereafter. Starting March 2, 2009, you’ll be able to pre-order FANTASIES directly from us here in one of several excellent bundles including limited edition vinyl, deluxe hardcover CD and straight up download, along with some exclusive extras. Anyone who pre-orders will immediately get an MP3 of the first single “Help I’m Alive”. Until then, here is a free download of an acoustic version of “Help I’m Alive”. We’re also working on worldwide touring plans, dates will be announced soon.” – from ILoveMetric.com

Rumor has it that Metric will set out on a headlining US tour in the month of June, I do not have the exact dates yet…but as soon as I do…

Track listing for Fantasies:

1. Help I’m Alive
2. Sick Muse
3. Satellite Mind
4. Twilight Galaxy
5. Gold Guns Girls
6. Gimme Sympathy
7. Collect Call
8. Front Row
9. Blindness
10. Stadium Love

Video / Photography | Jan 2009 | M.McKennedy

Click The Image To See The Video

From January 7, 2008 until January 7, 2009 a gallery of photographs was created. This gallery is called the Things I Saw Photo Galleries. Most of these photographs were taken in Vermont, specifically around the Burlington, West Bolton, Richmond, Jericho, areas. There are also a few Maine photographs, as well as some images of Massachusetts.

From January 7, 2008 to January 7, 2009 a total of 13772 photographs had been shot and 368 photographs made it into the “Things I Saw” photo galleries.

This video is enhanced by Radiohead’s songs MK1, Weird Fishes / Arpeggi, MK2 and from the album “In Rainbows”.

Check out Things I Saw : January 7, 2008 – January 7, 2009

Opinion | Dec 2008 | M.McKennedy

iPod Mini (click for a larger view)

First of all I must hand it to Apple for coming up with the iPod.  I have had my iPod mini for 4-5 years now.  I have dropped it many times, crashed on my mountain bike and landed on it and the thing still provides me with instant access to 1000 plus songs (yes, I am constantly adding and removing songs to keep things changing).  I use my iPod (which by the way, was a birthday gift from my wife Barbara) in the car, at work, while snowboarding, skiing, while posting to my blog (as in right now), at home – basically everywhere I can listen to music.  Sure I would still be listening to music even if the iPod was never created but having it right at your fingertips makes it much easier.  With that said I must thank Apple for such a wonderful, durable, functional devise.  Now on to the list of most listened to songs in November of 2008.

These songs are not in any particular order:

1. 

   Metric (click for a larger view)

   Metric – Help I’m Alive : This is the radio edit from the unreleased album rumored to be titled ‘Help I’m Alive’.  Seems like this one is about being afraid to find out what people will think of the new album”I tremble – They’re gonna eat me alive.  If I stumble- They’re gonna eat me alive“.  Then again, it could be about cocaine use, but I am not suggesting that the band has or has had a problem with drugs… “Help, I’m alive, my heart keeps beating like a hammer.  Hard to be soft, tough to be tender. Come take my pulse, the pace is on a runaway train. Help, I’m alive, my heart keeps beating like a hammer, beating like a hammer.”

   I have a feeling that after the release of Help I’m Alive Metric is going to experience much more attention than they are currently accustomed to.

2. UNKLE – Reign : The tune makes me want to grab my 1990′s attire, stuff a plastic pacifier in my mouth and drive to the nearest all night rave!  I have a feeling that since this is West Bolton, Vermont I would have quite a drive to find any all night raves around here!  All night hunting parties? sure!  All night logging adventures – yes, absolutely!  All night maple syrup binges – yes, this could happen! but raves??  Anyway…UNKLE kicks ass (accept when they bring rap into their songs – then they lose me, I really don’t care for rap at all, as a matter of fact I have been know to call it crap.  Sorry hommies….but I just can’t get into it!  There was a point where I truly enjoyed listening to the Beastie Boys but that was as far as it went for me.
3. Metric – Freddie : I really just can’t get enough of this song.  It’s rumored to be on the up and coming Metric release and I can’t wait to hear the studio version.  The songs has this driving force to it that keeps me listening over and over!
4. Digitalism – Pogo : This song made it to the Top 10 Most Listened To Songs Of October 2008 as well.  The song is great but one of the main reasons it made it to the top 10 two months in a row is because I made this video to go with it.  During the making of this music video I must have heard Pogo about one hundred times.
5. Radiohead – Weird Fishes/Arpeggie : How beautiful can one song possibly be? well…it is Radiohead!!  At this point in the song – “Turn me on to phantoms.  I follow to the edge of the earth, And fall off, Everybody leaves – If they get the chance, And this is my chance.” I get the chills every time!  I bet that I have listened to this song several thousand times (no exaggeration here!) since it’s official release in 2007!
6. Metric – White Gold : This is not a typical song that I would select as one of my favorites but Metric seems to take me down a different path every time I hear something else by them!  The lyrics begin with “Piss-poor, ridin high, sunbathin’ fire-side, We’re here for the porn of the sirloin, Get your T-bone, Let your backbone slide, Tunnel and sky collide, Lose friends to the air waves and the airlines.“  I wouldn’t say that this is one of my favorite songs of all time but any song that begins with ‘piss-poor’ deserves to be in some top 10 list!
7. 

   Radiohead (click for a larger view)

   Radiohead – The Gloaming : This song is f-ing great!  Enough said and I have said it before!  but I won’t stop there – this song drags you in to Thom’s world (if you allow it to).  It’s dark (Gloaming means – the time after sunset and before dark), mysterious and builds to this amazing climax.  It’s rumored to be a political song about how frightening it was that George Bush was elected into office!  but I am not Thom so I really don’t know what the true meaning is.  I do know that watching/listening to Radiohead head play The Gloaming live in Montreal (twice) was pure extacy! What a great way to begin a live show too! the lights flickering, smoke billowing up from the stage, guitars, drums and synths all working in perfect chaotic harmony, oh and Thom Yorke’s manic dancing always puts a smile on the face of the crowd!

8. 

   The Cure - The Top

   The Cure – Piggy In The Mirror : 1979!  I was 9 years old when The Top originally came out and Piggy In The Mirror this is one of my most listened to songs?  Yes it is!  I recently introduced a younger guy from work to the Cure (the older Cure, I am talking The Top, Pornography, Faith etc…all the way up to Disintegration (1989)) and in doing so I began a month long Cure listening party.  Robert Smith is a true poet, who else could write lyrics like “Footsteps on a wire, High above my head. The stain reveals my real intention. I’m the waiting beast. I’m the twisted nerve – As I dance dance – Back to the body in my bed.“

9. Metric – Torture Me : This one made it to the list for one unique reason.  My sons and I have a ‘game’ we play where if Torture Me comes up on the iPod (it’s on most of my play lists) I turn into a zombie and walk/run around the house trying to attack them.  When the song is over one of them usually runs to the iPod to replay the song!
10. Led Zeppelin – Babe I’m Gonna Leave You:  Rock and Roll!  This is rock and roll!  This is classic rock at it’s finest!  Robert Plant and the boys were on fire.  Originally written in the late 1950′s by Anne Bredon and covered by Zeppelin in 1969, this song still reminds me that Led Zeppelin were and will always be Rock Gods!  The song sends you up and over the emotional mountain wearing Jimmy Page’s famous ‘moon pants’ while carrying his legendary double-necked guitar and back down again to a bed of clouds.

Music….I listen to it in the car on my twenty-five mile commute to work.  I listen to it while I work my standard eight hour shift.  I also keep music playing in my house.  I usually create a playlist per month on the old iPod (it really is old, it’s an iPod Mini and must be five years old) and I put it on shuffle.  What the hell did I do before I had an iPod?  Well…at home I had one of those clunky twenty-five CD changers (it has been retired to the basement for potential future use and replace by a cord that attaches to the iPod) and I would put that on shuffle but in the car I was stuck skipping songs on CDs….oh iPod, I am so thankful that you came along….am I talking to my iPod again?

So why the top ten list?  You (the reader) might not really care what I have been listening to and to that I would say, “then stop reading now and go away (but do come back)”!

Anyway…here are ten songs that I listened to quite a bit back in October of 2008.  The number one song does not necessarily mean that I think this is the best song…in other words this list is not in any particular order.

1. Dead Kennedys – Buzzbomb From Pasadena (This song is a bit dangerous, makes me “put the petal to the metal” but since I drive a Kia (it’s a long story) I don’t have to worry about speed too much, the thing probably tops out at eighty MPH!)
2. Digitalism – Pogo (I really don’t know much about the band Digitalism – I was turned on to them by a co-worker but they often pump music into my ears, damn good music too!)
3. Modeskeletor – Happy Birthday (I was turned on to Modeskeletor from the Radiohead website)
4. Metric – Give Me Sympathy (off the unreleased newest album)
5. One Little Plane – The Snails Are Out (a beautiful song…simply beautiful! I think that I was turned on to this band from Mr. Yorke (Thom Yorke of Radiohead that is) – I don’t know him personally but he sure does have good taste!)
6. Radiohead – Last Flowers To The Hospital (I just can’t get enough of this one…as a matter of fact, I am going to listen to it now!)
7. Stone Roses – Fools Gold (aka “I Am The Resurrection” – this one takes me way back to 1989)
8. UNKLE – What Are You To Me (it’s just a great song! that’s all!)
9. Portishead – Machine Gun (the name couldn’t be more fitting, this song really does resemble the sound of a machine gun, wait…a terrific sounding machine gun?)
10. Metric – Joyride (from the unreased new album (possible album title? ‘Help I Am Alive’ – this one was number one for September)