It’s been Forever…

A letter hasn’t manifested here for many good times.

Some quick news for the loyal and the avid:

- Shaun has left the band. The scoundrel who has taken his place is named Julien – we sincerely promise.. you won’t notice any difference.
- In the live set there are 8 new songs you’ve never heard us play before.
- There are 4 members, 2 of whom you’ve never met.
- ‘Hey’ made radio waves here in Vancouver, check out 98.1fm every Wednesday at 5:30pm to hear Dan McPeake spin tunes and trash chat

Neat.

Hmm. Since Shaun has left, he will no longer be posting his rants here. I’m sure a personal place for his airy dissertations will arise in the undiscernable future.  From now on we’ll reserve this space for things relating to Closing Iris as a unit, a tight package.  Well oiled – ready for action.

~ Julien & Closing Iris

Bipolar Opposites

Black & White need to exist simultaneously, along with all the wonderful crap in-between,  right?

Can love can’t exist without it’s counterpart?  Some people call it hate, some people call it fear.  Some of the darkest times are when fear is the primary motivator – but maybe you can admit – at times, fear has the effect of preventing reckless or destructive behavior.  Both points of view have their merit, no?  Yeah.  For so long this simple balancing act has fascinated humanity.

So what is my point? Perhaps writing at 3:30am is a bad idea..  No, there is a point.

Thinking about the things we do and the reason we do them – what is the reason?  Is it possible that all we strive for in this life; the house we buy, the people we love, food we eat, the words, the songs, the films, the sex – is it possible this all makes no difference?  Maybe meaning and value are just ideas that us humans have constructed in our tiny brains – tiny brains inflated by an illusion of self-importance.  We might be the only species that worships itself to the point of assuming the exclusive immortality of its souls.

The other day the concept of right and wrong struck me as very mundane.  A tattered relic left over from millenia of hand-me-down ideology that doesn’t fit right and is full of holes.   Instead of categorizing all of our actions in terms of right and wrong, I’m trying to pay more attention to the consequences of the actions.  Generally speaking, I prefer the consequences of action based out of love.  But, the consequences of love and fear both have their advantages and disadvantages. In fact, everything has it’s advantages and disadvantages.

That’s kind of the point.

What happened over there?

Travels are over for now, and it’s back to rehearsing with the band and setting up for the release of our next single.

While in London it was amazing to find more than one of my Canadian friends visiting at the shows – like a home away from home.  Also had the chance to sign a disc that was purchased months before at CD Baby – a pleasure to meet you Heidi! 

Another UK highlight included accepting a random, post-show invitation to some posh house party.. complete with Michael Jackson theme.  Yes, abundant white gloves.. golden turban.. and black, sequin-covered spandex?  Fortunately, I missed that phase of Michael’s career.  The mansion was brimming with the high-society brats of London’s elite rich.  Wall-to-ceiling glass doors leading to the back yard, (any kind of yard in London is exceptionally rare).  Me with my Canadian accent, show-broken-string guitar, and sweat drenched Bowie t-shirt.  In the end, Canada’s ambassador to the ruined attitudes of UK’s “inherited wealth” young adults was a big, fat middle finger.  It was necessary for me to ask one fellow – with as much diplomacy as I could muster – “No offence, but would you fuck off”.

Then New York finally rolled around.

It’s hard not to love New York, even though you have the nagging sensation that it’s trying very hard to kill you.  The murderous intent of NYC is everywhere; black soot in your sinuses, taxis raging around every street corner; even the mosquitos in Central Park leave a swollen vengeance on your flesh.

But it’s great!

This trip was more of a relaxed time spent visiting friends as opposed to an adventure through the city.  The shows went well.  This was the second time Closing Iris has made the journey to play New York and certainly not the last.  Some new found fans, new made friends.  A few souls ventured out with the sole intention of seeing Closing Iris play for the first time.

Encouraging anyhow.  Take care, I’ll write you soon.

~ Shaun

An automobile, a train, and a plane

Yes, in that order, heh

Thank you everyone who came out to the last few shows we’ve had in Kelowna this past week.  It was genuinely good to see you again – age old friends, and you new ones too (nothing beats a steak-breakfast, picnic-table, patio performance).  And if you’re one of the ones with me at the Fed, we made short work of that bottle hey? <- you know who you are

My life challenge for today was getting up this morning and driving to Vancouver, haha.. oh man – at least the road was calm, the skies were clear, and Shiloh Lindsay’s CD from the show last night was playing loud.

In Vancouver, Aaron and I hurriedly unloaded all the gear into our space, then put the deposit on my new October home, then packed the bags, and lo’ .. a ride on the new ‘Canada Line’ skytrain – convenient.  Now, as I write this, British Airways’ stewardess is calling the first passengers to board the plane to London.  Last year this trip would have been unfathomable.  This year, at least 3 shows in New York and 2 shows in London will have happened by the time Christmas rolls around.

Anything is possible, even with a hangover.

Live Purge Videos

This summer at Kerry Park, some friends who do videos came and filmed portions of my show.  Here’s the videos, a new song called “Dreaming” and a Monkey’s cover of ‘Stepping Stone’ – They’re edited really well and the video is high quality, check it out…

Here the Monkey’s video looks like it’s straight out of the 60’s:

Closing Iris in UK, NYC and.. Kelowna?

Sitting here writing in Kelowna, drinking coffee, sitting in front of the window – it’s damn nice outside.  One of the few remaining ‘nice’ days we can expect to see this year.  On the 13th of Septmber I am going abroad – alone – to spread the holy blasphemy of Closing Iris.  However, before I leave…

Fans in our hometown Kelowna will get a special treat on Thursday, September 10th – a free ‘Binge’ performance – 3pm, Okanagan College – KLO Campus.  It’s Back-To-School fun for the college kids and we are serving loud, angst-ridden, dark-side riffs for hungry ears.

Binge has taken a back seat so we can develop the other side of Closing Iris in Vancouver – ‘Purge’.  In other words, this is a genuinely rare event. The immediate future (aka: 6 months – 1 year) – the next tour, single, etc.. will all be Purge based.  Don’t worry Kelowna – we guarantee to keep giving you (only you) an occasional dose of Binge.

If you have no clue what Binge & Purge means, you’re welcome to hear the difference by comparing music at the following links:

Binge – (studio recording of our debut release ‘Another Reason’)

Purge – (live off the floor, solo, demo/shadow of what’s to come)

Four shows are booked for this mini-tour, 2 in London, 2 in New York.

The first Closing Iris show in London is a Landmark event.  We have a nucleus of really solid fans and friends in this city – excited to see and play for you, thank you for your patience.  I open one early show – 8pm, September 16th at the Windmill Pub in Brixton.  The next day, the main support slot at the Hope & Anchor in Islington – 10pm on Thursday, September 17th.

In New York, Closing Iris plays two Purge shows on the same day.  Saturday the 19th of September.  First there is a very early show at Arlene’s Grocery, then Closing Iris was invited to play again at Googies Lounge (above the Living Room).  I played Googies in July during my first trip to New York, and anticipating playing again because its a great venue.

Vancouver hold tight – we’re saving the best for last.  You’ll see.

Sweet 666

Today in the corner store – old man behind the till jokes to the woman in front of me how she should pray more because her bill is $6.66.

Later on, same day, my roomate proudly declares she now has her Nexus Pass.  A Nexus Pass allows you to cross the border between Canada & the US without checking in.

Freedom.. right?

All you need to do is provide scans of your retina, fingerprints, and just about everything else to do with *you*.  Anyhow, it was a funny coincidence to me – Nexus Pass .. Mark of the Beast.. what’s the difference?

“But I’ don’t plan on killing anyone anytime soon”, she says.  (hehe, just don’t leave any dishes in the sink)

Inspiration

I look at this blog and wonder what to write.  It’s so new, and very uncomfortable to share some of these thoughts.  Then earlier today while browsing a local artist’s blog, I read the following:

“If I wait for the perfect sentence, the perfect artist statement, the perfect time, a better understanding of punctuation . . .this blog will never happen.”

In this month’s issue of adbusters there was an article about how we are trained in school to write for an external judge instead of using our Self as the guide.  Who am I writing for and am I writing for the right reasons?  There is a journal where my most private thoughts are written.  A friend is attempting to live a ‘telepathic’ life.  Which, to her, means living as if everyone could read her mind.  Our last discussion was uncanny – the things she knew without words.

I sometimes strive to be:

Unique.

Original.

Genius.

We, as People crave these titles.  Why?  Given enough time and circumstance nothing any of us do will be remembered.  Maybe it’s more valuable to crave these titles:

Generous.

Wise.

Fun.

~ Or maybe we should crave nothing and simply soak in every moment?

Joy & Misery – Honor & Shame – Hand-in-Hand

You asked for it.. here it is

Some of you have been coming to the live Purge performances, or perhaps watching the new YouTube videos. Maybe you’re one of those who’ve been so demanding..

“Get in the studio, NOW!!”

Heh, some people wanted to get their hands on the new songs. So, we sat down for one quick-&-dirty hour and a half.  Here are the results of that time we spent – one guitar, and a vocal mic – 5 Purge songs, live off the floor.  For now, it’s still a secret from most.

Listen to all 5 of the new songs here, then place your vote below.  You can pick more than one if you have a couple of favorites.

It’s only a taste of what’s to come, there’s no fresh blood in these recordings yet. We’ve got some bare bones for sure, but tell us for which track you’ve got a soft spot.  You’re invited to post comments as well, we always love to hear what’s knocking around inside your head.

Desire..

Desire, my closest companion.

Your reward is a passing glimpse of pleasure – and then want.

The “now” is forbidden to you. Instead, you exist only with nostalgia for the past or the hope of a better future. You have big plans. Your plans are not real, but the striving for them will occupy reality. All your companions toil, hoping for your empty reward.

My True Self, my spontaneous *now* will disappear in the shadow of your waking. You endlessly pull strings on the puppets of circumstance, and when the show becomes routine you easily change your shape. Still adorned with the same hooks and baubles, what form will you take next?

Desire you are my companion, for now.. and companion to the countless. But you are not my friend.