I went to see DRUM! for the 2nd time on Friday.

The 1st time was last year, and I was soooooooooooooooooooooooo excited.

This year I was excited, but not so excited as last year,

since I had too long time to cool me down.

It was unfortunate for me and SQUID to miss International Buskers this year,

and I could not have as good summer as last year.

I asked them if they will show up at Buskers, but Ryan replied me they wouldn't.

I understand that they would rather make theatre productions to be street performers,

but their street performance is amazing.

I am so disappointed about their schedule this year as well as their give-up for going to Japan.

Well, Ian told me that they will go sometime,

but I did not feel much enthusiasm in his words comparing to last year.

Probably they are too busy, but it usually doesn't matter.

Well, I was going to write about Drum! and I have not...

It was good although we were not sitting the best spot like last year.

The show was almost the same as last year, but my friend

who went there for the first time enjoyed so much.

To tell the truth,

I was expecting a very different show even though the show is based

on Nova Scotian Musical History which does not change.

I was expecting to hear many new songs,

but almost all (or could be "all") songs were the same.

I have to admit that I still enjoyed it even without much excitement...

I hope...

I really hope the Diamond Production to think about different shows every year,

if they are counting on returning audience

so that I could go every year with lots of excitement!

Squid has been out to the US tour for more than one week now, and I feel like I haven't seen them for years.
I have been checking Squid videos @ You Yube when I have time.

I had thought I had checked the detailed information of all the SQUID videos uploaded from their fans as well as themselves to You Tube, though, I was wrong.
There is this video from a volunteer of Juno Award, and I has seen and saved as my favorite.
I actually did not notice the huge count of the "views," but I finally realized today that the Views are as much as 51399 when I checked, and it was one of the recent featured videos!!

Can you believe it?
I am soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo happy for that Squid could get the chance to be more famous finally, but more than that, for that more and more people will be happy to know SQUID sound and performance like I became, because I got totally happy when I happened to know them!
Of course, I was so sorry for wasting my time not knowing my favorite kinds of music in my past, though, I have been feeling more lively myself since I met them.

Well, if you are interested in checking "the HAPPINESS," here is the one featured recently @ You Tube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzCCQu0QgjU

There are more selection of SQUID videos, so I will introduce them later.

Squid members had been so busy during DRUM! show which was over yesterday.

I have seen them once when we went to see the show, and I saw Ryan when I picked up some document.

I have been working to contact some people for my big dream : sending SQUID to Japan.

Right now, my focus is set on Hakodate Christmas Fantasy 2007, which seems to be the best event for SQUID to show off their attraction!!

I do not think that many Haligonians (People in Halifax) know Hakodate is the sisiter city of Halifax.

Though, I believe that much more Hakodate-nians should know the relationship, because of the big Christmas tree sent from Halifax every year.

Hakodate Christmas Fantacy is one of their big events and runs from 1st to 25th of December.

Every year the organizers (maybe and the sponsers) invite entertainers for the event and I think that next year is the best year for SQUID to show up to that event for the 25th anniversary of the two cities relationship.

The SQUID sound as well as their performance must be polular among Japanese people since it reminds me and also my husband of Japanese drums.

Japanese drums are someting very traditional, however, many people play in these days, and it is popular to watch Japanese drum performance even in some foreigh countries.

SQUID drum is both traditional and modern, and the way they use the drumsticks really has similarity to Japanese drum one.

Recently, my daughter and I are thinkng about how the translater should interpret what SQUID say during their performance.

Since their words are funny and cute, the Japanese audience should know what they are talking, though it is very difficult to keep the funniness after translated into Japanese.

For example, Japanese translated Shrek was funny because the voice of Shrek was done by a very funny Japanese comedian who speaks Osaka direct.

That makes very much difference, because it is the same thing when Japanese funny animes translated into English often lose most of their funniness, especially in magazines such as Shonen Jump.

(Believe me, One Piece is much funnier when you read in Japanese!)

Anyway, hiring good comedian as a interpreter is one option, and the other option we could think of by far is to let SQUID speak in Japanese by themselves.

Because I believe that Japanese people are fairly kind when foreigners try to speak in Japanese with their limited ability.

If they could speak even just little of Japanese when they talk, Hakodatenians would feel affinity in their attitude, and try to listen hard.

Even if their Japanese are not perfect, they should try to pick whatever they could, and maybe laugh!

I guess this would be easier!

The problem is that I am not sure if SQUID is interested in learning simple Japanese.

Even though they are not interested or eager to learn Japanese, I would like them to say "Konbanwa!" "Samui desu ne!" "Tsugi no number wa ~~ desu." at least.

Then the rest of the talk could be translated by somebody, and maybe could draw laughter easier than without a word in Japanese by themselves.

Anyway, before we are having a hard time thinking about the translation thing, I should work harder to make this plan (my dream) 100% reality...

If there is anybody who know any other good connection which should work on this plan, please let me know!!

Ryan Fraser

Ryan began piping at the young age of 8.
After a year of private instruction Ryan joined the Dartmouth and District Pipe Band
where he quickly moved up the ranks from the parade band to the senior grade 2 band.
Along the way he won numerous solo and band competitions
and champion supreme awards.
Ryan ended his highly successful 10-year competition career in 2002
when he was asked to join Squid, a move he would not regret.

Ryan is currently a third year accounting major at Saint Mary's University in Halifax,
although he is in the midst of a year off to focus on Squid.
Ryan is enjoying Squid's ever growing success and working hard
to turn the Squid show into a full time career.

The information above is brought to you from the SQUID website.

For more info. visit their website : http://www.tastysquid.com

　

Mark Jamieson

Mark Jamieson has played with Squid since its beginnings in 2000.
He started playing music at the age of 5 when he started playing piano.
He had passed his Royal Conservatory of Music grade 9 examinations
before changing his focus to drumming.
Mark started drumming with the Dartmouth Pipe Band Association
and advanced to the senior band within 5 years.
He was part of the band
when it captured the North American Championship for Grade 3.
He also competed in several successful solo seasons.
Mark's highlights with Squid to date include
representing Nova Scotia in the Boston Treelighting Ceremony in 2000 and 2004,
and performing in the Halifax International Buskerfest in 2004.

The imformation above is brought to you from SQUID website.

Please check further information about SQUID @
http://www.tastysquid.com

　　

Ian MacMillan

Drummer / Percussionist Ian MacMillan began drumming at the age of 12 in 1988.
After rapid progression, he went on to instruct and lead competitive drumcorps
with the Dartmouth Pipe Band Association for grades 4 - 2
during the 1990 - 1998 and 2000 seasons.
During these years he captured many solo and drumcorps titles / awards
on the Maritime and North American circuits including Champion Supreme
on numerous occasions and the 2000 North American Championships.

Known for his amazing stick-twirling and technique,
he is a well-respected performer, clinician, choreographer, and instructor
in the world of competitive Drum Corps and professional drumming.
Many of his students have gone on to compete
on the North American and World levels in the highest grades possible.

In 1994, Ian widened his focus to cuban, west african, middle eastern, and brazilian percussion and co-founded the ECMA nominated world music group, MacCrimmon's Revenge.
He is a founding member of Precision Drummers Squid,
as well as Fola, a west african style djembe ensemble.
Ian also currently performs with El Viento Flamenco, and Los Flamencos.
He has worked with numerous dance classes, performed at many music festivals,
and has appeared live and recorded
for Vision TV, CBC, Radio-Canada, CTV, The History Channel, and NBC.
He has also recently performed with Symphony Nova Scotia.
Ian presently instructs numerous drumcorps, teaches hand drumming classes,
and is a drumset teacher with the Canadian Conservatory in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

This information is brought here from SQUID website.

Go check further information at www.tastysquid.com

Daniel St.Pierre

In 1996 Daniel joined the Dartmouth Pipe and Drum Band and

within his first year he was playing in the parade band.

After competing in the junior bands for a few years
he then made the move to the senior band,
playing up to the grade 2 band level and grade 1 solo level.

While in the Dartmouth organization
Daniel instructed at both the beginner and intermediate levels.
He was a member of the North American grade 3 championship band
while he was also leading the grade 4 junior band.

In 2001 Daniel left the Dartmouth Pipe Band
and joined the Gaelic College grade 3 competition band
for one competition season.

Daniel, A founding member of Squid,
who graduated from Dalhousie University
with a BSc in Economics and a Minor in Business
now makes Squid his full time job.

This information about his bio is from SQUID website:
www.tastysquid.com

Go check their website!