Looks Like V-Fest has Gone Over to the 'Pop' Side

It was last summer when I went to my first Virgin Festival in Toronto. My sister and I boarded the ferry that would take us over to Centre Island where we would have our minds blown with set after set of amazing Indie and Rock bands such as The Foo Fighters, The Fratelli's, Bloc Party and Oasis.

Although I don't go to concerts every weekend, I have been to my fair share (including my first concert when I saw Blue Rodeo with my family at the age of six). The Virgin Festival was an amazing experience and although it was a touch on the expensive side I thought it was worth it. Just to see The Foo Fighters and Oasis would probably cost at least $60.00 each, so I was willing to pay the $200+to see many bands that I had been listening to for a few years.

This year something changed. Firstly, the location. No longer will V-Fest be held at Toronto's Centre Island but at Molson Park in Barrie. (I have heard rumours of others places, so please correct me if I am wrong). I didn't like this decision at first, but after remembering how awful it was waiting for 2 hours to get on the Ferry on the Saturday night, I agreed with the change.

Secondly, the line-ups have changed drastically. Although they still have not released the Toronto line-up, the line-ups for the festivals in Montreal and in the U.K are both filled with pop artists. Montreal's line-up includes:

New Kids on the Block
Akon
Stereos
Black Eyed Peas
Jesse McCartney
Eva Avila
Divine Brown

Hylands Park and Weston Park (both in the U.K) line ups include:

The Killers
Lily Allen
Taylor Swift
Oasis
Snow Patrol
MGMT
Lady GaGa
Natalie Imbruglia
The Proclaimers

and others

Of course, there are a few decent names in the line ups. But the good does NOT outweigh the POP. How did Taylor Swift and Jesse McCartney ever get booked to play V-Fest? It seems that V-Fest has taken a turn for the worse. No longer will it be a place for the hipsters, indie-rockers and music-lovers. It has become a place for the Poppers. Although I am sure every 13-year-old girl singing Taylor Swift's "Our Song" will be dying to go this year. (Also, aren't The Proclaimers a band from, oh lets say, the early '90s's? Yes Five Hundred Miles is a very fun song, but are they V-Fest appropriate?)

Not all of the V-Fest concerts are a waste of money. Nova Scotia's line up isn't terrible with the Tragically Hip headlining and Metric playing a set. Of course, if you are up for some travelling, just catch the Tragically Hip when the play in Harris Park, London, Ontario on July 23rd with The Spades and Arkells (who will also be at the Nova Scotia V-Fest). And you can catch Metric at EdgeFest in Toronto for approximately $50 where Billy Talent will be headlining and K-OS, Alexis on Fire, Moneen, Arkells (again!), The Stills and AFI will all be performing.

So even though V-Fest is an absolute disappointment (so far, we will see what the Toronto line-up has in store for us) this year, there is no reason that you can't enjoy some fantastic concerts across the country this summer. Some of these include:

The Osheaga Music Festival in Montreal
North By Northeast (NXNE) in Toronto
Vancouver Island MusicFest on Vancouver Island (where Steven Page will be performing!)
ReggaeFest 2009 in Calgary

and many, many others....


Maybe V-Fest was a over-rated anyways. It only makes sense that it would start to appeal to the mainstream.

Some Local Indie Rock Never Hurt Anyone

I still remember the fist time I saw them. I was 16 and it was a Thursday night. My friends and I piled into the Aaron Theatre (in Campbellford) and got ready for some much needed rock and roll. We were excited and thrilled that, first of all, we were going to be out late on a school night but also because our little town was finally hosting some decent concerts. So, the band began to play- and we were forever in love with The Spades.

Tonight, I will attend my first Spades concert outside of the Aaron Theatre. And of course, that made me a little nostalgic for those days in high school, when I would beg and plead to my mother to allow me to stay out late to watch those three-guys play their hearts out on that small stage at Aaron.

I don't know many bands who can put on quite an amazing show like the Spades. Each time they play they blow me away. It's so exciting to watch them play. And you have a good time, because you know that they are having a blast up there. Whether its James whipping out an amazing harmonica solo, or Chachi strumming away on the bass while he looks like he is laughing at some private joke that only he's in on or Winchester, drumming unlike anyone I have ever seen. Its not worth explaining because I would not do him justice.

The Spades are currently on tour. Tonight they will play at the Montreal House in Peterborough. You can catch them on June 27 in Wiarton, Ontario where they will play with Sam Roberts and The Tragically Hip (a concert not to be missed) or on July 23, in London, Ontario where they will play with Kathleen Edwards and The Tragically Hip.

A Tribute to Star Trek

I may not be a Trekkie, but after watching Star Trek, I really wish I was.

J.J Abrams is the Master. It seems that everything he touches turns to gold. Hollywood gold at least. I have been a Lost-fan since Season One. Of course I had troubles ensuring that I watched it each week (and therefore, I would be thoroughly confused as to what was happening the week following) but I always loved Lost for what it was: a fantastic Sci-Fi show.

After seeing Cloverfield (I watched it at home, due to a fear of getting sick in the theatre), I realized that J.J Abrams was a force to be reckoned with. So here we are today, he's got many things on the go, including Lost, Fringe and after many painstakingly long months (for me) Star Trek was finally released.

So on Sunday night at 9:55pm, the lights dimmed in the movie theatre and all was silent. The trailers ran (I ignored them, too caught up in my excitement) and finally, the movie began. The movie ran, in total, 2 hours and 7 minutes, but it was a fantastic 2 hours and 7 minutes of cinema. At the end of the movie, I hoped and prayed, they would do the cheesey-ending where they have a little twist, just to make room for a sequel. On a normal day, that is one of my pet-peeves, but no, not with this film. (And I was a little disappointed!)

Each character was acted very well. The script, of course had its cheesy-bits, but its Star Trek, it doesn't work if there is no lamely funny lines here and there. Chris Pine was brilliant as Captain J.T Kirk. He is a brilliant comedy actor but still has the pretty boy face for girls to sigh over. I have become so entranced by Zachary Quinto's Syler character on Heroes, I wasn't sure if I would be able to see him as anyone else. I was proven wrong. He is Spock. Or the new Spock at least. He played it amazingly and not once did I ever think of Syler.

Every character was in great conjunction with the original cast, though they have taken a fresh new spin on the characters and the Star Trek franchise. I have been watching old episodes of Star Trek on the Space channel after seeing the movie, and therefore I am finally allowed to compare the old with the new.

Now, I feel foolish for ignoring this entertaining franchise for so long. I guess now, the only thing I can do, is fix my ignorant ways, start at the beginning and soak up all the missed years of Star Trek, I can. I will keep you up-to-date on my Trekkie status.

A Disgruntled Fan Rant

This morning I was shown a new trailer for a new Donnie Darko sequel thats being released in 2009. First of all, I was not all that pleased with the idea of making a Donnie Darko sequel eight-years after the original was made and secondly, I didn't understand the point of making a sequel- there wasn't much room left for a sequel at the end of the first one. The new movie is entitled S.Darko and the IMDB synopsis tells it as:

"The story picks up seven years after the first film when little sister Samantha Darko and her best friend Corey are now 18 and on a roadtrip to Los Angeles when they are plagued by bizarre visions."

After reading the synopsis and watching the trailer, I was no longer slightly interested or even remotely curious about this sequel. I was very disappointed.

Just from watching the trailer, it was obvious to see that this was not going to be another cult-classic like the original. Instead its packed full of "beautiful" up-coming celebrities that teenager girls and boys can drool over. Its an interesting idea to try to make a younger generation interested in concepts such as time-travel and science fiction but I feel that this film is not the way to do it. Instead, try creating a new film (not a sequel) with new concepts and ideas- then pack it full of those lovely celebs.

In an obvious effort to appeal to a younger, mass-marketed generation, the creators of this film of done an outstanding job of casting young actors that they know girls go gaga for.
Firstly, they have casted Ed Westwick, known for his role as Chuck in Gossip Girl to play the role of Randy. Jackson Rathbone from the ever-popular Twilight-saga will take on the role of Jeremy and finally James Lafferty known for his role as Nathan on One Tree Hill will take on the role of Iraq Jack.

So since girls have gone crazy for Vampires, producers have realized there is a market for Six-foot tall Bunny-Rabbits? Not-likely, but nice try at mass marketing a cult-classic. It seems that nothing is safe anymore. Next thing you know, they'll be making a Godfather IV starring Chase Crawford, then we'll know for sure that Hollywood truly has run out of creative ideas. Well, as long as they get their paycheck.

But please, do decide for yourself, this is just one Donnie Darko-fans opinion. Perhaps S.Darko could in fact, prove me wrong.