Dead disco, dead funk, dead rocknroll... Or Live Jazz, Live punk and Live Canindie pop

randy's ripcord singer who stayed amazingly poised considering the intensity of the music
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well it certainly has been a musical week, to say the least!

Monday we picked up some couchsurfers who stayed with us until Saturday. Lena and Martin are from Turbingen, near Stuttgart, where they study sciences. That night we went to Dave's place to meet up, then U-bahned to the boat jazz... Glorious boat jazz... mmmm.

This time, there was a female banjo player, a drummer who MUST still be in high school (awkward hair, braces, very young) but was very talented, a different clarinetist than last time-who absolutely WAILED, upright bass, bass sax, two trumpets and a trombone. And, of course, piano.

17 years old??? what???
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It was packed! We didn't find any seats so we stood next to the stage, off to the side and out of the way, until the band took a break and a lot of people left. Then we got front row seats (at one point, during a stand up solo, I thought the clarinet was going to drip spit on Dave but he sat back down just in time!!!) We stayed right up until the end, and caught the very last train home!Went to bed reeking of smoke.

Wednesday we went with Lena and Martin (left the 'kids' at home) to see a band called 'be your own PET', a young punk band from Nashville. The had a Hamburg punk band, 'Randy's Ripcord', opening for them. It was a really impressive show... except when the singer fell off the stage into a false wall, but she covered it very well... Anyway, we ended up buying both bands cds, we were so stoked on it. When we got home (caught the last train again, just barely) we put the cd on and made popcorn in our popper and ate it and danced. Well, I danced... no one else did. Went to bed reeking of smoke.

stars singers
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Thursday we slept until noon, then, at night, we went to Dave's again. Had some tea/drinks (tea for me, drinks for everyone else) and then some other people came over. We went to the same club that we saw the Liars in (the huge bunker building), only this time, having nothing left to burn... we set ourselves on fire!! (okay that sounds really bad and creepy but it's a reference a few people will get.. Chelsea?) That's right, we went to see an amazing Canadian band..... STARS!!!!!! WHOO!!

We were kind of nervous because there was a huge line up outside,but then we remembered that you take an elevator up to the club and so they would only allow about 15 people in at a time. But then, OH NO everyone around us already had tickets...eekkk. We had come earlier the D+P et al because we were supposed to meet Marthe at the station but she wasn't there and we thought “Crap we're late and she left”. So we went and waited in line, thinking about how angry Dave would be if it filled up before he came and he couldn't get in (really really angry!!). When we got in, it seemed twice the size as last time. I guess they had a block up last time so the Liars didn't feel bad about hardly filling up the space. We staked out a spot at the front and I went looking for Marthe, just in case. Instead I found Dave and his roomies, just coming in, so I showed them where we were. Marthe was actually late and arrived at the same time as them, so no worries there.

most serene republic
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The opening band was another Canadian group called “The most serene republic”. The had awesome energy and great music and it was super great to see them playing. During the in-between I wanted to go to the bathroom but the club was sooo packed I figured I wouldn't get a chance to return to the front. Oh well.

Then Stars came on... oh, man, they put on an AMAZING show!!! They were super energetic and oh man, I can hardly describe it. They had me dancing all over the place. Well, really just in one teensy spot because it was so packed in there. I looked behind me and there were all these silly emo kids barely registering that the music was playing, looking all cool and controled “eff that”, i thought, 'i'm here to have FUN', and continued to shake my bum.

the rad drummer with the teensy side mohawk
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They played for about an hour which is a great amount of time. Not so short that you feel ripped off, not so long that you start to get tired. Just before the encore, i zipped to der toiletten and then went to the merchandise table. I bought pins, we bought one of each bands' CDs, as well as a shirt.

When the club was cleared out, we were getting ready to go hang out with Marthe at some bar, and I saw the guitarist packing up his stuff.

So I just strolled on over there and said “hey man, awesome show, that was really fantastic” and so we chatted for a few minutes. Dave and Pudy also came up and he asked where we were from and I said BC and Pudy yelled out “KELOWNA BC CANANDAWHOO!!!” with his arms in the air... What a broomhead. I'm just glad he didn't pull out the Canada flag. Yeah, he brought one along, so the band would recognize him as canadian. Oy vay...

Anyway, so he was asking what we were doing here and Dave looked at me. So I said, “well these guys are on an exchange and I'm just along for the ride” so he asks what kind of exchange, looking at Dave. Dave looks at me. I'm thinking “dude, it's your exchange, answer the man” but he doesn't so I do. Then we were just talking about the tour etc and he mentioned they were going to be in Paris on the 25^th...WHOA!! we are going there one the 24^th!!! So I told him that and asked where they were playing and he put us on his guest list!!!

GUEST LIST FOR THE FREAKIN STARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have never seen Dave glare so bitterly as he did when I gave Steven our email.

We were in the elevator and i was trying not to be all jumpy and excited (but was, have I EVER been able to contain excitement??) and saw Dave GLARING at me from across the elevator. He was fairly bitter all night, but I don't care I”M GOING TO SEE STARS ON THEIR GUESTLIST hahahahahahaha!!!!!

We went to a couple bars, most were packed because it was easter weekend, but we eventually headed home at about 330. I was still too excited to get to sleep for a very long time. That music just totally energized me and made me feel so good... And next week I get to see it again!!!