new website and new film shots

Hi everyone! Just a quick post here today to let you know that you can take a peek at the new Camp + Quarry website which I'll be launching officially in mid-September. This is the place to check up on my travels and see some of the new pieces that I've been working on lately. Let me know if you find anything weird going on over there! It's all still pretty new!

The picture above was taken in Stanley Park on my Fed 5 rangefinder camera a couple of weeks ago. To see more just head over to the new Camp + Quarry journal. Many new things on the horizon, some of which you can read about on the new site, which is still technically a work-in-progress.

Here's a song for you today, too. Kind of a nice summer wind down thing from the new XX album:

fiestodon

Here's something amazing for you guys. Feist vs. Mastodon. A nice reminder of all the times I saw Feist perform in punk bands when I was a teenager going to all ages shows. This video is interactive, too, so be sure to give it a watch! Happy long weekend!

get excited

One of the best parts of our Montreal/Vermont trip was sharing so much good/new music with our friends. Yes, we enjoyed our share of YouTube parties and listened to some really baaaaaad (but funny) stuff and at some point I think we all made a note about something to look for and high on my list was this album by The Knife. Wanna get excited about a concert that took place half a decade ago? Watch this video. This is my new favourite thing ever. 

music: juana molina

I recently discovered the Argentinian songwriter/musician Juana Molina when reading, you guessed it, Apartamento. I love the dreaminess of her music and voice. In the interview I read with her she talked a lot about how much she values silence, that she prefers bars and restaurants that don't play music. That really resonated with me. I kind of dislike going out to meet with friends and having to yell over music all night, especially if the music isn't great. In contrast, one of my favourite places that I'd like to go back to is a bar in Capital Hill in Seattle that doesn't play music at all. At first it's a little strange, but you get used to it quickly and it makes the place have a totally different vibe. Not that I think every place should be music free, I'd just like for there to be one quiet place in Vancouver, for those nights when you'd like to just talk and hear each other. And it would be great if some other places could play some Juana Molina. Though really, her music makes me want to go to the beach.

summer playlist: I wish I had a beach house

Tracks:
Across 110th Street • Bobby WomackGod Only Knows • The Beach BoysWhat Would I Want? Sky • Animal CollectiveSummer Day • Coconut RecordsOh No • Andrew BirdWedding Bell • Beach HouseBlue Cassette • Friendly FiresWitness • Richard BucknerLittle Man • Little Dragon
A little mix for you guys on a summer afternoon. Included is a new Richard Buckner track. I've been loving the sound of his new album...it reminds me of Richard Buckner from long ago, like when I lived on the top floor of a 1970s apartment building in Calgary and only listened to The Hill for about a year. Jeff and I saw him live in Seattle a year and a bit ago. He puts on an amazing show and is on tour right now. If you have the chance I can definitely recommend checking him out. And if you go I'm going to be super jealous. Have a great weekend, everyone!
P.S. Here's a more upbeat playlist if you need something a little more rockin' to get your weekend going!

smog

Putting together a post for the lovely Micaela, I realized that I love a lot of Bill Callahan songs. So on this Sunday I offer you the outtakes of the ones I'm not sharing on Micaela's blog. These are so good I had to share here. I think I'm going to have to dedicate this post to Marie Bee, who I know must love Bill Callahan, too.

And maybe one of my favourite summer songs ever:

I hope this post sends you all off in search of more Bill Callahan and smog songs to keep you company this morning.

sunday morning

For you this morning:

Check back tomorrow for an amazing guest post in the A Day in the Life series! 

music for a snowy afternoon

I can't believe that it's 3pm, it's been snowing all day in Vancouver (that almost NEVER happens!), and it's getting dark out! We have the Christmas lights on in our studio and took some time out of the day to chuck snowballs and make a snow...donkey. Why not take a few minutes of your afternoon for this little pick me up:

And remember, the weekend is close!

the boss

via NPR

I wasn't going to post again before heading out of town, but that was before I came across this over at NPR. You know, what better music is there for stressful, paper writing times mixed with a road trip than The Boss? And what better picture can you find to look at this morning? Just a little reminder to have a little faith, there's magic in the night.

Head over to NPR to stream the entire album and read all about the reissue of Springsteen's "The Promise".

micro worlds

A friend of Sadie mentioned this great video by Christopher Smith, saying the new Sadie "cave explorer" necklaces reminded her of it. I checked it out, and what a lovely world this video walks us through!

It seems a little early to start letting the snow fly, but I suppose if you live in certain parts of the Prairies, that's hardly the case. When I lived in Calgary it seemed Halloween was always the first really cold day of the year, or the first day you noticed how cold it had gotten. Costumes are a little less spectacular under parkas. The key was to come up with a costume idea that could incorporate insulation. Think "giant pumpkin," "wolfman," or "ski team." I was never any of those things. I think my favourite Halloween costume was Donna from Twin Peaks. I wanted to be Nadine but couldn't find an eye patch. Oh well. What are you dressing up as this year?

have a great saturday!

I am so excited to head to Ryan and Amanda's wedding this afternoon. I spent yesterday shopping with Jill and hanging out with old friends (pictures to come). So glad that it isn't raining today and that the weekend isn't even half over! Oh yeah, and you can now Follow my blog with bloglovin!

neil & jens & last pair sale at sadie

Have you seen this? There was a great Neil Young interview on Q today on CBC 1, as well. It's worth a listen on a rainy fall Friday in Vancouver, or anywhere for that matter.

And then, of course, this fall song comes to mind. I was lucky enough to see Jens Lekman live last year. If you ever get a chance to go to one of his live shows you really should. It's a magical experience.

And finally, I want to let you all know that I'm having a last pair sale in my Etsy shop. Check out the great designs that are only available for one more week before they're gone forever. Ampersands, little leaves, check it out! $20 a pair for sterling silver or 14k gold filled. Making way for the new...

no holding back the summer

One of the great things about summer is the length of the evening. It stays warm and light for hours after work is finished, leaving the evening open for all kinds of summer fun every day. Laid back beach parties and picnics are the way to go when you don't want to cook indoors and want to soak up some sun and meet up with friends. So, pack up the bocce and potato salad and get out there!

Perhaps you still need the perfect picnic blanket? This one over at makesomething.ca looks pretty good, though I'm sure Martha has some ideas about this, too. If the weather isn't cooperating it might be the perfect day for a sewing project and maybe even a movie, the endlessly weird Picnic at Hanging Rock will do. Some schoolgirls have the most horrific and boring picnic ever, with nice colours and strange landscapes abounding. The painting "Miranda" by Caitlin Shearer (at the top of this post) really captures the feeling of the film.

And, of course, every summer needs a soundtrack. Forget that "tonight's gonna be a good, good night" stuff, how about some Danzig? Now that's an eclectic plan for a summer day.