Ottawa is the capital of the nation of Canada. The word "ottawa" is derived from a word meaning "to trade" in Algonquin, the dominant native tribe in the area before it was taken over by Europeans. It's location on the Ottawa River made trade an early activity for the settlement, primarily in terms of timber. Ottawa was the location of some of the largest timber mills in the world in the 19th century. Today, Ottawa is a thoroughly modern city and though it is the political center of Canada, it is still a place where commerce is important. Thus, "trade" has always been in the very DNA of the place, going back before Europeans ever laid eyes upon it. Electric Six will take the stage at Maverick's in Ottawa on Friday night. Maverick's has been good to Electric Six in the past and Electric Six expects it to be good once again. In fact, Electric Six celebrated New Year's Eve 2011 with the Ottawa Crazies...that's how much Electric Six appreciates Maverick's and Ottawa. One of the main reasons Electric Six likes Ottawa and Maverick's is that it is a safe environment within which to trade. What does Electric Six trade, a Crazy might ask? Music, most obviously, but it's more than that. It's also more than merchandise, though that too is very important. What Electric Six REALLY trades is a sense of joy, a feeling of elation in the psyche of a Crazy witnessing the performance. Can you put a price on elation, Crazy of Ottawa? Well, Electric Six and their partners at Maverick's in Ottawa have done so. That price is $17 Canadian. Sounds like a pretty good deal, huh? What if Electric Six told you that in addition to elation, it would offer you shock and awe for free? You can't beat that deal, Crazy. Elation, shock AND awe, all for $17 Canadian? Look, you may be crazy, Crazy, but Electric Six and Maverick's are clearly insane to offer elation, shock and awe at these prices.

The motto of Kingston, Ontario is "Where innovation and history thrive," and it has had plenty of both. Kingston has the most PhDs per capita of any city in Canada, a result of two universities being located in the city. All that educational firepower certainly speaks to innovation. Kingston also has a deep history. Established as a fort by the French connected with the fur trade, it later served as a British base for refugees loyal to the British crown who were fleeing from the American colonies during the Revolutionary War. It also served as a base for the British during the War of 1812. The city has more National Historical sites within its borders than any city in Ontario outside of the much larger communities of Toronto and Ottawa. Electric Six will play Kingston for the first time on Thursday night for KPP Concerts / Kingston Punk Productions / Fun House Concerts, specifically at the Mansion. Electric Six is a band which appreciates and embodies both innovation and history. Electric Six has created a music unique to it and it alone. Nobody sounds like Electric Six now, nor has anyone ever sounded like Electric Six. This musical innovation has led Electric Six to become a part of musical history as well. Electric Six has been coming to Canada for about 16 years now. That's some history for you, Crazies of Kingston. On Thursday night, the Crazies of Kingston will hear 70 minutes of innovative music, inclusive of encore. They will also be part of history, witnessing the very first performance of the innovative and historical band Electric Six in their community. It's your civic duty to attend this show, Crazies of Kingston. Electric Six didn't make it so...you (or rather your ancestors) did.

Crazies...we've now hit the "Absolute Treasure" DVD Kickstarter campaign home stretch. Only 5 days remain to make your dreams and our dreams come true. We can't thank you enough for the support you've given us on this and one thing Electric Six will promise you is that you'll be well rewarded for it. This show and the DVD of the show is going to be amazing. Again, only 5 days remain. The only way to get the bonus disc material is to pledge during the campaign...we won't be selling that material once this is over. A few of the more popular higher priced packages still have some availability...one of the five "Pick The Encore" packages remain. One of the Executive Producer and several of the Producer packages remain as well. There are only 9 of the 100 2 disc set plus exclusive show related t-shirt packages remaining as well. Time is a factor, Crazies.

In 1970, a film called "Goin' Down The Road" was released in Canada. The story line involved two men from the Maritime Provinces who wished to find a better life for themselves in the big city of Toronto. There have been many stories like this in numerous nations and cultures...small town dreamers finding their way to the metropolis of their dreams in order to better their lives is a story perhaps as old as civilization itself. This one is particular to Canada though, and even more than 40 years later is still very highly regarded due to the realistic performances of the actors involved. Electric Six has never seen this movie. However, Electric Six HAS seen "Garth and Gord and Fionna and Alice," the parody of "Goin' Down The Road" done by SCTV. Unfortunately, this work of genius is currently unavailable on You Tube but you can find it on DVD easily enough. Even if you've never seen the source material, this works. Every time Garth and Gord (a lawyer and surgeon from the Maritimes looking for a better life in Toronto) run into the tiniest of roadblocks, they exclaim "let's go to Yonge Street!" and the film cuts to the two strolling down Toronto's longest thoroughfare, which at the time looked like a MUCH more benign version of Times Square. Yonge Street represented everything exciting in the world to these two hicks from the sticks, and the constant reptition of their visits to it on the flimiest of excuses is part of what makes the whole thing funny. On Wednesday night, Electric Six will return to The Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto. The Horseshoe is not on Yonge Street but it is on Queen Street, which is pretty busy as well. It's location and the feel of the area embodies the pulse of a big city, that excitement, that sense of SOMETHING happening. Electric Six has had numerous memorable shows in Toronto and there's little doubt that this will be another one. Electric Six is not from the Maritimes and it's had too many years under its collective belt to get wowed by the bright lights of the big city. However, every once in awhile, just for a moment, even a jaded entity such as Electric Six can feel that sense of occasion. Will that happen Wednesday night at The Horseshoe Tavern at 370 Queen Street W in Toronto? Probably so, Toronto Crazy...probably so.

Waterloo is a place in what is currently Belgium famous for being the location of the battle which ended Napoleon's reign as Emperor of France. On June 18, 1815, an army comprised of soldiers from the United Kingdom, Holland and Prussia defeated the French and once and for all ended Napoleon's ambition to be a modern day Alexander and control all of Europe. Instead, the very name of the place has become part of the lexicon in English...one who has been defeated in a way which appears to have a sense of finality associated with it is said to have "met his or her Waterloo." Waterloo, Ontario is not in Belgium. It is instead in Canada. Napoleon never set foot in this Waterloo. This Waterloo is a college town outside of Toronto, and it is the location of many previous Electric Six shows, all of which have been tremendous. On Tuesday night at The Starlight in Waterloo, Electric Six will repeat this process and once again take the stage and strive to entertain the Crazies of Waterloo and the surrounding area, including Kitchener. Electric Six is not a French band and to the best of its knowledge, has never had Napoleon as a member. In fact, Electric Six doesn't even have a member suffering from a Napoleon complex. Many things in life are uncertain but one exception to this rule is that Electric Six has never met a sonic defeat in Waterloo, Ontario. Electric Six's reign of sonic terror isn't anywhere close to ending, and Waterloo on Tuesday night will nothing but the most recent city to fall to the auditory onslaught that is a 70 minute set of Electric Six music, inclusive of encore. Even if you wanted to defeat Electric Six, Crazies of Waterloo, you'd be wasting your time. They won't repeat the mistakes Napoleon made. Electric Six's strategy is impeccable and yet it harbors none of the hubris which led to Napoleon's downfall. Do yourselves a favor and surrender, Crazies of Waterloo, Ontario. Surrender to Electric Six and save everyone the trouble. Embrace your musical emperors.

Crazies...we are down to 7 days remaining in the "Absolute Treasure" DVD Kickstarter campaign. Only one week left to make sure you get that bonus disc, as it's never going to be sold again after the campaign is over and orders are fulfilled. You can get the bonus disc as part of a two disc set, either with a conventional DVD or a Blu Ray version of the concert film. Remember, Crazy...time is a factor...and it's starting to run out.

Dick Valentine of Electric Six recently was interviewed by DJ Grandpa for his "DJ Grandpa's Crib" podcast, which is focused on interesting Kickstarter campaigns. This episode is entitled "It's Not Free Money" and the Dick Valentine interview starts around the 20 minute mark. You can download or stream the podcast at http://ia801700.us.archive.org/30/items/DjGrandpasCribItsNotFreeMoney/DJG13032501_128kst.mp3

London, Ontario sits at almost the halfway point between the cities of Detroit and Toronto. For a Canadian city, it's interesting to see the influence of Detroit still make itself present in obvious ways, such as support for teams like the Red Wings and Tigers. Citizens of London must feel as if they live in two worlds...the pull of Toronto, the CBC, and Poutine is strong, but you can't discount the impact of a coney dog, a Bernie Smilovitz, and Detroit as well. London, Ontario: one city, two worlds. On Monday night, Electric Six will once again take the stage at Call The Office in London. This one is an easy ride for Electric Six, as it's only about 90 minutes from the border. Electric Six knows what it's like to feel the gravitational pull of two worlds. Electric Six knows what it's like to feel torn, pulled apart at the seams. Dick Valentine once wrote a song about it, called "Baby vs. Baby." In it, the protagonist expresses his wish (likely in vain) for his two lovers to become friends. It rarely works out that way in real life, but London may be the exception to the rule. On Monday night, Crazies of London (Ontario) will have a real live American band playing at Call The Office, but they'll be able to embrace it. They'll even understand it. You can't listen to Mickey Redmond call a hockey game and not understand Electric Six, at least a little bit.