I’m going to Cuba in a little over a month for what will be the fifth ever rock tour of that country. I’ve done them all. Our good friends Arrabio will be joining us, along with the usual crew of Fendu - translator, Sam - Photographer an Irina - William’s wife and the best cook/host in Cuba. This trip is going to be a milestone for a lot of reasons, but particularly, because The Solidarity Rock project that I started with William Garcia was awarded a medal by The Asociación Hermanos Saiz in honour of their 25th anniversary. I’m really proud of the work we’ve done, and I just really want more people to get lost in crazy nights of music - Solidarity Rock styles. I think we’ve accomplished a lot of that. So now, we’re heading back with a band of motor cycle lovers to a country full of vintage bikes from Harley’s to Jawas. Should be good!
Nov 21
Scottish Rite Statues
These are some photographs of the statues on the Scottish Rite Temple on Wiltshire Blvd in Los Angeles, CA. The temple was built in 1961, and the ornamentation was done by a Los Angeles studio called Sheets Studio.
Freemasonry in general is pretty interesting. The Scottish Rite is particularly curious as an institution in the lessons it serves to inculcate and the ways and instances which it has been culturally relavant throughout its history.
“Human progress is our cause, liberty of thought our supreme wish, freedom of conscience our mission and the guarentee of equal rights to all people everywhere our ultimate goal.” - Scottish Rite Creed
In the past few months, I’ve done a lot of great things. I went on a couple rock n roll tours in Cuba, brought our friend William Garcia here to Edmonton for a two week hangout and done lot of planning and scheming. I’m about to start work on several new small projects and I’m going to start a long process of going through everything I’ve done, re-exporting old videos at better resolution and getting this site updated, maybe a new one, and diversify my process and path.
Interesting things I’m working on include a regular Thursday night at everyone’s favorite private members club - the Baby Seal Club. I’ll be doing some film screenings, music shows, art and photography shows and more. It’s not going to be your regular bar night, so watch out for it. Live music videos and corporate videos will fill out my time between Cuban rock n roll tours and visual arts exchanges.
I’ll be posting new updates on the regular. 2012 is going to be the best year yet, I’m sure.
Feb 23
Friends - Sancti Spiritus, Cuba
Created with Admarket’sflickrSLiDR.
Sancti Spiritus is a colonial city in the very centre of Cuba. It was founded in 1514 by Spanish settlers. These are some photos of friends and places in Sancti Spiritus.
On December 16, I was in Sancti Spiritus, relaxing, planning and showing my wife Susie where I’ve been hanging out for the past three years. I’ve got a lot of great friends there, including our buddy Sam. Sam knows a lot about the layers of humanity all around him. Cuba is a remarkable society, a blending and mixture of so many times and places. One of the most facinating things about Cuba is the remaining influence of the old African religions that came with the slave trade.
One of those religions is called Yoruba. Before they were arrived in Cuba, some African groups practiced a religion centred around the Babaoa tree. They made the harsh crossing to the Caribbean, and discovered another tree, the Selva. The Selva tree was similar in size, shape and texture, and so it became the centre of the new Afro-Carribean religion.
Slave men were not allowed to congregate. To allow that would be to allow the possibility of rebellion. The plantation owners ignored the women as unimportant, and in failing to recognize the transfer of the religious priesthood from the men to the women, they ensured that the African soul would never be erased and defeated from Cuba.
The Dia de San Lazaro is the high holy holiday for the Yorbua religion.
Big thanks to everyone who came out to the Valentine’s Day SockHop. We raised some good cash, had a sweet raffle and I think everyone had a blast. One of the best things about Solidarity Rock is that every time we come together with the idea that we can do something great, we will. It’s about changing the world on a community basis. We are not only bringing support to bands and people in Cuba, we’re helping them grow their own communities by strengthening and supporting our ours.
It was a great party and we have to give a big thanks to Susie McIntosh and Allison Dragsten for all their work in organizing the party, soliciting donations and making sure everyone knew about it. You guys sure do throw a good party!
I’d just like to thank Steam Whistle Brewery and Long and McQuade for their great support, as well as Nomad Catering, Listen records, Shades of Grey - Tattoo,Comics and Toys, Famoso Jasper ave, Fridget, Cinder + Smoke, Lorette Mercier of the Beauty Parlour, Eden Lily, Make-up artist extrodinaire Bernice Jang, the Movie Studio, the Sugarbowl, the Princess and the Garneau for their generous donations.
More good times on the way. Check out some photos. More from the evening here
Darren Basaraba - Winner of the Booze Basket Grand Prize
Feb 09
News Galore
Ok! The Sundial. Good God, no more stiff updates for the sake of duty and the semblance of an online presence. I’m going for it. I’m doing it. I’m making lots of stiff and putting it up for strangers to judge. I’m entering a new phase in things and am will be fairly productive over the next while. I’m also going to be doing smaller projects, while I focus on the Solidarity Rock project. We’ve got an awesome group of people who are volunteering their time and resources to making rock and roll happen in Cuba. It’s awesome. We’ve got a pile of dates and event happening in the next few months, and we’re going back on tour! That’s right, the third ever Cuban rock tour is happening this March! I personally can’t wait.
I’ve been writing about it a fair bit over here at the Solidarity Rock blog. You should read all about it.
I went to Cuba with my wife Susie just before Christmas. We spent two weeks mostly around Sancti Spiritus, visiting Trinidad and Santa Clara as well. It was a good time, and I’ll be posting some photos right away as soon as I finish a couple of other things.
We’re getting ready for the Kids On Fire/Arrabio tour coming up in Cuba March 24-April 3rd. I’m going to be heading down with my friends Aaron Bocanegra and Sandy Phimester to document the tour. I’ve been friends with Sandy for years, but this is the first chance we have to work together. This trip is going to be pretty amazing and it’ll be the first time a Cuban rock band has been able to tour Cuba. I love the feeling of breaking ground.
We’re also working on plans for two other tours to happen in May and July. Watch for more info.
I’m also working on a project called Accuse de Recibo, which I have to get going right away. Basically, my friend Rafael in Sancti Spiritus mailed me two identical drawings. I have redrawn them and will be sending them on to a friend, who will redraw my drawings and send them on, etc. We’re hoping to get 100 drawings and then mount a show. We’ll let you know how it goes.
Check out SolidarityRock.com for news about Cuba tours, and check out the dates below.
Cheers
Drew
Feb 11 – Solidarity Rock Valentine’s Day Sock Hop – Edmonton Feb 25 – High Class Low Lifes, The Thrashers – The Cavern – Winnipeg, MB March 11 – Kids on Fire - Solidarity Rock benefit – The Albert – Winnipeg March 11 – Edmonton - Solidarity Rock benefit - TBA March 18 – SubCity - Solidarity Rock Benefit – WECC – Winnipeg March 18 – Vancouver, TBA March 24 – Fly to Cuba March 25 – Official Reception at the AHS – Sancti Spiritus, Cuba March 26 – Kids on Fire, Arrabio + more – Casa de Cultura, Sancti Spiritus March 27 – Kids on Fire, Arrabio + more – Casa de Joven Creador – Trinidad March 29 – Kids on Fire, Arrabio + more – El Mejunje – Santa Clara March 29 – Television appearence - “La Casa por la Ventana.” March 30 – Kids on Fire, Arrabio, Acupunktura – Casa de Joven Creador – Cienfuegos March 31 – Radio appearance - “Voces Cruzadas” - Sancti Spiritus April 1 – Kids on Fire, Arrabio + more – Maxim Rock – Havana April 2 – Kids on Fire, Arrabio + more – Casa de Joven Creador – Matanzas April 3 – Return to Canada April 14 – TBA - Solidarity Rock benefit – Crown and Anchor Pub – Edmonton
Oct 09
Up North - Calgary Premiere
I’m really looking forward to this weekend’s Calgary premiere of Up North. Come join us for an afternoon documentary screening on thanksgiving monday. The film starts at 4:30 at The Plaza. Admission is by donation and I will be there to host a brief Q&A session after the film.
