A CLEAR COLD NIGHT BRINGS OUT THE BEST IN US ALL.

I ended up walking to Koi Cafe as I didn't see any cabs on my way. It was about a 16 block walk. There seems to be a serious cab shortage in this large hick town.

In any case, I arrived, said hello to Natasha, a co-owner that I've promised for weeks to come out to her bar. I take a seat at the bar and order a Stella from Angela. After a few kind words to both girls I settle in with a beer before thinking of how to get to the U of C for the Stars show. A girl, who is Angela's best friend, brings up a copy of Adbusters and shows me a rather disturbing rendition of an artist's belief of where humans could be heading, physically, as evolution runs it's course. We end up discussing how written journalism has gone to the realm of photojournalism in that the writers now feel like they are there only to document what is happening instead of asking critical question of jackasses such as Bush or Harper.

Eventually we get to the nitty gritty of music, for that's what life's all about. The girl, Dionne, is a big Stars fan and has no plans for the night. I tell her I need a ride there and have an extra ticket. Thus, a deal is struck that I will take her to the show if she provides me with a round trip back to my house and a drink at the show.

All went well and the Stars performed the best of the three times I've now seen them. This time around there was an extra guitar player and a violin player as well. This band is so explicitly appreciative that people use their own money to buy tickets for shows and Stars' albums. They are so candid on stage, be it with thier banter with the crowd (which seems more sincere than any band I've ever heard) and their fun while playing. Both times previous I've seen them I'd never really payed too much attention to Amy Millan, but this time she caught my attention. She has so much fun on stage and plays such great guitar. Poser bands such as The Strokes or Simple Plan could take some serious lessons from Stars.

Around the third or fourth song Torquil Campbell dedicated a song to Calgary's Leslie Feist and said she enjoys her joints. Thus, I broke mine out and lit it up in the honour of Feist and Stars. Dionne took a few hits as well and the night was on it's way.

I've now seen Stars three times and will not hesitate to go see them again. The addition of the violin player was perfect; forget that she was wearing jeans and a wife-beater and was sexy as all hell. Actually, don't forget that. It was some serious sweet action.

Anyways, I've now made a new group of good-time friends that know what it's all about.

Now, it's time to add to the three beers I've just washed down at The Watchemen's as I watch the Seahawks demolish the Steelers. This is hard as the Steelers were my first NFL love. Nevertheless, nobody trash talks my 'Hawks and gets away with it.