The Blues Can – e57s1

episode 57 season 1

…a trip inside a bluesy bar
The Blues Can
Gritty graffiti from this local blues bar

Today I’m sharing my ReView of a night out at a gritty grounded bar called the Blues Can, located at Inglewood 1429 9th Avenue SE, Calgary, Alberta. Boats some great bluesy acts from across the globe. Think dark suits, 40’s polished shoes, harmonica and good vocals that sooth you. Feeling music in your bones…taking your mind somewhere else. This place is great.

Welcome back to Valerie’s Variety Podcast with your host me, Valerie Moss this show is about ReViews, InterViews and my Daily Views. It’s a story podcast about my life in Calgary, WhatEVER | WhenEVER. The show drops every Tuesday.

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http://www.thebluescan.com/events.php?ahead=-3

See

When you walk into this place it looks like out of a movie, like picture the bar out of the Patrick Swayzee movie Rhoadhouse, Double Deuce. But the biggest different is it’s not the meanest bar – altho I’m sure it has some stories. Step foot into this bar, you need to pay a cover…$15 this doesn’t buy you a seat just a spot to stand. Back in the day it would have been filled with smoke, it’s gritty inside but casual. The line of site to the bar from anywhere is perfect.

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Smell

Smells like a bar, like food and booze and people. Like stories are told and the bartenders have seen it all and heard music that they will never forget, it’s changed them. You smell and feel history in this place. You know there’s a culture here that makes it what it is.

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Sound

The feeling is everything, it was just me and my girlfriend for a night out celebrating both our birthdays. Changing our corporate attire for casual jeans and boots. Walking into this place with a mixed demographic from here and the Deep South. You kind of feel like you may not belong, two women in a gritty bar. We were there to dance and enjoy the good music.

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Taste

No Original 16 at this bar…so we settled for their usual. The bar stools were full all the way around. There’s tables here and there, higher booth style along the wall to the right of the room, these were full, the place was full. The bar is situated off to the left as you walk in, the stage is centered at the back of the room, directly across from the entrance. the stage is lit up well, perfectly actually highlighting all the right parts of the band, the instruments and solidifying the mood in the room. It’s exactly where I wanted to be. Listening to live southern blues, gravely voices, steel guitars. Their plastic tip jar on the floor beside the mic stand…was filling up with purple bills, these guys were good.

The dance floor is small, people are laughing and having a good time around us and with us. Guys and Gals strutting and shaking their bodies, releasing their stresses, enjoying and absorbing the music. This wooden floor has supported many pairs of feet enjoying a night out at this great place. Grinning people all around young and old, great dancers prancer their swagger criss-crossing the dance floor. It was awesome.

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This place isn’t to sit and drink high priced whiskey or the finest of wines, you drink what you can see on the shelf or in the bar well. It’s the ‘usual’ and that’s what you order. We did a couple shots of Jack – seems like the right thing to do in this place but – we were ultimately there for the music.

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The finest polished shoes.

At one point in the night this man, finely dressed with his red shirt, white suspenders, top hat with the crispest ribbon detail, came up on stage with a walking stick in hand and the darkest of sun glasses He, this man of poise proceeded to tear the harmonica apart. The place went crazy. And ad such, I was in awe of the excellence and talent before me. We set our purses on the stage just on the smallest corner as we couldn’t leave the at the table plus we were taxi-ing it all over this night.

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As most of you know I do these background recordings from my phone. its discreet and just to give you a sense of feeling from this part of my life. In no way am I’m steeling or portraying their work as my own, just to provide a context for my night out. Furthermore, I had never been to the Blues Can before, have you? There’s almost 600 reviews on google for this place. The list of Performers on their site is endless…check it out there’s link on my site http://www.thebluescan.com/performer.php

They have names like:

  • Silvertone Devils
  • Smoking 45s
  • Peter Fischer and the Hurricanes
  • our very own cousin in our Family Miss Ange and Company has also played there
  • Oscar Lopez Calgary owns
  • Rusty Reed

Don’t these names solidify the mood and the personality of these bands. These are old souls in these bands they have stories to tall and magic to perform. talking and engaging the crowds looking for the song and word that connects us all. These people perform and love to influence the souls before them. We all have a story and hearing a song a cord that strikes you is what we are after. Me and my brown haired friend had a great time. My first time here and definitely not my last.

Have you been here, do you love the music, the instruments, the gravelly voices, dark top hats, the deepest of bass and jazz notes? Can you sit in a bar, where you can barely see it’s so dim and feel at ease, your with like-minded patrons who are there for the same thing. Bathrooms don’t have doors on the stalls…the tables and chairs don’t match…it’s old and gots a story to tell? Can you?

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Take your bestie on a night out, in your jeans, order a drink from the bartender, like a Budweiser or a rum and coke, spend your time on the dance floor or in a table and just enjoy the music, let it penetrate your skin, your body, so your ears buzz with enjoyment. You won’t be disappointed and maybe you’ll be inspired by a good harmonica, tapping a symbol, polishing up a great pair of shoes, appreciating a ‘usual’ drink from the guy behind the bar. Bluesy Jazzy music to get your feet back on the ground as the song Mustang Sally would say.

Isn’t it funny how life is, I’m writing this last Saturday morning, getting all my thoughts down on paper. I’m satisfied. We had a heavy weekend inclusive of a funeral. I’m settling in for the night it’s about 9pm, Im stitching with embroidery and needle. My friend sends me a text…’wanna meet me at the Blues Can’ – so serendipitous – I say yes. 10:30pm, pull on some jeans, runners – yes it’s this casual and head down…

Don’t take my word for it check out these great ReViews:

  • If you are a music lover this is a MUST SEE. Small venue for up close and personal Blues shows. Come early as seating gets filled up very quickly. Staff are quick and efficient as it is a fast past environment for them.
    Please note there is usually cover here avg $20 /head depending on artist performing.
    So much talent comes through this place.
  • CASH ONLY. Excellent tequila. Reasonable prices. Fun at the Saturday afternoon jam from 3-6PM. Go early to get a seat. Dancing floor.
  • Calgary’s premier blues bar… live music nightly… superb staff, well situated along the Music Mile in Inglewood, good food and decent beer selection. Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys authentic music.

Thank you for listening today…check out The Blues Can and it’s owner Greg Smith here’s a write up I found in the YYC Scene giving some background on this great place and the vision behind it.

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The show drops every Tuesday.

New Podcasts for U – e29s1

episode 29 season 1

100th_ 29 New Podcasts for U
New Podcasts for U, my Top 6!

This week on Vsqd I’m sharing some of our favourite podcasts starting from the bottom up. For your kids and for you and your spouse. I recently went to a Podcast Meet-up and we discussed when do you listen, like what time of day do you listen to pods and there was a variety of answers..some listened to them while driving – typical and expected response, some listened while cleaning house, making supper but then a couple people were discussing which ones they listened to at certain times and why? For example, crime podcasts or serious and heavy ones seemed to be listened to while driving and others that were more upbeat were listened to while doing chores. When do you like to listen and which genre? There was also a comment about pods that we’ve listened to for a long time like 50 plus episodes of something similar like, news pods or comic pods, and how you can compresses these pods to get through them quicker or speed it up – huh never heard of this but now I’ve found out there’s software out there that can do this, interesting hey?

I always listened to the news in the morning while getting ready for work, I have an old iPad setup in my bathroom and I set the news to CBC, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation or BBC British Broadcasting Corporation until recently…with our economy here in Alberta not doing so well,  the news is so redundant and depressing – I needed something else to listen to. So…I’ve changed my choice to podcasts. For some reason I only listen through the TuneIn Radio App in this getting ready setting, so I searched for podcasts (yes mine is listed on there also) and found some new ones and gave them a go…amongst my other favourite go-to’s which I listen to in my cary – here’s my current top favourites:

6) Helen by Gimlet Media

Okay the first time I listened to Helen I was hooked, it’s funny, like a sit-com from back in the day. This show is about a women who goes to work at Helen – which is basically the Seri or Alexis – A.I. of the world corporate head quarters. Her position there is the intellect for every bird question, yes BIRDS. It’s hilarious and well written. Like, “Hey Helen, please tell me how to remove these pigeons in my attic” but she has a personal life that is also edgy like her x-husband has just escaped prison. Easy listening option, funny and intriguing, catchy. It’s a series you need to listen to chapter by chapter – it’s good.

5) CrimeTown by Gimlet Media

The second one by Gimlet media is Crimetown, this show is gritty, heavy and an all round reality documentary. The first season I’m just coming to the end and it’s on the subject of Providence Rhode island and the Patriarca Crime Family, It’s told by the people of the mob, First Hand, in their voices, their stories, the police – trying to catch the bad guys, and the mayor how burned his wife’s lover with a lit cigarette, robberies of armoured cars, crime guys who had wolves as pets. It’s racie and it actually makes you like and side with the bad guys. This is a good story, told well and produced excellently. Add this one to your line up.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Providence,_Rhode_Island

Patriarca crime family – Wikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patriarca_crime_family

4) Small Town Dicks

hosts Yeardly Smith, and Zibby Allen tell crime stories by first responder accounts alongside two detectives who just so happen to be twin brothers, Dan and Dave. They recount stories and bring in other members of law enforcement and peripheral support like 911 operators, EMS and community members to tell their parts of the stories also. It’s a neat round table q and a discussion. True stories, well told from the people who were there. Some of their content can be very graphic and some may involve children, The episodes that involve children, I just can’t listen too as somethings I just don’t want to know. But it’s a Great down to earth podcast full of banter and questions and the real answers…check it out!

https://www.facebook.com/SmallTownDicks/

3) Serial by This American Life

…this podcast really intrigues me, Sara Kanik can tell a story like no other, it’s her cadence…her voice tone, and her no BS the way she tells it, this current series (she’s had a few) is based on submersing herself within the Chicago judicial system, and the stories the these people have truly lived. It’s about the lawyers and judges, and the repetitive crimes, petty crimes and misdemeanours and how the game is played at every stop and level within this corrupt system. The judges are captured lecturing people about their place in this world, their conduct in society. It’s about the people being wrongly accused but taking a lesser sentence anyway. It’s about people witnessing a shooting and not telling anyone. Check it out , it’s worth a listen.

https://www.facebook.com/serialpodcast/

2) Uncover: Excaping Nxivm (nex-y-um)

I found out about Josh Block’s escaping Nxivm podcast from the SKS, Someone Knows Something podcast I reviewed in Episode One, Josh block was on vacation back visiting his home town, when he ran into a person he went to preschool, junior school and jewish camp with, her name is Sara Edmondson. As they were catching up he said he works for CBC and she said she just left a cult?

Intrigued?

This story is so interesting, the way Josh tells it about his friend, his friend escaped a cult and it’s all over the news…this is an easy binge listen and worth it, it’s so fascinating as these are just common people like us but one happens to be a reporter and the other one is his friend. Hightlight of this show,  sex ring, slaves and masters and a branded symbol beside her belly button! Check out all CBC podcasts, they are well done and I’m a huge fan.

https://www.cbc.ca/radio/uncover/listen-to-uncover-escaping-nxivm-1.4675949
1) What if World

This one’s for your kids: I commute a lot, if you live in Calgary I live in the Mount Pleasant Tuxedo area, I work either at the airport or way in the SE part of the city 52 street SE and 102 avenue – ish. My daughter goes to school in the deep southwest part of the city. My full trip commute is typically an hour and 15 mins or maybe longer depending on traffic, ONE WAY. You heard me right people, So I leave my house, go to London’t school, and head to work, approx 1.25 hours. I spend a lot of time in my car with my daughter…we listen to podcasts and this one my friends is our FAvourite!! Mr. Eric, the host does each story adhoc off the cuff, completely without preparation, his background is a primary/elementary school teacher- he may still be. He does all of the voices himself and his characters are really thought out thorough and have true character traits- like Fred the Dog, Peety the Pirate, Alabaster, and so many more…incredible, believable voices, the adult puns and humour within his lines, makes me laugh louder than my 7 year old- check out his show.

I reached out to Eric and all of the podcasts companies and hosts to see if they would have a snippet or a promo clip that I could use within my show for this episode, as it’s so nice to hear promotions of other pods to get the feel of the show’s host, topic and production. I reached out to all these shows for their pod promos and Currently I heard back from Eric at What if World, he did a special shout out to my show –  take a listen…, good right?  We will make

if I hear from the others, I’ll be sure to post an update to this episode and share them.

https://www.facebook.com/whatifworldpodcast/

TmTs

As you’ve likely noticed, for my podcast I’ve started to publish some shorter content I’m finding it difficult to record, produce and publish weekly when my podcasts are taking more time to research, write and produce plus working full time.  Jeff suggested instead of posting less often as I was thinking of going to bi-weekly posts to posting shorter segments.  To continue creating and publishing content and staying active with my listeners. I really liked this option so for the TmT episodes I’m Capturing Calgary, from bugs, to stampede to restaurant reviews it will be encapsulated within these snippety segments. If you have a question about Calgary, text/email me valerie@valeriemoss.ca, what makes this Calgary unique to you and what do you want to learn about it? What do you love and hate about this amazing city, let me know.

I wanted to add cover art for these TmT episodes, resorted to my trusted Adobe Spark account I designed 3 options, and then put it out there for you all to vote on Facebook here’s the options:

Option A, blue black and grey, 2 small boxes on top or a large box, the 1 of small boxes is blue with black writing and houses the words Valerie & YYC the 2nd small box is grey with black writing and says 120 secs – the last box which is larger has a giant white number 2 and beside that it says minute in blue and Tuesday in off white. Overall look – Trendy

Option B, has a 2 minute vertical kitchen sand timer image, glowing circle around the timer with the siltiest hint of a city caputured roughly in the background, the overall look is mysterious black and white, with Valerie & YYC in the upper right corner white on a black background and the words 2 minute Tuesdays beside the timer in a dark red colour. Overall look – Mysterious

Option C, is green, brown and white. Essentially a large green background square and a smaller brown rectangle below this. It starts with a large white number 2 with a brown shadow box behind this, and the word minute in a scribble font that white again on a brown rectangle border. There’s a stamped white circle with a border, within this stamp it reads Tuesdays in the green from the background coming through. Overall look – News

Check these images out at ValerieMoss.ca as I’m not sure I can do them justice in my descriptors. When I posted to facebook for feedback by a landslide the Option B was chosen. Altho not all of my TmTs will be mysterious…I like this look, it reflects the objective of the TmT segments so…thank you for all of your input in helping me pick this new cover art. If you didn’t have a chance to vote, check out my website and let me know if you think option B should have won!

TmTs cover art options
Poll results from TmT cover art

Check out ValerieMoss.ca for more information pictures

Thanks for listening to the podcast today which as produced and written by me, Valerie Moss, intro and outro for this podcast recorded by London Moss. Thanks to Eric from What if World for contributing your amazing talent within this podcast review episode, such talent!

If you like this podcast and have a second to select a 5 star rating on iTunes or your podcast app to provide me some feedback I’d love to hear from you even by leaving me a comment on my blog or join my facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/ValeriesVarietyPod/ or send me a text/email to Valerie@ValerieMoss.ca – would love to hear from you.

Thanks for listening.