http://folkpunk.com/news.html T.C. Folkpunk: Rants, etc. Jannis' PHPRss class - http://www.jannis.to/ Mon, 06 Feb 2012 01:12:28 -0800 http://folkpunk.com/news.html#70 http://folkpunk.com/news.html#70 Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0800 Folkpunk! - T.C. Folkpunk - Rants, etc. http://folkpunk.com/news.html#69 http://folkpunk.com/news.html#69 Sun, 01 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0800 Folkpunk! - T.C. Folkpunk - Rants, etc. http://folkpunk.com/news.html#66 The festive season is upon us, and to make the shopping a little easier for those wonderful people who buy gifts of the "independent music" variety, I've dropped the price of all sorts of Folkpunk goodies at CD Baby for the next few weeks.
CDs are now a mere $7.00 each (plus shipping), full album downloads are a mere $4.00, and individual song downloads are now 89 cents, which is a bit less expensive than at iTunes. Since CD Baby are located in Portland Oregon, prices are in US currency.

Here are the necessary urls (each album has its own page):

T.C. Folkpunk:
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/tcfolkpunk
 
"...every cloud has a sulphur lining...":
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/tcameron
 
That Satisfying Crunch! (my instrumental power pop project):
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/tscrunch
 
And as they say on TV commercials, "But wait, THERE'S MORE!" I also have a limited number of download cards for the "T.C. Folkpunk" album, which one could stick inside a Christmas card to send to a friend if one were so inclined. And they're only $2.00 each for anybody on this here email list, so if you're interested, let me know and we'll figure out how to get some cards to you. 

As for gigs, I don't have anything booked until next spring, when I'll be returning to the UK (or at least that's the plan). Sometime around my birthday in March I'll probably have a "Send This Lad To Liverpool" fundraiser/birthday bash or something, so I'll keep you posted on that.  

So have yourselves great holidaze, and a safe winter, and we'll see ya soon!]]> http://folkpunk.com/news.html#66 Thu, 24 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0800 Folkpunk! - T.C. Folkpunk - Rants, etc. http://folkpunk.com/news.html#68 http://folkpunk.com/news.html#68 Wed, 07 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0700 Folkpunk! - T.C. Folkpunk - Rants, etc. http://folkpunk.com/news.html#67 http://www.radionova-costablanca.com/]]> http://folkpunk.com/news.html#67 Sat, 20 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0700 Folkpunk! - T.C. Folkpunk - Rants, etc. http://folkpunk.com/news.html#65
Suckers.

Anyway, the gig:

THURSDAY JULY 28th,

MITZI'S SISTER, 1554 Queen St. W.

The show starts at 10pm, and for everybody who told me over the years how much they'd like to see me do some songs with a band, here's your big chance. I'll be sharing the bill with Normal For Once, and we've actually (gasp) rehearsed some special surprises. And then, as if that weren't enough, rumour has it that the Legendary Dirtbikers will join in the festivities too.]]> http://folkpunk.com/news.html#65 Thu, 21 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0700 Folkpunk! - T.C. Folkpunk - Rants, etc. http://folkpunk.com/news.html#64
Unlike the average Canadian "Johnny Lunchbucket", I actually pay attention to politics and its players between election campaigns. All of the decisions made between elections are the ones that will actually have an impact on my life, so it would seem obvious that keeping abreast of what's happening on Parliament Hill is a good idea. Regrettably, too many of our fellow countrymen are prone to the "we-elected-you-now-go-do-whatever-it-is-you-do-and-don't-bug-us-for-at-least-another-two-years-because-I-want-to-watch-the-Don-Cherry" attitude that the majority seem to think is an acceptable frame of mind. And because so many of us have been in that very frame of mind for the past half decade, we're now in a bigger mess than most of us realize.

First off, we have the curious promise from the Tories that they'll build more prisons, even though crime rates have statistically been in decline. So why would they blow billions on such an undertaking? Is is because they're planning to make more things illegal? And will more of those illegal things be punishable with jail sentences? How about the next time you try to exercise your right to free speech by protesting the G20 circus when it comes to town? What will that get you? Five years? Ten, maybe?

Harper is also proposing to end funding to political parties based on the number of votes a party receives in an election. Currently, a political party gets a "per vote subsidy" of $1.75 for each vote they receive. The Green Party for example managed to put nearly $2 million into their coffers as a result of their strong showing in the 2008 election, money that's no doubt proved vital for them to remain in the game. But those subsidies mean that the other parties (the dreaded Not Conservative Parties) are able to more effectively launch their campaigns when elections roll around, which might lead to those other Not Conservative Parties getting lots of votes and thereby endanger the chances of the Harper Government being in power forever. Can't have that now, can we?

I also can't understand how Stephen Harper could call this election "unnecessary". It's a minority government, and minority governments are supposed to call elections after roughly two years in office. It's been two years and six months, Stephen. Sorry, you'll have to pretend you like democracy for a bit longer.

Tommy Banks is a senator from Alberta who originally had ties to the Progressive Conservatives (not to be confused with the Regressive ones we have now), and entered his career as a senator on the recommendation of Prime Minister Chretien in 2000. He recently wrote an amazing piece that neatly sums up most of the things that I could rail on about, but he drives it home with such honesty and panache that I'll simply give you a link to the original article:

http://alberta.liberal.ca/fr/the-choice-your-choice/

Yes, it's more than a dozen paragraphs in length, but I guarantee you that those paragraphs will be among the most important paragraphs you'll read this year. Please, please, PLEASE give it a read.

I don't think we'll like what we're left with if we have to undergo another two or (even worse) four years of Uneven Stephen and his merry band of liars.

Just sayin']]> http://folkpunk.com/news.html#64 Thu, 21 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0700 Folkpunk! - T.C. Folkpunk - Rants, etc. http://folkpunk.com/news.html#63
http://www.thetargets.co.uk/

They were absolutely incredible on every level. Near the end of their set they covered The Clash song "White Riot", and they topped The Clash. I never thought I'd ever say that about any band, but it happened. I've been catching live music for years around Toronto, and nothing has ever come close to what I witnessed last night. There must be something in the water of the Mersey. 

Wow.]]> http://folkpunk.com/news.html#63 Sun, 27 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0700 Folkpunk! - T.C. Folkpunk - Rants, etc. http://folkpunk.com/news.html#62
So, we've established that the new T.C. Folkpunk album is available through CD Baby here:
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/tcfolkpunk

And it's also available on iTunes (although I don't know what the url would be, so you'll have to search). But did you know you can walk into honest to goodness retail outlets right here in Hogtown and purchase a copy which you can hold in your hands and caress and do other stuff that I don't want to know about? It's true.

First there's Beach City Music which is located at 2146 Queen Street East in an area which is either called The Beaches or The Beach, but really should be called The Kennel. Now I'll warn you, when you walk into Beach City Music, you'll see what looks like a huge selection of other CDs and LPs for sale, but THIS IS JUST A RUSE. Most of those jewel cases and LP sleeves are empty, and just there for decoration. The staff will deny it of course, but when you ask if you can open up every CD and LP in the store to verify their claim, they'll refuse your request. AS IF THEY'RE HIDING SOMETHING. Anyway, here's the store's website:
http://www.beachcitymusic.ca/

And if you like shopping for music in a coffee shop (which many seem to these days), you can also pick up a copy at Grinder, which is located at 126 Main Street, just south of Gerrard. And the Americano is damn fine too!

And now, a rant:

So Don Cherry has an issue with "pinkos" huh? And I guess that being a right wing type, he would lump any sort of cultural organization that's funded with taxpayers' money under the category of "socialist". Organizations like, oh I dunno, the CBC for example. So I guess he'll be quitting his cushy job at CBC, right?. You know, the publicly funded broadcaster that the right wing would like to see privatized? The same publicly funded broadcaster that pays him more than any private broadcaster has offered him for his one-night-a-week, eight-months-a-year gig up to this point. He's a self proclaimed "straight shooter" (hasn't pointed the gun at himself yet though), so it would be hypocritical of him to stay on at the CBC, right?

I think it's time to put up or shut up, Don.

Preferably the latter.]]> http://folkpunk.com/news.html#62 Wed, 08 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0800 Folkpunk! - T.C. Folkpunk - Rants, etc. http://folkpunk.com/news.html#61
Well, it's now December 1st, and you know what that means? That's right, only twenty-five more days of Christmas music, and then we're safe until next year at this time. It also means that you should be purchasing little goodies to give to the independent music lovers on your Xmas list. You don't want to get anything too ostentatious though. Nothing says "I'm desperate for you to be my friend for the next 364 days" like a gift whose middle name is Flamboyant.

No, what you want is something that's small enough that it'll fit into a cardboard sleeve. Something that can be enjoyed and shared with friends repeatedly. Something like one of these:

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/tcfolkpunk

It's either that, or one of these:

http://www.canadapost.ca/shopper/items/548197/Hung-for-the-Holidays-by-99923963820

Really, who would you trust to supply you with the kind of music that makes the perfect gift, CD Baby (purveyors of the finest independent music on the whole freaking planet) or Canada Post (purveyors of, wait a minute, Canada Post sells music now ?!? Oh man, that can't be good...).

There have been rumours swirling around that other music is available for sale this festive season, but the research team here at Folkpunk HQ assures me that those rumours are unfounded. So the future of music is in your hands people, choose wisely.

By the way, William Hung underwent a massive makeover and is now Susan Boyle. Part of the makeover went well. The other part, not so much.

Merrily Yours,
Santa Folkpunk]]> http://folkpunk.com/news.html#61 Tue, 30 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0800 Folkpunk! - T.C. Folkpunk - Rants, etc.