No S.C.E.N.E For Kristine. But There Will Always Be More Music.

(*Note. This is intended as a humorous article. The facts are true, but my melancholy, overstatements, and pomposity are all jokes.)

This post is supposed to be about all the fun times I had at the S.C.E.N.E Music Festival. I’m supposed to talk all about how I went to St. Catharines and the people were floored.

I was supposed to interview a great-but-undiscovered band and bring them to the Canadian consciousness. In doing so, I would prove what a spectacular talent I was. I would write my article and show my photos, and win myself a few prizes along the way. (I’m thinking a Governor Generals Award or three. And a couple of Granges. Nothing major. Yet.)

But none of it turned out that way because the universe hates me.

Instead, the night before S.C.E.N.E, I was admitted to the hospital with a migraine and severe dehydration. And the prescription to rid my ails? (Aside from some medicine.) ‘Plenty of rest.’

There went all my hopes and dreams, down the drain!  I felt like crying bitter tears. I felt like pounding my fists into the wall. I felt like tearing the very hair from my head.

This has given me inspiration for a new book. ‘Lamentations.’ (Nobody’s written that before right?) And even if they did, they don’t comprehend my pain. I mean, I missed a music festival. That’s like dying.

But there is an upside: The Canada Day weekend shines like a lighthouse. At Gage Park, there is It’s Your Festival. Snakecharmer, Frankie and Jimmy, and more will be playing. (It’s free.)

And Canada Day, This Ain’t Hollywood will celebrating the independence of our nation by shattering the sound barrier around it. There is going to be a Punk Rock matinée that runs from 5:00pm to 1:00am. We’re finally going to see and hear the result of all this waiting on one, all-Hamilton comp. ($10 gets you into the show and a record.)

Why The Name Made Of Steeltown?

I know nobody asked, but I’m dying to tell the story of the name of this blog. And the name under which Thunder is published on paper.

When people are told they are tough, they are often told they are ‘Made of steel.’.

But being from Hamilton, and a person who tries to absorbs alot, I like to think I am ‘Made Of Steeltown.’

Obviously, anybody is half of their biological mother’s DNA, half their biological father’s.

But I think I’m composed of that and more.

I consider so many little parts of Hamilton to be a part of me. St Joseph’s Hospital, because I was born there. Gage Park. Our libraries. Defasco and Stelco. Ottawa Street. Homegrown Hamilton. This Ain’t Hollywood. King Street. The Casbah. Hammer City Records. James Street. Crash Landing. Dr Disc. Books And Beats. Our wonderful music, from every genre.

And the people. I can’t say enough about how great they are.

Everything above has helped me become who I am in one way or another. And I hope to reflect that in both life and writing.