Concert Review: Between The Buried & Me w/ Cynic, Devin Townsend and Scale the Summit @ The Opera House. January 26, 2010.

This is a review I wrote after an awesome night of music on Tuesday.

http://tunesinto.com/archives/1854

For All you Concert Goers

Check out Tunesinto.com for all the latest info about music in the GTA. Check out album and concert reviews as well as lists of great upcoming shows. I'll be posting a new concert review later this week but the site is worth supporting especially if your into the indie scene and want to check out some good bands at a pub in Toronto.

Cheers,

Shawn

Find Your Creative Outlet.

Many of us in creative fields try day in and day out to come up with fresh unique ideas that will have people buzzing. After doing this for so long with so many deadlines the reality is that a lot of can get in a funk or "burn out". I find it's us advertisers especially because some days we are just sick and tired of selling products and want some creative freedom. This is where another outlet comes in.

I've always enjoyed movies and video games and drinking beer but none of these were the creative outlet I was looking for. About a year and a half ago my brother randomly bought a electric guitar. I had always wanted to play but never thought I could. Some days I would pick it up and mess around but it was hard to get into it having no where to play with everyone being home. Soon after I decided to get an acoustic guitar for my birthday. This way I could practice anywhere and enjoy the sound still. As soon as I started getting chords down and playing rhythms I became addicted.

Since I mainly listen to rock and metal the electric guitar has always had more of a pull on me. One day my brother packed his bags and left to go to school in Australia for 10 months. Considering I had learned more about guitars than he had as this point he left it behind and I had a big basement and 10 months to annoy the rest of my family with that guitar.

Now my brother is home I have an Ibanez electric guitar of my own and each day whether I am mad or stuck on ideas I will just start to play and enjoy creativity without limits. Often playing will get me inspired and I can get back to work sometimes incorporating music with advertising.

In order to keep your mind sharp, I think it is important to have some outlet that takes you away from everything else. Whether it's movies, photography, music or poetry. It can do wonders for your mind and even be therapeutic.


So I hope you find your creative outlet, if you haven't already.


Rock on.

Review of HelveticaBrands.ch

(Warning high font content, not recommended for the dyslexic, blind, or adrenaline junkies)
-best suited for font aficionados

I am writing this review for a class and I have to admit when I was told to write a review blog for a website with the name Helvetica in it I was less than jazzed. For those of you that don’t know Helvetica is the most commonly used font in print communications across the globe.

Thankfully Helveticabrands.ch is more than just a tribute to this san serif typeface it is an independent creative studio that provides logos, business stationary and web design. The website founded by designer David Pache has a few layers to it. There is a page dedicated to displaying logos David has created. He also has a typography page and a blog (although rarely updated). Visitors of his website may also receive a quote for work or contact David via the website. The majority of the sites content is under the branding link.

Under this link users may click on different logos to have them enlarged with a little blurb on how they came to be. Most of David’s logos ironically look like dingbats to me. They are very simple with a modern feel to them. Most of his work is for other websites or independent clients but each logo has a slick polished feel to them.

Overall the website felt a little stale and had a bland color pallet. In my personal opinion if you are showcasing your design work on a website I believe you should have the websites layout be a representation of yourself and your work. I think David’s work is unique and I liked a lot of his logos but he may be better showcasing his work with more of a personal feel. Logos have to have a sense of emotion to them and his websites layout lacks this and instead has more of a 0100110 feel to it.

I do wish helveticabrands.ch the best of luck and still believe that his clients will be satisfied with whatever he creates for them.

Cheers,

Shawn

Squared Teaser Trailer

This is a self shot teaser trailer taken from one episode of a television series I'm writing with my friend. We are dropping off a pitch at the comedy network this Thursday.

Cheers.

Sam Roberts Concert

This is a very old facebook note that I decided to kick off my blog with because I have nothing of interest to say right now.

cheers mates :)

Originally written -Sunday, November 2, 2008

Yesterday was one of the happiest days of my life. Sam Roberts Band headlined at the Hamilton convention centre and I was fortunate enough to take my favourite person to the event. The night began with anticipation slowly building, there was 2 hours before the show and we were fairly excited. Tick Tock, 10 minutes before the opening act. The Stills graced the stage and performed a solid set for 45 minutes. The best was yet to come. 5 minutes before show time, 8 feet from the stage, I can’t stand still my mind is racing, I look around and see dozens of lights yet to be utilized, The Stills performed on a dark ominous stage with 5 orange glow sticks providing light, was this all to expect from Sam Roberts? Finally they jump on to the stage with beers in hand, the crowd erupts. They waste no time in kicking things off with the new Album titled song, Love at the end of the world. A perfect start, positivity and happiness fills the room, “there must be something in the air”. The room is exploded with brilliant blue lighting, and suddenly the riff changes directions and the backdrop of the stage is ignited. Mirrors and reflectors shine red and white moving lights on the back wall, it looks like 30 LCD televisions with moving colours so bright it felt like a dream, shining our national colours blending together to set a perfect tone for the night. The music feels like a recording, but with more heart and sweat, the band jumps around stage giving their all, Each songs has a different mood, and a corresponding light fills the room, the mellow tone of Sundance encourages a beautiful yellow light, the songs are extended and the band decides to throw down the best jam session I have ever witnessed. I look over at Diana and her face looks like it’s Christmas morning, I have never seen her smile so much, the night would leave crease lines on our faces. The band finished the set, and the Hamilton crowd urges them back on stage, two minutes later, fresh beers in hand they run back on stage, “You want to keep this party going then?” Sam asks. The crowd erupts in a cheer and we dance the night away while the city sleeps, unity and happiness is shared by all, all troubles forgotten. After a 3 songs encore, the band thanks us repeatedly, happy they kicked of their Canadian tour with such a fulfilling night. As they part Sam clasps hands with as much people as he can reach, the guitarist’s throws his shredded pick into the crowd and the drummer his sticks. Everyone ready’s to leave with smiles in the hundreds, Diana smiles and begins to leave I linger knowing that no one caught the pick two feet in front of me, I want it as a memento. We leave the Convention centre never being so happy to be deaf in our lives, the ringing in our ears sounds like music and the smiles continue.Diana and I take a short bus trip back to her house, and talk for hours recalling the night and our favorite parts. I type this now with a shredded Dunlop pick beside me, a memento of the Fun we had, and the peace to be spread. One night of music, and creativity burns through my veins, I’m left envious that the band can affect so many people’s life in such a positive way, and I am left wanting to do the same, maybe not with song or dance, but some way. I want to make people everywhere smile, and come together to reach a common goal of happiness. I urge all of you to give this band a listen, and if you ever get a chance, see them in concert and feel what I have felt. You won’t soon forget it.

(SIDE NOTE) I am no longer with this girl for all I know she may be married for a while now or climbing trees in Africa... either way it turns out I'm much better off. Still a great night though!