It was July 19, 2009. I had been at home, and got caught in quite a storm on the way home from work. By the time I had gotten home, everything seemed okay. I had just been dumped by my girlfriend (oh sorry, she went on a break with me), but I resolved to meet Jeremy and Sheila to see the Arkells and Pilot Speed (formerly Pilate) play a free show at Capital Ex. Through the Arkells set, it rained off and on, and eventually the sun came out for a while. They wrapped up their set. The road crews began to put the stage together for Pilot Speed. This was the first time I was to see one of my favourite bands since their 2003 release Caught by the Window.
I was talking to a few Grant Macewan journalist students whom were taking some pictures; I asked them to email a few of the pictures of the stage to me. That's when one of them remarked about how dark it had become. I looked to see extremely dark clouds descending over us at an unusual rate. "It'll probably just pass by us." I said. Jeremy and Sheila went to find Sheila's friends somewhere. That's when all chaos broke loose. The wind picked up so much it became a threat to the temporary stage. We were asked to leave the area immediately. I didn't initially believe anything was that bad, so I straggled, until the police began evacuating us. I started walking, quickly, towards the exit, until I heard terrible sounds behind me (it proved to be booths falling apart, and the stage collapsing) and that's when I started running. As I was going for the exit, a metal fence blew over on to me. I continued out and around and began down Wayne Gretzky Drive towards my truck which was parked in front of Axe at the time, a couple of blocks down. Giant oak trees along the drive had branches blown off, one on top of a minivan while driving right next to me. Then the hail started. Finally I reached my truck, being pelted with hail and debris, and then hard rain. I got in and began to drive home. The lights were out, including the traffic lights, and people had forgotten to use common sense and were ripping through uncontrolled intersections.
We found out the day after that Pilot Speed had to cancel some of the rest of their tour because their equipment and tour vehicles were damaged from the storm. #YEG was the biggest twittered (Edmonton) location due to the storm.
I never got to see Pilot Speed when they came back.
I did however, finally pick up Jackson Square by The Arkells (Dine Alone Records) a few days ago. Just as good as it was on that stage; it was on the album. Max's lyrics are fantastically poetic, and the music is great to groove to. So as a tribute to one of my old favourites, and one of my new favourites, the playlist today is made up of two great Arkells songs, and three great Pilot Speed songs.
- Tragic Flaw - Arkells - Jackson Square 2009
- Abigail - Arkells - Jackson Square 2009
- Alright - Pilate - Caught By The Window 2003 (rereleased under Pilot Speed)
- Hold The Line - Pilate - Self Control For Life's Speed 2006 (rereleased under Pilot Speed)
- Put The Phone Down - Pilot Speed - Wooden Bones 2009
And if you must know, my Self Control for Life's Speed album is the one labelled "Pilate" and not Pilot Speed. They pulled them from shelves at some point and restocked with a new press that had the new band name on it. Some band that broke up in 1974 had the same name as Pilate. It doesn't make Pilot Speed any less good, or the other original Pilate any less unknown. That's my opinion on it.Enjoy the playlist this week; I recommend the entire Jackson Square album.
