Wow what meaningful words. And free to non-subscribers even, it’s like a PSA, for our band,... or r’n’r even! So grateful and honored. Condolences for your beloved animals. Much love and luck in Portland. 🙏🏻⚡️❤️
I am often one of your early commenters. Here's why: I receive many, many newsletters in my inbox, and I almost always manage to make time for yours. This is the magic of writing. You reach a reader, at the right time, right place, right frame of mind, and potentially change the scope of their day (or week or era, etc.). Thanks for catching me in my last five mins of lunch when I needed all of these things.
I will look up this band that I do not know! Thank you. But most of all, thank you for a post filled with Toronto love - you capture all the things that used to (and I'm glad still does occasionally) make Toronto the best little city. Lee's Palace, scorching heat, smoking sidewalks, sweaty concerts, DON PYLE who is one of the most loving, lovely, generous people on the planet (and also gives my bf his very fetching haircuts), who used to lecture in my class about Toronto punk. It made me miss all those good things in a week when I was suffering some anti-Toronto sentiment and anti-life blahs.
I wish you the anti-sad reminders of life - (for example, a kitten and newly picked tomatoes) - while you grieve. I hope new animals appear on your doorstep when you're ready. Remember you bring joy to many, always.
PS I once made a mug with my kitty's face on it after she passed. Somehow it works to drink out of it everyday and remember her. Maybe one of your fans out there is a potter :D
Hey Neko, Andrew Reich here, the director of the Redd Kross documentary. What an incredible tribute to the band this is! I'm sorry you missed the Toronto screening. If you reach out to me at reddkrossfilm@gmail.com, I will send you a screener link so you can see the movie!
I was at that Lee’s Palace show — it was fantastic. Bought a ticket because I ended up at the screening of the film the night before too and needed to see them live. My son, who knows much more about the music of my own era than I do, had an extra ticket. Can’t believe that RK was never on my radar (although my son pointed out that they contributed a cover to If I Were a Carpenter, which I did listen to a lot twenty years ago), and that I had to learn about them from my way-cooler-than-me kid, but to be fair he is a musician working in extensions of the power-pop/punk realm, and I am but a lowly poet who has been buried under a mountain of random words for the past thirty years. I also cannot believe I managed to buy tickets to the show the day of. It made zero sense. Thanks for sharing — I enjoyed reading about the joy, mostly because I experienced the same but as a total newbie to the whole thing. I also hope things have been peaceful post-passing of beloved animals — I was sad to read about that.
Oh how I love when my favorite artists adore my other favorite artists. Makes my world ever smaller and I love that. So very sorry for your hard week and the goodbyes. Love is You.
The sheer joy I - and I think everyone else - felt at the Turf Club in St. Paul on July 15th was equally as life-confirming. I got to see them again in Carrboro a week-and-a-half later and that show was just as fun. I've been a fan as long as you have and count my lucky stars the brothers McDonald are still making music and playing live. The documentary is so so good - I hope you are able to see it at some point soon. I'm really sorry about all of your losses lately, but I'm glad you took some time for vacation and music joy.
So sorry for your losses Neko, I don’t know why we grieve our animal companions so much. Maybe for their innocence that we lack as humans? I loved the story of your journey to Toronto and it made me feel that I was there in my heart and walking that great city. Thank you for sharing this post.
Nothing resets a soul and gets one past a bumpy stretch quite like live music, old friends, and a place that feels like home. May the memories comfort you. Peace, love & heal vibes sent your way.
Glad you had fun in Toronto. Not sure how these things come together, but an EP of punk covers by you and the Bros. McDonald playing together one day would be welcomed.
Redd Cross opened for a Jane’s Addiction show I had tickets to in the early ‘90s. Only when we arrived at the venue, I realized that I had left the tickets in my car, so I had to take Metro back out to the suburbs where I had parked, and by the time I got back, I had missed Redd Cross. 😩
Music today feels good and gives us respite and inspiration. Peace to Norman and Jerome and their family.
As for Redd Kross - they were a def highlight of the recent Merge 35 celebration in Carrboro - approximately 40 bands there including your buddies from The New Pornographers who were cool as a cucumber and hot as a jalapeño.
Wow what meaningful words. And free to non-subscribers even, it’s like a PSA, for our band,... or r’n’r even! So grateful and honored. Condolences for your beloved animals. Much love and luck in Portland. 🙏🏻⚡️❤️
I can't tell you how much this means to me! Thank you. :)
I am often one of your early commenters. Here's why: I receive many, many newsletters in my inbox, and I almost always manage to make time for yours. This is the magic of writing. You reach a reader, at the right time, right place, right frame of mind, and potentially change the scope of their day (or week or era, etc.). Thanks for catching me in my last five mins of lunch when I needed all of these things.
I will look up this band that I do not know! Thank you. But most of all, thank you for a post filled with Toronto love - you capture all the things that used to (and I'm glad still does occasionally) make Toronto the best little city. Lee's Palace, scorching heat, smoking sidewalks, sweaty concerts, DON PYLE who is one of the most loving, lovely, generous people on the planet (and also gives my bf his very fetching haircuts), who used to lecture in my class about Toronto punk. It made me miss all those good things in a week when I was suffering some anti-Toronto sentiment and anti-life blahs.
I wish you the anti-sad reminders of life - (for example, a kitten and newly picked tomatoes) - while you grieve. I hope new animals appear on your doorstep when you're ready. Remember you bring joy to many, always.
PS I once made a mug with my kitty's face on it after she passed. Somehow it works to drink out of it everyday and remember her. Maybe one of your fans out there is a potter :D
Hey Neko, Andrew Reich here, the director of the Redd Kross documentary. What an incredible tribute to the band this is! I'm sorry you missed the Toronto screening. If you reach out to me at reddkrossfilm@gmail.com, I will send you a screener link so you can see the movie!
I was at that Lee’s Palace show — it was fantastic. Bought a ticket because I ended up at the screening of the film the night before too and needed to see them live. My son, who knows much more about the music of my own era than I do, had an extra ticket. Can’t believe that RK was never on my radar (although my son pointed out that they contributed a cover to If I Were a Carpenter, which I did listen to a lot twenty years ago), and that I had to learn about them from my way-cooler-than-me kid, but to be fair he is a musician working in extensions of the power-pop/punk realm, and I am but a lowly poet who has been buried under a mountain of random words for the past thirty years. I also cannot believe I managed to buy tickets to the show the day of. It made zero sense. Thanks for sharing — I enjoyed reading about the joy, mostly because I experienced the same but as a total newbie to the whole thing. I also hope things have been peaceful post-passing of beloved animals — I was sad to read about that.
Oh how I love when my favorite artists adore my other favorite artists. Makes my world ever smaller and I love that. So very sorry for your hard week and the goodbyes. Love is You.
The sheer joy I - and I think everyone else - felt at the Turf Club in St. Paul on July 15th was equally as life-confirming. I got to see them again in Carrboro a week-and-a-half later and that show was just as fun. I've been a fan as long as you have and count my lucky stars the brothers McDonald are still making music and playing live. The documentary is so so good - I hope you are able to see it at some point soon. I'm really sorry about all of your losses lately, but I'm glad you took some time for vacation and music joy.
So sorry for your losses Neko, I don’t know why we grieve our animal companions so much. Maybe for their innocence that we lack as humans? I loved the story of your journey to Toronto and it made me feel that I was there in my heart and walking that great city. Thank you for sharing this post.
..."tore my face off...scraped my skull clean..." now that is a great compliment
Nothing resets a soul and gets one past a bumpy stretch quite like live music, old friends, and a place that feels like home. May the memories comfort you. Peace, love & heal vibes sent your way.
Condolences for your losses this week.
Glad you had fun in Toronto. Not sure how these things come together, but an EP of punk covers by you and the Bros. McDonald playing together one day would be welcomed.
Much love to you, Jerome and Norm. I am so sorry for the loss of these special friends.
Caught them the first time at The Outhouse in Lawrence KS. It was a majestic display of over indulgence.
So sorry for your losses, maybe they choose those times because we're around and they wanttus close
Redd Cross opened for a Jane’s Addiction show I had tickets to in the early ‘90s. Only when we arrived at the venue, I realized that I had left the tickets in my car, so I had to take Metro back out to the suburbs where I had parked, and by the time I got back, I had missed Redd Cross. 😩
Vale two noble hearts. They will be missed mightily. Love to you all.
Music today feels good and gives us respite and inspiration. Peace to Norman and Jerome and their family.
As for Redd Kross - they were a def highlight of the recent Merge 35 celebration in Carrboro - approximately 40 bands there including your buddies from The New Pornographers who were cool as a cucumber and hot as a jalapeño.