Tariq's Web Journal

Some very cool photos...

2006-10-30T23:54:00.000-07:00

Hey there, Is everyone getting their costumes ready for the big day tomorrow? Me, I dunno. I might not be doing anything....or....maybe I'll put to use my brilliant idea of dressing up as Mahatma Ghandi. Simply buzz my hair a little shorter and get a long white sheet to wrap up in. I've even got the round spectacle frames somewhere. Hey, I went as Apu last year - I should keep the tradition of East Indian figures going! I hope you're all well. Be sure to check out the "Events" page for upcoming shows because there are some. As well, here's a couple of shots that my friend and photographer Wayne Hoerchel took this past weekend. We went to a cool spot here in Vancouver where there was an old abandoned bridge. Peace

Railway Club, Sept 20th, 2006

2006-09-22T01:25:00.000-06:00

Thanks to everyone who came out to the show at the Railway Club here in Vancouver last night. It was really an excellent time. Mark Berube and Mother both did fantastic sets. Here's a few shots from ours. Hope to see you soon! Peace, TQ. Photo Credit: Robert Duke

Happy September!

2006-09-11T13:13:00.000-06:00

Hello and happy September everyone - whatever that means....? I was on Hornby Island and Denman Island this past week - what a paradise! Now when I close my eyes, I see white sandy beaches and blue ocean water. It's engraved on the insides of my eyeballs. I also saw quite a few Maple trees on Denman Island and it made me think of being back home in Quebec. The leaves turn bright red and carpet the ground and you kick them all up on the way to school. Fall is here I do believe. Maybe we'll see you at the show next Wednesday night (Sept 20th) at The Railway Club. Bring your leaves and stay awhile. Peace, TQ. Photo Credit: Tracey Charette

Railway Rocks!

2006-08-01T10:58:00.000-06:00

Thanks to all who made it out to the Railway Club last night. It was my first show there ever, and man was it ever a blast. Just to be on that stage where I've seen so many great people play. I'm sure the novelty has worn off for some, but for me, it was truely something special. Tim Tweedale joined me on lap steel and glockenspiel. Heidi McCurdy played a great set as did Tamara Nile. And YOU were there, so....thanks for that. I'll try and post some pictures from the night here soon - that is, once I figure out how the heck to do that! No - wait! I figured it out. Here's some more photos if you wanna see! http://www.flickr.com/photos/43359732@N00/sets/72157594221657855/ Peace, TQ Photo Credit: Tracey Charette

Upcoming show at The Railway Club, Vancouver

2006-07-24T01:26:00.000-06:00

Hey everyone. What can I say? Apologize for not writing sooner? What's the point - I'll just do it again and you KNOW IT! Let's talk about matters at hand here. I'm gonna do a show at the legendary Railway Club on Monday July 31st. I'm really stoked. This is my first ever show there! Yeah, that's right, in all my days, I've never performed there....EVER. Now it's time to change that. Thanks to my friend and songwriter Tamara Nile who books those nights, I'll be there. So come down if you can. It'll be a fun night. See you soon, Peace TQ

Performing in Calgary April 22nd, 2006

2006-04-20T01:12:00.000-06:00

Hey everyone, Life's been busy out here in Vancouver. It's hard to believe that a lot of rain has fallen and that 3 months have gone by already. Just wanted to let you know that I'll be coming back to Calgary for the weekend to play a show. Here are the details: Saturday (April 22nd, 2006) night at The Hillhurst Sunnyside Community Association. The very talented Chantal Vitalis www.chantalvitalis.com will be playing as well so it's going to be a fun night of music. Here's the venue address: 1320 5th Ave NW. (It's kinda opposite that Rogers video store on the corner of 5th Ave and 14th St. Not directly opposite, but pretty close....) Doors are at 8pm and showtime is 8:30pm Tix are $14 and available at Ticketmaster or at the door. For more info, contact Paula at 403.283.0554 ext.247 There's a bar there too just in case you were wondering. It would be gorgeous to see you there if you can make it. xoxo, Tariq

Vancouver Rain

2006-03-07T10:35:00.000-07:00

Alas, another rainy day in Vancouver. It's March now, and I guess I can't complain - it's been quite nice the last little while especially compared to the beginning of the year. There was this whole thing about setting a record for the most number of rainy days in a row back in January. It was crazy! People kept apologizing to me for the worst winter ever. It sure has been a busy few months with one appearance on The National Playlist and daily shows on Satellite Radio (Sirius Channel 94). I'm on the air between 5pm and 10pm on Sirius Channel 94 (Pacific time) - that is, if you subscribe. Vancouver has offered lots in terms of exploring. I even went to Little India a few weeks ago. It was pretty cool, and I loved all the little sweet shops and sari stores. I'm addicted to Indian sweets what can I say. Hey, come check out "Alberta Sessions" in Calgary this month - I'll be playing there on the 25th. The website for the event is: http://www.epcorcentre.org/ecmusicseries/alberta.html Later, Tariq

Message from Jasmyn

2005-12-28T18:56:00.000-07:00

I think that my uncle Tariq is the best singer in the universe! In the summer I will go see him in Vancouver with his girlfriend Tracey! They had come over for Christmas! Sincerely, Your neice Jasmyn Skinner

Homesweethome

2005-12-14T00:37:00.000-07:00

Well, we found a place to live. 2 weeks into being here in Vancouver, and I think we got it figured out, but it was a heck of a chore. We rented a car on the weekend to go looking around and got a seventy five dollar ticket for taking a left turn onto Comox street from Burrard even though it was a simple mistake. No mercy from Mr. Policeman though, not even with a rental car and an out of province driver's license. That was on the way to look at a place in the West End, an area of Vancouver I like a lot. Unfortunately, it seems as if most places in the West End aren't that big, at least not the ones we saw. We found a something in Kits after two days of searching which is close to the beach and that's a pretty nice feature. I was supposed to go and see You Say Party! We Say Die! tonight at Richards on Richards, but I don't think I'll make it. The days are pretty busy at CBC as I am learning how to be a host for a five hour show. In case anyone wants to listen, you can tune in only if you have Sirius Satellite radio. It's a fun gig - tune in if you can. Well, I'm alive and well here in Vancouver BC my friends. I'll be in touch. PS. I was sad I missed Bob Schneider's gig on the weekend - they're my friends from Austin TX. Hey Derek, if you're reading this, I wish could have been there and I promise I will the next time you roll through town. Miss ya. Later all.

Living on the Coast

2005-11-30T01:03:00.000-07:00

Hey y'all. Well, it's hard to believe it, but I've actually moved to Vancouver BC - all in a matter of a week! Well, I'm not 100% moved. Most of my stuff is still in Calgary and my girlfriend is still in Calgary, but all that is due to make it's lovely way out here by the beginning of next year (which is now only a month away). And me - I'm here. It was crazy how it all happened; I just got hired last Tuesday to host a music show for CBC out here. It's actually part of Radio 3 and will be broadcast on Sirius Satellite Radio in case you're interested - maybe you've been seeing the commercials for that on TV...? You should tune in. Anyway, it feels really great to be out here and a little strange too - kind of like; where am I again? But I'm glad for the change I have to admit, as I was starting to feel a little restless after being in Calgary for almost eleven years. I was beginning to think I might never leave that town - that's just how it is once you settle into routines and patterns you can't seem to break. Don't get me wrong, I really like Calgary and all the friends and people I knew there, but after a while....it felt like it was just time move on. Now, I really like the urbaness of this new setting and that feeling of walking up and down the city streets and not knowing anyone, kind of an anonymity. It's fun. So I welcome my new home and new adventures and I say goodbye to my old city and to my fellow Calgarians. You've been good to me and I will miss ya. God bless, and see you in Van. TQ

Back in Van City

2005-10-21T12:45:00.000-06:00

Hey everyone - it's been a few weeks. Here I am in Vancouver once again. Seems as if I was here not that long ago, on a little summer road trip to Salt Spring Island. I'm here for Western Canadian Music Week, so I'm almost on my way out the door to go and pick up my registration package with all the 'goodies' you usually get in those delegate bags like magazines and earplugs and CDs and a keychain flashlight. Now that's handy. It should be a fun weekend and I'm looking forward to playing a set at the Media Club on Saturday night with my friend Tim Tweedale from Vancouver. He's a pedal steel master from what I hear - this will be our first gig together. Anyway, I hope you can make it Saturday night. We're on at around 10:50pm for 30 minutes. Later. TQ

Welcome to Hummerville

2005-09-30T16:29:00.000-06:00

I don't know if I get it or not - what's up with people driving Hummers? Yesterday, I saw 2 on 4th street and it just seemed like the drivers were giving off that: Hey look at me, I'm so cool - I drive a Hummer. Man, I think us humans get our priorities mixed up sometimes. I mean, is that what defines a person - how big and manly your vehicle is? I guess if you have money to burn, maybe you spend it on stuff like that. Me, I've never had money to burn, but even if I did, I'm not sure if it would go to defining myself with my personal toys. When there's just too many people in the world who don't eat, and pollution is screwing up the atmosphere it doesn't seem to me to make that much sense to drive a Hummer. And just think how a Smart car might fair in an accident with a Hummer. Actually, I don't want to think about that - it would be ugly. As far as I can see, there just doesn't seem to be any good reason to own one besides an ostentatious display. TQ

Just keepin' in touch

2005-09-23T09:31:00.000-06:00

Hey there world - just thought I'd check in with y'all. Things are good with me. I'm looking forward to the Calgary Film Festival this weekend and especially to seeing the film "Water" by Deepa Mehta. In fact, I will be doing an interview for Beat Route Magazine (November Issue) with Deepa Mehta tomorrow about her film - that should be very interesting. As some of you may know, I work for CBC doing arts and entertainment reporting - love that gig. But of course, we've been on strike for the last 6 weeks or so. I hope this all gets resolved soon, although I have to say, I've been able to have some good chats with people "on the line" that I might never have had the chance to speak to before. It's a funny way to meet your peers, but adverse situations do unite people I guess. Well, off to serve some beer and burgers. See you soon. TQ

Giant Cake on Fire!!!

2005-09-02T09:07:00.000-06:00

I saw that on the news yesterday - this giant cake with something like 2000 candles got a little too hot n' heavy. No one in that crowd was able to make a wish and blow the candles out - they had to use fire extinguishers on it and evacuate the building! All in celebration of Alberta's 100th birthday which was yesterday. Well, you have to give the chefs credit for trying to get into the Guiness Book of World's Records for the most candles on a cake ever - they also made the evening news. No one got hurt - that's the good news. Anyway, let me say Happy Birthday Alberta. Speaking of fire, the fireworks show last night was pretty amazing actually - they were launching them off the roof of city hall. No fire extinguishers needed thankfully. We played a show earlier in the day just after Paul Martin made his speech at the busy Olympic Plaza. There was another big cake somewhere in our vicinity but we didn't get any of that one either. It was angel food cake I hear. But we did have a really nice crowd at our stage, right to the last song - thanks to everyone who was there and smiling - yes, I could tell you were liking the cake, but I think you were liking the music too. Watching the news when I got home last night, I felt bad for all the folks in New Orleans. I hope they get some giant cake soon too. Over and out. TQ

Actual Summer

2005-08-31T13:36:00.000-06:00

I can't believe it's almost September already. Summer just whizzed by. Just got back from a trip to Vancouver and Salt Spring Island. I'm so glad we did it. I actually feel like I had an actual summer now - went swimming almost everyday and things like that. I was starting to feel a little ripped off with all the weird weather here in Calgary. OK, well enough about the weather. Did I mention that I rode a scooter around Salt Spring Island? That was fuuuuun!! I had a little nervous feeling in my gut as we started to go faster, but it was a good nervous feeling, kinda like getting over a fear or something like that. Speaking of getting over fears, this trip also inspired me to take swimming lessons this month. I mean, I can sort of thrash around in the water, but I'll admit that I actually get a little bit scared going above my head in the ocean or in any bodies of water where I can't see the bottom. A sort of panic sets in, well not a sort of panic - a REAL panic. I need to get over that, yes indeed. Oh, and I have a question for you - why the heck does everyone get their cars broken into when they go to Vancouver? It happened to my girlfriend's car on the trip. Luckily, we didn't have anything of too great value in the trunk - but I did lose a sketch book that had a few good drawings and some potential song lyrics and she lost a book. That was annoying. Well, at least no windows got smashed, but it kind of put a damper on our evening - and we were having such a "love on" for Van at the time. Well, we still are. It is a beautiful city - except for the car theives. Hey, check out this month's issue of Beat Route magazine here in Calgary - my first "published" article! Yeah! TQ

Saying Goodbye to a Fox

2005-08-03T12:02:00.000-06:00

Maybe this is not interesting news to anyone, but I had to just write it down here, maybe even to just document this monumentous event - my Fox is dead! My Fox is dead! My VW Fox that is. This is a car that I drove across the country many times, a car that I slept in and a car that I bought with my own money. Lately, I've been feeling like this day would be coming soon. I think I've called the AMA three times in the last two weeks for crying out loud. Last night, I was heading home after dropping off some CDs to my friend Johnny D at AXE music and I hear this "thud" and I felt the clutch go soft under my left foot. Luckily I had enough momentum to steer the thing off into a parking lot and into an actual parking spot - I hate the idea of having your car die right on the highway with all these people whizzing by and looking at you. This automobile heart attack would be in private - just me and the Fox. Well for a short while anyway - until the AMA came. I walked away leaving the keys still in it and they showed up eventually and towed it to my garage. The call came this morning that yes indeed the clutch was gone and a new one would cost around a thousand bucks. Not really worth it considering the condition of the Fox. Kinda sad though - I had that car since around 1993 and like I said, I've gone everywhere with it. Now it's like a death or something. Sometime today I'll take the plates off and take out any other things left in the glove box and then get someone to tow it away. It'll probably end up in a pick your part lot or maybe crushed up into one of those sqare boxes of metal you see in TV shots at junkyards. And no one will ever know of the great adventures me and the old Fox had, all the open roads that stretched ahead of it's gleaming headlights.

Check out the new site / is summer almost over?

2005-07-26T09:22:00.000-06:00

Hi everyone. I hope that you're having some fun checking out the new website. I'm liking this whole blogging thing which is a new feature of tariqmusiq.com. This past weekend was the Calgary Folk Music Festival, and it was cool to see a whole lot of great music and meet some really nice people. I was having a laugh to myself, counting how many people were eating Chicken Bhoona from the India Palace kiosk. That place is always lined up. The days now seem to have hints of fall smells in the air. Sad. I love fall, but it also means summer is winding down. It seems like it's the shortest season ever. Hope all is well. TQ

Tariq's Blog Launches

2005-07-07T18:24:00.000-06:00

Watch here for new entries from Tariq