A long time ago, I was one of the editors of 3am Magazine along with the lovely Kim Nichols, one of those amazing California artist types. She ran a string of articles called Music As The Soundtrack To Our Lives, and I remember absolutely enjoying them. I was just sitting here looking down at a few of the CDs piled near my desk at work. They won’t allow us to use portable storage devices for music on the off-chance that somehow copyrighted music were to make its way to the corporate network and implicate them in a copyright lawsuit, so I have over 50 CDs on my desk and who knows how many sitting in my cupboard, and that’s not counting the impressive collection I have at home and all the music on my computer.

Why do I have so many CDs on my desk? Well, those are the regular rotation. I like to listen to things based on my mood, which is why I never listen to mainstream radio stations. I figured out back in high school that mainstream radio was ridiculously dull, and I like a little more range of options. Don’t get me wrong, the current 40 songs that everyone thinks are the best are the ultimate pinnacle of musical enlightenment, but they just aren’t for me.

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Every year, I try to enjoy the time in and around my birthday, and this is no exception. Thought I’d mention a few of my plans in case the dear readers would like to join in.

This Friday, we have a fundraiser for the CBC Awards Show at Verns. It’s how we cover a few of the rather significant costs of the equipment rentals, decorations, etc., and because we’re fantastic people we’re putting on a hell of a show for $10. If I understand the lineup correctly, we’ll have The Deadmen, The Oh Shit Show, and Colin Decker Freefall performing musically, as well as songs by the Knox Bank Of Burlesque. All that for $10, and it all goes to ensure that the awards show is the biggest, coolest night of the year.

The day before my birthday (September 6) I booked a show at Verns. The headliners are not someone I’m particularly fond of because I think sleaze rock stopped being funny around the time my nuts dropped, but there are those who enjoy The Mentors. However, the reason I booked the show is my buddy Mr. Plow (who now resides in the US) will be on the tour with them. I love Mr. Plow and think he’s one of the most entertaining musicians going. When he told me that he would be wanting to come through Calgary, I decided to put on the show. It’s my birthday present to myself to see Plow. Joining him will be one of my favorite local bands, The Oh Shit Show, as well as Vancouver’s The Likely Rads. Tickets are $12 or $10 if you get them from me or the venue in advance.

September 7th may be my birthday, but it’s also Skeptics in the Pub night. I’ll be down at the Joyce on 4th (the one in Mission, silly) having a pint or two and enjoying the post-work part of my big day. If you want to come down and think all skeptical-like, please join us. It’s a decidedly nerdy and fun way to spend an evening. And afterwards I’ll have to decide what I’m doing, but karaoke does seem a likely possibility.

September 10th is the day when I will truly be celebrating my birthday, though. The lovely lady in my life is also a concert promoter, and decided to throw me a birthday party at Verns. There will be cake. There will be giggling. And there will be music. Opening the show will be Me And Keith(I think we might actually be calling it that now, but it’s myself on upright bass and Keith Morrisson on acoustic guitar and vocals, and possibly Meesh on ‘lectric guitar playing folky music that is awesome), The Shillelaghs, the Press Gang, and The Rigormorticians. And all that for $5! SWEET DEAL!

Somewhere in there I might take a road trip with Plow to one of his shows in either Coaldale or Innisfail, but we’ll see what happens. Either way, I hope to see a few smiling faces wishing me a happy birthday.

Jim