Award-winning writer and Boston resident, Dennis Lehane gave the keynote.

In his 30 minute talk he spoke about the importance of the Boston Public library in his own life and more generally about the importance of libraries to our society, to the concepts of liberty, freedom, the pursuit of knowledge, and opportunities that come from that pursuit.

I was really excited to get a decent recording of Dennis’ talk and looked forward to posting it here when the time was right. I did not expect that the time would be now, nor that the circumstances that compel me to post it would be so tragic.

Yesterday Dennis posted a brief note on his Facebook page where he responded publicly to the day’s events. In that note he wrote,

When I watch the footage of the first explosion, I look at the Boston Public Library Main Branch across the street, and I think no matter who they turn out to be–Islamic jihadists, home grown militia, neo-Nazis, something else–what really scares them, what they truly hate, is the access to knowledge that building exemplifies.

Thoughts are with all the victims and their families, and with the citizens of Boston.

There are few things in this world sexier than the right record played at the right time when you’re with the right person. No words need be exchanged, everything is being said for you whether you can even hear the lyrics when your eyes are so full of the other person and your mind is reeling with passion.

Who listens to the lyrics at a time like that?

Has anyone ever stopped in that moment of sheer expectancy before that first timorous kiss to say,

“Hey, wait a minute. I finally understand that lyric now! Prince isn’t actually singing about a literal Little Red Corvette… it’s a metaphor! OMG, I can’t believe that I’m only realizing this now, that’s so awesome…”

Don’t answer that.

It’s a rhetorical question. Kind of.

Anyway, the Storm Crow is a place where amorous behaviours abound and are surrounded by the great music.

Above is an embedded link to the VALENTINE’S DAY PLAYLIST that we will be listening to tonight. Please come on down to experience it with us, or if you are too busy getting busy in the warmth of your own palace or you’re chilling on the fire escape enjoying that post-coital cigarette, then you should absolutely hit play on the player above and turn up the volume.

Also, the super amazing CTHULHU sculpture has been installed and is just about as sexy as any non-euclidian, mind blowing, rubbery winged creature from beyond time and space can be.

You know, if you’re into that kind of thing.

Which I am.

ALSO, we’ll be serving CHOCOTHULHU shots all night long!

See you tonight.

Here’s the playlist:

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – No More Shall We Part
Beach House – Bloom
The National – Boxer
Depeche Mode – Violator
My Bloody Valentine – Loveless
Prince – Purple Rain
Elastica – Elastica
Lana Del Rey – Born to Die
St Vincent – Marry Me
Amanda Palmer – Theatre is Evil
Beyonce – Dangerously in Love
Missy Elliott – Supa Dupa Fly

It’s a beautiful, warm and sunny day in Vancouver and I’m not going to spend all day composing some long, preposterous blog post about music and food.

Come down to the Storm Crow tonight. This is the sonic wall paper that will surround you.

We will be showing great movies and telling funny stories.

See you then.

Patti Smith – Horses
PJ Harvey – Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea
Liz Phair – Exile in Guyville
Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings – 100 Days, 100 Nights
The Poets of Rhythm – What Goes ‘Round
THEESatisfaction – awE naturalE
Radiohead – In Rainbows
Gorillaz – Demon Days
Curren$y – The Stoned Immaculate
Kanye West – The College Dropout

It’s January. New Year’s Resolutions have been shattered, forgotten, postponed or just outright ignored and here we are.

The glow of the Holidays has faded. The optimism of those resolutions and the brief hope engendered by an arbitrary sunrise has evaporated.

This is life. It’s 2013. Everything pretty much looks like it did before.

Now what?

An excellent question.

One very good answer to that question is to pull yourself together and stop getting so emotional about things that you have no control over. Instead, might I recommend that you listen to some good music, pull out a good book and treat yourself to a Sunday afternoon of cultural enrichment?

That’s right. And when your soul is teeming with renewed vigor and your vocabulary turns your conversations from dull reportage to ebullient disgressions on inspired themes then it is time to head down to the Storm Crow and join us in the festivities.

Here’s tonight’s soundtrack. This is how we’re approaching these mid-January revelations. By going back and forth in time.

See you tonight.

Mazzy Star – She Hangs Brightly
Jesus and Mary Chain – Psychocandy
Elliot Smith – Figure 8
Depeche Mode – Violator
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. – It’s a Corporate World
King Tuff – King Tuff
Thee Oh Sees – Single Collection
Two Gallants – The Bloom and the Blight
Dungen – Tio Bitar
Curren$y – The Stoned Immaculate