Heaven aka Centre Bell

After many years of being a fan of the Montreal Canadiens, I finally got to see them at home last night. And it was one of the greatest nights of my life.

It's hard for non-sports fans to understand the love one can have for a team, how their wins and losses, their hot streaks and injuries, can affect us as deeply as if we're members of the squad ourselves. And there's something about Les Canadiens that makes that run even deeper. Habs fans don't just love our team, we bleed the bleu-blanc-rouge. As the Habs go, Montreal goes.

So you can imagine my sheer ecstasy at getting to be in their building, surrounded by fellow obsessives of le tricolore. I figured if I was going to make the trip to Montreal for a game, I'd get the best seat possible (5th row, Habs end of the ice, right in front of the faceoff circle), against our most hated rivals, the Boston Bruins.

The atmosphere was incredible. The team played beautifully, fast and intelligent, not falling into the thuggish bang-and-crash style of the Bruins. I shouted Go Habs Go and sang the Ole song until my voice was close to leaving me. I booed Zdeno Chara* every time he touched the puck.

And we beat those classless Boston excuse-monkeys 2-1.

A few Bruins fans were also in attendance, including 2 young boys seated next to me for the third period. They were part of a family split into two sections, so for the 3rd, the boys (aged probably 8 and 10) were left alone beside me. As soon as the period was underway, one of the kids started in with smack talk -- the Habs are garbage, Josh Gorges sucks -- so I glanced over at him, and our eyes met. Silence. I didn't give him a look by any stretch of the imagination, just briefly met eyes.

He didn't utter a single negative word for the rest of the game. Neither did I, for that matter.

In the end, I was in too good a mood to say anything rude to anyone. I fell asleep happy last night, hoping to be back for more games, but satisfied with the experience if it never happens again.


*It has been 2 years since a mega-check from Chara left my hockey crush and perennial Montreal favourite Max Pacioretty with a broken vertebra and a severe concussion. The hit was deemed clean by the league, but was so hard and damaging that legal charges were considered. Even though Max made an amazing recovery and had a career year in 2011-2012, Habs fans still boo the Boston captain every time he touches the puck. I think we will forever, and I think that's completely fair.

Some Frightened Rabbit Shows

If you've been paying attention on here, or any other social media, you know that Frightened Rabbit is my favourite band. My current musical taste is pretty much Robbie Williams, Frightened Rabbit, then a bunch of other bands spread across all genres. Shrug, I can't explain myself.

I'm currently in Chicago, where I was lucky enough to see Frightened Rabbit for the fourth time, and the show was amazing as always. I went to a concert of theirs for the first time last year, and have hit 3 gigs in the past 4 weeks. I practically have the set list memorised, and -- much as I love the big finale of the show -- as soon as I hear the first notes of The Loneliness and the Scream, I get a little sad that the night is ending. I always thoroughly enjoy myself, no matter whether the rest of the crowd is going mad (Glasgow), too cool to participate (Seattle, both times), or somewhere in between (Chicago).

I've always compared music to love affairs and friendships (maybe because I care more about music than people a lot of the time), and seeing a band live is like the physical aspect. In that analogy, it's as if I'm in a long distance relationship with Frightened Rabbit. I listen to them all the time (that's the all talk and no sex part), but long to see them live as much as possible. And whenever I do, I fall in love all over again. That's why I took the chance to fly to Chicago for them, and detoured to Glasgow when I was in Scotland. It's like a flight across the country... or halfway around the world... to sex up someone who you love but don't get to be in the same room with on a daily basis.

Maybe I should find a local Seattle band to obsess over, or go back to casually liking bands and not caring if I see them live very often, might be easier. Nah... these guys are worth it.

Author's note: This post is not drawing any parallels to other aspects of my life. Fine, not intentionally. All right, it is, but just don't mention it, OK? Thanks.

Pittodrie Stadium - Aberdeen v Ross County

I always seem to fall for losing teams. Sports are never consistent, so of course they occasionally have glorious winning streaks, but they never last long enough, or happen often enough. So it seems it may be with the Dons.

I had always found soccer less than interesting, but several months ago I arbitrarily started watching some. There was a tournament going on that everybody on Twitter was, well, a-twitter about, so I gave it a try. And enjoyed it. So when the NHL lockout left me sport-less, I asked Twitter what football team I should follow, just as a diversion. My tweep Calum told me the Scottish Premier League was the place to be, and I should become an Aberdeen fan. Since I've always found it easy to love most things Scottish, I gave the Dons a try, and immediately got hooked.

Now, months later, I've used part of my Scotland trip to see them live. And it was awesome. Well, the game wasn't that spectacular, but I'll get to that.

I arrived at the stadium to discover my seat was only a few rows up, but it was next to a column that blocked about 1/4 of the pitch. The old gentleman sitting next to me noticed how bad my view was, so when nobody sat on the other side of him, we both scooted down so that I was only missing one corner. The guy, incidentally, turned out to be quite amusing. He started out muttering rubbish, rubbish whenever the Dons' play was less than ideal, but as the game went on, his volume increased. His helpful commentary was mostly in the form of pointing his program at a player and shouting there's another clown! or you're useless! and telling pretty much everyone on the team to give it to McGinn.

Tonight wasn't Aberdeen's best outing, by a long shot. They gave up the ball too often and didn't put it toward the goal often enough. At the same time, the officiating was... what's the phrase I'm looking for... somewhat questionable? No, wildly one-sided. That's the phrase: wildly one-sided. And it's not my Aberdeen bias making me say that. At least I don't think so.

After a nil-nil first half, Ross County managed to score in the second. Despite a Dons push in the final few minutes, it ended at 1-0. Another chance to see one of my teams in person, another loss.

All in all, though, it was a fantastic time. Pittodrie is a small stadium, and my closeness to the pitch made it feel even more exciting. And by the way, those footballers are hot. I mean, HOT. I would totally do a Don.

Erm. Anyway.

It was my first live game of real football, and I think I love the sport ten times more now. So poor team showing and loss aside, I had an absolutely spectacular time.

Edinburgh. Again.

I'm a bit late writing this, seeing as I left Edinburgh nearly 24 hours ago, but it could still use a brief recap.

When I first visited Edinburgh -- maybe 3 or 4 years ago, don't remember -- I liked it, but figured I wouldn't be back. I enjoy Scotland's capital city, I just don't tend to return to places a lot unless I have a good reason.

Turns out rugby is the reason.

I've been following rugby union, particularly the Six Nations tournament, and backing Team Scotland, since I discovered the sport in the 90s. (Which is incidentally the last time Scotland won 6 Nations... 5 Nations at the time.) I never dreamed that I'd be sitting in the pouring rain of Wellington at the World Cup cheering them on in 2011, but I was there. And when I came to Edinburgh last year to see them play a Six Nations match at home... even better.

So I returned to Murrayfield this year, for the Scotland v Ireland match... which our boys in blue won, 12-8! I felt especially good about the win because I've never gotten to see Scotland win a rugby match in person. Well, they dominated an exhibition against Team USA that I attended long ago, but not a real, counts in a tourney match.

It also occurred to me that I've now been to Edinburgh three times, over at least that many years, and I've never seen it not under construction. I'm already calling this an annual rugby trip, although I won't necessarily go to a home game every Six Nations... so maybe by the next time I visit Edinburgh, the tram will be finished and I'll see the city in a new light.

No matter what, I'll keep backing blue, and flying wherever their games take me... Murrayfield and beyond.

The Record Store, 2012 edition

I'm old school when it comes to music. Sure, I listen to Spotify all day, I've got a giant mp3 library in addition to a bookcase full of CDs and vinyl, but compared to kids these days, I'm a dinosaur. I hate to download a single and have no concept of anything else the artist has ever done. I most appreciate a record -- a record of an event wherein a band played together and created a piece of art -- that I can listen to from start to finish, over and over, without groaning or hitting the skip button.

So at the end of every year, I look back and choose my favourite records, those albums that I listened to, end to end, obsessively. While some of my most loved tracks of the year came from Fun. and Japandroids, I couldn't get through the entire album in either case. And although I enjoyed the whole record put out in 2012 by Of Monsters and Men, and the fantastic return of Neil Young & Crazy Horse with Americana, they didn't grab me and hold on, so they were out as well.

Given that criteria, here are my records of 2012, based entirely on my taste and nothing more:

Admiral Fallow - Tree Bursts in Snow
I discovered this band on the suggestion of a Twitter friend who was shocked that I loved Frightened Rabbit, but had never heard of these guys. They're straightforward, solid, Scottish rock in the tradition of Travis and the Delgados, among so many others. And their 2011 offering Boots Met My Face might even be better than this record.


First Aid Kit - The Lion's Roar
Two Swedish sisters, idolising Simon & Garfunkel, and kicking much ass. That's all you need to know.


Frightened Rabbit - State Hospital ep
OK, it's only a five song ep, but it's still one of the best things to come out this year. Yes, they're among my very favourite bands, but they're also that good. In fact, based on the first single, their upcoming record Pedestrian Verse is certain to be on many Best of 2013 lists. 

K's Choice - Little Echoes
A band I've loved since the 90s is back together, and releasing their records in the US again. Here they've created an acoustic collection of covers and remakes of their own songs, which all turned out beautiful. Sarah Bettens can make anything haunting, trust me.


Radio Radio - Havre de Grâce
Brilliant rap/electronica/unclassified awesomeness from Montreal. It's not for everyone, but if you get it... Damn, it's good.


The Real McKenzies - Westwinds
Punk Vancouver-style, except with Scottish accents, bagpipes, and some traditional tunes thrown in. This band has been getting better with every record for many years, and this one rocks.


SonReal & Rich Kidd - The Closers
Americans have it all wrong when it comes to hip-hop. The best stuff continually comes out of Canada (mainly Toronto), and the collaboration of these two is a perfect example. They both produce great stuff on their own, but the combo is absolute dynamite.


Robbie Williams - Take the Crown
Yes, I'm a huge fan, and I'd probably put this on the list if it sucked. But it doesn't. This is the best record Rob has put out in years; he's at the top of his game. It's a bit hard to get in the States, but it's well worth the effort if you have any interest in the greatest Brit pop going.


So that's my list, which went from a top five in 2011 to eight in 2012... let's hope the 2013 class is even bigger. Happy New Year!

O2 Arena - Robbie Williams

The concert ended over two hours ago, but I'm still wide awake. I'm just buzzing.

I'd like to repeat OMG! OMG! ROBBIE WILLIAMS! OMG! SO AMAZING! I CAN'T BELIEVE I FINALLY GOT TO SEE HIM LIVE! but I won't, because I am a serious adult woman.

And a total Robbie fan girl.

Having been a huge appreciator of the man's music for nearly 15 years, I've seen all the live videos and heard every concert record. I knew Rob could put on a show. So when he announced a concert at the O2 on a night that I'd already be in London, I dutifully hit refresh on my browser at 1am (9am BST, you see) until I got the pleasure of spending hundreds of dollars on a seat at the show. Not that I sat down for even a second once it started.

The concert was 2 hours of brilliance. I expected a lot, knowing what a showman Robbie can be, but being there in person is an experience far better than anything that can be captured by recording equipment. I danced, I sang, I cheered, and when Mr. Williams told me to put my hands up, you can be damn sure that I did! The Arena is fairly large, and it was obvious that the people in the very top row were just as engaged as those near me in the lower seats, and the ones pressed against the barrier beneath the stage. We were all loving it. And that's what makes Robbie a star.

On the way out of the show, nearly every conversation I overheard was about how happy folks are that our Rob, having been through all he has, is doing so well personally and is now back on top professionally. I heard the word "proud" a lot, and even more often, "he really deserves it." That's something I love about the British. Sure, it may be a biased sample at the concert, but I couldn't imagine Americans being so supportive if one of their icons had been through rehab twice and nearly fallen into musical oblivion... no matter how much they claimed to be a fan.

Tonight was a concert like no other. I'd love to see Robbie again, but given his lack of popularity stateside, this may have been my only chance. Luckily I ordered the live recording of tonight's show, and since it was also televised, I'm guessing there will be a DVD at some point, so at least I'll have ways to relive this one night in the future.

Until then, I need to find a way to get some sleep. When's it gonna stop, DJ, cause you're keeping me up all night...
 

Brussels

A few years ago, a friend told me not to bother visiting Brussels, because he thought it was totally boring. More recently, my aunt (the only aunt I can relate to) went on at length about how beautiful she found it here, and how it has quickly become her favourite city in Europe. So when I discovered that all the trains from Luxembourg to London went through either Paris or Brussels, I decided to stop here for a night and make up my own mind.

I tend to side with the friend who found it boring.

Maybe it's the persistent drizzly rain today, or that I have no idea where to go or what to do here, but in a couple hours of wandering the city, I found nothing much to become enthusiastic about. Sure, there are some lovely buildings and such, but if you've seen one European city's Old Town, you've pretty much seen them all. And I've seen plenty.

One thing I can say for Brussels: the place is lousy with beer. Good beer, too. Strong beer. The seriousness with which Belgians brew their beer has not been overstated.

In fact, the Leffe blonde I'm drinking now has such a high alcohol content that I may not be able to have more than one or two... that is, not without falling down drunk or eating more than the simple bacon sandwich I ordered for dinner. Luckily I'm consuming it in my hotel (which is crawling with obnoxious pharmaceutical conference folks which I'm about to run screaming from anyway), so I don't have far to stumble into bed.

I have an afternoon train tomorrow, so I may give fair Bruxelles another chance in the morning. If the weather clears up, I may even change my opinion.

Until then... it's me and my beer... and my free hotel wifi.