I Love You, Ottawa. [A Weekend in Reflection]
Oh my gosh. It’s been one of the most exciting weekends I’ve had in a very long time. This is another one of those non-food related posts and I’m about to gush about a few things. I hope you’ll allow me the space to do that. After all, what good is a personal blog if I can’t talk about the personal things that are most exciting to me?
It’s been 8 months since Mr. Gouda Lifes’s band, The Love Machine, moved on from the 1st round of local radio station, Live 88.5’s, Big Money Shot competition. Eight whole months. There were 4 rounds of the competition, each bigger and better (both in skill requirements and monetary amounts that came with moving on) in their own right. Up until this past Friday, they had won $20,000 from the competition. That alone allowed them to purchase some new equipment, tour more often, and release some ridiculously cool white vinyls.
Friday night, we all arrived to St Bridgid’s, an old church turned venue, tummies wild with anxiety for the band. It was the final night of competition and there were still 6 bands left. They played one of the best sets I’ve ever seen them play in the 7 years they’ve been together. And there couldn’t have possibly been a better time to pull out all the stops and give it every little bit of everything they had in them. It was, in a word, thrilling.
1am came along and it was time to announce the winners. I’m sure you have a pretty good idea of where this is going. 3rd place, Down in Ashes. 2nd place, Hearts and Mines. We waited. And waited. And waited some more. Everyone on bated breath. 1st place… THE LOVE MACHINE. Tears from everyone. Hugs all around. High fives and first pumps. It was brilliant. It was moving. A band that has worked so hard, for so long, finally got their comeuppins. In the form of $50,000!
Check out my hard working bearded man and the rest of his bandmates in their video for ‘Be a Path’ here [warning; some violence in the video]. 
And as if that weren’t enough excitement for one weekend, we were elated to be in attendance for the Grand Re-Opening of one of our favourite shops in the Glebe. 
Slaysh is one of the best skate and snowboard shops in Ottawa. If not for it’s always cutting-edge fashions, shoes, and accessories, then for it’s kindest, most lovable owner, Sarah Hyde. Not only does Sarah love all things skate/snowboard related, but she loves The Glebe. If she’s not already organizing an event in the Glebe, like this past summers’ Glebe Streets, she’s ever-present at anything and everything to do with the neighbourhood. She and her husband are everything business owners should be. The newly opened store looks as stunning as ever. More open space, cleaner colours and lines, and better displayed merchandise. It was the best thing they could have done for the shop.
Also present at the grand re-opening was Sound of Lions, this years ‘Best Album’ & ‘Best New Act’ winners of the Ottawa Xpress’ Best of Ottawa 2011. They dazzled the crowd with their unique and always entertaining sounds, best described as trip hop. Whitney Delion silences crowds with her crooning voice while Christian Awad spits rhymes that are both raw and thoroughly honest. Will Assad, vocals and guitar, Joel Soucy on bass, and Marco Campagna on drums keep the beat going with their talented array of sounds. They all add to Sounds of Lions’ craft having been members of some of Ottawa’s best indie/punk rock bands. For the video of their song, Blue, check here.
It was a wonderful evening and it made me feel extremely proud to be from a city so rich with talent and bursting with creative drive. In short, I love you Ottawa. You never cease to impress me.
I urge you to go visit Slaysh. With Christmas coming up, I have no doubt you’ll find the perfect gift for any number of loved ones.
Slaysh
775 Bank Street (Between Second and Third Ave)
Ottawa, Ontario
K1S 3V5
613-667-5830
