Through some circuitous route that, for now, escapes me (but possibly involved Grizzly Bear) I just came across this great site full of intimate impromptu performances from great indie bands. Check out Arcade Fire's two songs - first in a freight elevator, and then out in the middle of the audience waiting for them to come on stage. Some very happy fan faces there. I love this! Who knows how our concert visits will pan out this year after last year's epic excess of wonderfully intimate gigs, but with sites like this you can capture that small venue feel in the comfort of your own home. When you're not playing Beatles Rock Band of course...

Labels: Music, videos

You can currently watch the Gorillaz documentary 'Bananaz' online for free right now. It's a great behind the scenes look at one of this decade's biggest bands, from the initial conception right through to their rapidly sold out shows in NYC.

Labels: Music, videos

Missing resFest? Me too. Go Pleix!

Labels: Design, Music, videos

Very excited to see her later this year... it's been too long.

Labels: heroes, Music, videos

The ever lovely Spoon River featuring the ever lovely Jason Kent played last night at Club Lambi. I'll post up a few more videos soon, but in the meantime here's the first.

Labels: Bands, friends, gigs, Montreal, videos

Floating out in the middle of the Pacific Ocean is a patch of garbage the size of Texas. Mostly consisting of plastics that will never bio-degrade, the valiant crew of the good ship Vice Magazine head out there to report on what's really happening.

Labels: Environment, videos

My Canadian drinking buddy and part time yoga studio sweeper Jason Kent has released his splendid eponymous album for your delight and enjoyment. I think it's only out in Canada right now, so those non-Canadians out there will have to fly over here and buy it. Off you go now...

In the meantime, here's Jason demonstrating his musical talents by running through the entire album in one go (with Jen, owner of the best yoga studio in Montreal, on camera):

Labels: Bands, Canada, friends, Montreal, Music, videos

At times I think myself and my family are hoarders, unable to get rid of things because we just might need them. But then I watched this amazing film - POSSESSED by Martin Hampton - and realised we weren't so bad.

Hampton's documentary looks into the homes and lives of four OCD sufferers, whose symptoms come out as an inability to let go of possessions. It's beautiful, haunting stuff and certainly makes you wonder about things like "who are we when we let everything in our lives go?", and "how much impact do we have on this world in a lifetime?", as well as "how many 3G phones do you really need?"

Labels: culture, life changing, videos

Richard Feynman is one of the geniuses of the 20th century, not only winning the Nobel prize for Physics, but also for being able to explain complex physics theories in a manner that even dumb Physics degree students (like me) can understand. Feynman was also involved with developing the bomb at Los Alamos that later went on to destroy Hiroshima, and hearing him talk of his and everyone's elses' reaction at the time is somewhat chilling.

This video is only part one of six, all of which should should up in the related videos if you go direct to youTube.

Labels: Genius, heroes, Physics, Richard Feynman, videos

Miette and Michah having fun throwing stones at the chunks of ice floating in Lake Ontario. Bad ice!

Labels: Canada, Nature, videos

Another weird and wonderful improv piece from New York. I probably would have started giggling, but maybe that's in the out-take reel. Wonder if this would have worked better with a more Spencer Tunick approach...

Labels: funny, New York Shows, videos

For this year's CES Bill Gates and some other slightly less famous folks* put together a faux "Bill Gates' Last Day at Microsoft" video. What's amazing about this is that Bill Gates actually comes across as pretty funny, and I have to admit that I never thought I'd enjoy a Microsoft video direct from source - but it's good to be proved wrong. Nice job, Bill!

* Some of those less famous folks; Matthew McConaughey, Bono, Jay Z, Al Gore, Hilary Clinton, George Clooney, Steven Spielberg and Jon Stewart. I guess it's great to have celeb friends and a few billion dollars spare.

Labels: funny, videos

Many years ago the Monty Python chaps cames over to the US o' A to publicize their show for PBS. Luckily for us, an enterprising TV chap kept a small snippet of the interview - featuring Michael Palin, Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam and a mildly inebriated Graham Chapman, all with wonderful 70s hair. Enjoy.

Labels: Genius, heroes, tv, videos

More here...

I miss my cat.. Although I suspect if I tried to get her to star in videos like this she'd either give me a look that immediately cut me down to size, or if I was lucky she'd just rake my eyes out.

Labels: cats, cute, videos

I love David Cross. And I love David Showalter. If they had a kid he'd be called David Crossalter. Or maybe David Shoss. Even if it was a girl.

Labels: funny, videos

This is amazing...

Labels: Art, videos

I first saw this video on the unfortunately on hiatus RES magazine monthly DVD, and I've loved it ever since. Finally it's turned up on youTube. My favourite part? The mechanic turned stripper - awesome!

Labels: Music, videos

For us Brits there is no surprise that Hugh Laurie is such a big success with his Fox series 'House', he's a talented actor that we've enjoyed for many years. However there is some level of amazement that Hugh is doing a series with an American accent, and one that is apparently very good. Well he's been doing it for years, as you can see from this early 'rap' video he did for 'A Little Bit of Fry & Laurie'

Labels: Brit Stuff, comedy, tv, videos

This advert is beautiful. John Cleese compares a Compaq 'portable' computer from the 80s, with a fish. Spoiler: They both weight 22lbs, but that's the only similarity. Either way that's four times the weight of my MacBook Pro.

Labels: funny, History of Computers, videos

Speaking of cash rich stratas of society - last night at an interesting panel discussion about niche social networks I had the unpleasant experience of hearing someone talk about 'A Small World', the private online community for those rich enough to aspire to own their own jet. Their goal is, to quote "Aggregate the world's most interesting people with the world's most interesting information". Wow. I think they meant 'arrogant' instead of 'interesting', but I guess if your life's interests are the latest Hermes purse and how to spend daddy's money they knock yourselves out in finding new ways to do that. No really - knock yourselves out. Hard. Of course to the high rolling brands that this affluent clique want, this website is a godsend - so advertising and marketing dollars flood in there.

Now obviously this site didn't create this strata of people, they just cater to them, but what's fascinating is that this site, along with daily gossip columns, makes these people much more visible than before. Strangely, most people don't like what they stand for - in fact in the presentation last night a noticeable coldness swept over most of the audience, full of those folks thrilled with the current 'democritization of content creation'. I wonder how long before the proletariat will rise up and overthrow them? Or at least create an amusing video mashup on youTube that everyone watches... I can see it now, 'A Small World: The Real Life' - it's the next Bold and the Beautiful.

Labels: society, videos, web 2.0

As mentioned the other day I recently succumbed to buying Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) for fun not profit. Having watched this little asian kid bounce around and score AA on a hard song I know I have some ways to go still.

On a different video note: this video of a fat kid screaming on a roller coaster is highly disturbing. I'm not sure if it's the fact that he's falling out of the safety straps on a fairground ride. Or that he's almost choking as the straps go around his neck. Maybe it's because the adult next to him is laughing the whole time, even after the kid cries out for help. Or maybe it's the laughter track from the studio audience, enjoying watching this kid in abject fear for his life - not knowing if he might plummet to his death at any moment. Hilarious.

Labels: culture, games, videos

Some folks have released their video of what they saw during the World Trade Center attack - you can watch it here. It's relatively un-distressing, and something that - although it upset me - I could watch without freaking out for a change. Thanks to the folks who recorded this for uploading it.

Bizarrely, at one point you see an advert across the bridge between the water and the WTC buildings that advertises QuebecNewYork.com. The site is now owned by someone in Poland bizarrely, since 2005. It used to be a Quebec government site.

Labels: videos, wtc

This video about consent forms is hilarious - and probably an accurate representation of what they would involve (from the ever consentual boing boing)

Labels: funny, videos