Before John was selling out venues throughout the world I remember him as a busker on the streets of Fremantle, Western Australia. It was common to hear a young guy strum his guitar with his skateboard next to him and sing for the gathering crowd rain, hail or shine. He had an obvious talent though clearly a rebellious streak which potentially could have ended his career. Music is a reflection of the soul and I find myself having the ability to connect to John through his music, but what the real story here is we are talking about someone who started on the street with nothing and is now a genuine superstar.

John is an absolutely amazing musician but more importantly what defines him as a person is what he does away from the microphone. John has been an ambassador on environmental issues not just in Australia but throughout the world. John has pioneered and highlighted the need for Australians to bridge the gap with numerous issues and injustices dealt to Indigenous Australians. I like many Australians grew up with our eyes wide shut when it came to Indigenous Australians. The fact is Indigenous Australians suffer appalling health conditions, poor education and Indigenous towns reflect a war zone in a country that claims to be the “Lucky Land”.

To be honest until I followed John Butlers career I never took the time to care about the real issues in my country and the shameful past we have with the Indigenous people. Just the other day I found myself mesmerised by a young guy playing acoustic guitar and singing outside the Eaton Centre. He looked rough around the edges and on the surfaced seemed life had dealt him some tough hands.

As I watched people walk past him not willing to throw a penny in his case I couldn’t help but think about John Butler and I started thinking about who was this young guy? As a society we can judge people pretty easily and I have been guilty a thousand times of saying to a guy asking for some change “Sorry mate I’ve got nothing”. I wondered given the chance could this young guy and thousands others like him be the next John Butler? He has the talent musically, but does he have the integrity of John Butler? If we all gave him a chance would he pay it forward to future generations and leave behind a legacy that allows my future children and yours to grow up in a world with greater equality?

Musicians have the power to make us think, the power to make us act, the power to make us change. Music is far more the just words and a beat. Some of the greatest revolutions in history have been defined by musicians willing to draw attention to a problem not with guns and bullets but with a guitar and microphone. Could this young guy we pass on the street without a care in the world be the next musician in history to evoke change? Who knows but I want to find out. So rather then walking past someone down on there luck pretending to be far too busy and important, think of the person playing the guitar and not the problems they have. If humans valued the freedoms we have who knows how great the world could be. John Butler got his chance and now forever the world will be a better place thanks to a guy with a dream, some balls and a belief in a better tomorrow. Music gets us through some pretty tough times. A song is played when we die, when we get married and a song is sung to celebrate birthday. Musicians are the messengers to the people and if we lend our ear to those musicians aiming to make a change then maybe just maybe then the world John Lennon imagined about would not be a dream but a reality.

The concert for pure entertainment value was fautless. the band was tight and solid, Mraz’s vocal ability was incredible along with his showmanship. Mraz was the puppeeter with the crowd his puppeet, he cleavely intergrated “Toronto” into majority of his songs which the crowd would predictably erupt everytime.

In my time in Toronto I have generlly found Toronto crowds to be probably the least enthused crowds in the world. However last night was probably the first time the crowd came together as one and I once again felt like I was at a gig again. Mraz had to work hard to make this happen, and at times it felt like I was more at a motivational speaking convention then a gig but ultimately Mraz got the result he wanted.

If i’m guilty of something I’m somewhat of a snobbish and arogant critic when it comes to music. I’m guilty of being biased towards Australian artists and always comparing crowds here to there, along with artists from North America to Australia. Like all of my favourite artists do I look for music to tell me a story, to play with my emotions, to motivate and inspire me. I like music to make me think, make me calm and be the answer to the question sometimes I don’t have.

Critically speaking lyrically Mraz in my view is one dimensional, and one could argue if he never wrote “I’m Your’s” their would have been no chance he would have had the privillage of headlining a show in front of a big crowd.

Mraz and the Toronto fans last night changed my opinion on the meaning of music. That was he lesson I learnt. In a city that can often be filled with sombre faces, smiles beamed throughout the crowd.

Mraz did his job. He entertained. He brought joy to everyone in the crowd. For those two hours there was no police sirens, no violoence, no abuse and negativity was far from the Molson Amphitheatre.

As Mraz requested the crowd attempted to sing “I’m Yours” for the folks of Manitoba to hear, and laughter along with the chorus filled Molson Amphitheatre.

As I left the gig with my wife I thought how do I review this gig? In parts it was like being at a Wiggles concert and was far from the best performance I had ever witnessed. Did it matter though? No.

I take my hat off to a man who deserves to be on stage and his place in the music industry. His non offensive, non confrontational sunshine and lollipops directed music is sure to eventually win over any music enthsiast regardless of what your preconceptions of Mraz are.

The crowd was happy and a great night was had by all. I have learnt to get over myself and open up to music again. Even if it’s to enjoy a beat a melody or rhythm music no matter how you look at it essentially brings joy to our lives.

Mraz preaches peace, love and hapiness in all of his songs. It would take a warped person to critice that. Will Jason Mraz every reach the hights of a Jack Johnson or Ben Harper? Probably not. Will Jason Mraz every have a hit like “I’m Yours” again? Probably not. Will he fade away and be remebered as a one hit wonder? No.

Mraz doesn’t seek fame or glory, he truly doesn’t care if you like him or hate him. Mraz though realises he has the ability to entertain and take his crowd away to a better place be it for all of a couple of hours. Mraz will sure use this to motivate him throughout his career and I will be waiting to hear what he comes up with.

“You call that music”? “In our day we listened to real music and not just a bunch of noise. That guy can’t even sing and the guitar is just a bunch of three chord noise!” “Those bands you and your friends listen to could never play Frank Sinatra or Buck Owens!” “You’ll go deaf listening to music that loud.”

“What?” Yeah, yeah Dad-heard it, got the message but I’m still gonna listen to it okay. Not only that, it states right on the album that for maximum enjoyment, this album must be played loud.

It’s a fact sadly that we eventually, if we’re not very diligent, become our parents. I had stopped going to concerts for a variety of reasons. Concerts cost $100 or more. In my day we paid $2 and saw four really good bands. Nowadays, I’d have to take the bus or drive for forty minutes just to get to a venue which charged $10 for a beer and smoking was allowed in designated areas only. I can stay home, watch a DVD, smoke when I want and avoid lineups to the washroom. I have to cut the grass and take out the garbage and watch PBS. Didn’t have to do any of that in my youth, (well I had to cut the grass and take out the garbage but I was reimbursed on a weekly basis and we didn’t have cable). My $2 a week could buy beer, a few albums and a concert ticket. My transportation was my thumb or piling ten friends into my buddy’s old, rundown car, promising our parents that we wouldn’t break or even bend any laws. All, good reasons, again, to stay home in these confusing musical times.

Classic rock stations came along and my generation was quick to jump on the band wagon, myself included. I was desperately hoping, or perhaps, assuming, that these classic rock stations would play all of what we considered underground bands. Bands such as Jeff Beck, Robin Trower, Rory Gallagher-the albums only the cool people knew about would be played and we could leave our classic rock station on all day and happily go about our daily routine in rock bliss.

This was not to be and frustration began to set in as station after classic rock station played only one or two songs, and usually only by Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd or ACDC. I used to enjoy these bands but soon became tired of the repetition. With little choice, I sunk back into my album, soon to be cd collection, and went into a safe, musical hiding place. I seemed to have little choice as the newer bands were unknown to me and if I tried to hang out with the 18-25 year olds, they gave me the same look I had given my parents years earlier. I was stuck and the knowledge of music which had at one time been something I took pride in now deserted me to the point where any modest ambitions of someday working at my local record store became seemingly unattainable. I was dangerously close to becoming my parents. I was becoming one of those guys who wore band t shirts downtown and mumbled to anyone who would listen, that I saw The Who or some such band at some old, obscure hockey rink back when they opened up for some hippie, Southern California one hit wonder band. The danger signs were everywhere.

Finally, I decided to pick myself up, get back on my feet, and begin my musical journey anew. I knew the pain and possible risks involved but I knew I had to try. Mustering up all my courage, taking a deep breath, I grabbed the radio dial and moved it several places to the left. Into the depths of the lower end of the dial I went and I did not stop until I had reached the place where new rock lived-the eighties, (no not the decade).

cforms contact form by delicious:days

Critically-acclaimed alternative band, VOLUMEN CERO, is back with the release if their long-awaited fourth studio album, I Can See The Brite Spot, which is out today on Tiger One Records/Adrenaline Music Group. The Echo Park-based trio is set to continue its mission to expand music with their unique blend of heavy rock guitar riffs, electronic synths and pulsating drum loops. Specifically, I Can See The Brite Spot is an eclectic collection of 12 songs produced entirely by the band and Brendan Buckley, who is best known for writing and producing for many notable artists, including Shakira, Lauren Hill, Gloria Estefan, Julio Iglesias, Alejandra Guzman, Fulano and many others. The first single, “El Mar”, will undoubtedly excite critics and fans alike. Filming for the video will begin in late September/early October. Be on the lookout for it on your favorite video music channel.

ICSTBS features 8 Spanish and 4 English tracks. The album opens with “Chinese Connection” featuring Latina “It-Girl,” Ceci Bastida. Other notable featured artists add their flavor into the mix like 2008’s breakout “electro-trop-hip-pop” artist Chana on “Planetas.” The play list then zigzags the listener through a fusion of dance-inducing tunes with thought-provoking themes.

“El Mar” – Single of The Week on I-Tunes !!!
“Astronauta – Free Download in Amazon.com !!!
“Chinese Conenction” – Free Download in Zune.com !!!

There is no rest for Volumen Cero. Look out for them as they make their way to your town on their upcoming tour.

VOLUMEN CERO TOUR DATES:
Sep 27 Tijuana, MX – Le Drug Store
Oct 2 Hollywood, CA – The Roxy Theatre / CD release party
Oct 10 Dallas, TX – Veve Bar
Oct 24 Hollywood Hills, CA – Zune Mansion Party

I CAN SEE THE BRITE SPOT IN-STORES OCTOBER 7.

Please visit www.volumencero.com & www.myspace.com/volumenceromusic for the most updated tour info.

By Aaron “A*maze” Joseph

One of British Columbia’s biggest celebrations of music was nothing short of amazing with over 60 musical acts in three days. The Pemberton Music Festival was a huge success and is now one of the music festivals to rival. The three-day event brought in over 40,000 people to the small community of Pemberton, B.C. a visitor rate that has never been present even in the valley’s gold rush days.

The inaugural year of the music festival was better than gold for some, especially with a lineup which included: Nine Inch Nails, Metric, Jay-Z, Coldplay, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, The Tragically Hip, Buck 65, N.E.R.D. & more. Music fans finally got the chance to witness firsthand what a music festival is all about, and would agree it was worth the wait and the distance.

The Crowd Live at Pemberton Festival 2008, Pemberton, BC, Canada

The crowd getting into it with all their wristbands Live at Pemberton Festival 2008, Pemberton, BC, Canada

Buck 65 Live at Pemberton Festival 2008, Pemberton, BC, Canada

Chromeo Live at Pemberton Festival 2008, Pemberton, BC, Canada

A drunk at the camp site Live at Pemberton Festival 2008, Pemberton, BC, Canada

The Flaming Lips Live at Pemberton Festival 2008, Pemberton, BC, Canada

Houston Dunaway eating burgers Live at Pemberton Festival 2008, Pemberton, BC, Canada

Jay-Z Live at Pemberton Festival 2008, Pemberton, BC, Canada

JayZ Live at Pemberton Festival 2008, Pemberton, BC, Canada

Jay Z Live at Pemberton Festival 2008, Pemberton, BC, Canada

Kids at the supposed family event Live at Pemberton Festival 2008, Pemberton, BC, Canada

Matisyahu Live at Pemberton Festival 2008, Pemberton, BC, Canada

N.E.R.D. Live at Pemberton Festival 2008, Pemberton, BC, Canada

Live at Pemberton Festival 2008, Pemberton, BC, Canada

Sam Roberts Band Live at Pemberton Festival 2008, Pemberton, BC, Canada

Sam Roberts Band on the projection screen Live at Pemberton Festival 2008, Pemberton, BC, Canada

Serj Tankian of System of a Down Live at Pemberton Festival 2008, Pemberton, BC, Canada

The slip and slide Live at Pemberton Festival 2008, Pemberton, BC, Canada

Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers Live at Pemberton Festival 2008, Pemberton, BC, Canada

The Main Stage in front of Mount Currie, Live at Pemberton Festival 2008, Pemberton, BC, Canada

Gordon Brownie of The Tragically Hip Live at Pemberton Festival 2008, Pemberton, BC, Canada

Festival workers selling fruit Live at Pemberton Festival 2008, Pemberton, BC, Canada

The Bacardi dancer in the Bacardi tent Live at Pemberton Festival 2008, Pemberton, BC, Canada

Coldplays audience Live at Pemberton Festival 2008, Pemberton, BC, Canada

* Photo taken by Aaron Joseph. ** Photo taken by Hugo Lunny

The 1st annual Pemberton Music Festival | Pemberton Festival 2008 Photos

Stolen Bicycles Gang

Last week, somewhere in East Vancouver, there was a great show.

The place was the Princeton Pub (1901 Powell St.), and the band was the Stolen Bicycles Gang.

The Stolen Bicycles Gang (SBG) consists of five high school friends with talent.