I listen to Q almost everyday. It’s got to be one of the best radio shows around. It’s not goofy, not overbearing and always interesting; kind of just right. The guy (Jian) is a pro, no question about it. That’s probably what makes me a little nervous whenever I see him around at parties or backstage somewhere.

Last night, I made my way down to the Ukranian Fed to check out Jian Ghomeshi. The event was a Drawn and Quarterly joint and recently, Jian’s written and published a book called, “1982,” a sort of journey into his life at that age, in that year, in that place. I just picked up the book last night, so I can’t say much more about it just now.

We (The Ds) have been on Jian’s CBC show, “Q,” a couple of times. And both times, I never really felt I “hit it out of the park.” The first time, I was feeling very off and was concerned that I gave a terrible interview. In a very awkward place, worrying most of time about whether or not I was dying, almost all interviews I did from 2006-2009 were just terrible.

The second time we were on the show, I was in a better mood and perhaps over-did it, constantly cracking jokes and not being terribly serious the entire time. Perhaps I was trying to compensate for the previous performance. I reckon Jian didn’t know what to make of it. Or maybe he didn’t even really care. I just hope I get a chance to even it out at least one more time.

It was refreshing to hear a guy who normally has to sit and listen to people drone on all day about themselves “topsy-turvy that shit” and talk about himself. I was engaged; I laughed out loud a couple of times. Mostly, I related to his stories about being the only “ethnic” around in some Canadian suburb in the 80s and into “alternative” music, sporting questionable hairstyles. And yes; when push comes to shove, black people are, indeed, ethnic.

After the reading, I got the chance to say hello and brotha even leaned in for tight one, which I appreciated. I finished the roll I started this weekend at Neptune’s Birthday Party (next post) and I took some snaps under the difficult setting (wide open f1.9 at 1/8??? #GTFO) using mostly flash. I’m starting to get into flash w/ b&w film. It is certainly a “look.” I find that it zeros in on the subject and facial expression more. Sometimes the light and setting steal the show. This was Jian’s thing so it fit to try and nail some flash here. Seeing the images, I probably should have stopped it down one more, to f11.

When I finished the roll, I sat around hoping to get him to sign my brand new copy of “1982.” The line was endless. For all I know, he might still be there, right now, meeting and greeting. I was not going to pull a “budinski;” I imagined stepping up to the front and just going “Don’t worry,  I know this guy…Hey Man, I gotta go. Could I get you to sign this?” and having a 100 people glaring at this asshole. Instead, I just split. I figured I’d get home  and soup the roll, check out the images sooner than later. Anyway, my intention is to try and (miraculously) get on Q again, have him sign my copy of “1982” then.

Above: Jian, meetin’ and greetin’.

Pentax MX, Tak 85/f1.9, Vivitar flash, HP5, D76 1+1, 13 mins