Elliott BROOD

Ah, the joys of an early evening show. Perhaps it's the weather, or it could be the recent seasonal time change, maybe it's how the crowd is of a slightly different demographic; certainly it can't be my getting slightly older and less likely to see 10:30 anymore, or at least I will refuse that possibility. No, I'm not sure what exactly it is that makes the event of an early concert such a joyous occasion, suffice it to say that it just is; and so when Elliott BROOD take to the stage at The Vinyl when the clock barely strikes 8:30pm, opening their set with an energy sure to only grow, I find myself a happy man.

I feel it prudent to interject the story quickly here by stating that I was and still truly am sad for having missed Jessy Bell Smith open the show. Possibly the one and only downside to a 7:30 start would be the tendency to not make it quite on time.

For those who were fortunate and punctual enough to see her play: how was it? I'd love some highlights.

For those of you unfamiliar with Jessy: please do yourselves all the favour of attending the EBar performance on April 15th with Old Man Luedecke - yummy east coast music day.

But I digress, this entry and this evening is about The BROOD and their soul-inspired, folky good times.

From Toronto, Ontario, Elliott BROOD is a group of three guys who, in the opinion of this writer, are out on a mission to do nothing more than bring good music to good people. Admittedly only slightly familiar with their first major release, Ambassador, more comfortable with their latest release, Mountain Meadows, and a virgin to their live show, I was a little unsure of what to expect from the stage. Of course, one of the many beauties of writing on such topics is the act of research and the discovery of greater things; so, quickly I went from unfamiliar to ecstatically excited for the show, and, believe me, they did not disappoint.

I'm sure by now you've realized that I travel to many concerts, as many as I can take in, and I try my best to report back on those that I truly feel worth while to the reader. Be advised that, while you may think I live in a world of only positive opinions, their are many bands and many thoughts you do not get to read because, well, I don't deem them worth the time it would take to write them. As such, when you sign on to The Locale and find yourselves perusing the script of a band called Elliott BROOD, a band whose accolades are now spreading through The United States and onto the big screen at Sundance Festival, please understand that you are only reading these words because they are well worth taking in, but, of course, not nearly as much as their music.

Perched upon a tiny stage, only just large enough for its three members, Casey, Stephen and Mark proved to all us Guelphites in attendance that it doesn't take an army to rock a house down. There's something to be said about tunes that get you stomping, clapping, jumping and singing all at the same time. Bringing the early evening's high to a deceiving plateau of already high energy and fun, Elliott BROOD seemed to surprise even themselves when the crowd invested all they had into making the songs move them through and through; and it was at this point the band seemed to kick it into an even higher gear, bringing the audience even further into their infectious and addictive sound

I had a chance between other eager listeners to speak briefly with Casey after the show and, as mentioned before, even he seemed incredibly surprised by the crowd's enthusiasm for their music, especially at such an early hour. In my opinion, the authentically humble reaction of a musician excited for the work that he does speaks volumes to the caliber of the artist, and for your work, certainly you should be proud.

In the event that you've not heard Elliott BROOD's brand of ear candy just yet, I am hesitant to state some comparisons, or even their inspirations for that matter, for the simple reason that you may go in with an expectation or understanding of something completely different and, quite frankly, not as good as what you'd hear from the BROOD. So, instead I will simply ask, or rather urge you to go to their myspace, scroll down the page, hit play on Oh, Alberta, and be prepared to proceed with the rest of their catalogue. Research as I did and find yourselves just a little deeper into a world of music you perhaps didn't know was there.

Keep your ears and eyes open for more from Elliott BROOD as they continue to tour in promotion of the continuing success of Mountain Meadows and the upcoming release of Grown Up Movie Star at the Sundance Film Festival.


Cheers for now
Phil

Elliott BROOD
http://www.myspace.com/elliottbrood

Grown Up Movie Star
http://www.grownupmoviestar.com/

Borealis - The Taste of Ontario

When I started The Locale back in May, I was excited at the prospect of learning the area, tasting a new side to the familiar and exploring the pride of the entrepreneurial spirit. Thus far it has been a very rewarding experience and throughout all of my dining, business and musical ventures, there have been some really great people, all with a vision and hope of keeping the sense of community growing strong. Well, not to suggest that any predecessors fall short of standing proud, but when I walked into Borealis the other night, I found precisely everything that The Locale intends to stand for and expose to the rest of Guelph. So, with hometown spirit on a high, read on, and get hungry.

Like most things worth while tend to do, the recommendation of Borealis came to me by reputable word of mouth praise; and while I will continue to pay forward what is proven to be the best form of marketing for this restaurant, I must first delve further into the experience that surrounds it. They are, after all, selling a culture, a movement and an inspiring concept with every meal.

First off, fortuitous was it for us that, showing up at 8:00 on a Monday evening, we happened upon their couples evening and cheap S.P.A pint night. First impressions? Hoorah!

And so, initial excitement from sweet deals and increased cravings aside, when we entered into the lobby we were greeted most amicably and offered a seat at the bar while we waited for a table (yes, 8:00 on a weekday and the place was at its capacity, so, second impressions? It must be worth our while to wait) It didn't take but 10 minutes for us to find ourselves with cold pints, menus and a table on the bar side where we would enjoy the remainder of our evening. After a detailed study of the menu, it came down to some tough decisions on how this meal would play out for us. See, with the couples menu you are entitled to one appetizer, two mains and one desert; the problem, however, was that choosing only one of the descriptors on the menu was difficult when tummies were rumbling in anticipation. But, after much deliberation, the baked goat cheese, fish and chips, beer can chicken and butter tart were the path on which we chose to take the culinary adventure.

Now then, I could sit here and dwell on the fabulousness of the food, the freshness of the ingredients, the care in which they were presented, how we had portions filling enough that we had to take the desert to go, and I could certainly take up much of your time in explaining how these seemingly plain menu items are worlds apart from what you might be comparing them to in your head; but for me to do so would only take away from a greater part of this restaurant's story, and so I continue...

See, Borealis, while priding itself on local foods, organic produce, free-range poultry, and knowing precisely where each and every one of their ingredients comes from, there is an equal pride and gentle care taken with absolutely every aspect of the restaurant. From floors to ceiling, taps to tables, and preserves to paintings, the place has been constructed with Guelph in mind. Owned and operated by the same great people that brought us the Wooly downtown, the concept of this restaurant has been researched and planned for many years, often times at the expense of the owners and investors. As the general manager explained to us during our stay, it would be easy for the restaurant to cut corners, save a few bucks in places where no one would know the difference, but there is a refusal on all parties involved to make that sacrifice. They have vowed and dedicated themselves to the local, green, sustainable market, no matter what it costs them.

As Court (the aforementioned GM) continued to explain, there is a further pride taken in making sure that the staff are all behind the project as well. I've personally worked in many restaurants through the years, and never before have I experienced the pleasure of having my managers take me on a field trip to the farm where we buy our greens; but perhaps that's because most restaurant managers couldn't tell you where that farm is, I mean, it just comes off a delivery truck and gets put in the walk-in with everything else. Ah, but not here my friends, here they know exactly where each detail got its harvest. The tables, for example, were constructed from a dying tree that once stood proudly by the Woolwich Arms, and why wouldn't' they be? Why waste what need not be wasted?

And so it goes that I find myself rambling a little bit, but rambling spawns from the excitement of discovering a true local entrepreneurial spirit that I've been craving for so long. It should be plenty obvious here that my recommendation towards Borealis stands strong; be it on couples night in their dining room, or a weekend dine with pals on the bar side, get out there and try anything on their menu, learn how fresh, local food is really supposed to taste, and talk to the staff about what it is they are achieving, each and every one of them should be proud of it.

Cheers Guelph
Phil

Borealis
http://www.borealisgrille.ca/

The Bonfire Ball

As an increasingly frustrated crowd forms withing a growing line of eager concert goers, a single common appreciation for nice weather is about the only peace to be acknowledged. At 8:00 pm, the line began to form, tickets were sold in advance to those who were fortunate enough to beat the forming crowd, but for the many were who standing with only the slightest hope of gaining access to the venue there was an aura of anticipated disappointment. Two hours later, the doors to the EBar opened up and an announcement was made that only 30 additional tickets would be available for the hands of those near the front of the pack. Luckily for us, and thanks to a willing friend who stood there for hours, we made our way inside.

Okay, so I am going to be fair here in my review of the music, but what's interesting to me is that, while for the most part I did enjoy the songs themselves, what entertained me more was the format in which they flowed; allow me to explain.

Typically in a three band line up, you have an opener, followed by a small break, then a follow-up band, another small break and then the headliner. This is the standard for just about every show or concert that I have been to, and while it does work, the unfortunate side of it is that very few people actually pay proper attention to the opening acts; and many times they are missing out on someone great. What Jason Collett and troupe have done, however, is decide to mingle through the evening and share the stage for a more collaborative effort. The result of this collective was most enjoyable to an audience who got to hear unique versions of familiar songs, while at the same time hearing new artists and discovering music they might otherwise have left for a smoke on the patio or apps in the lounge. So, the first thing I have to say about the evening is how impressed I was by this effort, I hope to see it continue as a trend in the future.

Now, as far as the individual acts were concerned, I will admit my unfamiliarity with Zeus, my mild knowledge and experience of Bahamas at Hillside Inside, and that the only artist in my collection up until now has been Jason. Please don't mistake me or get me wrong for what I am about to say, I enjoy Collett and his music, I will continue to buy his Cd's and jam with his tunes, but on this evening what really caught my attention was Zeus and their crafty, harmony-laden, catchy little ditties.

The core of the group hail from Barrie, Ontario, and as a former resident of Barrie myself, it's pretty nice to see these guys making way onto the scene from a familiar part of the province. Signed to the great Arts and Crafts label (who are also responsible for gifting us Broken Social Scene, The Constantines, and Timbre Timbre, just to name a few) and armed with a new full -length album, entitled Say Us, the band is on tour with Collett and Bahamas for what has been named The Bonfire Ball; the brain child of Jason, who wanted to put on a show in the flowing format I previously described; well done Jason, well done indeed.

Zeus reminds me a little of Dr. Dog for those in need of a comparison, but I think it is really only truly fair to say that they sound, well, like Zeus. You'd be making a wise investment in time by hitting up their myspace, and shortly after that, buying their album, you wont regret it. I particularly recommend the strangely familiar sounds of "How Does it Feel?" and the infectiously catchy "River By the Garden"

As mentioned before, I really don't want to downplay the abilities and talents of Bahamas or Jason because they were both worth the lengthy wait, and definitely you should prepare yourself to hear more from Bahamas as the new CD picks up steam and well deserved acclaim, in fact I might strongly suggest throwing on the recently released Pink Strat, picking up a guitar of your own, and just relaxing as you play along to the mellow mood of the album, an hour well spent in my opinion.

Overall I was impressed, and even now as I listen to Say Us through my stereo speakers, I feel as though my time and money were well invested, leaving me wanting to see them again soon, singing along this time as my familiarity with the well-crafted album quickly grows. Act for act, the night was an enjoyable one, even if frustrating to start. The Bonfire Ball continues its journey through Ontario and given an opportunity to do so I'd say there are much worse ways you could spend an evening, so please, visit the sites, hear the music and hit the road for some drinks and an evening of unique and well constructed entertainment.

Until the next time,

Phil

Zeus

http://www.myspace.com/zeusofficial

Bahamas

http://www.myspace.com/bahamasbreeze

Jason Collett

http://myspace.com/jasoncollett

Thai Fighters - A Long Time Ago...

Episode Two: Time is a Relative Thing

While Pad Thai, at the most basic of its ingredient list, has been around for many, many years, the popularization of the modern dish is actually quite young. Research I've compiled has been surprisingly tricky, but what I can determine from a list of reputable sources, is that even though the direct origin is unknown, (though it would appear a best guess that we owe many thanks to the Vietnamese) the date in which we recognize Pad Thai's inaugural feast is somewhere in the late 1930's to the early 40's. Of course, this isn't to say that it was a completely new and revolutionary dish at this point in history, it simply helps us get an idea as to when it became more of a wide-spread staple in the modern world. Though, having said that, depending on which part of this great Earth you happen upon this tasty treat, you may find a few alterations, though slight they may be.

In North America, for example, we happily consume heavy portions of noodles, tamarind, tofu, egg and lime. While in places like, oh I don't know, Thailand perhaps, a much lighter version of the dish would be most commonly found. Taste would be, and is likely just the same no matter where you dine, with a list of ingredients comparable down to one simple difference: oil. See, we love our oil here in North America, a little too much, and we aren't afraid to overuse it, which is precisely why Pad Thai gains weight, and subsequently why we do too. This is not to say that oil is forgotten in the overseas regions of "anywhere else" it just seems to be used in different ways. However, be it on the streets of Thailand at some random sketchy food cart, or on the streets of Toronto in some random sketchy dive, Pad Thai is Pad Thai and it can either be tasty, or it can induce unhappy times; which seems a good point should to take us forward to the main event: I wonder what tantalizing treasure or terrifying tales our next competitor has to tell; on with the battle!

Operation: Sombat the Thai Guy

First Impressions - Honestly, to speak of firsts, I was immediately finding myself comparing it to the previous contestant, and found myself thinking "Wow, this place obviously cares much more about how it presents itself" For one thing, I felt as though I was in a well lit, well decorated, friendly and prompt business. Tables were laid out methodically, the floors were well kept, and, as I just mentioned, the lighting was cheerful and clean; well, clean as far as light is concerned; I'm just going to trust you know what I mean by that. In other words, first impression of Sombat was a positive one on its own and a welcome change by comparison.

Atmosphere - Feeling as though I mainly covered this subject in the "Impressions" column, I am opting to forgo further detail and just say that it was certainly inviting, and friendly in the details.

Service - Okay, so here is yet another area in which Sombat managed to lift my expectations from the mud they had been previously buried under. Not only were we greeted promptly and offered to sit wherever we chose, we were also given the space and time we precisely desired to choose from the menu of fine selections. When we did make said choices, the wait was quoted to us at 5-10 minutes; "Sure, I've heard those words before a 30-minute wait on more than one occasion" an admittedly negative and jaded thought which ran through my previously unhappy, Thai-experienced mind. Yet, I should not have been so quick to sarcastically judge and critique, because within that promised time frame we were walking out the door with food in hand.* So, on service, an A+ from the teacher, or I guess maybe I'm the student in this case. Hmmm, well, whatever position and power I happen to hold, I bestow upon the kindly staff of Sombat a gold star of excellence in the field of hospitality and service.

*In case I had not previously mentioned this, we opted for the take out experience.

Food - Ah, yes, the big one. The category that seems to outrank anything previously mentioned and really stand as the be-all, end-all, make or break, dine or dash rating. Well, pleased am I to say that in this case I would dine again; and oh how I would dine. Not only was the food plentiful and hearty, it was delicious, authentic, well presented (and when it comes to take out, if a restaurant can still pull off a presentation technique to impress the diner, then kudos to them) the food was also extremely reasonable and fair on the pocket book. Were I to compare it to Lemongrass, I would find myself dining on lager portions at a fraction of the price; and that's me comparing apples to apples of course, Pad Thai and spring rolls. In a word: delicious.

Now then, overall ranking? To go by my seemingly random and obscure rating system: 4 out of 5 stars. Why not the full 5? What went wrong that I wouldn't award full points to Sombat and the crew? Simply put, to give anything in life perfect points would imply that they not only don't need to, but they simply can't and should never bother trying to improve and up their game; and this would simply be a foolish decision for any business. Have I had better Thai food? Yes, many times. Have I had worse Thai food? Oh, dear have I ever. The point of this case study, however, is that I have not yet had better in Guelph, but the search will continue, and the battle aint over 'till there's only one left standing; for now it's Sombat, but who knows what underdog may take the crown in the next episode of Thai Fighters.

Thanks for reading folks, and happy eating as always.

Phil

Sombat the Thai Guy

565 Woodlawn Road West

Guelph, On

Into The Crystal Ball

Well folks, March is upon us, and with it comes new and exciting adventures. With the snow melting and the Sun finally staying up past the 5:00 mark, the time for outdoor exploration grows fonder. So, with that being said, I thought I would just quickly update you on some current projects I've taken on.

First - the continuation of Thai Fighters moves forward with its second installment; can Sombat The Thai Guy pull it off and take the lead in this slow but tantalizing race? We'll soon find out.

Second - March 11th, an exciting day for music as the EBar plays host to Jason Collett, Zeus and Bahamas. I've no doubt this show will sell out so I would strongly recommend seeking out your reservations on the "sooner rather than later" side of things.

Third - Recipes, recipes, recipes. It would seem that I get more and more requests for recipes from my travels and experiences, and so to your requests I will reply. Given that my cravings jump so drastically from day to day, I cannot tell you immediately what I will conjure up for these postings, but I give you my word that I will do my best to make them interesting, hopefully delicious, and far more frequent.

Fourth - the complete unknown. If I knew all that I was about to embark upon within any given time frame, then I fear the true sense of adventure would dissipate into the completely uninteresting. So, for this reason, I can only tell you that I'm hopeful for some unexpected, fun-filled, perhaps mildly harrowing journey on which I can proudly, safely, and excitedly report back on. Only time can tell what this category will hold for us all.

And so without further ado, I depart from this entry and make way to my first listing, towards the road of cut-throat noodles, soups and curries; I take one more step into the fiery furnace of Thai Fighters, to face off against Sombat and his legendary cuisine.

Reporting soon with further results,

Phil