Singer, guitarist, composer, producer, and more Devin Townsend dropped what might be his magnum opus this past week. The Moth is an ambitious, operatic at times, concept album drawing on his 30+ years in metal and prog. He brings along some guests from throughout his career, including an appearance on one track by guitar legend Steve Vai, who Devin worked with early in his career before leaving Vai to start Strapping Young Lad, his first project of his own.

A couple tracks from The Moth.

FYI, Devin is a fellow Canuck, born, raised, and still based in Vancouver, BC.

Good morning. Nice weather here these days. Low-mid 20s Celsius, sun, little to no cloud. On the down side, we are coming up on a week with no rain. Fortunately we had lots the previous week so not getting too dry yet.

Story is stalling as I try to figure why I am obsessed with writing stories about women with pasts on tropical islands encountering weird s&&t. I have like three active drafts for different stories that all have that undercurrent. And I never seem to get past getting the woman to the island and setting up the past. The story that started it all was supposed to be for (redacted) but that's long gone now (like, years ago).

I need to find something else to write while I ruminate on this, I think.

Hi, Gil. Yeah, it's important to take care of ourselves and help our loved ones do the same.

New story is progressing but slowly and it's not going to be a short one, I don't think. There's interesting character stuff happening and I am still working out the secret of the volcanic island they are on. Evil spirit? Monster? Just a strange volcano?

And another singer with a great set of pipes taking on another great ACDC track. This is Finnish rocker Noora Louhimo, who until last year fronted the Finnish heavy metal band Battle Beast, covering "You Shook Me All Night Long" as part of a Finnish TV show she's been appearing on this spring.

And here's the goodie table for the weekend.

"Everybody's working for the weekend," said Loverboy.

Yep, and here we are. Coffee and tea are on. Goodies, too. Got some housework to do and maybe some writing. Took an idea I had for a volcano story (dates back three years to when I visited Iceland) and rejigged it from secondary world fantasy to modern dark fantasy-horror. Or that's the plan. We'll see how it goes.

Someone on another site introduced me to the band Montrose today. Not sure why I haven't heard of them before given they date to my childhood They started in 1973 and their lead singer and rhythm guitarist was none other than Sammy Hagar, later to front Van Halen for a period.

Quote by verbal
What novel are you resding Ape.

Arcanum by Simon Morden. It's an alternate fantasy Europe with no Christianity and wizards called hexmasters. Rome still fell but the Goths had magic as well as force of arms. Story is a thousand years later, so c. 15th century on our timeline, in a German principality in the Alps. Giants and unicorns are involved, too.

More ACDC is never a bad thing. This is The Rock Orchestra with Ukrainian rocker Daria Zaritskaya on vocals and violin soloist Mia Asano with a killer take on "Thunderstruck".

Good morning! Coffee and tea are ready. Goodies are replenished. We are now in back half of a short week in my part of the world. What's up?

I started reading a novel last night. Decided it was time to try getting out of my reading rut, found something that looked kind of interesting and off I went. Am contemplating story ideas but haven't done much writing.

Quote by verbal
except that IT SNOWED this week

Western Canada got some, too. Meanwhile here in the East we weathered a two day heatwave that ended with an absolutely insane storm the other day. Hit right at afternoon rush hour. The rain was so hard that the visibility was worse than some of the snowstorms we had this past winter. The major street I drive for most of my commute was like a creek there was so much water.

I have become fond of Aussie cover band Sing It Live. Good bunch of talented musicians who do terrific versions of pop and rock hits from the past. Being Aussie, it should comes as no surprise that they give lively, energetic performances of songs by that nation's greatest musical export, rockers AC/DC.

It's MONDAY!!!! But here in Canada, it's also a LONG WEEKEND!!!! Happy Victoria Day!!!!

Coffee and tea are ready for those needing a fix. Goodie supply looks, well, good.

And some apropos tuneage by The Bangles, written by Prince back in 1986. He went by the pseudonym Christopher originally, but did release his own version eventually.

Quote by Meagananne1986
Mexico is dangerous.

We had a port stop in Ensenada on our cruise but that's a relatively calm, stable area and we were on shore for all of a couple hours. Visited a nice little, free museum. Lovely place, actually.

New question to reboot the thread:

WYE enter a dance competition assuming you had time to learn the steps and a good partner?

Storm rolling in here. Was brightening up for a while, then the West darkened. Now it's like dusk here and rain is pouring down with occasional rumbles of thunder.

Hello, all. I have been kind of neglecting this place and I will attempt to rectify that. I've done a good Spring cleaning. Fresh dark roast coffee is on, as are a couple pots of tea, one black and one green. And there's goodies, of course.

I am starting a new writing project in hopes of relighting my writing fires. It's framed as a sequel to my older piece "Songs To Keep Monsters Away", with the same pair of characters dealing with another supernatural crisis. Dang, it's hard to believe that story is almost 5 years old. I've had it my head ever since to do more in that universe.

Blue Medusa is a brand new, hot off the presses band founded by Canadian singer Alissa White-Gluz after she parted ways with her previous band, Swedish melodic death metal act Arch Enemy. Their second single came out today and it's a banger. Besides Blue Medusa, she is temporarily a member of power metal greats Dragonforce and working on solo material.

PUtting a cake out to celebrate the winners of WriterGirl's challenge. Dig in, folks.

Nice weather if a bit cool here. I am kind of swamped at work with a software rollout and work for a big project we are kicking off. Plus weekends are getting sucked up by spring cleaning and yardwork and such now that winter really is over (I think. I hope.).

Yay AAnna and TheGardener!! Congratulations. And thank you WG for doing these. Breathes a bit of life into the place.

And I am not gone, just not very active right now. Mentioned in another thread that a writing break seems to be in the offing. My heart just isn't in it right now. Of course, when I say something like that, I inevitably re-engage so we'll see.😊

Quote by JustAnotherSapphic

I'm not dead. Just been dealing with a lot irl.

Hey, nice to see you again. Sending vibes and good thoughts your way.

My heart just isn't in it for some reason. I haven't completely bowed out but for me to put out a story in two days other than a micro is unheard of. I'm just too fussy with my edits. Sorry, folks. I'm actually considering a writing break from both sites.

Quote by WriterGirl

Oh no! It’s not Covid, is it?

Feel better soon!

Rapid tests are not readily available around here anymore but I did not run a fever, which I did with both bouts of C-19, so I assume not. Cold or RSV seems most likely. Flu would have run a fever, too.

Don't count me out yet. I have something going. A week should be possible. We'll see. On the other hand, I'm busy looking for a lung I coughed up so that will tie me up for a bit. I haven't had something hang on like this since my first bout of COVID in 2022.

This performance from Bruce Springsteen's current tour is just wow. On a stop in Minneapolis, he paid tribute to Prince, a native of that city with a cover of "Purple Rain", title track from Prince's 1984 album and film.

Quote by verbal
Endoscopy on May 6. Wish me luck. I should be around more after that.

Vibes. Hope it goes well and they figure out what's ailing you.

I have a story for the challenge, or at least more of one than I had. Still a little unsure of where it goes but I have more to work with than my last couple ideas.

Well, I wrote three sentences of a Spring story. No idea where to go with it but at least it's a start. Unfortunately, this cold or whatever that I have isn't great for my creativity.

Probably small, cozy, on-off cafe. More likely to have the kind of oddball specialty teas that I enjoy.

Sit down a la carte meal or a buffet?

Local wines. Not a beer drinker.

For paying in person: cash or card?

Not sure I have it in me anymore but it strikes me as a fun idea.

WYE change a vacation plan for political, environmental, or social concerns?

Owls are so cute. Unless you're a mouse or similar. Then they are a demon from hell swooping down to feast upon thee body and soul.

Hi all. Been off vacationing and all I got was this lousy cold (or RSV or mild C-19 or whatever the f I have). Have an idea for the spring fling challenge but we shall how it goes when I start writing.

Alaska. Visited both on cruises and much preferred it, though I certainly wouldn't say no to doing Hawai'i in more depth someday.

Vacation trip or staycation at or close to home?