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FYI

Matt Zimbel: A Medium Rock Star Writes...

I was shocked to learn the Quebec government does not consider conga playing an essential service, so I am on lockdown in Montreal.

Matt Zimbel: A Medium Rock Star Writes...

By Matt Zimbel

I was shocked to learn the Quebec government does not consider conga playing an essential service, so I am on lockdown in Montreal.


I’m sheltering in place, in a hand sanitizer scented, suspended animation. Like many of you, I’m CERBing it, yes, spellcheck, that is a word now, though I’m not sure for how long.

As I reflect on my pre-pandemic problems I realize, well, they weren’t problems at all. They were petty annoyances, they were mere distractions.

I think of the solitude of my single friends in lockdown. I am fortunate to be sheltered in place with the singer Lyne Tremblay whom I love dearly.  She was to release her second CD on April 24, now on hold till…um, yeah – any ideas on that? 

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Anyone?

Since my partner is also an artist, we have gone from being a DINKS household– Double Income, No Kids. To a NINKS household – no income, no kids. Oh man, I hope my bank doesn’t read FYI before the line of credit is locked.

I look at my family to assess the covid-19 impact on careers: One brother runs an event rental company. Another brother is a wireless audio specialist in the entertainment field who has toured with Shania, Taylor etc., one son is a restauranteur with three highly respected and closed restaurants. One stepdaughter is a make-up artist for film and television and the other an event producer. One niece is a chef. That sounds more like a collateralized debt obligation bundle in 2007 than a family.

My youngest son is a full-time musician. His approach to lockdown is unfolding with the discipline of an Olympic athlete.  He is a multi-instrumentalist and practices five to six hours a day. He is currently working on a series of Bluegrass tunes. They are fast and he wants to play them faster, so he sets the metronome a notch higher every day, so he can scientifically measure his progress. I no longer ask him how he’s doing – I simply ask; “dude, what’s your BPM?”

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https://lucaschoizimbel.com

Everyone is wondering how the government is ever going to repay the aid they are forwarding us to get through this crisis.  Well, I’m no economist, but I do have my grade nine and it is very easy to see their fiscal strategy; sales at government-run liquor stores and cannabis dispensaries across the country are up more than 100% over this time last year.

Canada, we’re locked and loaded.

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Kesha
Brendan Walter

Kesha

Chart Beat

Kesha Brings 'Holiday Road' to The Billboard Canadian Hot 100

The newly independent pop singer's cover of Lindsay Buckingham's 1983 song from National Lampoon's Vacation was first released as a Spotify exclusive for the holidays. Michael Bublé's Christmas, meanwhile, remains at No. 1 on the Canadian Albums chart.

Kesha has brought an under-appreciated holiday gem back to the charts. Her version of "Holiday Road" debuts on this week's Billboard Canadian Hot 100 (dated Dec. 28, 2024) at No. 83.

"Holiday Road" was originally released in 1983 by Fleetwood Mac legend Lindsey Buckingham and serves as the propulsive opening theme to the Chevy Chase-starting classic comedy road trip film National Lampoon's Vacation.

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