I have a lot of news and actually quite a bit of time to write about it so here it goes.

First off all, I think I should throw it back to the Streetlight/Reel Big Fish show. Amazing. Simply amazing. The night kicked off with Westbound Train, a really solid rocksteady/reggae band that I was actually quite impressed with. They put down one great set that got the crowd pumped. Then came the low point of the night. A little band called Suburban Legends. If you don't know who they are, let me catch you up on them. Their a ska band who actually back in the day used to be not bad until they totally sold out and started touring under the Disney Channel and they got really wussy. Recently, they released a new album that is somewhat lacking in the ska department and sounds more like KC and Sunshine Band.

Their set included "witty" banter and choreographed dance moves by the horns. All in all they sucked and it showed. The audience hated them. By the end of their set, people were spitting on stage and giving them the finger. Honestly, they deserved it. Later that night, they had to resort to giving away stickers because no one was buying anything from them. Most of these stickers found the floor.

Finally, the band I came to see took the stage and immediately you could tell a difference between them and Suburban Legends. For all of you uneducated folk, Streetlight Manifesto is by far my favorite band. You can tell that each member of the band is an amazing musician and they are just down to earth guys. No flashy dance moves or screamy lyrics. Just amazingly fast, precise horn licks that will send you reeling.

They started the set off with A Moment of Violence and then quickly transitioned to Everything Goes Numb. Then they played some songs off of their new album which sounds really solid. They then played That'll Be The Day and then played a roaring version of the Intro to Point/Counterpoint which led into Keasbey Nights and then transitioned into the Outro of Point/Counterpoint. They then played one more song off of their new album and then finished with an amazing version of Here's To Life.

I was skankin' my butt off and got some pretty weird looks for some of the people in the pit as well as some of the members of the band. All in all, it was amazing. Finally, Reel Big Fish took the stage. They put on an amazing show including All I Want is More, Ban The Tube Top, Drinkin', You're Guts (I Hate 'Em) and a cover of Metallica's Enter Sandman. It was a great night with a lot of fun to be had.

This past week was the week of the Winston Churchill play which I am proud to say I was a part of. We did 8 shows in the course of 4 days and it was the most grueling thing I think I have ever done. Doing a show is so draining but doing 2 a day for 4 days straight is insanity. For the last four days I have been on a constant diet of Halls, Ricola, Fisherman's Friend and Cepocal. Not to mention, I drank about 3 L of water an act and visited the facilities there are the Sterndale 4 times an act.

Even after all of that I wouldn't have given this opportunity up for anything. This year, we did Honk! A 2 act musical all about the ugly duckling and I got to play Drake, the somewhat lazy slob of a father that just likes to have a good time. I loved my character. I got to make fun of the Ugly all play which was played by Kyle Epp. (Perfect for the role)

Everyone I talked to loved the play a lot. Some even said that it was the best High School Production that had ever seen. I don't know about that, but I know that it has been the funnest High School Production I have ever done and I can't wait to watch the DVD they recorded of it. It school be so much fun. I am looking forward to One Acts and I hope that we win. You know, it's funny to think that this might be the end of something that I love so much. I know that I probably won't pursuit after school but a part of me wishes I could.

I am planning on auditioning for the Lethbridge Musical Theatre over the summer and perhaps that will be my last show but I hope it isn't. I enjoy doing drama so much. To act in a way that you normally wouldn't. To come out and perform in front of that audience is such a rush. To know that they enjoyed it and that you enjoyed it and that everyone for that moment was happy and a better person is such a joy. To see the play all come together, set, lights, sound, lines, characters is a beautiful thing.

Well that is all for me. It was good to get you all caught up on what I've been doing and it was good to sit down and blog. Truth be told, I was feeling a little sad that I was done with Fall Productions but having this opportunity to think about all the good times I have had and the joy it brings me, not to mention listening to Cuban Music, I have successfully cheered myself up.

Garnsie