Saturday, February 19, 2022

The 1981 Listening Post - The Wonderful Grand Band - Living in a Fog

 The Wonderful Grand Band - Living in a Fog



1981 Housekeeping

The Wonderful Grand Band

Living in a Fog

Genre: Canada.

2.75 out of 5



Highlights:

Babylon Mall

Ophelia



A few years ago I was filming a commercial in Newfoundland. 

There is a tradition there called being “Screeched in”. Screech is a 40% by volume rum. 

The tradition goes you eat this god awful piece of meat, repeat the following when asked Are ye a screecher?" or "Is you a Newfoundlander?,”: 

"Indeed I is, me ol' cock! And long may yer big jib draw!" (Translated, it means "Yes I am, my old friend, and may your sails always catch wind.” And then you kiss a frozen cod on the mouth.

I was Screeched In in a bar with a bunch of friends and co-workers. 

The next day, I was filmed playing with a bunch of baby Black Labs. Labrador being part of that province of Canada.

I had a day off the following day and walked by the wharf.

I saw these statues, which were much larger than life. 





That day I had a revelation. See, our Golden Retriever died suddenly a few months before and I was NOT in the mood to train another puppy. But the rescue dog we got from the pound was…not a good fit. 

My kids cried when I told them we wouldn’t be getting a puppy but I know who does the training. Me. I train the dog. I’ve trained many many dogs in my life and I’m pretty good at it. 


The epiphany was: I adore Canada. It’s a country that has been spectacularly great for and to me. I love it there and wish I could live there. 

We will get a Canadian dog. 


A few months later we got Cody as a puppy. He’s been the best thing to happen to my family in a long time. My daughter loves him. My wife cuddles with him and keeps her feeling safe when I am out of the country and my son…this dog is his best friend. 


Why all this?


The Wonderful Grand Band is from Newfoundland. It’s a Canadian band. They aren’t great. They sometimes come across like Springsteen wannabes. And other times just a generic 70s rock band. 

Their version of “The Merry Blacksmith” is terrific. 

I would happily gets sloshed on Screech in a bar where The Wonderful Grand Band was playing. 

I don’t know what’s happening on the comedy tracks and for that stuff I go to The Four Postmen or The Aquabats anyway.


YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkI9QnsFUSk&list=PLSIs4voBRsYbdVLtK_6fhXPaqyF49EPAx





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