Wednesday, October 17
Less than Jake, Reel Big Fish, Flatfoot 56
Club 919, $25/29.50, 9:30 pm
I know a couple guys named Jake. I worked with one many years ago. He’s an Aussie. Nice guy, but at the time he wasn’t really the hardest worker. I had a bit of seniority on him, so I never made less than Jake. He followed a girl that he met in some faraway land back here to Victoria, then got dumped like yesterday’s compost. He stuck it out for a while but eventually headed back down under.
Thursday, October 18
Fred Penner
Felicita’s @ UVic, $10, 8 pm
If you like sandwiches, you’ll love Fred Penner, and at this show you can enjoy him with no screaming kids in the house!
Thursday, October 18
Balconies, Acres of Lions
Lucky Bar, $10, 8 pm
I wonder where Balconies are staying while they’re in town? You’d think they would put a clause in their contracts about always having a room with a balcony, right? I mean, it just makes sense. Why call your band that and then not milk it? I sure would.
Friday, October 19
54–40, Grapes of Wrath
Royal Theatre, $34.50, 7 pm
A friend of mine used to work on the Ocean Pearl. He fished for tuna, cod, and whatever else he could get his nets on. I’ve had a few friends try their hand at commercial fishing over the years. One buddy even experienced his first dead body out on a fishing trip. From what I understand, there’s a lot of hard work involved in fishing on the high seas. I’d imagine that there’s a different kind of hard work involved in keeping a band together for 30 years.
Monday, October 22
Big Sugar, Willi Wiliams, Balconies
Club 919, $26, 7 pm
I’ve tried on a few occasions to enjoy my coffee without sugar. I used to have both cream and sugar in my coffee until I realized that it was making my nose run. Seriously. I’d sit at a coffee shop, having a java, and not 15 minutes later I’d be blowing my schnoz. I realized that I had removed so much milk from my diet that I’d become lactose intolerant. I compensated for the lack of cream with extra sugar. Big sugar. “I don’t want no sugar in my coffee. It makes me mean.”
Tuesday, October 23
Jason Collett, Bahamas
St. Ann’s Auditorium, $21.50, 7 pm
These days it really seems like I’ve got this broken social scene. I mean, I’m married with children, so it’s not like I wanna go out running all over town. Well, maybe once in a while. I’d like to squeeze some fun live shows into my schedule somehow. Hell, my kids are asleep by 9-ish anyway. My wife probably wouldn’t like it if I started sneaking out of the house to go have fun without her, though. Fun… in the sun. Maybe somewhere warm. I’ve never seen Bahamas.
Friday, October 26
Old Man Luedecke, Grey Kingdom
St. Ann’s Auditorium, $18.50, 7 pm
I used to love Scooby Doo. That silly beast was always running around, scared out of his wits. I love that van the gang drove, too. The Mystery Machine? What a sweet ride. Whenever I see one of those old, stubby-nosed vans cruising around, no matter what kind of shape it’s in, I just wanna drive it. There’s always a crotchety, timeworn bad guy cursing them at the end. “I could’ve done it, too, if it wasn’t for those meddling kids,” says Old Man Luedecke.
Saturday, October 27
Kyprios and the Chaperones, Rocky Mountain Rebel Music, DJ Verse
Sopranos, $14.50/$16.50, 7 pm
It’s always tough when special days of the year like Halloween fall in the middle of the week. Everyone loves to throw a shindig, but then there’s the dilemma of finding a good day to party. Is the Friday before too early? Or just damn the torpedoes and throw your rager smack dab in the middle of the week and see who comes out? These guys aren’t messing around. Pick your own superhero and get your groove on. And always damn those torpedoes.