This should be my last ECMA post--ChartAttack report on Ashley MacIsaac's wedding.

1) One of the folks I was with got into the main room just before the ceremony, and gleefully came back saying (as reported in the linked story) that when the Justice of the Peace asked whether anyone knew of any reason these two should not be married, a drunken voice somewhere in the crowd bellowed, "Fuck, no!"

I love weddings.

2) Outside the room and near us were a couple of middle-aged men, one of whom remarked sentimentally that he's known Ashley all his life and he was a good kid, really. "He always treats people nicely." Pause. "Weirdly, but nicely."

3) Also, and this has nothing to do with the wedding, the coat check at the Cape Breton showcase consisted of coats dropped on the floor in piles--one in the middle of the floor, ours were over by the wall out of the way. Apparently you can trust a crowd of drunken Cape Bretoners.

1) The cats liked Bubbles' song this year ("Kitties Are So Nice") better than last year's ("Liquor and Whores," which you'll note did quite well in the Q-104 poll.) I assume the fact they're teetotallers and neutered has something to do with that.

2) Okay, I don't want to be mean here or anything, but is George Canyon real? I don't mean for real, I just mean--he's not made out of molded plastic or anything, is he?



Because I have never seen a country singer in my life who looked so much like a Central Casting country singer. You know? Like somebody's idea of a country singer.

Honestly, I'm not trying to be snarky here. I'm sure George is a really nice guy. Hell, it's probably programmed into him--nobody who looks that much like Dudley Do-Right could be otherwise.

So: the ECMAs were handed out last night. The awards show began with the dulcet tones of the Joel Plaskett Emergency playing "Nowhere With You"





(and screw you, Coast panelists!)

Coney was already awake and alert on the couch but Vlad woke right up and watched the performance in fascination. (Come to think of it, when I got the Make A Little Noise DVD Vlad was fascinated with "Down At the Khyber," too.)

As usual it was a good show--I said last year that most awards shows are so top-heavy with cheesy banter and BS that they have to give most of the awards out off-camera, while the ECMAs are so top-heavy with musical performances that they have to give most of the awards out off-camera.

But there was a great tribute performance to Dutch Mason, Denny Doherty, and John Allan Cameron, Jill Barber was impressive, and In-Flight Safety closed the show with a really good performance.

And Peter MacKay burnished his reputation as a Great Big Tool by referring to Halifax as Toronto in his introduction to something else. I had the TV muted at the time (because I didn't need to hear anything from Peter MacKay) but I turned the sound back on to hear what he was introducing just in time to hear the boos.

And then Mary Walsh came out to speak of Ron Hynes, and remarked that he could write a wonderful song about--well, see subject line.

Anyway, great show. And the nice thing about the ECMAs is, no matter who wins, the good guys always seem to win.

Especially last night.

A great time was had by all last night--Jeff and Tammy and I went out to the Marquee to see one of the ECMA showcases. We arrived just as the first band was ending. The next one, Mardee (I think) from Cape Breton started a little slow but by the end of their set we really liked them. The fact three of them traded off on vocals was pretty cool--the guy in the middle playing the Rickenbacker had a sound that made all of us turn to each other and agree he sounded like an eighties British band, possibly the singer in Joy Division.

In-Flight Safety was on next and the place predictably filled right up. They were really good, as usual.

Carmen Townsend followed them and kicked copious amounts of ass. We all mourned the fact that we couldn't instantly buy her CD, and I overcame my fear of jinxing ever getting to see her again to nab her as she walked by and tell her we'd loved her set.

Mark Bragg closed out the night and... well, I am prepared to believe he's very good at what he does (and his band was terrific, including the singer from Rock Ranger on guitar) but I frankly did not get him and would appreciate never seeing him with his shirt unbuttoned ever again. Eek.

It was a really good night, though. Especially the Carmen parts.

I don't know why I haven't mentioned this already, but the East Coast Music Awards are in Halifax this February. The gala awards show thingie is actually scheduled for the 18th, which is my fortieth birthday. (I keep saying that out loud to get used to the idea. So far it isn't quite working.)

Anyway, I don't plan to go to the gala, but the rock showcases at the Marquee on Thursday and Friday look like fun. The Friday one features the aforementioned Carmen Townsend, as well as In-Flight Safety, who I have apparently decided not to stalk but will certainly be happy to see again. (And who knows, I may change my mind and stalk them after all.)

Anyway--should be fun. I just need to find out if anyone else wants to go before I get tickets.