Grand Porch Party 2014-umbrella edition

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It’s been a couple of weeks since the Grand Porch Party, but I still have that slight post-GPP buzz from the mash-up of music and mid-town community. I had to bail out of the afternoon at 4:30 to get to the airport for a week-long work trip to the UK, hence the delay in getting these photos up. Despite the early departure and with a fair amount of regular towelling of camera gear, I did get the shots. It is a truism that bad weather makes good photos, and the GPP was no exception. I was on the lookout for wet streets and umbrellas and found them aplenty in mid-town west Waterloo.

I found this fellow above on Menno Street showing the resolve of an engaged community. Rain/shine, low/high attendance, no/money: we show up…

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Tamara Sandor was playing the porch, and I believe Jon Crellin was on drums if I’ve google-correlated that accurately. Tamara’s haunting music was well-matched with the rain.

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Jon Crellin, possibly.

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Hey hey, my very good friend and GPP instigator, Tenille Bonoguore, making the rounds. Only one year ago, Tenille was busy having beautiful twin girls and breaking out of the hospital to get to the show. This year must be Tony’s turn with the girls during GPP.

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Tamara Sandor 

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Meta.

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Further up Menno St, I found woodwind and brass in the garden where David’s quartet was playing.

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The other half of the quartet.

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Bootleg!

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Hey, I know these guys…

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Tessa, Russell, and Ryan are The Short Films. I have many great photos of Russell’s back.

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Russell and Ryan.

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Matt and Alex, caught eating…

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freezies.

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Early on, the trees were reasonable shelter from the rain.

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A bit later I ducked into the merch tent for a lens change and caught Anna Beard tweeting.

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Anybody thought of a parallel of the 100-Mile Diet, but for music? Buy local.

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Wasn’t sure what effect the rain would have on attendance, so I was delighted to find crowds.

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And high spirits.

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And umbrellas.

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And wet streets.

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Front row seat.

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On Dunbar Road, I found…

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Tanya Philipovich playing with..

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Lucas Stagg.

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Tenille conferring with GPP volunteer wrangler Rachel Thompson.

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Over on Avondale, I found The Kramdens setting up…

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and the very familiar Craig Norris at the keyboard.

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Caught up with Phil Bast capturing B-roll. I asked about the debut of his film on Mel Brown and he said it went really well. As a side note, when I was attending the U of G, Mel used to play The Keg campus bar from Monday to Wednesday, providing the backdrop for our studies and getting us to hump day each week. What talent, and sadly missed. Phil’s doc is showing again at Princess on July 16/17, so check it out.

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Kool-Aid stands are an excellent metric of neighbourliness. Empty your pockets.

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The Kramdens crammed.

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Of course, half the fun of these events for me is colliding with friends. Here’s my pal James Bastow rocking his sweet new ride from McPhail’s. With fresh wheels, James and Agnes did a cycle tour of the CAFKA installations. Check out their pics.

Also digging James’ 3D-printed handlebar mount for his Nexus 5 phone.

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Communitech scribe and friend, Trish Crompton said g’day.

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The Kramdens had the volume cranked so they were easy to find. Nice photo-bomb from orange-vested Brohemus.

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This was the umbrella density for which I had been searching.

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Engaged Dave White. Engaged in volunteering, not the other kind of engaged. He’s actually single and available, and the vest is completely optional.

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Unrestrained love.

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My mom. She’s the Best Mom.

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Mr. Calder White: “Dad, take a close-up of my eye, like this.”

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My Grade 8 graduate, Arden, with Grandma.

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Down on the corner, out in the street…

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Pedals and feet.

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Further down Avondale, I made my last stop…

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barely able to bust through the crowd…

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to find…

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The Vaudevillian. These guys were killing it. And that wrapped up another amazing Grand Porch Party and another look at what community looks like. This is Waterloo.

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See you next year.

DW

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