Thought I would take to the local scene blog to talk a bit about a new project coming together in North Bay!

IWantToHelpYourBand.com is a brand new project started among a small group of friends aimed at helping bands create albums, websites, Facebook pages, a following, or basically anything else they may need all on a shoestring budget. With a very strong group of partners and friends, IWTHYB (for short) has created an impressive platform for your band to continue its rise up, to pick it up if it is falling, or to plant its feet if it is new.

We would love to help you and your band in any way!

You can find out more about this project and how to sign up by both ‘liking’ it on Facebook and visiting them online!

http://www.facebook.com/iwthyb

http://www.iwanttohelpyourband.com

Thanks,

http://www.100georges.com/main.html

$5 at the door

After a successful tour of the BC interior and Western Canada, these two indie singer-songwriters are hitting the road again, this time across Canada.

FOLK THIEF
Folk Thief, a Vancouver-based singer-songwriter compared to John Prine and Bob Dylan, will be playing original songs from his critically-acclaimed debut album, Love, Heartache & Oblivion, along with covers from the likes of Neil Young and Bob Dylan.

http://www.folkthief.com/

“Undeniably intimate and likable…like a young Leonard Cohen” – Tom Harrison, The Province

MY BOY RASCAL
My Boy Rascal is the ongoing folk-pop project of Colby Ramsay, a Canadian singer-songwriter who spent his formative years in Naramata, a tiny town nestled on the shore of Okanagan Lake in British Columbia. Perhaps his laid-back vibe and smooth vocal stylings can be attributed to growing up near the water, characteristics that have led some to liken him to “a Canadian cross between Jack Johnson and John Mayer.” However, his fingerstyle playing is possibly his most defining characteristic, and in this capacity My Boy Rascal is more reminiscent of Iron & Wine or Damien Rice. Then again if you ask him, he might try to tell you that he sounds like “Uninhibited Animal Magicality,” and leave it at that.

http://myboyrascal.com/

We have a treat for you this coming Saturday August 20th…”Stack of Barley” will be performing, you definitly won’t want to miss these fellows!!!

Stack of Barley
“Irish traditional music on guitar, fiddle, accordion, tin whistle, and bodhran meets a classic interpretation of working men’s songs and ballads”

Roots – This all Canadian band hails from historic celiac roots in Newfoundland, the Ottawa Valley, and the railroad and mining communities of gold rush Northern Ontario.

The music – is a repertoire of maritime, as well as traditional songs and music from the Irish heartland. The band’s musical style will capture your spirit as well as your heart and is bound to set your foot tappin’.

Members -
Doug Ryan, from North Bay vocals, guitar, banjo, fiddle and bodhran
Paul Casey, from Buchans Newfoundland, guitar, accordion, tin whistle, bodhran, vocals
Mathew Ryan, from North Bay, tin whistle, flute, vocals
John Osburn, from Liverpool, U.K. guitar, vocals

This is a great “toe tappin” kind of group…always sure to please…stop by and enjoy!
Cheers

This Saturday Aug. 6th we have a favorite, the last time of the season…the C Denny Band with be treating you to some great music!

Stop by…for some fruit, veggies, plants, honey, maple syrup, baking, meat or something hand crafted…we have it all!

The special “dinner and concert” showcase happens at Piebird Bed & Breakfast (113 Chapman’s Landing Road, Nipissing Village, ON). Dinner seating starts at 6 p.m., with the concert happening at 7:30 p.m.

Admission is $15 (concert only) or $35 (dinner and concert).

The Crooked Brothers’ blend of timeless country classic sounds, back porch blues and stomping scrap yard funk has gained the attention of many folk festival and roots music fans. The band’s three-part harmonies are offset by singer Matt Foster’s trademark charming “growl” – backed by a pumping, folk/roots beat.

For more info, please visit www.crookedbrothers.co​m or www.piebird.ca

Art On Main Gallery, 171 Main St. West, North Bay, ON Canada

Featured Artist: Mim* Thompson

Opening Reception + Downtown Gallery Hop:
Friday, August 12th, 2011 @ 7pm
(artist in attendance)

Please forward this to anyone you think may be interested!

Contact ‘Art on Main Gallery’ at: tel:705-840-1753

Please View some of Mim’s work & a digital version of invitation at:
http://www.facebook.com/mim.art.001

For more information please see: www.piebird.ca/picnic

Piebird Bed & Breakfast / Farmstay
113 Chapman’s Landing Rd. Nipissing Village, Ontario
705.724.1144 www.piebird.ca

Wanted: Nemesis or Archnemesis
Address North Bay, ON

I currently have an opening for either a nemesis or archnemesis. The job doesn’t require much. Just that we frequently have mexican stand-off type scenarios when we spot each other in public. Other duties might include shaking your fist and staring when you pass me in a vehicle, inviting me for a drink after poisoning your drink then attempting to switch drinks with me, shouting my last name into the sky while clenching your fists, as well as hatching evil ploys that will continuously be foiled by yours truly.
Compensation will be based on commission only. If you really want to succeed, you’re going to need your own evil crime lab.

I was surprised not only by the amount of views the ad received but also the hilarious responses I started to get in my email. I guess the people who are frequenting local job boards tend to have the time to come up with pretty elaborate and well thought out jokes. I decided to collect some of the best responses and share them here.

From: ********@yahoo.ca
I may not have my own evil crime lab, but that doesn’t mean I can’t shake my fist like the pros!!!

:shakefist:

BWAHAHAHAHAHAA!!! Fear me!

Editors’ Note: See Attached Photo

From: zulu***********@gmail.com
Sign me up. Burning dogshit on your doorstep is just the beginning. Will make an excellent nemesis.

From: twisted_rose****@hotmail.com
you dont even understand how this add makes me feel. being evil is what im all about. (along with cleching my fist at people) pleae dont tell me you have found someone already? I belive im the perfect person for the job. I also have an evil sideick.

From: *****islucky@gmail.com
I am so in. guess if i have to have an evil crime lab/lair of death i will have to locate it deep in the mountains… Or in this case airport hill…. Well here’s to rhe shaking of fists

I somehow get the impresion that this next email was passive aggressively directed at someone else.

From: *******_**@hotmail.com
I think my boyfriend would suit the profile perfectly. His evil crime lab is small but suiting. It has everything he would need. ie. mirror for practicing evil faces, tub and shower which hardly gets used, a sink for spitting in i guess, and a toilet.. well u know. I assume this is his evil lair already as he stays there most of the day.
Now I just want to know what the commission is based off of.

From: ******************@hotmail.com
Hello, I saw your job posting on Kijiji and am greatly interested. If there’s one thing I enjoy whilst wandering streets, it’s shaking my fist angrily at my nemesis.

I have a lot of experience in this field and feel I would be an asset to your life. I have references available if required.

Thank you for your time and consideration,
Jessie

The following email which came as a set of 3 is by far one of my favourites.

From: stealth_******@msn.com
DUE TO KIJIJIS 1024 LIMIT I WILL HAVE TO SEND THIS IN 2 POSTS. PLEASE READ ON!

Well currently i am working on a plan to inject T virus into ferbreeze? I mean thats kinda evil… what with the zombies and what not. Do you have a immunity to iocane powder? I am one for the crafty switch of the glass its a classic. I do enjoy shaking my fist at heros and do godders… I do not have a lab but do hav a lair? this should suffice.
Evil qualities – 100% pure squeezed evil
I enjoy kicking small animals and taking candy from babies… their cries are like a nice classic tune that I like to dance to… this often leads me to stay in the same spot of stealing said candy and then getting pumbelled by the parent.

SECOND POST … of 3…. thats how evil I am.
but thats alright I am also workign on a superhuman augmentation to make me WIKKID STRONG!
might you ahve a weakness at all? I mean i must have something I can try but fail to exploit at every turn. I am willing to expand to have goons that you may defeat at the slightest lift of a finger then ahve bigger baddier bad guys that may require some effort to take care of. I do like the use of ultra violence as that should be the key to any nemisis.

3/3 LET THE EVIL CONTINUE!
would you have a girl in your life that I may be able to kidnap multiple times? or perhaps put you inthe situation where its the girl or others lives? This is another timeless classic i do enjoy. you might have noticed that my spellng and grammar are horrible but the reason for this is I AM FREAKIN EVIL! I NEED NOT TO SPELL RIGHTS!

References: Ablert Wesker – Umbrella corp
Norman Osborne – Osborne inc
Cletus Kasady Occupation: Convict
Voltor – Leauge of super Evil

Thanks! I look forward to destorying you!

From: maggie*****@gmail.com
Hello!

Just noticed your job ad and I feel that my skills have prepared me for this position. My abilities include but are not limited to: Creepy grins, evil laughter, being thwarted at the last moment, and spending superfluous amounts of time explaining my evil plans to protagonists. I am currently in the process of designing an evil costume, and my smart serve certification is in the mail. If the position is still open, please contact me and we can set up an interview.

MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA,
Dark Silhouette

From: bobsuruncle**@gmail.com
We at the Evil League of Virtual Evil would like to apply for your open position as Nemesis. While we have not yet established a physical location in your city, we believe that we are able to provide for your nemesis needs virtually.
Before, I go into our proposal I would like to tell you a little about our organization. The Evil League of Virtual Evil is a department of the Virtual Office operated in conjunction with our R&D Dept, Greenish-Black Ops, and our Corporate Underwear Model (also the VP of Shrubbery). The Company exists across the global; running a network of synergistic operations.
Our activities would include, adding you as a friend on Facebook. Our activities would include inviting you to at least one Facebook application a day. Further we would use your email addresses for our subscriptions to Carpentry Monthly and How to Knit Like Your Grandmother. However, as an ethical company you would not receive any pornographic content (including National Geographic and PETA).
Thanks for your time.

From: ****_the_dog@yahoo.ca
Finally, a job that really requires skill, cunning, and spontaneity… Do I need my own costume because I have a sewing machine and a hot glue gun… I could whip something up… I recently took a GATB test and I scored within the top 10% across the board… so that means I am a Super Genius… capable of really nasty, elaborate schemes… wHA HA HA HA (evil laugh)
Thanks for the original post, at least someone out there has a sense of reality. I’ll pass it on to some people I know who would actually go for it… “I’m too old for this sort of thing” (Ben Kenobi)
Take it easy…

From: ill.get.you.next.time@gmail.com
Hi, I would like to inquire about the position of nemesis, if it is still available. Although I have no formal experience as a nemesis, I have had a few rivalries, in addition, I devised as many as four elaborate plans in the past year which ended in failure, I am quite interested in finding a career which allows me to combine these skills.
With regard to the dynamic of the relationship; Will this be a long standing animosity or all out vengeance? If passing you, is it also acceptable to draw my thumb across my throat in such a manner as to indicate my vengeful intentions?
Will I be reimbursed for crime lab expenses? My lab is well stocked with large print-out type computers, walls equipped with the latest dials and levers, and a number of machines that go “zap”. However I would expect to require a healthy supply of chalk for my equations and paper for diagrams and blueprints.

Hope to see you as the bane of my existence soon,
Steve

Unfortunately Steve, you didn’t tell us how many of your elaborate plans remain unfoiled. You could be responsible for any number of recent disasters. The attacks of September 11th… Katrina… Justin Bieber?!? Do you see what I am getting at here? I need a nemesis who will make me look good and you may be just a little too crafty for me to match up against.

And finally, in a very nemesis-like fashion, the following respondant tried to dupe me into getting captured right from the get-go. You almost had me, Blue Sky. You almost had me.

From: blue_sky_***@hotmail.com
DONT WORRY, JUST GO TO THE TOP OF THE HILL! THERE IS HELP THERE!!! GO QUICKLY!!!!

Note:At the time the ad was live on Kijiji, North Bay’s Mental Health Hospital was at the top of the hill.