Finally my own domain is up… so check out the blog, it’s over at www.sebastian.troen.com/blog

Last week I started working with a young, hot-as-shit, tech start-up in downtown Vancouver called 3rd Whale. The mission? To find new and exciting ways to use technology to empower people to live greener lives while on the go.

First up, we’re rolling out an iPhone app that lets you search for different types of businesses, like restaurants or spas or ecotourism, and using the embedded LBS capabilities of the iPhone, you can find environmentally businesses near you.

Cause if you have a choice, wouldn’t you rather eat or shop somewhere that’s looking out for ol’ mother earth?

Yeah, I thought so.

So here’s the thing. Next Tuesday, January 20th, is Obama’s Inauguration. Obama’s pretty down with the whole green economy and we thought that we should throw a party to celebrate Bush-out, Obama-in and the release of our iPhone app.

So if you’re in the downtown Vancouver area next Tuesday, please, please stop. We’ve partnered with One Million Acts of Green and will be collecting pledges from everyone. We’ve also partnered with Habitat Enterprises to make the event carbon neutral. Cool, eh?!

Deets:

What: Celebrate Obama’s Inauguration and the launch of 3rd Whale’s iPhone App (yet another plug)

When: Tuesday, January 20th, after work (exact time to be announced)

Where: Ceili’s

How do I find out more: Join the Facebook Event or follow us on Twitter…

Here it is, my first mix that I’m publishing for y’all… a little something to rock in the new year with…

Enjoy it, and if you like it, look for more great beats in the new year

Download Link: Sabu: Rockin\’ It \’08

President O!

It’s impressive how quickly and decisively President-Elect Barack Obama is putting together his new cabinet and hitting the ground running. Even more impressive is how he’s filling his roster with former adversaries, most notably Hillary Clinton, something he’s taken from the pages of President Lincoln (the last notable Illinois President). After 8 years of watching the most powerful man in the world surround himself with like-minded individuals (the notable exception was Bush’s first Secretary of State Colin Powell, who was effectively excluded from the Bush Machine for having a contrarian view).

I’m so happy to see an intelligent leader take office who is open to conflicting opinions and is looking to tackle the issues head-on. I may not agree with all the decisions Obama will make over the next 4 years (in fact, I hope I don’t), but I have more faith a leadership that I can see is smarter and more hard-working than I am. During the election a guest on the Daily Show commented (it may have been Denis Leary, I don’t recall) that he wanted his President to be elitist, that he feels better when there’s someone elite, the best of the best, sitting in that Oval Office. I couldn’t agree more. Not everyone can be President, a thought that was cemented for most people when they considered President Palin.

And on that note, I wish President Obama godspeed and the best of luck for the coming months.

Canada Can’t Make Up Its Damn Mind

Canada's New Leaders?

As if we haven’t had enough election stuff to drive us all insane, the Canadian government appears on the verge of falling. Harper’s minority Conservative government is facing a no-confidence vote and possible coalition government made up of the Liberals, NDP and Bloc Quebecois. Ugh! Talk about two unappetizing choices: one, a right-wing minority government that won mostly because the Liberals don’t have a decent leader that can inspire confidence or a coalition of the left-wing NDP, the cojone-less Liberals and the Quebec-only Bloc.

At least the US had a clear cut choice and a clear winner and they can move on for the next 4 years with relative peace of mind that McCain isn’t going to try to come back and usurp the presidency.

And one more thing, who else feels that the Canadian electoral system needs to be reworked. Almost everyone I know voted in a district where the incumbent was almost guaranteed a victory, partly because of their past success and partly because the opposition parties did not run a quality candidate. I don’t know enough about electoral systems to speak intelligently about it, but I do know that we have right now does not reflect how I see our country voting.

Wow, another great album from Ryan Adams & The Cardinals is dropping October 28th. This man is a legend in his own time, having released 7 albums in 7 years (4 were solo and 3 were with his backing band, The Cardinals). Talk about a prolific songwriter…

Anyway, if you haven’t already given him a listen… then Cardinology is a good place to start. The first single is Fix It and here’s a taste:

And here’s a little retro Ryan Adams… New York, New York from his first solo record, Gold, from 2001, still a rocking song:

It’s that time of year, when a ton of amazing new music seems to come out of the woodwork… and I recently discovered Ray Lamontagne’s new album, Gossip in the Grain. There’s something about having it grey and rainy outside and listening to Ray’s raspy, soulful voice that really work well together.

If you haven’t already heard his song Trouble or his cover of Gnarls Barkley’s Crazy, then you really are… crazy! Check them out now. Here, let me help you:

Crazy:

Trouble:

And finally, something from the new album, Let It Be Me:

A couple of new singer-songwriters I’ve come across are Jason Isbell (thanks to my good friend, Patrick, in KC) and Jakob Dylan, formerly of the Wallflowers. Both have a southern vibe to their music reminiscent of Ryan Adams, one of my favourite artists of the past years.

If you like that slow, southern groove, check them out:

Everybody wants
ippaisa
mou
itai dake de
understand

No, not really… but somehow mixing English and Japanese lyrics to Sheryl Crow-inspired pop-rock guitar riffs sounds really, really good… I’m sure the Japanese lyrics are about as clever and insightful as the English ones:

Don’t you feel blue?
Do you feel good?
Don’t you feel glad?
Do you feel mad?
Don’t you feel lost?
Do you feel sweet?

But really, who cares… I find myself cranking the tunes and mumbling along to the Japanese lyrics, just as I do to the English ones… and any band that can get me cranking their tunes in the Jeep on a sunny day definitely deserves a mention in here…

This is actually their third album and they’re hugely popular in Japan and Taiwan. I guess I’ll be digging into their back catalogue asap! Check them out, they’re pretty awesome!!

I’m in T.O. On pleasure. It’s hot and it’s muggy. I’m missing the coolness of Vancouver, but hey, while I’m hot and sticky I might as well go check out a show. And lo and behold, Hey Ocean! is playing at the Rivoli tonight. So I’m going to check them out tonight. What a way to kick off Eastbynortheast, which starts tomorrow (though HO! is not part of the music conference, just good timing).

Hey Ocean! has a new album out and a new drummer in Dan Klenner after Benny Schutze left the band to pursue an acting career. I’m listening to their new album (the entire album is available on myspace, go it out right now!) and it’s full of the kind of fun melodies that their first album was full of, though with a slightly more mature edge to it. Ashleigh’s voice soars on this record, alternating from soulful to jazzy, and is a great counterpoint to the rhythm and melodies.

I’m looking forward to the show tonight and their gig in Vancouver at Richards on July 11th. I’ll be interested to see how they handle the bigger stage.

Get their new album Stop Looking Like Music on iTunes now.

I’m back from a great week in Palm Springs and though I see grey skies outside my window here in Vancouver, my disposition is still 100 degrees and sunny, thanks to the awesome show that is Coachella.

Unfortunately my plan to review every band playing the festival before I went down there never happened. There was just too much good music (and I easily get distracted). So instead I’ve decided to offer up my review on Coachella 2008, my take on the good, the bad and the ugly, and my recommendations on who you should definitely check out and who you should leave alone.

I saw an amazing amount of music: 32 bands over 3 days, however I didn’t see everything so I will (in fact, I hope) offend, annoy, infuriate and piss some of you off. If you think I’ve got it wrong, let me know… tell me your favourites or ones you hated. On to the review:

For the record, here’s who I saw:

Friday: Sebastian, Busy P, Adam Freeland, Vampire Weekend, Tegan and Sara, The Raconteurs, The Verve, Santogold, Jack Johnson and Fatboy Slim

Saturday: VHS or Beta, James Zabiela, MGMT, Kate Nash, Bonde do Role, Dwight Yoakam, Death Cab for Cutie, Rilo Kiley, Portishead and Prince

Sunday: Shout Out Louds, Duffy, Stars, Gogol Bordello, Booka Shade, Metric, Love & Rockets, Roger Waters, Simian Mobile Disco, Chromeo and Justice

Not a bad little line-up, eh

Best Sheryl Crow Impression (for playing a number of instruments and looking hot): Jenny Watson from Rilo Kiley. Just like when I first saw Sheryl Crow in 95, Jenny played 3 instruments, sang, interacted with the audience and looked super hot in a little 70’s number with knee-high black boots. Too bad the lead guitarist is a bit of a douche bag, but their show was really good…

Loudest and Hardest: This is a straight-up tie between the first act and the last: DJ Sebastian (known best for his remix of Rage’s Killing In The Name Of) and Justice (known best for D A N C E). Justice probably edges out the win here because of their loud, rock-influenced beats, however I like Sebastian for his mixing of styles and pure, crisp and super-loud beats.

Pinkest Shorts: Preppy lead singer from Vampire Weekend who delivered a tight set that had the crowd grooving though I fear for our fashion future if pink shorts are coming back into fashion.

Speaking of fashion, what is up with the 80’s clothing revival and with nose piercings. First of all, those of us who survived the 80’s with neon coloured tights and oversized glasses and short shorts (on guys!) all vowed never to go back… WHY are we going back??!?! And secondly, the nose piercings (the idea clearly coming from the ring through a bull’s nose) are super popular. Why??!? They don’t look good. Not on anyone. At least with the lip or eyebrow piercings there’s usually one person that can pull it off. I saw hundreds, if not thousands of rings through noses and I could honestly say none of them looked any good. End rant.

Biggest Disappointment: The Raconteurs. I’m a huge fan of both White Stripes and the Raconteurs, and the chance to see Jack White perform was really exciting, so I got there nice and early and was about 10 rows back when they hit the stage. Sadly, they did not sound very good and Jack White’s vocals were high and tinny. Sound check people, sound check!! I actually left half-way to catch another band. It all made me very sad.

Coolest Guitar: However, Jack White did get the coolest guitar award… A bronze plated axe that looked super cool.

Biggest Comeback: Tie between The Verve and Portishead. Both rocked out and both sounded spot on. Nah, I gotta give this to The Verve, I mean they’ve got RichardfuckinAshcroft on stage, man!

Best Experience: Don’t mess with Fatboy, cause the man can rock a house party like no other. With an audio visual show second to none, the Saraha tent was a mad, mad dance party under Norman’s control.

And finally down to the best of the best…

Best in Show: There can only be one… muthafuckin’ Prince. His holy Princeness put on a 2 hour show that had us all in awe. What a diva! And man, can he pull it off… ‘I’m so funky I can hardly sleep with myself’. Yeah, Prince, yeah you are… His two-hour set included covers of Radiohead’s Creep, Sarah McLachlan’s Angel, Sheila E on percussion, Morris Day and Jerome Benton doing their thang and the tiny tower of power, Prince… Words cannot describe how entertaining the show was. And from a pure musical perspective, Prince has mad skills on the guitar, the likes of which I’ve never seen… do yourself a favour, get thee to a Prince show with all haste… his Princeness commands you so…

And that’s it, my best and worst of Coachella 2008. Do you agree with me, think I’m full of crap? Did I miss your favourite artist or performance? Let me know…