The Stolen Minks Conquer Canada

Whirlwind Update!

2007-08-17T16:00:00.000-03:00

Alright, we've been neglecting the blog a bit, so I am going to do a whirlwind update about the western half of the country. Erica already covered Vancouver Island, so I'm just going to add a few random points of interest.

We went to Medicine Hat and went to Dinosaur Park, which you know already. We came back to our Super 8 Hotel room and the housekeeper had set up Batman like this on our bed:

Legs crossed! Adorable. He was all "I don't suppose it occurred to you guys that I might have liked to go to Dinosaur Park."

Then we played a show at the Ottoman Lounge in Medicine Hat, which had the most awesome stage ever:

Medicine Hat is also where we met up with fellow Haligonians, Brent Randall and his Pinecones:

Then we went to Lethbridge, where we played with Brent Randall again, along with Vancouver's Lotus Child. We all signed a t-shirt for one awesome fan:

Then we had that whole unfortunate tow truck incident later that evening, and went to Calgary to crash for the day before driving into the mountains to Canmore:

We played at the Canmore Hotel, which was fun, and slept in four separate rooms for the first time on the tour. Probably also the last time. The next day we packed it up and headed across the mountains to Vancouver.

It's a long, but excellent drive.

We played in Vancouver that night at a karaoke bar/sushi restaurant called Hoko's in the SCARIEST NEIGHBORHOOD I HAVE EVER SEEN. It was near East Hastings and Main. Actually, not so much scary as it was depressing.

But the venue was cool:

We hopped on the ferry the next day to Vancouver Island. The ferry costs a lot, but it is WORTH IT. It is also WINDY.

We played in Nanaimo that night, which is an excellent town. Surprisingly, I consumed zero nanaimo bars while there. But we did notice some pretty strange/awesome flags decorating the lampposts downtown:

At the Vancouver Aquarium I met my soulmate. This sea lion didn't really move from this position at all, except to occassionally yawn:

After shows in Victoria and Vancouver, we drove back across the mountains.

Ooooo...the majesty...

Then we played in Calgary and Edmonton. Here we are in Calgary:

Then we rolled back across the prairies, which was also scenic:

Now we're in London, Ont, only 4 shows away from home. I have lost, I would say, a significant amount of muscle mass in my legs due to sitting for a solid month. I am in terrible shape right now. Standing for five minutes is exhausting. I need a gym and a comfy bed and my kitchen very badly. But this trip has gone very well. It feels like we've been gone forever, and in a way, we really have been away for a very long time. Perhaps if we do this again I'll pack a thighmaster or something for the car.

In case you were wondering what the best place in the world to live is...

2007-08-17T14:29:00.000-03:00

It's Foam Lake, Saskatchewan.

So put that in your pipe and smoke it, Hawaii.

All the way west!

2007-08-14T10:21:00.000-03:00

So this is going to be a wee bit out of order, cause we’re in Thunder Bay right now, but here is our tale of Vancouver Island. It involves ferries, blood-soaked ties, tattoos and giant goose turds. First off, the ferries were super fun, and super windy.

We took the first one over to Nanaimo, where we got a last-minute show with Amy Honey, The Bash Brothers, and Hot Panda. The show was at this great little collectively-run art space called the & Loan Gallery (they found half an old Savings & Loan sign, which is where they got the name.) Everyone was really nice & fun. It was kind of like a giant house party. Here's Hot Panda playing, and a little kid who made necklaces out of hardware. Of course, we all bought one.

The next day Steph, Rachelle and I wandered around Victoria, which was sort of like a maze of upscale shopping streets. Picture an entire peninsula filled with Spring Garden Road, over and over again. Although that’s kind of a lie, because Rachelle found a comic book shop and Stephie found a record shop, and then there was the Chinatown souvenir shops where I picked up a handy dandy Japanese ear cleaner.

We also found the Victoria weekly, which featured a little ‘sure thing’ style write-up on the show. We were stoked about it, though it does sort of seem we have an inverse ratio of press coverage to actual bodies showing up at shows. Logan’s was, perhaps, the fewest folks at a show we’ve had this tour… but it could be a tie with Thunder Bay.

Anyway, after wandering around all day, we still had a bunch of hours to kill before the show, so we decided to find a park to lay around in. This is where the blook soaked tie comes in (Rachelle found it…eek!), along with the giant goose turds. So many geese. Quite seriously, I hope I never, ever have to see that much goose shit again in my life. Those Canada Geese sure are pretty, though.

We had tried ealier, unsuccessfully, to find a place to get pedicures, so instead we decided to have our own little park spa-time. We carted wetnaps, blankets and cosmetics bags in to the park and set up spa camp. Something about painting your toenails and applying mascara on a blanket in the park… it was like if the Absolutely Fabulous ladies were homeless, that’s what they would look like.

The Logan’s show was severely under-attended, but we didn’t mind because there was free supper, chocolate beer, and really nice bartenders. Also, Fury and the Mouse were super nice folks and let us stay with them afterwards. We are going to have to spend a solid week writing thank yous to everyone that’s helped us out on this tour… it’s really quite amazing & wonderful.

OTTERS!

2007-08-09T17:21:00.001-03:00

Otters Otters Otters Otters!

Courtesy of the Vancouver Aquarium.

Erica loves otters.

Somebody call a tow truck! Because this is a breakdown!

2007-08-05T05:33:00.000-03:00

But not like one of those fun bass and drums breakdowns, I'm afraid. More like one that left us on the side of the road for three hours enjoying what Erica repeatedly called "a real prairie experience" (AKA peeing in a wheat field. I'm sure the farmer would have approved).

After our Lethbridge show, at around 2am, we were driving to Dave's parent's house in Calgary (our only bit of night driving this entire trip) to spend the night trading funny stories with Brent Randall and his Pinecones and enjoy a nice sleep on some beds fit for kings. But then the fan belt decided to shit the bed, so we pulled over and called CAA. The tow truck got there at 5 in the morning. I could whine about how tough it was trying to sleep in the van, but I won't, because it is a very comfortable van. If we have a problem with space, it might be because we brought too much stupid shit with us. Case in point: I still haven't used my BeDazzler.

This first setback of our tour ended really well, though. The tow truck driver was really nice and wasn't going to make two of us to take a cab to Calgary (especially awesome because Calgary was an hour and a half away). He bent the rules and let us all squeeze in. More bums than seatbelts. Tiina had to sit on Erica's lap, and seeing as I'm writing this post, I will let you know that I had the most uncomfortable seat. I was sitting on the belt buckles.

At 7:30am we dropped the van off at Canadian Tire, checked into a hotel (Thanks Edgar!!) and slept until 4pm. At which point we left for Canmore, pockets considerably lighter thanks to the repair. Like the coffee mug says: "Life's a bitch." Or maybe it says: "Instant Human. Just add coffee."

But Canmore ruled.

Dino-mite!

2007-07-31T21:41:00.000-03:00

Today we went to Dinosaur Provincial Park in Alberta. It's like going back in time. We were careful not to touch anything because it might disrupt the space-time continuum. Also because there were scorpions, rattlesnakes and black widow spiders. Not very many dinosaurs, though.

Here are some pictures:

Not bad, Alberta. Not bad.

Hell, I'll Take Four!

2007-07-30T13:13:00.001-03:00

The Regina A&W makes a poor wording choice on their sign:

The other side of the sign said "Delicious Teens"!

Oh, Regina.

Kicking Saskatchewan Right in the Regina

2007-07-30T00:42:00.000-03:00

We totally rocked the Gaslight Saloon in Regina last night (town slogan: "Yeah. We know."). It's a really tough-looking roadhouse type place and we played with two bands from Calgary: The Smokin' 45s and Sixpack Jacket. It was a lot of fun, and the crowd was really nice. Between songs we could actually hear people say things like "This band is awesome!" "What are they called again?" "The Stolen Minks! They're from Halifax!" It was like being the guest band at the Peach Pit on 90210 and the actors have to say a few awkward lines to promote the band.

So it was fun, and we did some serious dancing, mostly due to some somewhat serious drinking. We've been getting shots delivered to us on stage at some of our shows this tour. It's nice.

So here are some pictures from last night. As usual, I have no pictures of us performing. Just picture the most awesome rock show ever because that's what we looked like.

Regina!

Also, it was 45 degrees today here, or something.

Saskatche-whaaaaaat?!

2007-07-30T00:29:00.001-03:00

We're in Regina now. Saskatchewan is frigging flat.

It's also beautiful. I'm really into it. It smells fantastic and it's really easy to find your way around. There's nowhere to hide in Saskatchewan.

I guess you could hide behind that big Indian head (which is in Indian Head, SK).

Here I am, loving Saskatchewan:

Seriously. Great place. All the men are either cowboys, hockey players or Mounties. What's not to like? I love having a cowboy hat tipped at me. "Ma'am."

Funder Bay

2007-07-30T00:17:00.000-03:00

We did the 8 hour drive to Thunder Bay on Thursday. It's a long drive, made longer by the fact that you have to be watching for moose and bears the entire time. But it's also a spectacular drive along Lake Superior.

We rolled into Thunder Bay at about dinner time, all tired and hungry. We walked into the Apollo, where we were playing, and the owner immediately asked if we were hungry and gestured toward a large table, completely set. Then her mother brought us out endless food that she had just cooked up. I'm talking steak, I'm talking pirogies, I'm talking chicken wings...it was awesome. Look at how happy we were:

Thanks, Apollo!

The Stolen Minks + Play Guitar = BFF

2007-07-28T23:50:00.001-03:00

Our touring buddies, Play Guitar, parted ways with us in Sault Ste Marie on Thursday. Here's a group shot of us all together:
Awwww, we miss those guys. So many memories...

Good times.

Bat Bed!

2007-07-25T23:58:00.001-03:00

Check out this bed I got to sleep in last night!!!

Tiina's dad's wife made it for him! She cut out all the pieces and quilted them together! Amazing!

Soooo awesome. I had the best night's sleep ever.

Roughing It

2007-07-25T21:47:00.001-03:00

So, when we mentally prepared ourselves for going on tour, I don't think any of us were imagining that life on the road would look like this:

Yeah. It's been rough. We spent Sunday, Monday and most of Tuesday at the above cottage in North Bay, Ontario. Then we had to pack it up and head to this godawful hell hole:

Seriously, it's been non-stop paradise. I have spent more time in a hammock over the past few days than out of a hammock. That's a good week.

I am writing this from tonight's venue in Sault Ste Marie (or, "The Sault" as it's oft called...which is pronounced 'Soo' for you non-Canadians). I think we all kinda forgot that we are supposed to be, like, playing music for people on this tour. It isn't all shuffleboard and suntanning.

Van-tastic!

2007-07-25T13:23:00.000-03:00

We picked up our new van in North Bay yesterday after a couple of awesome and relaxing days at a cottage on a lake (pictures coming soon). The van is Tiina's family's van, and look at what they did to it for us!!!!!

Those stickers are totally permenant! They are nuts! There are four big stickers, one on each side of the van. It's awesome. Plus the van has tinted windows, so everyone who drives by tries to look in to see what's going on inside, but they can't see! We're such a rock band.

Ahhh, custom van.

It's awesome to drive because it is enormous. I'ma plow right through any moose that gets in my way. There is so much room in it, it's ridiculous. So luxurious after that cramped Civic. Thanks, Tiina's family!

Now we are staying with Tiina's family again, this time with her dad and his wife, at yet another beautiful waterfront home. We are in Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, right on the river that joins Lake Huron and Lake Superior (I think my geography is right). Definitely Lake Superior. Maybe Lake Michigan instead of Huron? Anyway, two very big lakes. So all these giant container ships keep passing by getting from one lake to the other. It's neat. We play tonight in town at the Algonquin. Then tomorrow we drive to Thunder Bay, which is really an awesome name for a city.

Q: What do you call someone from Thunder Bay? Thunder Bay-ite? We're gonna find out.

Press From Montreal

2007-07-22T14:13:00.000-03:00

We got some nice press in the Montreal Mirror. Here's the full article:

It makes the common mistake that Tiina and Steph are sisters. I mean, we can't really blame anyone for thinking that.

This is pretty funny (for us, not the poor guy in the photo). The French weekly paper in Montreal, Ici, printed a really nice big full-colour photo of us in their music listings section, and then on the opposite page they had this photo with the wrong label:

Ah, hilarious. Sorry, that guy, whoever you may be.

Excuse me sir, but I think you are in possession of mah bucket.

2007-07-22T13:38:00.001-03:00

So, as Rachie pointed out earlier, we are currently travelling in a Civic, and to facilitate that, we've been using a roof rack.

We fastened the roof rack on with two straps that went right around the roof and inside the car and then proceeded to drive through heavy rain all the way to Montreal. The straps soaked up water and started dripping regularly on Erica and Tiina in the backseat. The straps were, like, wicking the water in or whatever... it was a real pain in the ass. At first they tied hankies on the straps, then those got waterlogged and we all eventually had to duct tape plastic yogurt containers to the drippy spots and hope for the best.

I'm sure anyone can guess what comes next, but of course as Erica was deeply asleep, a full bucket of water totally dumped out in her lap. It was great. She had to take her skirt off (wrap skirts, FTW) and we had to remind her not to go jumping out of the car whenever we got to a gas station. In fact, at one station, we pulled into full serve (we're not divas or anything, I think it was just the only one open) and she had to pull Cuddle Pillow Batman over her lap to preserve her modesty.

The best part about the whole thing was that when you looked in the car, it looked like we were living in some shanty town with a crazy greywater system, and we were hanging laundry on makeshift clotheslines. Basically every square inch of the inside of the car had a garbage bag and duct tape on it, and some wet handkerchiefs. Rachelle said it looked like Brooklyn back there. That was also because Wally was heating up a tin of beans on an iron wearing only an undershirt.

Our Favourite Picture

2007-07-22T12:42:00.001-03:00

This is a really weird picture that cracks us up. It totally looks like I'm giving a big thumbs up, but it's actually just the shape of Erica's shoulder. I took the photo and looked at it immediately and thought "huh, I don't remember giving a thumbs up." This photo is our new favourite thing.

It's also enhanced by that picture of the naked guy in the background. This is in the L'Escogriffe bar in Montreal. Very awesome bar. Tiina witnessed two people having sex in the bathroom. It's especially alarming because the bathroom was like, co-ed with no door. It was just in the corner of the bar. The two stalls had doors, but there was no real room that they were in. Ah, Montreal. I totally saw a young couple making out under an umbrella outside in the rain too. So romantic and French.

Matt stashed some secret candy in my keyboard case, which I found on stage in Montreal (somehow I didn't see it in Fredericton). Here I am holding it on stage in the middle of our set:

Mmmmmm...chocolate-covered ju-jubes. Thanks Matt!

Oh, hey! We have vinyl to sell now! Our first EP was just re-released on a vinyl 7", which we are selling on tour for a cool $5. Here's Tiina holding one out of the package:

Now you can scratch and sample our songs!

Here's a shot of Erica working the merch table in Montreal. We have a ridiculous amount of merch to sell. You can see a little of our super awesome new shirts with the big ol' bling chains on them. I'll try to get a better picture of one up here soon. They are great.

Those Play Guitar owl t-shirts are really hot too. They have been really awesome to tour with, and have been kind enough to haul our drums and some other gear around for us in their van until we get ours. I really love their music. Our bands sound nothing alike, but I think that makes a show more interesting.

In Ottawa we got a nice surprise: our friend Jaime drove up from Toronto with The Guest Bedroom (who we played with) to see us! Yay Jaime! And yay Guest Bedroom! We'll be seeing a lot more of those guys at the end of the tour when we're playing southern Ontario.

We're still in Ottawa, drinking coffee and eating Kettleman's bagels.

Capital City Capers

2007-07-22T10:55:00.000-03:00

Day 4

I can't believe we've only been doing this for three days.

Just a quick basic information post. We have lots of fun photo posts to make soon. We're in (*looks out window*)...Ottawa right now, after our third show so far. The Friday night show in Montreal was particularly awesome. That city just rules. One awesome lady was wearing Batman underwear and totally pulled down her pants to show us while we were playing "Batman." I like to see that kind of enthusiasm about Batman.

Today we drive to North Bay to meet our new van. It will be nice to have a little more travelin' room. That Civic is kinda cramped. We'll be chilling in North Bay for the next couple of days before heading to Sault Ste Marie. Once we leave Ottawa, it begins the "Parts of Canada that Rachelle Has Never Seen" leg of the tour. That will be exciting.

The thing about tour that you have to get used to is constantly waking up in one city, and going to sleep in another (with an excrutiating amount of time between those two things). There's also very little down time, and trying to do something like go to the bank or the drug store, or post on this blog, is kinda challenging. I think we'll get into a groove pretty soon though. It definitely is fun, though. It's a pretty awesome country. I look forward to seeing the rest of it.

Ok, look for amusing posts with pictures very soon!

Official Stolen Minks Souvenir (Never Forget Your Stolen Minks Encounter)

2007-07-15T23:39:00.001-03:00

We're gonna be selling hand silk-screened copies of this sweet little number on tour, so bring wads of cash:

Poster made by the beautiful people at Yo Rodeo.

Meet the Team!

2007-07-08T14:23:00.001-03:00

The cast:

Stephanie, aka Steffi

Tiina, aka T-dot

Erica, aka Ricky

Rachelle, aka Bobo

Cuddle Pillow Batman, aka Cuddle Pillow Bruce Wayne

Wally the Walrus, aka Short Stack

The plan: Drive this Honda Civic as far as North Bay, Ontario:

Switch to Tiina's family's van for the rest of the trip:

(Van may not be exactly as shown).

The route (more or less):

Date of departure: July 19
Date of return: Aug 21

Follow us on our adventure by reading this blog! Don't miss an exciting second!