Calgary Buzz: He's Still Lorrie From The Block

While this intrepid columnist puts the finishing touches on his holiday gifts (mix CDs of commercial R&B – love don’t cost a thang, and mix CDs are only slightly more expensive), it was heartening to see two last minute additions to the long list of local releases available for seasonal gift giving. The first is the much-anticipated (a phrase that, in this case, actually applies) release from Lorrie Matheson. A local veteran, Matheson has garnered acclaim nationwide for his songwriting, and it is plainly evident throughout the 11 tracks that make up You Should Know Me By Now. The aptly titled disc is the first that Matheson has released under his own name, having previously gained attention as the creative force behind National Dust. The second release isn’t really music, per se, but rather the unlikely combination of activism and comedy. The Spam Avenger (both the name of the disc and it’s creator) documents one man’s effort to rid the world of spam email, and the results are both brilliant and hilarious. You know all those emails that ask if you want to earn $10,000 a month from your home? The Spam Avenger actually responds to these people, and proceeds to confuse and befuddle them throughout their never ending follow up calls, secretly taping each and every moment. It’s fun for the whole family, and in the truest spirit of the holiday, appeals to everyone: I mean, is there anybody who likes spam? Check out thespamavenger.com for details. In a decidedly un-seasonal (and unrelated) note, the all ages scene is facing another crackdown. Citing the usual complaints — vandalism, underage drinking, etc — it appears that all ages shows will be facing a great deal of police scrutiny. This in itself is nothing new, however the totally unconfirmed and vague rumour surrounding the crackdown is unlike anything this writer has heard before. According to reports on www.calgarypunk.com, it seems that while investigating a noise complaint from a resident who lives close to one of the city’s main all-ages venues, a police officer somehow shot himself in the leg. This has apparently led police to decide that all-ages shows are unsafe. Go figure. With everyone hunkering down to eat turkey, or turducken, or tofurkey, or whatever the hell people are eating this year, it seems that nobody remembered to book any shows. As a result, the pickings are slim to none in the live venues. Staying at home with a live album, lighting a bunch of cigarettes and letting them burn in the ashtray and spilling a drink on yourself is about as close you’ll get to a worthwhile live experience. Between all these mix CDs, though, who has the time to go out? Now I just need to find "Jenny From The Block," and this one’s finished…—Derek McEwenDerek McEwen is still reeling from Clay's traumatic loss on Survivor last night. His column appears bi-weekly.