Rockin Around the Christmas Tree

Is it just me, or did Christmas come and go way too quickly?? We’d like to carry the holiday partying into the new year and want YOU to join us. We’ll be having a Holiday Wrap Up Show on Friday, January 7^th at Piranha Bar (680 St. Catherine St. West) at 9pm with Luther Higgs (http://www.myspace.com/lutherhiggs) and Brian Massimetti & the Chicago Mint Club (http://www.myspace.com/chicagomintclub). Look out for an invite via Facebook soon!  

Seeing as 2011 is now less than a week away, I decided to look back on the year and compile a list of band and music-related highlights (in no particular order):

Ø   Degrassi: October 22 - City Stars was featured in an episode of Degrassi called Love Lockdown 2. It was the first time our song was played in a television show, so this was a very exciting moment for us.

Ø   Album Launch Party: January 15 - We released our first full-length album, Maps & Directions, at our launch party at Clydes Pub in the West Island. This was a great night for us on so many levels. First, we were finally able to share an album that we had spent years writing, preparing and recording. Then to see all of our friends at the show to support us was a wonderful feeling J Thanks again to those who came and made it a memorable night for us!

Ø   Hearing Test: April - Kathy and I complain that we can’t hear properly anymore (which really, we can’t). So we both decided to have our hearing checked. Turns out, no hearing loss has been caused by our years of jamming and going to lots of live shows! With that said, if you are also in a band and/or like to go to shows, I would encourage the use of earplugs.

Ø   Osheaga: July 30 & August 1 –This was my second year going to the festival and it was amazing. Being outside in the sun for two entire days, having a chance to listen to upwards of 40 bands, and chilling with great friends (shout out to Kelly and Nastasia!) is what I would call a fantastic weekend. Some of my favourite shows that weekend were The Black Keys (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQL6Hhplm5s), Metric, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0RQnGhxZzg), and The Cat Empire to name a few. Also, thank you Sabra tent for giving us tons of delicious hummus J

ØLa Ronde: August 10 - We played a show at La Ronde this summer that was a little out of the  ordinary. We played two sets on the terrace of a "saloon" in one of the food areas of the amusement park. THEN, we got to take full advantage of all the rides for the rest of the day. We thought it would be a smart idea to start with the ride that completely drenches you with water, since we figured we would dry off on the other rides. Yeah, we ended up being soaked for the entire afternoon, haha.  

Ø   Finally, my favourite moments of the year are definitely the fun times shared with friends all year round over dinners, coffees, drinks, shows and Luther Spectra game nights and jams!

So cheers everyone to a fantastic year, and an even better one ahead!

Vanessa