Ad that is found in middle of parting wish (5)

Only three songs in and you already need a beer break?
Maybe you should have somebody look at that.
-- Dave Bidini, March 30, 2007
I'll trust Kenji or Rachel to correct me if they can remember this quote better than I did.

Last night was awesome. As I mentioned, Kenji and Rachel met at the Salad King, among the shared dishes was some of their green curry that I have been craving for so long. Kenji and I had checked into the Delta Chelsea Toronto, which had been running a promotion for Rheostatic concert goers.

Kenji and Rachel are likely to post about the concert as well, and they will probably have insightful thoughts about the experience. When we arrived at Massey Hall, a note taped to the front door advised concertgoers that the concert would not have an intermission. The band started playing at 8pm, and [apart for brief stops when the crowd demanded the encores] didn't stop playing until about 11:30. It's hard for me to describe the Rheostatics' music to someone who hasn't heard it. At times, it's simple, and catchy, and at times it's complicated and noisy. They have a way of harmonizing with each other that at times is otherworldly.

The band as also as Canadian as can be imagined. Not only are they from Etobicoke and play to a largely Canadian audience, but the subject material of their songs is unabashedly Canadian. Off the top of my head, they reference Ontario, Winnipeg, Saskatchewan, Vancouver, Victoria, and I have little doubt that Kenji could fill in a more complete Canadian Map. Their only real "hit", Claire pleads the listener to "liquify these walls ... like Niagara Falls". Martin plays a double quitar with red maple leaves emblazoned on the surface. To me, part of what makes the band what makes the band so Canadian is something more symbolic about the eclectic nature of their songs and the band members themselves. Dave bounces all over the stage in his running shoes, suit and fedora. Martin stands lanky, and appears to lose himself in his playing so completely that Kenji described it as almost autistic. Tim is probably the most conventionally handsome of the present four; while playing bass he usually stares at the floor. , but when speaking he appears to have a laid-back gentle demeanour and a warm smile. Canadian music producer Michael Phillip Wojewoda plays drums in this incarnation, dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, seeming to be to be the the most neutral personality of the lot. If some bands have an image that spans across the musicians, the Rheostatics' image may be of clothing chosen by a child dressing himself for the first time: completely unmatched, and more charming for not caring. The fact that the music is just as eclectic makes some of it unlistenable for Cheryl, but when things as beautiful as some of the Rheostatics' music comes out of such diversity of musician, it's hard for the diversity-loving guy in me to not compare this to the idealistic view of great things coming from our pluralistic Canadian culture.

After three and a half hours, I felt exhausted, so I an only imagine how tired the band was. Kenji and Rachel and I stopped for some Mexican takeaway food and talked about how much we loved the show, and the band, and how we'll miss them.

This morning, Kenji and I took advantage of our location in Toronto this morning by making a pilgrimage to mec.ca; Kenji got a new windbreaker, and I got a new water shirt for windsurfing and picked up a new paid of water boots and gloves. We both bought LED light up turtles for our kids.

I feel grateful for having had such a fun trip and a great concert, and for having been able to share it with such great friends.