Stay Tuned
Category Archives: Escapades
Fozzy Fest Forest Fun
During the thick heat of afternoon slick rolling kick-drum beats woven among energetic hi-hats, jet propelled synth leads and gushing bass phrasing that pumps like oxygen through the bloodstream wafts between stately mountains in this Kananaskis river valley…
Lush hillsides sway side to side along with the music as banks of cumulus clouds roar across the sky at varying altitudes. The dozen kids give or take on the top of the white bus carry on a banter with no particular direction, sunning themselves as the set progresses into the next track.
Many of the campers have no way to tell time since our cellphones have died by now and we’re miles away from the nearest outlet. But that’s just fine by us. Since the music is continuous, with thematic elements rising and falling as seamlessly and unexpectedly as the drastic changes in the thermometer courtesy of the passing cloud patchwork, it’s easy to get lost in the energetic tranquility of Fozzy Fest.
Last Hurrah: Sunshine’s Slush Cup 2012
You may remember the lovely images brought to you from Castle Mountain’s end-of-year “Slush Cup” festivities via Frequency Horizon (if not check ‘em out here). But turns out that was but a mere warm-up for the big show up at Sunshine Village in Banff, where their own event maintains a world-class aura and entertains hundreds more frozen liquid enthusiasts. Many didn’t even go up the lifts at all but just stayed in the chalets and beer gardens to enjoy the AC/DC cover band, energetic electro and short supplies of food.
Boarders shredded in everything from t-shirts and daisy dukes to vintage onepieces to bikini tops, creating an almost carnival-like atmosphere.
It was crazy to go up with a friend but then run into at least 10 other kids I know from the city. I guess that’s kinda the idea. Also sweet: my apparently cracked rib had finally healed.
Because you have to ride a gondola just to get to the base of the mountain there is a really great dynamic to the “village.” People from all over the world hang out and hit various runs in a closed environment.
It’s not so much that there isn’t enough snow for the hill to stay open for a lot longer, but it has more to do with the the fact that the visas of the liftie contingent of Aussie and Euro workers tend to expire, from what I understand.
The weekend warriors and lift lifers were all here for one last kick at the can with the friends we’d made over the course of the season.
Sound All Around
Since Fast Forward editor Drew Anderson was kind enough to drop on over to the pulsating waveform land of the Frequency Horizon the other day, I thought the least I could do was feature up a quick post on his own amazing soundwave journey, which ended up being the cover, after all.
In the multimedia soundventure we get to come along for the ride as the Audities Foundation showcases their efforts to preserve such historial cornerstones as the 1964 Lowrey DSO-1 Heritage, 1966 Lowrey Berkshire, Musser vibraphone, and 1939 Hammond Novachord.
Make sure to rewind to last week’s edition by clicking >>>HERE<<<
Katharsis Over Airwaves
Amazing ambient formed the evening backdrop to a snowy blur…
The program, Katharsis, actually identifies itself as “a weekly journey to the polar regions of contemporary music.”
Spot on son. Spot on.
Hiker Memories
I always wonder what happened to the fascinating kids I’ve passed in my travels, as we each head off on our respective adventures. For example, you may remember the tale of the Greyhound Internationals.
Passed this group last year while hitting up a rather glitzy party pumping with youthful energy, a bit of a counterpoint to the hitchhikers bedding down in T-dot for the night after their first day of travel before heading east. Yes that is a cute kitty.
On the one side, a streetside billboard for the hypest boutique condo community, promoted with an image of the CN Tower. On the other, the actual CN Tower glowed in the background. Bumping into a crew of buddies heading off into the unknown is sort of soothing in its own way. You’re reminded that each stage of the journey is struggle. Yet every level carries its own sense of triumph.
And in the case of this crew passing through Calgary, despite wanting to conceal their identity, they were quite excited about posing for a still. After all, they were on a journey with friends as close as family. Who wouldn’t want to pose incognito?
BASSBUS to Red Deer Excursion (told via phone cam)
A night out of order. A chance to get away. A chance for unexpected meetups with friends from a distance.
We piled into the old painted up schoolbus with a furnished interior such that a DJ was located at the front playing under a wooden ceiling to partiers sitting on padded benches lining the sides. This is what’s known as the Bass Bus (previously featured on Frequency Horizon quick-hit style…).
Just to give you a sense of the underground mystique this particular Party bus has cultivated over the years, you’ll often hear their events voluntarily promoed by college radio disc jockeys and seen their stickers popping up in bathroom stalls here and there. In fact, I had seen one at the Safeway checkout only hours earlier…
Frozen waterfall and the crystal (bottomless) lake
The whole world seems different when you’re perched on top of a mountain. For those who live in Canmore this is no big revelation.
That’s likely why so many of the locals who move away for school or work end up returning regularly. The sunlight has giant snow covered geology on which to reflect. Townfolk are all fit because they’re an active bunch, compulsively heading on climbing expeditions, skiing excursions and birdwatching forays. Even the songs that permeate the radio airwaves are more organic and affected.
Mountain Warehouse Show
One of the hallmarks of life in the foothills is the proximity of a multitude of mountain getaways. Alberta is a province largely marked by a can-do work ethic and hearty dose of pro-business mindset.
But those who work hard also play hard.
From Oil Workers and their intensive shift-work schedules to white collar desk slaves grinding out the numbers, the ideal of a Rocky paradise is a common reverie. Hot springs, glacier treks, “Buffalo Jump” exhibits, inspired musicanship and lavish resorts are just a few of the particulars. Luckily it’s a dream that’s only a phonecall away from materializing.
Coloured Water Fountain
After a long week of work, and a trip down 17th Ave. it’s good to just kick back by the riverside with a beer, textured tunes and some others who’ve just touched down in Cowtown.
And after discussing musical memories and dancing through the streets with we hit a fountain. Because you can’t let the last days of summer go to waste.
Maybe I’ll run into Smash and Sarah again. But they left me a Lacoste bag, which was cool. Hope they’re enjoying their new city.
The walls that speak
We only meant to stop in to say a quick hello. We still had a long ways to go through the mountains, after all.
But we ended up participating in the epic Hand Wall that made for magnificent wallpaper.
River Rafting
Under the bridge that connects the North and South portions of the city passes a stream of leisure rafters, floating along with the swerving Bow River.
You can almost hear the sound of collective exhaling, as all cares in the world drift away.
It’s a beautiful weekend.