uglyredhonda

Probably (and mainly) rights issues. Universal Canada controls Matt's music domestically. Matt has separate rights for the rest of the world, so he can organize a non-Canada disc without having to deal with Universal. But he (and his international label) can't release it in Canada. Universal could technically release the same disc themselves with or without Matt's input, but they'd have to license/acquire the artwork from him to release this exact version. However, they more than likely didn't want another compilation - at least, not yet. (If they did, they would probably insist on more "hits".) Honestly, though, it wouldn't surprise me if some music stores (eg, some of the bigger HMV's) decided to import it and sell it, anyway.

Still hunting. On this subject, found this post, titled Ghosted. Can't link directly to it, and the content feels too personal to re-post here, but it's about half-way down this page: http://web.archive.o...atthewgood.org/ ---- EDIT: Okay, I think I found the one Luke was looking for. Really, really long (and extremely personal) one. http://web.archive.o...hospital-music/

I scanned through the Web Archive for his blog posts during that era (late 2006), but couldn't find what I was remembering. There was this, though:

I think in this case, they want this to be a single catch-all release for people to get acquainted with Matt, not something for existing MG fans in other countries. In a Coma doesn't really fit that role, given the extra focus on MGB and the lack of post-2005 material. Honestly, if the idea is to introduce Matt, this doesn't feel like the right release for those b-sides. (And I say that as someone who loves those solo acoustic Massey tracks - particularly "99% of Us Is Failure", which was the Vancouver iTunes pre-order bonus.) And, now that I look at the tracklist again, something must have happened after Matt mentioned those possible tracks. Matt suggested that "Non Populus" would be on there, and it isn't. (I wish it were, though I'll admit to preferring the live version from the Kitchener boot to the album version.) I do think it's odd that "21st Century Living" is on there. I like that song, and it's unique in Matt's catalog, but the whole Super-Size thing feels a bit dated now - McDonald's got rid of it in 2004, and most fast food places (at least down here) only go so far as having a combo. (It made me wonder if they swapped "Non Populus" with something shorter, and had three-odd minutes left. Though, if that were the case, I probably would have gone with "Hopeless", if only for the bonus FU to Universal.)

According to MG.org: 1) Strange Days 2) In a World Called Catastrophe 3) Weapon 4) Apparitions [Live] 5) Load Me Up [Live] 6) Born Losers 7) Last Parade 8) Zero Orchestra 9) The Future Is X-Rated 10) 21st Century Living 11) Giant 12) Avalanche 13) Suburbia 14) While We Were Hunting Rabbits

You're not the only one. Believe me - nobody here has it. I seriously doubt anyone here has even heard it (apart from maybe the 30 second preview on iTunes, assuming there one was available during the preorder period). We know it exists, and we know they sold it. There were mumblings in 2005 that somebody knew someone who knew someone who bought it, but nobody ever said that they had ever actually heard it themselves. (In fact, the somebody knew somebody story said that the person didn't want to share it because of what it cost to buy it and because of the copy-protection that iTunes had at the time.) The problem was cost. When the album came out, you could get the physical CD with the DVD of the videos for about $20. If you bought the iTunes version, you got only the music on the two CDs (and in 128kbps format) plus "All Together" - and no videos whatsover - for $26. Everyone wanted the DVD - buying the iTunes version meant you were basically buying "All Together" for $26. When I had the chance to talk to Matt in 2008, the only question I asked him was, "Could you ask Universal to put 'All Together' on iTunes." He was really nice about it, but it didn't sound like something that was going to happen (and didn't). There's another version of "All Together" floating around that's a remaster (that I did) of the unfinished copy. That's probably as close to a "final version" as we're ever going to get.

Huge thanks to nmf for the tip on the XM app. Ended up on a road trip, and spent most of the drive listening to the show through my phone. (Yay for decent 3G coverage.) Just awesome. Btw - does anyone know who played drums for Matt? I haven't been able to find any decent pictures or video, but, from the little I've found, it doesn't look like Ian (or Blake). (It looks/sounds like a harder hitter than either.) He sounded really good - but I noticed some of the (minor) fill changes that made me wonder if it was someone else.

Good grief, this. There seriously needs to be PSA or something.

For anyone who hadn't seen this on Matt's website - "Rabbits" acoustic. One word: AWESOME. (It seems like he's spent a long time trying to figure out how to play this acoustically, and it's great to see such a brilliant take.) /continuing to kick myself for not being able to catch this tour

People usually just post them in the tour thread rather than as something separate. (I'm assuming Anton will merge this with that thread.) I think, right now, the issue is that nobody here attended any of the US shows thus far. Even setlist.fm doesn't have them. I suspect this tour will be sparse as far as setlist reports - I'm not sure too many folks here are going to be able to make any of the shows.

The third song was "99% of Us Is Failure". Of the three Vancouver bonus tracks, I think that one was my favorite. Matt uploaded it to his SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.co...is-failure-live (His version includes the banter that followed, which is pretty great, too.)

Yeah, the 2007 Massey Hall show was recorded. If you're in Canada, you can buy two of the songs from it on iTunes - they're the acoustic bonus tracks on Vancouver. (A third song was offered as a pre-order bonus.) I don't think Matt was entirely pleased with his performance that night. (If you can find the original thread from the show, he posted a little bit about it.) He was a little bit nervous at the outset. I'd still love for that show to be released in full, if only because of how brilliant the last encore was. But that probably won't happen - Massey Hall is a union venue, so there are extra costs involved in releasing anything recorded there. I think a live acoustic album or EP would be fantastic. Honestly, if it were me, I'd do it on the super cheap - drag along a digital four-track, use two tracks to record the audience, one track each for voice and guitar. Pick out the best moments from the tour (or the best whole-show) and release it.

Matt apparently dropped the key of the song before he got to the west coast. This is from Kitchener. I think it sounds more like the original, and maybe a bit more powerful: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=5EMQABFR

Not for Strombo - on his show, that's relatively light, particularly for somebody like Matt. And, actually, that 7 minutes includes a minute-long intro. The interview: http://www.cbc.ca/st...l?ID=2172196129

Sucks that they waited this long to air it. (It was taped in September before the tour started.) I would bet pretty heavily that it went much longer than 7 minutes when it was taped - I assuming he spent a while talking about current events that would no longer be current.

Matt has never glorified or celebrated drug use. Big difference. When the guy in SoaPS was "dimed", he's lamenting that fact - it's why he can't remember 1989 or what she looked like. My comment about "being Jamaican" was more about the use of terms like "ganja". It felt like he listened to Bob Marley and wrote a pop-reggae song using the words he heard. Some dude from BC isn't using "ganja" in his day-to-day life. To me (with emphasis, to me), it's cheap, generic, and derivative. Honestly, I really wanted to like his stuff, but I kept getting thrown by the fact that it felt like he was just borrowing from the Sublime catalog and adding a dash of Dave Matthews. That doesn't mean people can't like his music. It just didn't do anything for me. I didn't feel like it was anything new or interesting. (For the record, I thought Mother Mother was amazing as an opener.) But, yeah, I thought Daniel really was a bad fit for Matt. And I still suspect that Universal put that pairing together. Btw - I think Matt was specifically talking about pot, not about smoking in general. (I don't think he'd have said anything if someone had lit up a regular cigarette up close.) And, honestly, I come down on Matt's side of the pot equation. I don't care if people want to smoke pot, and I have quite a lot of friends who do. But I can't stand it when people toke up at a concert, for all of the reasons that Matt gave in London. It smells awful, and you're not going to feel anything right away, anyway. If you really want to be high at a show, do it beforehand and you'll be good-to-go during the show. Doing it during a show means infringing on the people around you and their enjoyment of the show. (I actually consider it disrespectful and callous to smoke up during a show, unless it's a band that's known for being a pot-smoking-friendly band.)

Probably too late for me to suggest this, but I would just go to the venue as early as you can, head directly to the box office, and see what they've got. It's pretty common for good tickets come available day-of. Whether resellers will be at the venue depends on the venue, but it's not out of the question. Honestly, if you got there and the box office had nothing, I would make a little sign saying that you're looking for one ticket for yourself. It seems to be pretty common for people to buy more tickets than they need and just eat any that they're not using, so if you give off the vibe that you're actually going to use the ticket yourself, you might get one at a good price.

I doubt they're on sale. It's pretty early - I believe the tour is still being worked out, so most of these dates aren't really "official" yet.

Feb 29 - Pittsburgh, PA - Club Cafe http://www.clubcafelive.com/events/event.php?eid=1645

Pollstar has a Feb 28th date at House of Blues in Cleveland, Ohio. And it looks like Tickemaster wiped the other dates out of their database.

Days late, but here's the Kitchener setlist from last Friday: Lights of Endangered Species Last Parade Born Losers What If I Can't See the Stars, Mildred? Zero Orchestra Hello Time Bomb Load Me Up Non-Populus Apparitions Weapon Shallow's Low While We Were Hunting Rabbits How It Goes Set Me on Fire

They definitely didn't block out the front rows for VIP. I had second row for London and front row for Kitchener, all non-VIP. (In fairness, both were singles. I also bought a second row for Hamilton that I didn't end up using.) I'd thought about doing the VIP, but I figured I've met Matt a few times and I wasn't sure if I needed the other stuff. (I probably ended up spending about the same across both nights by buying the Hammy ticket and a signed poster.) Oddly - at London, the posters were selling for $25 either signed or unsigned. At Kitchener, they'd switched to $25/$15 signed/unsigned. (I'm glad I bought a signed one in London - I'd have been kind of upset had I bought an unsigned, then spotted it for ten bucks less the next night - though I certainly understand the price change.) I have a setlist from Kitchener - I'll try and post it tonight. I thought the London setlist was the better of the two - ending the main set with "Weapon" always feels great (especially as they each walk off the stage while the song's still going). And I think this version of "Rabbits" is a perfect set closer. Having said that, I think the performance itself was maybe a touch better in Kitchener, but both were fantastic. I really enjoyed the hell out of both nights. I especially love what Ian is bringing. Blake was great, too, but the little fills and whatnot that Ian's throwing in add a lot to me, especially (though not limited to) the MGB songs. (It seems like Matt usually likes a little less clutter, so it was a little surprising to me.) I was actually pretty impressed - it looks like Ian's got drum charts beside him for certain songs, which is definitely not an easy way to play. (I'm guessing that was what was on his music stand.) The keyboard guy is awesome. I love how he's over there grooving away, and often looks like he's having a total blast. Did anyone mention that there were horns on "Zero Orchestra"? They're just not live. Ian's (apparently) playing to a click track along with the studio recordings of the horns - at least, that's what it sounded like. (It didn't sound like synthesized horns, which was what I was expecting.) The new guitarist is solid, but it seemed at times that he might be new-ish to this level. At one point (I think "Non-Populus" in Kitchener), he paused mid-solo to adjust his guitar tone. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but I'm usually of the mind that tone doesn't really matter as long as the notes are there - nobody's going to notice the tone, but a few might notice the pause or the tone change. Having said that, I like what he's bringing, too. He's definitely not as technically precise as Stu, but I like that kind of less-polished style, too. This lineup has really great rock moments - "X-Rated" in London was one of the big highlights. And, honestly, I have a feeling that these guys will be tight by the end of the tour - as of Friday, it doesn't sound like they're that far away. And that's saying a lot, considering the complexity of the newer material. I hate being the contrarian, but I can't say I was that impressed with the opener. I've usually dug Matt's openers for the uniqueness of their style, but I really didn't hear anything unique here. For example, while Dala is pretty much straight ahead folk(-rock), if you heard one of their songs, you'd know it was them. But Wesley's music often sounded like a bunch of other bands - several of his songs sounded like Sublime being fronted by Jack Johnson. (I'll admit I had a little bit of an "Enh, really?" reaction to some of the casual drug references. Unless you're from Jamaica and/or related to Bob Marley, you can skip singing about "smok[ing] a little ganja".) The hooks were there at times, but it felt a little hollow and a little too polished. Man, they were tight, though - his bass player was spectacular.

I may be totally mistaken, but wasn't this the little song that played on Matt's site? There was a little globe icon in a Flash movie that would play a little instrumental when you visited the site. Having said that, I think that was longer ago than 2007, so maybe I'm thinking of something else.

Yup! I've always had good luck with presales there (scored one today in BB). TO venues, forget it. Seems like they always save the best seats for the main on-sale. (I saw one first-row balcony seat at the QET today, which I probably would have lived with if I hadn't decided to go to Hamilton.)

The venue presale code is HECFI. (Though, now that I look at it, it looks like the same batch of seats.) And, if anyone's curious, it turns out that the first rows aren't entirely blocked out for VIP tickets.