T.Mosher: The Ultimate Mixtaper.

Hiii.

Bumps to Robbie J for initiating the Tommy theme this week. It's been two measly days since he left Guelph and it already feels like something's missing. Goodbyes are the worst...

The strange days we've thought of and spoken of, they are here. Tommy is the first to leave from our little family of rookies that started 5 years ago. The two of us met at Vienna for breakfast on Sunday, drank lots of coffee, spoke lots of "remember when"and talked a bit about what's to come. Goodbyes are still the worst.


Last week I attempted to organize the piles of dishevelled CDs on the bookcase in my room. I came across a stack of burnt discs with white labels and immediately smiled. White labels are Tommy's trademark. "I made another mix...; These are songs that Tommy runs to, and you should too; Mobilize your harmonics; Your friend, always; and If you'll have me." Old mixtapes and a couple of EPs from T's earliest days as a musician are like finding gold in my world. So much for organizing...

I sat down for awhile and re-listened to each album. It's funny how a single song can trigger a memory and make it vivid. I've been going through some heavily sentimental waves since then -- not surprising. This post is all about MVPs from T, the songs he's passed on that have stuck with me. Our friendship is very dear to my heart.




T. Mosher LOVES John Frusciante, it's a fact.  He showed me this song on the way to U of T for a track meet in first year.  It has a badass guitar solo at 2:42 and it popped up on the original mixtape.

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Tommy also introduced the Take Away Shows at 34 Fairview one afternoon and we spent a good chunk of time perusing the site. Beirut, Sufjan, the Spinto Band, Essie Jain... probably a couple of hours sifting through music, but that was nothing new. That habit started in Watson Hall circa 2006.

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The next one is from Tallest Man on Earth, since "Shallow Grave" is on a mixtape and we adventured to his show at the El Mocambo almost exactly a year ago. This was one of the best days ever. I mean that whoe-heartedly, for the following reasons:

a) Exams finished that day.
b) Sloan was playing at Sonic Boom (excellent surprise).
c) We had drinks at a little hole in the wall place where mini pitchers of gin and tonic were $5 at most.
d) Walking home post-bar is one of my favourite things. It took us well over an hour from downtown.
e) The intro to this next song, in the words of Tallest Man:
"My next song is a love song... I like singing love songs, so shut the fuck up."

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He's got a soft spot for folky songs and sad songs (or a double whammy of both, on a good day). One's from a mixtape and the other is from an adventure to Kensington Market/Tom Buchanan's back yard last summer. I love them both:

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Well, this is the last. This might be a bold statement, but.... I think it's my favourite of all the songs Tommy's ever shown me. Maybe it was from the liner note, maybe it's just the song, I dunno. The bad news is that it's off the youtube radar. Click on this song and find "Things that bind you" on the right hand side.  I have a feeling you'll like it.


So as he takes off to tackle the trees, I'll end with a verse from my favourite poem. From the Ghost Man, on a wintery birthday last January:

"but know that i would be proud
to fall alongside you,

the same way we have risen.

because that is what friends do.

and in the mornings, even if i never truly wake,

i feel our roots touching"



Thank you for everything. 

Love, Tara xox