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JohNNy SiZZle



Last Updated: 11/13/2009

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Status: Single
City: Winnipeg
State: Manitoba
Country: CA
Signup Date: 2/9/2007

Who Gives Kudos:

Ghostbabies (1)
Thursday, August 21, 2008 

Current mood:  angry
Category: Music

- I've been trying to book a live show in Winnieg anywhere for the last 1 1/2 years. The last time I played live in Winnipeg I got extremely good audience support and response.

- I've contacted everyone in the WInnipeg music scene that puts on shows whether that night clubs, all-ages, benefits or even house basement party/shows. No one responds back to me. In my E-mails I'm being as nice as I can humanly be. Why is that?!>!?!

- In this 1 1/2 year spand that I've been unsuccessfully trying to book a local show when I go out to see live local band shows I get approached by a large number of people who are well aware of my songwriting and regularly ask when they can see me play a live show in Winnipeg. I appreciate it very much but, not at the people enquiring, it makes me feel shitty and intensely angry that I can not give them a concrete postive answer to when this good numbeer of people can see me play live again in Winnipeg.

- I get offers to play live in Montreal, various places across Ontario, a number of different places in the northern parts of the United States and my favourite Vancouver/Victoria. But why not in Winnipeg

- I practice my song daily vigoriously. When I have a gig I do it the best I can.

- I've done alot in a behind the scenes way for the Winnipeg music scene from putting a public cable access TV show to doing A&R work for a major record label with many contacts to large indie record labels in all parts of the United States. Come on, all I'm asking for is one little show. I'm furiously mad!!! 

- I'm seriously considering moving back to Vancouver, BC in November/December where I'll have my old job back being the busser/assistant bouncer at the legendary Cobalt Hardcore bar and I'm actually respected as an songwriting artist. It be nice to play one last show in Winnipeg before I live this dumbh ass shit hole of a town. FUCK YOU FUCK FUYOU FEFASO I'm beginnign to get rather bitter and beginning to hacve hatred for you allllllll!!!!!!!!! Trust me I'm not fooling around. I'm very pissed off!!!

- I find it silly that all I want to do is play ONE LITTLE SHOW. It's not about makiong money or making some name for myself. I want to play my own live original music for the sake of playing live music. Can I not spell it out for you any more obvisious!!!!!

- I'm beginning to get really realy mad and psychotic. I know what I can do and feel very little about. It's like I can shut off my emotions. In other cities especuially Vancouover I'm known as a charming vibrant individual but it seems apparent to me that Winnipeg wants to know the dark hearted side of me. Believe me I'll bring you no joy. Too bad.   

- If you're too much of a total ass clown piece of shit dumb fuck. I'm very angry about this situation.I feel that I've been shit on. 

       

   

 

  

11:13 PM
 
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Ghostbabies

 
I feel sad. I want to play a show with you. I'm in a new band now and we're getting there. We want to play a show with you. We're just gonna do it all ourselves, rent a hall & p.a. and shit on everyone else. D.I.Y. Lets build a stage somewhere!!! peace Charles p.s.
hang in there
 
Posted by Ghostbabies on Friday, August 22, 2008 - 7:34 PM
[Reply to this] 
JohNNy SiZZle

 
Well now don't be sad!!! I just got confirmed to play a gig at the Royal Albert on FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 5TH. I'll be opening for fellow acoustic punker Joey Only. I('m going to be really psyched for this one. Still I got to dump on all the rest. A year and half. Come on! I still feel like moving back to Vancouver even though. I think I'll be happier there.

 
Posted by JohNNy SiZZle on Saturday, August 23, 2008 - 3:20 AM
[Reply to this] 
JohNNy SiZZle

 
I'm feeling better now I got what I want now. Woot! Woot! Woooooh! However I'm going to keep this blog up because I think it's funny how much a total bitchy asshole I can be. And maybe other bands and show promoters won't read the whole blog and I'll pick up more gigs as well.
Ha1 wouldn't that be hilirious!
 
Posted by JohNNy SiZZle on Saturday, August 23, 2008 - 3:33 AM
[Reply to this] 
JohNNy SiZZle

 
Guess what the hilirious has happened. Now I have three different people coming to me asking myself to play punk/alt rock shows somewhere in my home town. They're cool people too. These shows aren't happening in bar/clubs but at a basement party, an abandon building and a holy church respectively. Probably the best I'm gonna get. It's likely will be a long day till I play a bar/club ever again in my town because the people who promote shows here come off to me to as music snobs (except for Sam at the Albert and Lisa at the Zoo) and I guess I'm not a representative of good music in their minds. I can feel their apprehension when I'm around them that they don't want me to say anything to them. Foolish to be scared of me. I laugh like a giant. Too bad for them. Well I better get practicing for the new shows coming up.

 
Posted by JohNNy SiZZle on Monday, November 03, 2008 - 3:18 AM
[Reply to this] 
Winnipeg Punks

 
The problem is the last few years the local scene is lacking new promoters and dominated by only a few. Most of the promoters I know are cool except they either have the same bands play over and over or only book bands that they think are profitable (it's a business to some of them instead of being about the music). A few years back there were tons of promoters, I miss those days because more promoters = a stronger and diverse music scene. A lack of venues doesn't help either. Basically if you want to play shows in Winnipeg you need to book your own shows which a lot of bands/musicians are doing these days, just get 3 or 4 other bands together to chip in and put on a show. I've seen you being more or less blacklisted by a few venues/promoters since you moved back which sucks because I know a lot of people that dig your music. Have you ever contacted Sidelined Productions/Nathan? He puts on tons of shows and is a cool guy.

 
Posted by Winnipeg Punks on Friday, November 07, 2008 - 6:34 PM
[Reply to this] 
JohNNy SiZZle

 
some points I'd like to make:

- It's refreshing to know that the punk scene or local original musician scene in Winnipeg don't hate me. I seriously thought that. Recently I went to see my friends in the band SNFU play a local show and I found myself rather recieved well by everybody at the gig. What a relief.


- If I'm blacklisted from some local venues then I say WHAT PUSSIES!!! Why not save my time and just tell that to me and I'll figure a way to get around that.


- It sometimes enters my mind that I'm blacklisted because I'm out about being a bi-sexual. Winnipeg's always been, from what I can remember from my vantage point, really uptight about sexuality. If my sexuality is the case for being blacklisted I want none of your fuckin' music scene. Forget about me doing A&R work for anyone in Winnipeg. I'll look to work for other bands/singers from elsewhere in Canada. Lately that's what I have been doing anyway.


- I've contacted lots of bands in this city and I'd gladly chip in on rentals but no one wrote back to me. As for Nathan I've talked to him a number of times and nothing happened. When I go to the King's Head I get recgonized often by the pub's patrons but still no playing there for me. Nathan's one the people I mentioned above that I get the "spooky" vibe from. So in my mind there's really no reason to contact him again. I got to admit Nathan's done alot for the local music scene.


- As of right now I'm getting quality repairs on my acoustic guitar, writing new songs that are politically motivated, thinking about some touring of Eastern Canada and putting out possibly a number of new CD-R releases in the next couple of years. I will not be stopped.

 
Posted by JohNNy SiZZle on Friday, December 19, 2008 - 6:17 AM
[Reply to this] 
JohNNy SiZZle

 
I just want to come back here to say I'm completely wrong about Nathan. I saw him the other weekend at the Royal Albert Arms and when we met he said Hi to me and wished me well when he left the live music club. It felt geniune to me. I didn't get the feelings he didn't like me or that I weirded him out.


I also think I'm wrong about the whole Winnipeg music scene hating me. No one does. It seems to me that a high majority of people who know me (or of me assumely) that actively go to local shows whether music fans or musicians think I'm quite the wild but lovable character. So people in my town think my music sucks. I probably wouldn't be playing a Winnipeg live bar/nightclub show until forever.


So What? Well I'll admit it hurts my feelings being it home and a local music scene that I've really tried hard for in the past but there's other places for me to play live in other cities. It looks to me that's the way it's going to be. I'm going to work hard, save my money and go touring these town and cities once maybe twice a year. I've experienced touring alot before and I know I'll enjoy myself with it. Go out to these spots and get it done! That's what I'm going to do.


YOU want to see me play live in Winnipeg then you are going to have to keep a dedicated eye on me to find out when I'll play the next rare local show like the one I got coming up next Friday February 13th.


To recap alitlle:
YES I feel put off by the cold shoulder from the Winnipeg music scene that I self-percieve I got when I was asking for something so little when I came back to town 4 years ago. 4 years later it's still the same if not worse. I got to deal with the reality of it.

YES I feel bitter because how I'd try to help out the local music scene out and all I wanted to do was play one little gig and not making it seem like such a big deal.
Why did it take 1 1/2 years?
YES I still believe I can write and put together good unique songs that you won't hear from anyone else, anywhere else.

YES I still believe, even as an acoustic soloist, that I can be an intrigueingly intense live performance.

My home town thinks different. That I suck at it. I used to have such strong feelings for you but I think it's come the time to forget about you. It's best I move on with whatelse I got. This has caused me for a number of years a great deal of mental stress and painfully hot angerish. At times I even felt rage. I'll never be the same but It's getting obvisious that I need to realize I have options I'm happy with to move next to. So I must now move on........

I will.

 
Posted by JohNNy SiZZle on Thursday, February 05, 2009 - 8:27 AM
[Reply to this] 
JohNNy SiZZle

 
So I finally get a gig in front of Winnipeg's Punk (or is that drunk) music scene on May 8th and I had the shittiest time. The people at the show treated me with disrespect and I felt humilated. I was angry enough to assault. One more interrupt and I'm jumping on you and feeding it to you. Would go back? NO! I wouldn't either. I see the Winnipeg music scene doing just fine without me. I don't think I'll ever play another Punk show in Winnipeg ever again.
 
It makes me wonder if Punk, at least around here, has become nothing but a lazy group of drunky drunks. I'm not impressed. Sure, when I was younger there was just, if not more, drugs and drinking in the Punk scene but I can honestly say Punk meant more than being drunk and you could definitely see that no matter how drunk/drugged you got when seeing a show. So today's Punk generation go have another beer and keep doing awhole lot of nothing. 

Now all I have to do now is decide, in my behind the scenes A&R role, whether I will continue with helping or start with hurting. At the moment I'm choosing to show ignorance. 

If you are reading this and you are in Winnipeg and you'd like to see me play live you have 3 ways about.
1) See if in the future I play again at the Cresent Fort Rouge Church (no drunkies there)
2) Set the show up yourself at your home, apartment, I don't care where.
3) See me play in another city, just choose where and get moving then.  

Why should I play another Punk show in Winnipeg??!?!?1 I was HUMILATED and DISRESPECTED! It's just a show! it's not worth it! More over that last little bit of trust I had with the Winnipeg Live Music Community is now gone. You have lost my friendship.                 

 
Posted by JohNNy SiZZle on Saturday, June 20, 2009 - 7:29 AM
[Reply to this] 
EGOpicks Custom Guitar Picks

 
As the proud 'mom' of a young Winnipeg band called Happy Mayhem, I can relate to what you're all talking about here...

There are many young bands in the city, but there are no opportunities for them to play anywhere!  Not only that ... but we have found that even when they DO spend $400 + to put on their own shows with other bands, it's a freakin' nightmare to try to get people to go!  Perhaps it's just the area of town that we live in, which seems to be much more 'sports' oriented.  Since when do people not like live music?  These kids work so hard to create their music, and there just seems to be noone to listen to it.  It's very frustrating for sure.

I realize that my opinion of Happy Mayhem's music is somewhat biased ... but for two 16 year olds, and a 14 year old, I believe that this band (and so many other young bands in Winnipeg) have some serious skills, and raw talent, that should be supported and encouraged with decent opportunities to play live. 

Is it just this city?  Are the teenagers of today really not interested?  I just don't get it!

If you have a moment sometime to have a listen to them, and shoot me some honest feedback ... I would really appreciate it.  You can find them at www.myspace.com/happymayhem

BTW ... I've been listening to your music while I've been writing this, and I absolutely LOVE IT ... really!  I"m 39 years old, and grew up with bands such as The Forgotten Rebels, Chocolate Bunnies..., Violent Femmes etc. ... and am now enjoying the 'new-wave' punk bands of this generation (Going to Blink 182 - and can't wait!). 

I don't normally share this 'other' myspace page with too many people ... but the boys of Happy Mayhem have another, 'less politically correct' MySpace page of some other stuff that they fool around with under the name of 'Offbeat Douchebags'  (What can I say ... they're teenage boys)!  Just from reading your blogs, I feel that you might have just the sense of humor to appreciate what they do when they're not in a 'serious' and 'focused' creative mood.

www.myspace.com/offbeatdouchebags

Warning ... some of their material is not appropriate for teenaged boys to be recording ... but the way I see it ... at least they're not out drinking and doing drugs in some back alley right?

Anyways, thanks for letting me vent here!  This blog just got me going a bit.  I feel your frustrations.

Take good care,

Lisa Lane
www.egopicks.com
 
Posted by EGOpicks Custom Guitar Picks on Thursday, July 09, 2009 - 2:08 AM
[Reply to this] 
Diverse

 
YO JUST DROPPIN DA 2 CENTS!! WINNIPEG IS A TUFF CITY FOR ANY LOCAL SHOWS NO MATTER THE GENRE OF MUSIC!! IM A STRUGGLIN EMCEE..TRYNA GET MY MUSIC OUT THERE..WHETHER ITS A PACKED HOUSE OR JUST A FEW PEEPS..I TRY TO ROCK DA SHOW AS BEST I CAN!! ANYWHO.. NO NEED TO HATE ON THE WPG SCENE.. YA KINDA JUST DEAL WITH IT .. ALL I CAN SUGGEST IS GOING  TO EVERY BAR TO OFFER YOUR MUSIC BECAUSE THERE PLENTY OF CLUBS THAT OFFER OPEN MIC INCLUDING THE WINDSOR HOTEL! WELL JUST LETTIN YA KNOW! PCE

 
Posted by Diverse on Monday, August 31, 2009 - 11:21 PM
[Reply to this] 
JohNNy SiZZle

 
JohNNy SiZZle

 
I'm going to delete this blog.
 
I realize that I'm insane, no ones out to get me or not let me, the local music community does not hate me. I got cheered pretty good at a music community event tonight at the Lo-Pub in downtown Winnipeg. Happy claps likes I'm some upstanding citizen.

There's no war. There's no neverever friends shit here. I'm insane. I feel really bad about my past thoughts. How I can so wishful for hurting. 

I got to reach out more, meet and greet, just be a good time, if people think I can play live they'll ask me eventually. I very likely will be getting a night time weekends job so I'm thinking of checking out the bands that play the odd Monday to Thursday nights. I think alot of show makers just don't know where to put me. I'm acoustic but I'm not contempary folk and Punk but I'm not a band. If anything I should put things in perspective.
 
I've had one hell of a ride. I get to play I'm going to damn good.

 
Posted by JohNNy SiZZle on Saturday, November 07, 2009 - 11:24 AM
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