Today launches episode #58 of the Rock and Roll Report podcast.   This week Mark features "Sweet Misery" and took the time to mention how much he loved the drumming that the elusive but elaborate Phil Maloney contributed.

So yeah, go ahead and listen to the podcast on www.RockandRollReport.com or click here to download it now!

Now back to my futile effort to get Purolator to understand that their job is to deliver the packages to the address that is on the waybill... not some random location they think will benefit from free products.  Wish me luck on that, I'll need it.

Last night was a subatomic event of nucleic dimension bordering on paramount seismicism.
You think I'm joking.
But I wouldn't do that.
I'm a very serious person.

Ok Ok.  It went down something like this.  We got to the Dirty Jersey and Bryce (Keyboards and manager for Kilmore Place) rigged a wild but effective stage setup.  Tim got his beautiful kit together while I plugged in all my devious do-dads.  Chris showed up just in time to plug in his bass for sound check (but he wasn't late so that was fine... don't hit him or anything ok?).  It took awhile to get the sound ironed out but once Bryce had worked his magic with the dual-boards, eq's, amps and all that, we got down to business.

This is where I'll point out that this was Tim's debut on drums.  Not that you'd have known it by his performance.  There were about a dozen or so attractive ladies focusing their various appendages (I mean cameras, cell-phones and beverages) intently on him.  I was a little worried they were going to rush the stage.

Anyway.   Chris laid down his bass line like a dragon breathing fire.  It was a something you just had to be there to understand.  I think he'll need to clone some new fingers before our next show.  Of course I spent my time attacking the strings on my acoustic and electric guitars... yodeling profusely into the microphone while at the same time stomping various pedals on my Pod.

We had a blast.  We had the crowd clapping and swaying.  We even had them ducking for cover.  Tim got a little wild and started throwing things at the crowd.  In fact they started egging him on and it progressed from there.  It was rockin!

We ended our set with a bango...
stripped
and proceeded to shake and punch a lot of people.  oh, and by stripped I mean we had to clear off the stage so that Kilmore Place could get set up.

That brings me to the next point.
Kilmore Place rocks!  These 5 guys really know how to scrunch and crunch out a tune.  I knew I'd like them.  I kept telling peeps that this was going to be a blast.   No one was disappointed.  EVERYONE had a good time...

The mix of keys, rhythmatic acoustic guitar, tommy-gun drumming, inspired vocals and not least... sweet slithering lead guitar was somewhere near perfect.   The executed their songs, in that I mean they killed them, and the ladies couldn't help but jump up and shake their foundations.

I really enjoyed the bit of Queen they threw into the middle of one of their songs.  You had to be listening to catch it... splendipulous!

So yeah, enough about the show.  All I can say is THANKS to everyone that came out.  That was one of the best crowds I've seen at a Kamloops show for quite some time.  It was an honor to play for you!  Thanks to our friends in Kilmore Place for bringing us out (and Thanks a ton to our friends in Westran for putting these guys onto us).  Thanks to the Dirty Jersey for hosting the whole affair.

Rock ya later.

Mickael Maddison

MF!

I quietly entered Sweet Misery into the alternative song contest on Ourstage about a week or so ago.  Today I log onto Ourstage to grab some info I had posted and did a bit of a double-take.

Sweet Misery started out at around 500th in the competition... today it's 9th!

I had NO IDEA!!

Check it out.  I've saved the page for posterity...




so stoked!

Mickael

While I watch the new stories anxiously for news on the Kelowna forest fires that are burning up in Glenrosa, not far from my old home in Westbank I thought I'd tune into www.cmr-online.com - the live music portion of www.canadianmusicians.com

I was talking with Jaci Redlin yesterday and she mentioned that they have been airing Molecules of Oxygen and  Forward Today on the station.  I was, of course, quite happy to hear that.  I was even more interesting when Molecules of Oxygen came on while I was listening.

Jaci mentioned that they'd love to hear from everyone... especially if you've got a moment to go onto the cmr-online site and request one of my songs!

Rocking out...

Mickael

Hey, What's happening?

Last night, I was playing a hot sidewalk show downtown with Chris on Bass & Harmonies.  It was hot, but not quite in the hell range.  Just hot enough that we were pretty much saturated with sweat.  Sure I know you really dig that description.  2 sweaty guys.  Anyway.

The set was going well.  We were playing all manner of songs from both CDs as well as a couple new tracks.  Chris and I even went so far as to switched roles so he could belt out a couple of his great tunes.  As we were playing I noticed a group of what appeared to be musicians (funny that) outside The Blue Grotto watching us.  Actually one of them was recording us on his video phone... not sure what that's all about but anyway this big, black cube van drives up and parks near the tent where we're performing.  The driver gets out, sets the alarm, and together with the band mates they head into The Blue Grotto.  Nothing too strange about that.

A few minutes later we start into Sweet Misery and we can hear the GMC's alarm system tweeting warnings every so often, seemingly in relation to Chris's bass performance.  It started off a little distracting but we maintained our composure save the odd chuckle.  As the song progressed, the van seemed to want a bigger role in the show.  A whole series of chirps and tweets were suddenly followed by the full-on wail of a siren.  By this time a number of passers-by had stopped to hear the song and watch us as we try to keep from breaking out in laughter.  Sticking to the mantra of "The Show Must Go On", we persevered and shortly the wailing siren cut out, only to return here and there with more chirps and whistles and the odd wail.  We wrap up the song to great applause and I was quite thrilled to have the opportunity to introduce our newest band member.

The constellations were in some sort of alignment on this. The irony of it all, is that the CD and Radio versions of Sweet Misery have Ambulance sirens at the beginning and near the end of the song.  If the van (built by the recovering debt-aholic executives of GM), had a bit of a sense of timing it would have been truly amazing, but as it works out the timing was a little awkward; not quite in sync with the rest of the band.  It was definitely one of the more unusual moments I've had while performing live.

Oh... and yeah.  We fired the GMC shortly after that.  Chris took to the mic to perform one of his tracks while I tracked down the driver (they were doing their sound check in The Blue Grotto) who kindly came out to disable the alarm.

That's my story... what's yours?

Mickael Maddison

My Space is launching a Con Test.  I had to create some sort of demo cassette.  What the heck is a demo cassette anyway?  Well, here it is.



The idea is you can add this to your myspace page, play it lots of times, etc.  Sounds great right?

I think I'll go out now.  bye!

Mickael

We need your help !

Tomorrow night we're playing at Pogue Mahone's out in Brock right after UFC.  So you can watch some crazy fighters bleed all over each other while you enjoy a meal, then rock out and enjoy some bevvies while we rock your face off.

Place: 843 Desmond Street - Click here for Map
Time:  Starts between 9-9:30ish.  Ends when it ends!
Acts:  Mickael Maddison (With Dusty Kamps and Chris Brock of course) and after us, the Liptonians from Winterpeg!

Now for the bit about needing your help....

Sure, we could use a nice van for touring and some new gear etc.  That's not what this is about.  Last week someone emailed me a form to sign up for a contest in Vancouver called "Seeds".  There's no harm in signing up so I did.  The next step I guess is that they have a website that we had to setup a profile on, post a few songs, and then get people to rank the songs. It's a nasty system, but here's how you can help...

First -- visit:  http://seeds.cfox.com/MickaelMaddison
Second - sign up using the fan signup form and then click on a rank for each of the songs on our profile page.  Of course, a top rank of 5 would be a blessing
Third -- if your vote helps us get onto the next round of the contest, Dusty and Chris have offered to wash the tires on the drivers side of everyone's cars.

  I'm not sure but the story I'm hearing is the contest closes today...  Thanks for your help and support....

Wishing you all the best!
Mickael Maddison and the great bandmates, Chris Brock and Dusty Kamps.

0:1 Badaboom and all that superfluous greeting stuff to y'all!

1:1 Alright... I haven't posted much here in awhile so I'm going to post something NOW. 1:2 It's not that there hasn't been anything happening. 1:3 As a matter of fact it's quite the opposite. 1:4 We played what was supposed to be a 2 piece show at On the Rocks. 1:5 Unexpectedly, Dusty arrived in time and the virginal trio went to town on some tunes.  1:6 We ROCKED! 1:7 Stated by an inordinate number of audience members. 1:8 We've also been practicing up.  1:9 It's not like we have only 6 songs these days. 1:10 We've got 20+ tracks to lock down and hold under water until they come up gasping for air. 1:11 Work has also been a factor. 1:12 Yes, even rockers like us need to eat and pay for things like socks and duct tape. 1:13 This Friday I will be performing live (not dead) downtown on 300 Block of Victoria Street. 1:14 Chris and Dusty will be joining me at unknown intervals during the set as they arrive on the scene. 1:15 More airplay information to report. 1:16 More Internet radio stations have begun broadcasting the new songs. 1:17 Retrospectus?

2:1 Further to the situation with the band, Dusty Kamps is now the official and fully tolerable drummer. 2:2 And as you've been expressely notified, Chris Brock is not slacking in any way as he hammers out amazing bass lines and vocal harmonies. 2:3 These guys scare me, but most of all they'll scare you. 2:4 People like to be scared so be sure to come out and see us live. 2:5 Don't worry, we have a chain link fence around us to protect the audience from us carnivores. 2:6 Did someone say virginal?

3:1 Out of order but not out of context, again On the Rocks was a great time. 3:2 Ye shall not wither and wimper because ye missed yonder show.  3:3 Ye shall arriveth forthwith on May 23rd for our cometh performance. 3:4 Come forth and be forgiven

4:1 This Friday is not tomorrow but the next day. 4:2 Time is 4PM to 6PM. 4:3 Location is 300 Block of Victoria Street. 4:4 That's in Kamloops, not Victoria 4:5 I'm guessing I'll be across from Boston Pizza and in front of the Blue Grotto area. 4:6  It's free to walk the streets downtown so you are welcome to attend. 4:7 Although tithing is optional, we suggest 10% of your annual gross income be deposited into our clothing during the performance.  4:8 As Chris and Dusty will arrive at various times, you will get a very interesting mix of solo-acoustic through to 2 piece and 3 piece performances.

5:1 98.3 CIFM continues to provide airplay for "Sweet Misery". 5:2 I hear the truth of the matter from the lips of those who love and request the song.  5:3 I have also heard the evidence directly by mine own ears. 5:4 Continue to send your requests to heydj@98.3cifm.com 5:5 CIFM will love you for it.  5:6 And I shall love you unto the end of the earth or the end of my days.  5:7 Which will come first is debatable these days.

6:1 The Maximum Threshold has been achieved. 6:2 If you don't follow me you should.  6:3 What I mean is, www.maximumthreshold.net is now playing my songs. 6:4 They played them today!  6:5 These guys love indie rock and metal... have a listen... request Sweet Misery or Red Glaring Eyes. 6:6 Dom will thank you. 6:7 As will I

7:1 I am in the United Kingdom. 7:2 My divine nature allows me to be in many places at one time. 7:3 You can verify this by visiting http://www.celticaradio.com/playlist.html 7:4 You will find my name in the alphabetized list, most likely under M as both my first and last name begin there.  7:5 I'm not sure if my parents realized that they could have named me aaarnold aaardvarkiann and that I would have been first in line for pretty much everything. 7:6 No matter.  7:7 Thanks to Celtica Radio you can listen to me on their great UK station.  7:8 We pay homage to their great support.

8:1 At this time, my friends, I must leave you.  8:2 Not for want or desire, but for the sake of opportunity.  8:3 My humanity insists that I profess today as Earth Day.  8:4 On this of all days I sacrificed billions of billions of billions of electrons sourced from nearby rivers in order to bring you these words.  8:5 Do not wait in anguish for the coming of our next show. 8:6 Instead, prepare yourselves for my arrival.  8:7 Ye shall all know the time and place of our arrival.

9:0  Mickael Maddison 9:(-1) a.k.a. Clinically Insane.

Gah!

I'm realized that MySpace allows 6 songs and that I only had 5 songs on the site.  Since they've gone ahead and fixed their music player I figured I'd upload Rain in celebration.

So yeah, check it out!   The lyrics are pretty dark... should be interesting

Mulch ya later.

Mickael