#speaking if canada i might go to quebec city for a week in the summer to learn french. that will be. interesting

[bugsoda]

i dig dig dig i lie in the dirt oh so cozy. oh it is like 5 blankets this is beautiful. there are worms here and also little bugs. hello

[couplesbeyondborders]

Nicole + Maxime

Nicole Country: United States of America Maxime Country: France

I met Nicole and Maxime on a summer day, August 28th, 2015, in Coney Island, Brooklyn. As usual in this season, the place is crowded, people from all social classes come here to have fun, they go to Luna Park, the amusement park, walk on the boardwalk, sunbath on the beach, have lunch, etc. As for us, we decided to sit at a table on the boardwalk where we could speak and hear each other despite the hubbub surrounding us.

Nicole started to speak about how they met each other, “I have a tradition on leaving the country for New Year’s every year, and 4 years ago, I didn’t have a lot of time and money, so I borrowed my sister’s car and I went to Canada, in Montreal, and Max was traveling with our friend, Charlotte.”

At the time, Maxime was living in Quebec City, he went to Montreal for New Year’s Eve as well.

“We met in a hostel, the whole place was full of drunk 19 year olds and I made friends with Charlotte,” tells Nicole. “At the beginning I thought he was with her… But she kept talking about all these other guys so I figured they were not together.”

After that, Nicole went to visit Maxime in Quebec City a few times and he went to see her in New York.

“It was the beginning of our story,” says Maxime.

The first time he arrived in New York, Maxime was surprised to see people hugging as a greeting. “It was the first thing that shocked me but I really liked it. In France you don’t do that. I think in America the connection with people is warmer, in France, it’s little bit more distant.”

Nicole gives her opinion, “I think French people feel like a hug is so much more intimate than a kiss but I think American people feel like a kiss is much more intimate, like kissing a stranger feels very weird to an American but it’s interesting that we both think that the other one is a little more intimate.”

They might not have the same point of view on which is more intimate, but one thing is for sure - being together as a couple opens up new perspectives.

When I met Nicole and Maxime, it was the beginning of the U.S. Presidential race and Nicole couldn’t not speak about politics and she explains that being with Maxime has brought a new perspective on her politics, “Understanding how his country works helps me understand how my country does or sometimes does not work.” She continues speaking about her government and how she is effected by being an American in another country, “I find myself apologizing for my government, not even just in France, in other countries as well, but I feel in France when people have opinions about the American culture, American military or American politics, I have to say ‘I’m sorry for my country, I’m sorry that your friends, brothers are in Afghanistan right now… It’s not what I have voted for and it’s not what I wanted… I didn’t vote for Bush…’ When the French people turn on the TV, it says America wants us to go to war, that’s with me, even if I don’t want it. That is still what my passport says so I sometimes feel very embarrassed about my country… You always have the stereotype of what an American is, and it’s not great, and I always have to prove that I’m not that and then people like me.”

Sometimes people expect people from other countries to be or behave in a certain way and can have a wrong idea of what people’s habits are. Nicole illustrates it with a funny story, “When Max first got here, he had this really bizarre idea of what he thought American breakfast was. I’m vegetarian so I occasionally buy these little veggie breakfast sausages that I eat sometimes and when his parents came to visit, he made what he thought was a big American breakfast. He made big scrambled eggs, he went to the freezer and he took my little sausages and he cooked some of those. He also decided to take some chicken nuggets and put chicken nuggets on every one’s plate and I was like ‘It’s so weird !’ and he was like ‘No, it’s how Americans do!’ and I was ‘no!’” Another morning, when Maxime’s parents were in New York, he decided to go to the bakery to buy some croissants and pains au chocolat like he used to do when he was in France, but it turned into “a nightmare. Their croissants are very good but so expensive, $2,50 for a croissant… in France, it’s like 70 cents ! I stopped doing this tradition…”

To conclude, I ask them if they like something in particular in their partner’s country.

The first thing Nicole thinks of is healthcare, “I love your healthcare, I love your education, or at least the price that goes along with it, and I like the value and the human rights because I think it sort of trickles down into the culture, who you are as people and it makes you a more caring, selfless group of people.”

Maxime adds, “There are also bad effects… In France we say we have ‘un pays d’assistés’ and I don’t know how to translate that in English... I mean, French people know they will get everything so they don’t do anything because if they don’t work, they will get paid anyway, if they have an accident, they will get fixed anyway.”

“I know and I think that’s a problem and I think it’s going to be a problem anywhere. I understand that it is financially a burden on France but there is always going to be people who will break the rules no matter what. It’s like with gun control right now in America, what everybody is saying is that if people want a gun, they’re going to find a gun, we don’t need to make it illegal and I’m like ‘Well… Do we cater to the people who are going to go to the extra mile and find a gun to kill somebody or do we make it better for everyone else?’ It’s the same thing, people in France cheat, yes they do, but so many more people benefit,” says Nicole.

Maxime reconsiders what he just said and explains how French people are lucky to have a good healthcare system, unlike in the U.S, “Here, if you go to the emergency room, you open the door, it’s already a thousand dollars and you are like ‘No, thank you, I’m gonna stay home.’” But still, he loves that in America people have the option to do what they want to do. Maxime was a lumberjack in France but when he was 30, he went back to school in New York to be an electrician in theater.  ”It was a crazy choice. In France, I’ve seen some people doing it but it’s not like something you do; if you have started something, you just keep going even if you don’t like it, it’s a mentality… But here, I’ve seen people at 50 years old starting something else. Sometimes this country sucks but it has so much to offer. If you want to work 70 hours a week and make a lot of money, they will let you to do it. In France, I never could have done that. In France it’s tough to make money, I mean, it’s my opinion, here if you work hard you make money.”

“There is always ‘the grass is always greener’ but in France you need less money as you don’t spend any money on healthcare, on education, all of these things we pay for here, you don’t pay for there,” says Nicole.

[kgbinwanderland]

I’ve been dreaming about visiting Quebec City since I watched the popular k-drama Goblin. Fans like me fell in love not only with the story and characters but also with the picturesque and quaint Old Quebec Town. There’s something very romantic in this predominantly French-speaking province in Canada. It is especially popular during Christmas time as a true-to-life Winter Wonderland.

We’ve thought about taking the train from Toronto and even considered booking a flight going to Quebec. Since there was six of us and about 9 pieces of luggage with us, we knew that driving was the cheapest and most convenient option. Flying would cost as much as our 2-week car rental and taking the train would take the same travel time.

One of the things that we like about our Richmond Hill Airbnb is that it is right by Hwy 407. From Hwy 407 E, take Hwy 404 S on to Ontario 401 Express (changes to Autoroute 20 E) which goes straight to Quebec Region. The drive is approximately 7.5 hours, without stops and traffic so if you are planning to take the drive to Quebec City, consider staying for at least a couple of nights to make it worth your while.

We left the house around 7:00 AM, had a couple of bathroom and food breaks, and finally settled on Mcdonald’s for a late lunch around 3:00 PM. It was mostly an uneventful drive but we did enjoy the scenery. Fall was on its peak colors and everywhere around us where shades of brown, red and orange, which was just lovely.

Finally, we arrived at our Airbnb by 4:30 PM so that’s about 9.5 hours of driving including rest stops.

Let me just say, that this Quebec City Airbnb right by the Chaudiere River is absolutely beautiful! It really felt like a vacation home and from the moment that we entered, we were instantly charmed.

I mean, look at this view!

A view from the Airbnb’s backyard, the Chaudiere River.

I had messaged the Airbnb host of our ETA and he prepared a little something when we arrived. We entered the home and was welcomed by the fragrance of essential oils while music was playing in the background. Talk about a 5-star experience! Everybody was impressed and pleased with our home for the next four nights. And because we already brought some food with us, there wasn’t even a need to go out anymore. Finally, we get some time to rest.

Actually, we still, went out that night for a sneak peek of the famed Chateau Frontenac and Old Town.

But first, let’s take a tour of the home.

From the entryway, the first area you’ll pass by is the kitchen. The kitchen is well-stocked with just about anything you need. The host had told us that we can use or eat anything that we see in the kitchen and pantry. We only used the basic condiments when we prepared our dinner but we still appreciated the kindness and generosity of our host.

The living area is probably my favorite space in the house. If it was summer, it probably would have been the backyard but it was too cold to stay out so we all just settled by the sofa and watched Netflix, all while enjoying the view of the Chaudiere River.

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Living Room

Kitchen

The master bedroom is located on the second floor and has its own toilet and shower. This was where my aunt had settled in.

Master’s Bedroom

My husband, daughter and I used the bedroom on the main floor, that’s right next to the second bathroom. It was small but enough for a short stay.

Main Floor Bedroom

My sisters used the basement bedroom which was well-lit and also nicely decorated. The laundry room is also in the basement.

Basement Bedroom

As I’ve mentioned, it was too cold to stay out so we didn’t really get to hang outside for long except when we used the grill for dinner and of course, to take pictures and enjoy the views of the Chaudiere River. It even snowed on our last day in Quebec City, right in the middle of Fall.

This Airbnb would have been a perfect vacation home in the summer. I’m pretty sure nobody would pass up a chance to chill and relax in the jacuzzi with the perfect view.

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MY RATING

Location: (4/5)

The house is located outside Quebec City, in a nice and quiet neighborhood, and it’s about a 30-minute drive to Old Quebec. Rush hour traffic is common but it’s tolerable. Despite the distance, we absolutely welcome the drive because of the scenic views. As it says on the Airbnb listing, it is right by the Chaudiere River but there’s no access to the river itself, for safety reasons.

I’m giving it 4 out of 5 just because it’s not exactly in Quebec City, it’s actually in Levis. But then again, it’s an easy drive to Quebec City’s top tourist spots so it’s really a matter of preference if you want to stay close to the main area or don’t mind the distance.

Cleanliness: (4/5)

The house is clean per se but not as sparkly clean as our stay in our Airbnb in Toronto.

I don’t know if it’s maybe because the house is by the river or if the room we occupied was not cleaned well enough but we couldn’t get rid of a slight musty smell inside the room. It’s not a big deal but it might bother you if you’re staying a bit longer.

To be fair, the host had set up an essential oil diffuser by the kitchen table, which was running when we first set foot in the house. So that’s certainly something you could use if the smell bothers you, which honestly isn’t a big deal.

Amenities: (5/5)

The house is equipped with all the necessary amenities and the host had also generously offered anything we could find in the pantry or refrigerator as free to eat/use. Everything you need for cooking is available in the kitchen, including an outdoor grill which we used despite the very cold weather. The loft bedroom has its own toilet and bath while the bedroom basement and the one on the main floor share a bathroom. The only issue we had with the bathroom was that we weren’t exactly sure how to take a shower without drenching the walls, the picture frame; basically the whole bathroom. And the door to the bathroom is opaque which could make some family members feel awkward when they do their business inside.

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Family-Friendly: (4/5)

The house has three bedrooms which means it could comfortably accommodate our group of 5 adults and 1 child. Design-wise, it is not a family home but more like a bachelor’s pad or romantic getaway home. To be fair with the host, he made it clear from the start that there are certain things we need to be aware of especially since we were traveling with a child. The main concern is the design of the staircase. It didn’t have any glass barrier, and a crawling toddler could easily fit and fall in the gap. We remedied this by blocking the gap using our luggage and of course, by making sure that someone watches over the child at all times.

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Airbnb Host: (5/5)

I have nothing but praise for Eric. He is a wonderful Airbnb host who responded to our inquiries and concerns promptly and had a welcome gift waiting for us when we checked in. There was an incident where he asked us (just in case we’re in the house) to wait for someone who needed to pick up something from the house. And although we couldn’t wait for that person because of our sightseeing schedule, Eric gave us a complimentary bottle of wine for the inconvenience even though we were not really inconvenienced in any way at all!

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I love this spot!

Value for Money: (5/5)

It is a little pricey compared to the other Airbnbs we’ve rented in the past but I honestly feel that the rates matched the expectations.

Overall Experience: (5/5)

It really is a beautiful home with stunning views of the Chaudiere River. The small issues we had were dissolved into nothing because of how much we enjoyed our stay and the hospitality of our Airbnb host. Personally, I think that this is the perfect Airbnb for couples looking for a romantic getaway while in Quebec City.

Have you ever used an Airbnb before? Get $25 off your first Airbnb rental by clicking here. 

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Check out my other posts about our Toronto, Quebec City, and Montreal Road Trip below:

Day 1: The Toronto Islands and CN Tower Experience Day 2: Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada and Must-See Sights in Downtown Toronto for First-Time Visitors Day 3: Niagara Falls, Canada: Hornblower Cruise, Table Rock Centre and Outlet Collection Day 4: Royal Ontario Museum and Toronto’s Graffiti Alley

Toronto Airbnb Review: Richmond Hill Townhouse Toronto, Quebec City and Montreal Itinerary

[mailerlite_form form_id=3]

  Quebec City Airbnb Review: Beautiful House by the Chaudiere River I've been dreaming about visiting Quebec City since I watched the popular k-drama Goblin. Fans like me fell in love not only with the story and characters but also with the picturesque and quaint Old Quebec Town.

[thereviewsarein]

Moments and memories, 2018 has been full of them. It’s been a hell of a year.

As the year comes to an end, it’s time to take a look back and reflect on the opportunities that have been placed in front of me.

2018 has had no shortage of moments, the hard part will be narrowing down the list. Some stick out in our minds more than others, so instead of trying to number them, I’m listing the top moments and memories of 2018 in chronological order.

Crown Lands

This band. This music. These guys.

Watching their success unfold has been my absolute pleasure. Crown Lands caught my attention when I first saw them in Toronto at Rivoli opening for American Opera. This somewhat unlikely pairing was a coup for me, and I haven’t looked back. I feel like Crown Lands was instrumental in turning my eye back to rock music, period. I’m grateful for that. It’s been a good year for rock music and Crown Lands. In the last twelve months, they’ve toured with some of the biggest names in the business, meeting their heroes and sharing some bucket list stages with acts like Jack White, Coheed & Cambria, Primus and more.

When we chatted with the guys before their Horseshoe set, I found out that thereviewsarein.com was the first outlet to ever write about the band. That’s pretty cool in my books and that moment will always be in memory.

Big things are coming, and I can hardly wait to see what 2019 brings for these talented, hardworking musicians.

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Matt and Kim with Monowhales and Goodnight, Sunrise – Monday, May 7th – The Phoenix

Kicking off Canadian Music Week is no small feat, and this lineup was filled with positive energy that rocked from note one.

In 2016, we did a preview Q&A with Matt and Kim who were scheduled to play WayHome. Sadly, because they played a late night set at WayHome, we didn’t get the chance to see them live then. But, let me say that I was blown away by this act live. The energy and connection with the audience is incomparable. Those are the most important things for me at live shows, if I feel you, you win.

This was also the first day that we met MONOWHALES. We had the opportunity to chat with Sally and Jordan, before the show, and their excitement was contagious. Once the band hit the stage, they had me. A live show is more than delivering your songs as recorded and Sally won the crowd over quickly. With a crowd dive over the barricade to end the set, she cemented her place in people’s memories. It was spectacular and ballsy. MONOWHALES has become one of my favourite bands this year, and this performance played a big part.

Also on this bill was Goodnight, Sunrise. I first saw this band in December of last year, and I was impressed by their energy and unique sound. They’ve continued to work hard, and that hard work was rewarded this past year by being selected as the band to open for Bon Jovi at the Air Canada Centre.

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Mad Caddies – Tuesday, May 8 – The Mod Club

There’s a weird thing that happens when, as a music journalist, you get to interview a band or an artist that you’ve been a fan of. I’ve been listening to Mad Caddies for longer than I care to admit, so to get the chance to interview Chuck Robertson was kind of surreal. To dial the phone and have Chuck answer was very cool. We chatted about the upcoming album, tour and his fondness for Toronto. And when Mad Caddies came to Toronto for Canadian Music Week, I was there for their sold-out show at The Mod Club.

This particular story is a significant one for me because not only did I get to cover this band, that means so much to me, I also met a charming, remarkable human being in the process. My hat is off to Melanie Kaye of Melanie Kaye PR who became very, very important to me, not only professionally, but personally, as the year progressed. She’s a gem and has opened doors to fun, exciting bands and experiences for our outlet. I expect we’ll be making memories together for years to come.

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Lindsay Ell – Thursday, May 10 – The Phoenix

This particular memory also made Joshua’s list. Lindsay Ell made quite an impression on both of us on May 10th. Lindsay was charming, unassuming, friendly and eager to share her story with us. I hovered in the background during our interview taking photos and when I was done, Joshua motioned me over so that Lindsay could tell me that she liked the photo I’d taken of her while she was performing on the main stage at Boots and Hearts in 2016. It was a lovely gesture.

The day just got better as we covered her set at The Phoenix and got to watch her do her thing. There’s something about her that I can’t quite put my finger on, but she touches my heart. That night there were full out rocking moments, but there were also moments that brought tears to my eyes. Lindsay Ell is a star and an amazing human. These things are the reason this day will be in my memory forever.

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Joey Bada$$ – Friday, May 25 – The Phoenix

For those of you who are regular readers, you’ll know that I’ve been a giant fan of Joey Bada$$’s All-Amerikkkan Bada$$ album. The music, the message and the delivery, all speak to me. So when tickets went on sale, I grabbed a pair. When show day arrived, we were not approved, but I was still there, up front and centre at the sold-out show.

To this day, I get goosebumps thinking about this show. A man and his DJ, owning the entire venue. It was spellbinding, and while I didn’t get shots of Joey for our outlet, I did get to feel the energy and witness as everyone in attendance sang along to every song. It was magical, and sometimes it’s nice to just be a fan.

Alan Jackson – Saturday, August 11 – Boots and Hearts

Alan Jackson is a legend of country music. As a photographer, having the opportunity to shoot a legend has it’s own level of excitement, but this moment was more than that. Standing in the photo pit with many other photographers, and friends, I was hit with memories of my mom who was a giant Alan Jackson fan. There was a moment during his pre-performance video where I knew that my mom would understand that this was big and that she’d be proud of me. Moments and memories, don’t get any better than that.

Mr. Jackson then proceeded to deliver a great performance, which in and of itself, was memorable.

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FME – August 30 – September 2

FME 2018 was a festival that brought a lot of firsts and with that, a lot of memories. This was my first time on a charter plane for work, it was the first time a festival took such good care of me, it was the first time I travelled in a pack of music journalists, and it was the first time that I realized that I’m a music journalist. I know that might sound crazy but up until this festival I didn’t really put two and two together.

If you’ve never heard of this festival you should check it out. It’s located in the beautiful city of Rouyn-Noranda on Osisko Lake in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region of Quebec and when the festival starts, the city is transformed. The locals are the best and embrace the influx of music lovers. There were interviews and live performances all over the city, but all within walking distance of our hotels. Acts of all genres performed and I really hope I get to go back. If you’re looking for a festival to add to your summer, consider FME.

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Keith Urban – Sunday, September 9 – CCMA Awards

First, let me say that being approved to shoot the red carpet and the awards show is a memorable moment all on it’s own. Having Keith Urban show up on the red carpet as a surprise guest was mind blowing. He was, as you would expect, gracious and the consummate professional. He made sure everyone on the carpet got their angle and took his time chatting with fans and taking selfies.

One of my favourite shots of the year came later in the evening, during his live performance. It’s a moment in time and one I haven’t seen anywhere else. I like this shot so much, it now lives on the back of my MacBook.

Keith Urban

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Wu Tang Clan Reunion – Sunday, September 30 – Rebel

Sometimes the hip hop gods smile on us. On September 30th I made the trip to Rebel to shoot Wu Tang Clan. I had previously shot Wu Tang at Riot Fest, but all members weren’t present. This time around, we had the honour of shooting all of the living members of Wu Tang coming together to play their 1993 debut album, 36 Chambers in its entirety. It was unreal and fantastic. This show was one for the memory banks.

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Oddisee – October 26 – The Mod Club

One of the perks of this job is access to shows, but sometimes, as a fan, you just want to watch. When I work a show it’s a completely different mindset. Don’t get me wrong, I do still get to enjoy shows that I’m working but during the first three songs, my brain is somewhere else. I often couldn’t tell you what the first three songs were when I come out of the pit.

Oddisee is an artist that I didn’t want to miss a single second of, so I bought a ticket. I went to the show with other people, but I sat up in the balcony by myself. I wanted to be focused on just the music. There were gentlemen on either side of me throughout the set who were also alone. We were there for the music. The last time Oddisee came through Toronto, he brought a full band, Good Compny. This time, it was him and a DJ and it while it was different, it was no less amazing.

If you’re a hip hop fan, and you haven’t heard this artist, I highly recommend giving him a listen.  I’ve included the videos I took that night below. I still watch those videos and remember how I felt. Enlightened and joyous.

When Oddisee comes back, I’ll be there.

A little @oddisee wizardry for y’all. This music fills my heart with joy and love and happiness. Conjuring positivity and the best energy, thank you @Oddisee. #livemusic #torontonightlife #toronto #hiphop #performance #oddisee #themodclub @themodclub

A post shared by Trish Cassling Photography (@trishca) on Oct 26, 2018 at 7:49pm PDT

2018 was amazing and here’s hoping 2019 is even better!

Trish’s Top Musical Moments and Memories of 2018 Moments and memories, 2018 has been full of them. It's been a hell of a year.

[mikemortgage]

William Watson: Smug Canada probably wouldn’t let in a caravan of migrants either

Schadenfreude is of course the German word for taking pleasure in the discomfort of others. There should be a specific Canadian variant to indicate our enjoyment of Americans’ discomfort, which is and always has been a major source of satisfaction for many of our media elites. Maybe schadenfreud-eh?

The latest example is our media’s tut-tutting over the so-called caravan of 7,000 people making its way to the United States from poor, benighted Honduras (which caravan members might themselves categorize as a “s**t-hole country,” given its current lamentable state). I’m not aware of any Canadian journalists yet embedded in the caravan, although surely it won’t be long now given all the publicity it’s been getting in presidential tweets. U.S. President Donald Trump’s Twitter account has 55.3 million followers. Judging by the full-court news coverage he gets up here, at least five per cent must be CBC producers. (Free advice: To really #Resist, get off Twitter.)

Controversy over whether the 7,000 include gang members or “Middle Easterners” has so far obscured two crucial and true, not fake facts. The first is that it is a great tribute to the U.S. that the land of Trump — which is said to be boiling over in micro-aggression, rape culture, transphobia, systemic racism, toxic partisanship, you name it — is the declared destination of the 7,000, not neighbouring Nicaragua, El Salvador, or Guatemala. Not even Mexico, which they’re now trekking across to get to the U.S. Maybe America no longer seems the shining city on a hill it once was. But it’s a shining something north of the Rio Grande and the light apparently can be seen even from the Honduran jungle and through the determined anti-American media jamming.

The second clear fact, despite our media’s smug twitting at the president’s tweeting, is that if the 7,000 changed their minds about the U.S. and said they preferred to come to Canada instead, we almost certainly wouldn’t take them either. Without a doubt though, we’d be much nicer and more polite than the president in delivering exactly the same refusal.

None of this is to diminish the tragic situation most of the caravaners find themselves in. There may not be many classic refugees among them, in the sense of being victims of state oppression, but economic and social conditions have so deteriorated in many parts of Central America that few of us would willingly live there. Pity is the right reaction toward anyone forced to live in those conditions, even if that means most of the 7,000 would-be escapees are economic migrants.

But pity is cheap. Would we take them? Almost certainly not, and for several reasons.

First, although their motivation is economic and while economic motivation is perfectly understandable and honourable — we all want a better life for ourselves and our kids — most of the 7,000 probably wouldn’t qualify as economic migrants under our system. At the most basic level, most of them probably don’t speak English or French. Thanks to recent immigration debates going on in the States, we Canadians are now famous around the world for being very selective about who we do and don’t let in. And our points-based criteria are very picky.

Second, if we tell 7,000 people that if they manage to get to the U.S.’s southern border, we’ll take them, how long before the 7,000 become 70,000, or 700,000, or more? In fact, Trump being Trump and therefore mercurial, if it weren’t for that obvious moral hazard (not to mention the mid-term elections being less than two weeks away), the promoter and salesman in him might otherwise be tempted to say: “Sure, come on in. We’ll take you!” What better advertisement for the U.S.? Are there caravans of people lining up to get into Russia, or China? I don’t think so.

Third, mention of the mid-terms may remind you we’ve got an election coming up, too. Border control isn’t the compelling priority in Quebec yet that it’s been in Arizona and New Mexico in recent years. But, I’m betting the prime minister’s political operatives would advise against anything reminding voters of the last two summers’ spectacle of people stepping across our border with their suitcases and kids in tow, delighted to be arrested by the RCMP and thus enter the haven of our slow-moving refugee system.

Finally, after the political disaster of the NAFTA negotiations, the PMO will think very carefully about doing anything to tick off Trump. You never know. Our taking the 7,000 might not do that. (“If they want them, then let those crazy Canucks have them!”) But it’s more likely that Trump would see it as Weak Justin trying to show him up. So, better to be careful.

But if we ourselves wouldn’t take the 7,000, then in considering the painful details of this unfolding human tragedy, let’s ease up on our moral superiority concerning what the Americans do.

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[todaynewsstories]

How Trump’s son-in-law helped a $1.2 trillion trade zone stay intact

OTTAWA/WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Robert Lighthizer was the public face of arduous, year-long talks to rework NAFTA, but as he savored a successful conclusion in the White House Rose Garden on Monday, the U.S. trade representative singled out another man as the deal’s architect.

FILE PHOTO: White House senior advisor Jared Kushner listens as U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at a dinner to honor evangelical leadership in the State Dining Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S. August 27, 2018. REUTERS/Leah Millis

“I’ve said before, and I’ll say again, this agreement would not have happened if it wasn’t for Jared,” Lighthizer told reporters.

The 70-year-old veteran negotiator was referring to Jared Kushner, more than 30 years his junior and Donald Trump’s son-in-law, whom the president had asked to help out on trade early in the presidency, especially on Canada and Mexico.

While Kushner’s time in the White House has been turbulent – Chief of Staff John Kelly temporarily stripped him of his security clearance earlier this year and he has been criticized for his dealings with the Middle East – his role in keeping the North American Trade Agreement afloat was fundamental, multiple sources said.

A 37-year-old real estate tycoon married to Trump’s daughter Ivanka, Kushner has the trust of his father-in-law, and crucially, is close to Lighthizer, a Canadian source with knowledge of the talks said.

His friendship with Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray, whom he knows from Wall Street, helped diffuse several blowups in that relationship and get a U.S.-Mexican deal over the finish line in August, another source close to the talks said.

“The deal fell apart more than once. And in every occasion it was one person that always found a way to put it back together: Jared Kushner,” Videgaray told Reuters.

Similarly, from early on in the negotiations, two of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s most trusted advisers – chief of staff Katie Telford and private secretary Gerald Butts – forged ties with Kushner, Hassan Yussuff, president of the Canadian Labour Congress, said in a phone interview. Yussuff was part of the NAFTA advisory council for Chrystia Freeland, Canada’s lead negotiator in the talks and the country’s foreign minister.

A second Canadian source said Telford and Butts flew to Washington to meet Kushner in the early days of the presidency.

Those connections came to the fore again last week, when the mood became toxic between Lighthizer and Freeland, as the U.S.-imposed Sept. 30 deadline to conclude the talks loomed.

A third Canadian source directly familiar with the talks said the Americans “were incensed” when Freeland took part in a Toronto panel entitled “Taking on the Tyrant,” which featured derogatory comments about Trump, following an earlier speech criticizing U.S. trade policy.

Trump summed up the atmosphere in typically blunt fashion, saying on Wednesday, “We don’t like their representative very much,” as the Canadian negotiating team dug in on the politically sensitive issue of U.S. access to Canada’s dairy market.

“There was a moment where the traditional channels of negotiations appeared to break down because they just could not get through some of the largest issues, dairy being one of them,” said a person in Washington familiar with the situation.

Kushner kept talking to Butts and Telford, and on Thursday a message got through that the United States wanted to know what was non-negotiable for Canada. The answer went back that Chapter 19, a dispute resolution mechanism, was a red line.

By Friday morning it was clear that the Trump administration was not going to fight for Chapter 19 anymore – “the Americans blinked,” said a fourth senior Canadian source with direct knowledge of the talks.

“I don’t think the administration itself was that hung up on (Chapter) 19, I think Robert Lighthizer was,” Yussuff said.

The breakthrough triggered concessions from Trudeau’s team, most importantly on dairy. The fourth Canadian source described the thinking as “better get dairy out of the way now” rather than negotiating from a weaker position if talks failed and Trump hit them with 25 percent auto tariffs, the stick he had used to hurry along talks with Mexico and Canada since May.

On Friday, Kushner got Lighthizer on a conference call with Telford and Butts. “Together the four of them worked through some of the outstanding issues and that led to a breakthrough in the negotiations, ultimately leading to the success of the deal,” said the person in Washington.

With a deal in sight, Mexico and the United States canceled plans to publish on Friday evening the text of their bilateral deal to give Canada the chance to join by the Sunday deadline.

The talks intensified, with Telford “talking on the phone the entire time,” in the end with Kushner, said the fourth Canadian source.

The offices of Freeland and Trudeau did not respond to requests for comment. The White House declined to comment.

INTENSIFYING EFFORTS

It was by no means a foregone conclusion that NAFTA would survive. After demanding early last year that it be reworked in favor of the United States, Trump repeatedly threatened to toss in the trash the $1.2 trillion, quarter century-old agreement.

Tensions between the United States and Canada started at the top, with relations strained between Trump and Trudeau after acrimonious talks in Quebec City in June at a G7 summit.

“There was a lot of tension, I will say, between he and I — I think, more specifically,” Trump told a news conference on Monday. “And it’s all worked out. You know when it ended? About 12 o’clock last night.”

Lighthizer, speaking on Monday, said, “If you’re not willing to walk away from an agreement, you cannot get one,” holding his hands up to his head to describe how intense Trump had been on trade.

At every slump in the talks, which began formally in August last year, multiple players helped stabilize the situation. One of the hairiest moments was in April last year, when trade experts say Trump was close to triggering U.S. withdrawal from NAFTA, prompting frantic lobbying from business groups.

Trump changed his mind, according to one source close to the talks, only after his agriculture minister, Sonny Perdue, showed the president a map including all the Trump-supporting, farming states that would suffer lost exports if NAFTA collapsed.

Similarly, there was more to bringing the talks to a last-minute finale than just Kushner’s efforts. Outside factors were also pushing all sides toward a deal.

In the weeks following the announcement of the Mexico-U.S. deal, U.S. and Mexican officials increasingly understood a new trade accord might not pass Congress without Canada on board, said one U.S.-based source familiar with the process.

Anxious to avoid the risk of being left with nothing, Videgaray and Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo, Mexico’s lead in the negotiations, worked behind the scenes to “triangulate” communication between the Canadians and the Americans to try to “land” the deal, the source said.

“A bit of what they did was the role of an air traffic controller in the descent of that aircraft,” the source said.

Videgaray’s relationship with Kushner was a main safety valve that lowered tensions that had arisen gradually between Freeland and Lighthizer, the source said.

“(Videgaray) became a sort of conduit, a back-channel between Freeland and USTR via Jared to get this landed,” the source added.

On the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York last week, Guajardo also tried to act as bridge between Lighthizer and Freeland, offering advice from his experience negotiating bilaterally with Lighthizer earlier in the summer, a Mexican source close to the talks said.

In the end, the talks went down to the wire, with Kushner abandoning plans to spend the Jewish festival of Sukkot with his family late on Sunday, the person in Washington said, as Canada and the United States thrashed out the last details of a deal. It was finally announced at 11:35 p.m. EDT, just 25 minutes before the deadline.

Reporting by David Kjunggren and Steve Holland; Additional reporting by Roberta Rampton in Washington, Dave Graham and Frank Jack Daniel in Mexico City; Writing by Frank Jack Daniel; Editing by Leslie Adler

Our Standards:The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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[felexhunter]

10 Places to Visit in Canada

From the cosmopolitan streets of Toronto to the mountain peaks of the Canadian Rocky Mountains, the country to America's north options numerous destinations, thus deciding that one is ideal for your next vacation may be troublesome. that is why I thought-about compilation a listing of the simplest places to go to in Canada. Vote for your favorite below to possess a say in next year's list. And if you are seeking lodging, see the simplest Hotels in Canada here.

Quebec City

A trip to Europe might not be in your budget, however, a visit to Quebec town might be. This Canadian town charms its guests with 17th- and 18th-century buildings. The aromas of freshly baked bread and production coffee fill the paving stone streets with the essence of Paris.

Photo source - Wikipedia

Best Time to travel Quebec is heat and spirited from June through Sept. Temperatures peak in time for the holidaymaker season in July and August and are usually in the middle of chumminess. however travelers trying to go to provincial capital WHO don’t mind the cold will expertise the destination as a quieter winter wonderland, with heaps of festivals and activities. Snow usually blankets the town between Gregorian calendar month and Gregorian calendar month. and every year the town hosts its jolly Winter Carnival to celebrate the season.

Transportation There ar buses and taxis however town|Quebec|Quebec City|provincial capital} may be a walking city. several of the winding cobblestones streets are too slim for cars, thus set up your footwear suitably. There’s additionally a ferry that runs seven days per week and links provincial capital with Levis.

Weather July is that the hottest month, with a mean high of 76°F (25°C), and therefore the coldest is January, with a mean high of 19°F (-7°C).

Know Before You Go With a number of the strictest language laws within the world, French is that the dominant language each spoken and on all signs and menus. however if you begin speaking English, most locals can respond in English still.

Language French, English

Currency Canadian bucks ($)

Toronto

"Big" does not even begin to explain this Ontario town. Composed of various cultural pockets with places like Greek town, very little Asian country and Korea town, provincial capital transports you round the globe. With such diversity, you'll much decision yourself a cosmopolitan once visiting.

Photo Source - www.toronto.ca

Best Time to go to Late spring, early summer and fall area unit the foremost pleasant walking months within the town—and this can be a walk able city. September, one in every of the loveliest months of the year, is additionally packed with the Toronto International festival fêtes and a spate of different weekend festivals. Toronto Transportation The Toronto Transportation Commission runs associate underground subway system, streetcars and buses to induce you from uptown to the city district (prices begin at $2.25). authorized taxis and Uber are common. Toronto Weather July is that the hottest month, with a mean high of 70°F (21°C), and also the coldest is Gregorian calendar month, with a mean high of 28°F (-3°C). Know Before Visiting Summertime in Toronto is pageant time. almost each weekend, and a few weekdays, you’ll realize one happening. If crowds aren’t your issue, avoid Caribbean pageant (July twenty eight through Gregorian calendar month 31), once town greets a lot of one million guests. Language English Electric Type A two-prong plug or blood type three-prong plug Currency Canadian dollar (C$)

Vancouver

Vancouver is all regarding sports and clutch the outside. Vancouver pay their days sport on Grouse Mountain, surf riding at Wreck Beach and strolling through Stanley Park. Plus, Vancouver offers lots of cultural attractions, as well as museums and outside markets, and is home to various high hotels

Best Time to go to Summer. The sun finally comes go in full force, showing the city’s lovely landscape in its best light-weight. Vancouver Transportation Public transportation is simple to access via Sky Train, bus, or ferry. costs vary looking on your destination, however single fares vary from $1.30 to $4.00, and a Day Pass prices $5.60 to $7.31. Vancouver Weather July is that the hottest month, with a mean high of 64°F (18°C). Jan is that the coldest month, with a mean high of 39°F (4°C). Know Before Visiting Summer is clearly the busiest toured season. If you would like to avoid the glut of tourists, attempt coming back in early fall. The weather remains fairly smart, and they'll be fewer crowds at the foremost standard spots. Language English Electric Type A two-prong plug or group B three-prong plug Currency Canadian Dollar ($)

[rbeatz]

Man, I Trust Men I Trust’s Sound: Exclusive Interview

Men I Trust is an indie-dance band from Montréal, Canada made up of three members: Emma, Dragos & Jessy. Their sound is made up of soothing melodies and minimal rhythms that create a tranquil and sometimes melancholic atmosphere. They record, mix, master, and shoot their own music videos – a DIY band, showcasing their skills in all areas of music production and development.

We had the pleasure of interviewing Dragos and Emma from the group on rBeatz Radio, and below, we have a written-interview of the group, written by Dragos. Their new song, You Deserve This, came out last week, and it’s keeping the band on a trajectory to accomplish great things in the future.

You Deserve This was produced one unplanned afternoon, when the three members were simply in a great mood. They were sitting around, playing with rhythms and messing around with detuned and off-phase synths. The song is all about relaxing, self-confidence, empathy, and gratitude for being part of this existing universe of ours.

You know the deal. Press play on the Soundcloud embed below and read the interview below for the FULL Men I Trust experience. The first song played is their new song, You Deserve This.

INTERVIEW:

Where does the name Men I Trust come from and why did you pick it?

We were looking for a name that was light, had good values, and a nice rhythm. After a week of exchanging ideas, we particularly liked the “trust” theme and developed it to Men I Trust ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Where are you from and how has that shaped the musicians you are today?

We are from Quebec City in Canada. It’s a medium sized city which has an unusually high concentration of musicians and bands (many of which are our friends). There is a healthy competition going on here. There are lots of venues with regular live acts and frequent releases from artists. I think this environment made us stay on our toes, and it’s also great for working with other musicians and groups.

What instruments did you play when you were younger?

Emma played the piano, Jessy played and still plays pretty much everything that makes sound; he excels with the bass, the guitar and the keys, while Dragos started of as a classical piano kid and ended up a computer musician with a nag for sequencing and sound engineering.

Are there instruments that you currently wish you COULD play?

Dragos wishes that he could drum, but he’s extremely awkward with his motor skills (stick with the sequencing…). Emma wishes she could handle any kind of bass lines and Jessy would like to try getting into the upright bass.

Dragos, what was your favorite and least favorite class at Laval University?

LOL! I’d say my least favorite class was Medieval Philosophy, a necessary course for completing my bachelor degree in philosophy, which I really enjoyed. I remember the hot topics in these times were: citing the Greeks with slight Christian UpGrAdE$, discussing the physical constitution of angels and ETHER. Jokes aside, I liked going to school, so pretty much every course was interesting. I mostly enjoyed being in the University’s studio.

Tell us the story of how you started creating music on your computer?

My first contact with creating music on a computer was in computer science class in the fourth grade, using a software called Hip Hop eJay. It was mostly pre-made loops that you could mix together. We were supposed to be taking French, but the teacher preferred bringing us in the computer lab to make music and write lyrics. It has left a deep and strong impression on me. I really loved it. 6-7 years later, a friend introduced me to Propellerhead Reason 3. I began producing basic electronic and hip-hop tracks. Before starting the band, Jessy and I were exchanging instrumentals. I think he pushed Guitar Pro to its fullest extent (seriously, he wrote entire Hip Hop and metal albums on this software). I liked that Reason is an emulation of an analog console and instruments / effects racks (you have to wire everything together yourself). After releasing a full album on Reason, I switched to Ableton and started producing for Men I Trust at about the same time. At that time, Ableton projects were simpler to go in and get out, and there were more third-party plug-ins.

You mentioned in our interview with Arroe Collins that you performed in China, how did you get that gig and how was the vibe compared to the vibe in Canada?

We got the gig via our booker in Quebec City and the director of the Canadian arts festival in China. After months of preparations, we went for a 10 day / 5 gig trip between Shanghai, Shenzhen and Beijing. The Chinese people were really amazing! We felt like they really enjoyed being at the concerts and were perhaps even more expressive in showing it than Canadians. We’d like to go back very soon!

Do you have a favorite genre you like to produce and why?

We’re a combo of three different producing impulses or reflexes: Dragos naturally tends towards electronic and down tempo genres, Emma balances with her grunge side and Jessy is constantly rising the the bpms and adding slap bass sounds while we are away from the computer.

What has been your favorite studio moment when producing your new single, You Deserve This?

We had the most fun recording the whistling part of the song with Odile. After the melodies were laid down, we just listened to that part on loop for hours. Since it felt so relaxing, we decided, on the spot, that the track should be called You Deserve This.

What inspired the lyrics to You Deserve This? 

The lyrics of You Deserve This are part of a much longer, melancholic text that talks about being in an unknown place where many people have passed before and trying to do something meaningful. It’s an ode to doing things well and slow, as you might miss your awe / inspiring surroundings rushing through. The chorus “This is your past, Before you’re born, For you to see, You deserve this” is a mix of a (terrifying / humbling) joy and sense of privilege to be able to contemplate the universe and feel part of it.

Who is one of your favorite artists to collab with and why?

Working with Geoffroy on Thirsty was really nice! We’re real-life friends, he has a soft voice, we connect musically (we collaborated together on several occasions) and producing is really straightforward with him!

What festival are you looking forward to the most this year?

We will be playing in Montreal at Osheaga on August 5th.

What do you like to do when you’re simply hanging out – aside from music?

They rebooted Starcraft 1, so we lost Dragos… Emma likes to bike along the river next to her home, and Jessy likes to joke with everything.

Do you have a favorite or go-to sample pack?

A decent Roland 707 and 808 sample pack is a must! We use Arturia’s Spark, Native Instrument’s Battery and some sampled Roland one-shot percussions. We also like the Native Instrument’s Vintage Drummer and Session Drummer for a more organic feel.

Do you have a favorite chord progression? 

We like a lot the Dorian mode and the jazzy II-V-I progression.

What is one of your favorite or go-to VST Plugin?

Arturia’s V collection for analog synth emulations. We LOVE the Mini Moog and the Prophet, but they’re really all very nice! We also use the FM8 for its rich textures.

Do you have a key production tip for our young producers out there?

Be organized (name your tracks and projects accordingly), alternate sounds to avoid crowded mixes, do not stagnate too long on the production of a poorly composed track, get a sound library that inspires you, produce lots of tracks, but release a few… Trust your feelings.

What is your favorite color?

Green

Do you have a favorite in-studio snack?

Sparkling water and everything between two slices of bread.

What is your favorite social media platform and why?

Generally speaking, the fewer the ads, the more we like it. We also look for a platform that allows us to reach our following efficiently, organically and for free, which is difficult with some platforms right now (cough. Facebook). At the moment, we prefer Bandcamp, Spotify and Instagram.

What is next for Men I Trust?

A music video is on the way for You Deserve This. We will release it in about a month. This summer we expect to release a single or two with music videos and we are also talking of working on a third album… maybe soon? We are also moving to Montreal in June. New collaborations are on the horizon :->

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[houstonlocalus-blog]

Little Killer: The Best of The Week

Merchandise. Photo: Drew Reynolds/Ground Control Touring

  Well, we’re all around SXSW this week meaning that the next two and a half weeks will be stocked with plenty of touring bands rolling through town. Merchandise, Thundercat, and Leggy will be here alongside locals like football, etc., Black Kite, and many more. Houston, here’s how to navigate the next seven days.

  Wednesday you can start off at The Clinic when the black metal of San Antonio’s Haunter will be in town to perform.  The music this three-piece makes kind of scares me, but that’s probably the point as their latest release Thrinodia is as throaty as it is heavy and dark.  The post rock intensity of Venezuela’s Zeta will also be on the bill as direct support. The intense emo math-laced noise of Houston’s MOTHS will be on hand as well and the all ages show will get opened up by the post metal sounds of Houston’s Sleeping Ancient.  The show has a $6 cover with doors at 7 pm.

  Son of Bitch. Photo: Uncredited/Courtesy of Artist/Facebook

  Over at Under the Volcano, you can get your swing on when the Appalachian bluegrass style of Houston’s Son of Bitch plays.  This three-piece with more intensity than a steamroller plays without amps and still goes hard.  Their last album, 2013’s Venus and the Cat, proved that this kind of music can still impress.  The 21 & up show has doors at 8 pm and a TBA cover.

  Satellite Bar will have the electronic sounds of Houston’s distant worker by to drop a set.  With elements of post punk factored in, their early 2016 release Animal Data sounds like the dreams a newborn would have based on the new world around them.  The synthwave of Florida’s TIME will be on as direct support while the modular synths of Pfaffenberg will go on prior.  Things get started by the hip hop of Deus Lee for the all ages show with doors at 9 pm and a $7 cover.

  Black Tiger Sex Machine. Photo: Uncredited/Kannibalen Records

  Stereo Live will have the electro dub house sounds of Canada’s Black Tiger Sex Machine.  In so many ways I’m over artists that rock illuminated masks when they perform, but damn if this trio doesn’t drop some catchy jams.  They’ll be here in support of their latest drop, the catchy single “Hell Motel.”  The electro soul of Toronto’s Dabin will be on as direct support while the dubstep hybrid jams of Boise’s Kai Wachi will open the 18 & up show with doors at 9 pm and tickets for $10.

  Thursday you can get going over at Rockefeller’s for the always impressive blues roots of Houston’s The Mighty Orq.  This guy has the ability to play tunes that have weight without feeling too heavy while he uses a fret board like a gambler with a pair of dice.  This edition will feature special guest Milton Hopkins and the 21 & up show has doors at 5 pm and it’s 100% FREE with the printed ticket before 7 pm.

  Down in Clear Lake at Scout Bar you could get your throwback fix when the legendary hard rock of British band UFO swings by to headline.  I mean, do I need to sell this show?  Songs like “Rock Bottom,” “Doctor Doctor,” and “Lights Out” should be enough reason to attend, and theoretically this could be your last chance to catch them play live.  Speaking of legends, British heavy metal pioneers Saxon will be on as direct support while things get kicked off by the blues rock of LA’s Jared James Nichols opens the all ages show with doors at 6:30 pm and tickets between $33 and $38.

  Over at Walter’s, the hardcore of Austin’s Drip-Fed will be out in all of their glory.  These guys make some intense punk that’s hard to walk away from, and their latest release, Under The Wave Blanket from this year, is as intense as it it impressive.  The noise hardcore of Austin’s DSGNS will be there as direct support while the punk of Houston’s Matter of Trust will go on prior.  Sparse will open the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and a $10 cover.

  Holy Wave. Photo: Allison Scarpulla/Force Field PR

  Garage psych five-piece Holy Wave will bring their multi-layered sound to Satellite Bar.  This El Paso-formed band has the ability to remind you of bands like Ride if they lived with Timothy Leary.  Now residents of Austin, their latest album, Freaks of Nurture from last year, just proves they can take things to a deeper place.  Houston’s Mantra Love will bring their trippy sound on as direct support while the post punk shoegaze of San Marcos’ Glaze will go on prior. The garage pop of Austin’s brother sports will open the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and a $10 cover.

  On Friday you could begin with the French Cultures Fest at Discovery Green.  Featuring live sets from multiple bands, the pop heavy jams of France’s Laurie Briard will be on hand for all to see.  You may not know her name but if you check out her new single “Dreams,” you might become a fast fan.  The blues heavy sounds of Quebec’s They Call Me Rico will also be on hand as will the all female blues garage sounds of Austin’s The Bluebonnets.  The all ages event gets going around 6 pm and it’s 100% FREE.

  You can get your laugh on with Houston comic Rich Williams over at The Secret Group for his Spring Break Comedy Show.  Williams has been grinding for years now in the Houston scene, he has TV credits, and he could easily be one of the next comics to pop off out of our city.  Sets from Derrick Cakley, Mike Worm, Daniel Strong, and “Jus Jaden” will all occur next to a set from Rich himself.  The all ages event has doors at 6:30 pm and tickets between $20 and $40.

  Mucky Duck will welcome the return of Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Colin Gilmore.  If you only know Jimmie Dale from his role in “The Big Lebowski,” that’s cool, but he’s also a Texas storyteller through song and he never disappoints. His son Colin keeps that tradition alive, and with 2013’s The Wild and Hollow, he forged his own path while reminding us all of his father at the same time.  Catching these two together is a rarity and one night only event.  The 21 & up show has doors at 7 pm and tickets between $25 and $27.

  Sneaks. Photo: Nina Corcoran/Ground Control Touring

  The political punk of Providence’s Downtown Boys will be back at Walter’s.  This band, now signed to Sub Pop, has been turning heads with charged performances and politically themed punk for a good while.  With 2015’s Full Communism as their most recent release, who knows what we’ll hear from them now that Trump is president. The spoken word meets rhythmic beats of DC’s SNEAKS will be on as direct support, and you should definitely get there to catch her perform.  Houston’s Giant Kitty will bring their punk sounds on as openers like only they can for the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and tickets between $8 and $10.

  The Waughford will bring the progressive alterna rock sounds of Houston’s Rogues Among Us. The four-piece plays technical jams that are impressive to see live, and the screamier elements of their album Analysis Paralysis EP from this year are worth lending an ear to.  The bluesier leanings of Houston’s Clay Melton Band will be on as direct support, and I’d be lying if I said he was an act you could afford to miss.  No Rehearsal will open things up for the 18 & up show with doors at 8 pm and a $10 cover.

  White Oak Music Hall will host Flynt Flossy & Turquoise Jeep upstairs.  I mean, I liked Turquoise Jeep, but I’m not the biggest fan of Flynt on his own, so hopefully this set is better than his last one here.  However, Yip Deceiver will be on as direct support, and they’re a band that everyone needs to catch at least once.  The glam influenced disco jams of these guys who are also members of Georgia’s Of Montreal are crazy live and their latest Take A Bow/Crush from 2015 is a jam all by itself.  Houston’s iLL Faded will bring his good time rap on as well while Hiram will open things up as only he can with doors at 8 pm and tickets between $13 and $15.

  George West. Photo: Marcelo Quinones/Courtesy of Artist/Facebook

  Saturday you can start off at Cactus for an in-store performance from George West.  The chillwave producer and performer has been dropping jams for a good while now, his live sets are chill enough to groove to, and his latest release, Palmetto from this year, breaks his usual mold while driving him into a more progressive space.  The 100% FREE all ages event gets going around 1 pm with gratis beer for the adults.  

  Later on you could get down with Houston’s Sherita Perez over in the restaurant at House of Blues.  The indie folk singer songwriter will play fan favorites from last year’s Htown Love and more from the Voodoo stage.  The all ages event gets going around 6 pm and it’s 100% FREE.

  At Satellite Bar you can catch up with Houston’s football, etc. when the band returns for a set. While I can’t offer up too much information on their new album out this summer, I can tell you that I’ve heard it and it’s pretty stellar. Add to that their killer live shows and this should be a great set as always.  The indie rock noise pop of New Orleans’ Pope will bring their intricate sounds on as direct support while the new wave punk of Houston’s Ruiners will energetically go on beforehand.  Austin’s Honey & Salt will open the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and a $10 cover.

  Thundercat. Photo: Eddie Alcazar/Paradigm Talent Agency

  In the studio at Warehouse Live you can get funky with the jazz heavy R&B jams of Thundercat.  The accomplished bassist, lyricist, and producer never disappoints when he performs, and his latest release Drunk from this year is his most progressive album to date. Zack Fox will open the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and a $25 cover.

  Over at The Armadillo Palace you could catch the always engaging tunes of Libby Koch.  Koch is no stranger to hard work nor is she an artist you should sleep on.  While she performs around town plenty, catching her in this iconic venue is pretty neat, and her latest album, Just Move On from last year, should make the room sound amazing. The 21 & up show with doors at 8 pm is 100% FREE.

  Continental Club will bring the Tejano-meets-punk insanity that is San Antonio’s Pinata Protest. Possibly one of the most original and energy-heavy groups going, these guys sing in English and in Spanish while they tear up the stage in the process.  Their latest album, 2013’s El Valiente, is pretty great and they should be as impressive as always for the 21 & up show with doors at 9 pm and a TBA cover.

  On Sunday Insomnia will host another art show, this time with the immensely talented photographer Jordan Asinas at the Stories To Tell show.  While Asinas is becoming better known for his photos of bands, his images of city and architecture are like nothing you’ve ever seen before, capturing the beauty of what he shoots within.  The all ages event gets going around 6 pm and there will be plenty of extra goodies on hand as well.  

  You can get groovy with the indie rock of Missouri’s Ha Ha Tonka over in the bronze peacock room at House of Blues.  This five-piece mixes atmospheric rock with folk undertones and indie rock riffs, and their latest single, “All With You,” is pretty and entertaining.  There’s no word of openers or support for the all ages show with doors at 7 pm with a $12 cover.

  Since Always. Photo: Dwayne Cathy

  The lo-fi indie psych of New Zealand’s Kane Strang will be upstairs at White Oak Music Hall. After becoming a critical darling the world over, the singer songwriter has been going hard with the full length Blue Cheese from last year and a new single called “Oh So You’re Off I See” released this year.  The indie rock of Houston’s Cleen Teens will provide direct support while the indie emo songs of Since Always will open the all ages show with doors at 7 pm and tickets between $10 and $13.

  Walter’s will host the solo sounds of Cindy Wilson.  You might know Wilson from her other band, the iconic B52’s, and her newest solo EP Supernatural is a trip.  Far from The B52’s, this solo record is like what would happen if Blondie made a modern electro new wave pop album. Houston’s MIEARS will provide her dark electronica as direct support as well as opener the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and tickets between $20 and $35, the latter being a meet & greet option.  

  On Monday you could have fun upstairs with the ever growing popularity of Massachusetts’ three-piece Potty Mouth at White Oak Music Hall.  The all-female indie pop group with punk leanings has gotten bigger and bigger with each release since forming in 2011, and their latest single “Smash Hit” is bigger than their 2015 Potty Mouth EP. LA’s PARTYBABY, featuring members of 30 Seconds To Mars and Portugal, the Man, will bring their garage rock intensity on as direct support and openers for the all ages show with doors at 6:30 and tickets between $12 and $13.

  Black Kite. Photo: Daniel Jackson

  Satellite Bar will bring back the bubblegum punk of Ohio’s Leggy.  Seriously, this three-piece makes catchy, fun tunes that are hard to deny, and their latest release, Leggy from last year, is a mix of garage, punk, and indie pop rock that’s hard not to like.  The fuzzed out electro pop of Toronto’s Twist will be on as direct support while the dark electronica of Houston’s Black Kite will open the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and a paltry $7 cover.

  Over at Walter’s you could get up close and personal with the fuzz indie pop of Sad13.  Of course, the group is actually the solo project of Sadie Dupuis of the band Speedy Ortiz, but oh what goodness she offers up on her debut Slugger.  Full of pretty melodies and pop hooks, the show should be great based off of the album alone.  Detroit’s Stef Chura will bring her lo-fi sounds on as direct support while the NYC based riot grrrl punk of T-Rextasy will go on prior. Houston’s Pearl Crush will open the all ages show with doors at 8 pm with a $10 cover.

  Tuesday you might find yourself at Walter’s for the never ending changes of Florida three-piece Merchandise.  I don’t think there’s been a band since PIL who has changed their sound more per album than these guys, but their live shows are always a trip and their latest album, A Corpse Wired For Sound from last year, is their best to date. Canada’s Tim Darcy of the indie rock band Ought will be on as direct support while the smoky vocals of Austin’s Molly Burch will go on beforehand.  UK shoegazers Chain of Flowers will also be on hand to perform, and Brooklyn’s Operator Music Band will open things up with their intriguing art pop sound.  The all ages show has doors at 7 pm and tickets between $12 and $14.

  Devil Killing Moth. Photo: Barton Garmon/Courtesy of Artist/Facebook

  Satellite Bar will host the indie pop of California duo DTCV.  Featuring a former member of Guided By Voices and a French born singer, these two make songs you can get groovy with and their latest release, Confusion Moderne from last year, is definitely worth checking out.  The inventive indie rock of Houston’s Devil Killing Moth will be on as direct support with the psych of Pennsylvania’s Grubby Little Hands on before them.  Houston’s Satin Hooks will also be there to bring their energetic sounds to life while Babelfish goes on before, and the all ages show gets opened up by Atlanta’s CHEW.  The doors are at 8 pm and tickets are $10.

  That’s about all that’s happening around town this week.  No matter what you do, please remember that drinking like an adult is in everyone’s best interest and that a safe ride home is just an app away.

Little Killer: The Best of The Week this is a repost