Patrick Shanks
@shocktheshanker.bsky.social
Earlybird. Bicycle rider. Guitar player. Ballpark chaser. Nonfiction.
Pinned
Thinking about Mickey Dolenz a lot these days. He’s the last of the Monkees. Makes me feel sad that he probably misses his friends.
“Wearing a white suit and cowboy hat is one thing but what really makes it a special look is carrying a red Metro bag. Now they know you mean business.”
Dave Bignell and whoever is onstage with him is my favourite band. Hands down. Coolest player in town and a total musical inspiration.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Dave Bignell and whoever is onstage with him is my favourite band. Hands down. Coolest player in town and a total musical inspiration.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
November 29, 2025 at 4:10 PM
“Wearing a white suit and cowboy hat is one thing but what really makes it a special look is carrying a red Metro bag. Now they know you mean business.”
Dave Bignell and whoever is onstage with him is my favourite band. Hands down. Coolest player in town and a total musical inspiration.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Dave Bignell and whoever is onstage with him is my favourite band. Hands down. Coolest player in town and a total musical inspiration.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
They’re gonna sound so great. Total favourites. This will be FUN.
November 29, 2025 at 1:52 AM
They’re gonna sound so great. Total favourites. This will be FUN.
Then I walked home the whole way. Been practicing walking, losing my limp, getting stronger going farther. I bring my cane against the winter sidewalks. I’m given a wide berth and often a seat on the bus, thank you. But a lovely night walk and fun interactions with the Rideau freaks. #shownotes
November 28, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Then I walked home the whole way. Been practicing walking, losing my limp, getting stronger going farther. I bring my cane against the winter sidewalks. I’m given a wide berth and often a seat on the bus, thank you. But a lovely night walk and fun interactions with the Rideau freaks. #shownotes
I wanted to deck my seat mate who travelled from Quebec and was the bands NUMBER ONE FAN but who was loud and disruptive and had to video every damn song. He was so dumb I couldn’t help but feel for him so he got a pass. Outside I made sure he knew where he was going, the poor idiot. #shownotes
November 28, 2025 at 6:45 PM
I wanted to deck my seat mate who travelled from Quebec and was the bands NUMBER ONE FAN but who was loud and disruptive and had to video every damn song. He was so dumb I couldn’t help but feel for him so he got a pass. Outside I made sure he knew where he was going, the poor idiot. #shownotes
Bumped into some pals of rock so we all sat together. The Saint Clare boys, guitar and bass, fine gentleman companions. Old indie-punk musicians, everyone in Targ hoodies, we all shut up and listened and had a wonderful experience. Pumped fists at the guitar rocking - yeah! #shownotes #palsofrock
November 28, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Bumped into some pals of rock so we all sat together. The Saint Clare boys, guitar and bass, fine gentleman companions. Old indie-punk musicians, everyone in Targ hoodies, we all shut up and listened and had a wonderful experience. Pumped fists at the guitar rocking - yeah! #shownotes #palsofrock
The first band was really good even if the bass player flat out refused to get funky. Still. Nice and enjoyable. Plus there was a harp so that’s kind of a weird win. #shownotes
November 28, 2025 at 1:39 PM
The first band was really good even if the bass player flat out refused to get funky. Still. Nice and enjoyable. Plus there was a harp so that’s kind of a weird win. #shownotes
The answer to 19 across is not LUNGS. I clearly need more coffee.
November 27, 2025 at 12:12 PM
The answer to 19 across is not LUNGS. I clearly need more coffee.
Great little book, particularly if you’re only familiar with the ‘hits’. Perfect Christmas gift for that powerpop fan in your life. Ask at Octopus Books on 3rd Ave in the Glebe.
Available directly from the publisher, or ordered online or in person from most independent booksellers. Support independent authors and publishers, and shop local!
www.jcardpress.com/shop/p/fount...
www.jcardpress.com/shop/p/fount...
November 27, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Great little book, particularly if you’re only familiar with the ‘hits’. Perfect Christmas gift for that powerpop fan in your life. Ask at Octopus Books on 3rd Ave in the Glebe.
Lots of great local music happening in Ottawa this weekend. Don’t miss Dave Bignell and the Five Star Connection at Irene’s on Friday then it’s Slo’ Tom’s record release Saturday night at RedBird. Plenty more happening too, these are just Bank Street. See you out there, pals of rock! #palsofrock
November 26, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Lots of great local music happening in Ottawa this weekend. Don’t miss Dave Bignell and the Five Star Connection at Irene’s on Friday then it’s Slo’ Tom’s record release Saturday night at RedBird. Plenty more happening too, these are just Bank Street. See you out there, pals of rock! #palsofrock
Let’s normalize taking drugs, tapping into the joy and beauty of the music and crying through half the concert. My seatmate was very sweet, noticed my physical reaction to the music and said to me at the end, “Oh! You went on a ride tonight, eh? They really got to you!” They did. Goddamn it.
November 23, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Let’s normalize taking drugs, tapping into the joy and beauty of the music and crying through half the concert. My seatmate was very sweet, noticed my physical reaction to the music and said to me at the end, “Oh! You went on a ride tonight, eh? They really got to you!” They did. Goddamn it.
That was fun. Not all gigs are great but this was a great gig. Small room packed full of smiling friends who laughed and sang along. I’m so happy! Plus someone gave me a Blue Rodeo ticket for tonight. Haven’t been high all week so gonna take a super strong gummy and trip out on Cripps’ guitar tone.
November 22, 2025 at 11:25 PM
That was fun. Not all gigs are great but this was a great gig. Small room packed full of smiling friends who laughed and sang along. I’m so happy! Plus someone gave me a Blue Rodeo ticket for tonight. Haven’t been high all week so gonna take a super strong gummy and trip out on Cripps’ guitar tone.
Best LP record ever? Discuss. I mean there’s really no need to mention Phenomenal Cat right? Every album can have a dud. And it’s not terrible. Just kinda limp. Whatever. There’s still Star Struck and Animal Farm and oh my goodness if I get started we’ll be here all day. Give it a spin today okay?
“The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society” was released on this date in 1968.
November 22, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Best LP record ever? Discuss. I mean there’s really no need to mention Phenomenal Cat right? Every album can have a dud. And it’s not terrible. Just kinda limp. Whatever. There’s still Star Struck and Animal Farm and oh my goodness if I get started we’ll be here all day. Give it a spin today okay?
Fun at The Allaire Show out Stittsville way. Family came down and it was a pretty good party. Let’s do it all again tomorrow, Saturday 3-5PM at Quinn’s on Bank. Yesterday’s show was in a cafe that was formerly ‘Quitters’ so I wore my fancy Kathleen Edwards necker in tribute.
November 21, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Fun at The Allaire Show out Stittsville way. Family came down and it was a pretty good party. Let’s do it all again tomorrow, Saturday 3-5PM at Quinn’s on Bank. Yesterday’s show was in a cafe that was formerly ‘Quitters’ so I wore my fancy Kathleen Edwards necker in tribute.
Does anyone else get the Swingin’ Blue Jeans and the Swingin’ Medallions mixed up? To the point where it bothers you all day until you get home and head straight to the ‘S’ section of your records? Just me? Yeah. This fucking brain I swear.
November 20, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Does anyone else get the Swingin’ Blue Jeans and the Swingin’ Medallions mixed up? To the point where it bothers you all day until you get home and head straight to the ‘S’ section of your records? Just me? Yeah. This fucking brain I swear.
Stittsville. Are you in Stittsville? Know anyone in Stittsville who likes original folk music? My buddy John and I are playing our songs there tonight 7-9PM at Brews and Blues, formerly Quitters. It is going to be ridiculous. Reach out here for more details.
November 20, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Stittsville. Are you in Stittsville? Know anyone in Stittsville who likes original folk music? My buddy John and I are playing our songs there tonight 7-9PM at Brews and Blues, formerly Quitters. It is going to be ridiculous. Reach out here for more details.
Down at the pub last night everyone wanted to buy me a birthday shot/beer/cocktail. I politely declined and mentioned that I’m an abstainer now but secretly thought, “Just gimme the 15 bux!” Same thing, right? Haha. I joke around but my friends are truly wonderful. Cheers pals.🩵
November 19, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Down at the pub last night everyone wanted to buy me a birthday shot/beer/cocktail. I politely declined and mentioned that I’m an abstainer now but secretly thought, “Just gimme the 15 bux!” Same thing, right? Haha. I joke around but my friends are truly wonderful. Cheers pals.🩵
It is my birthday week. To celebrate I plan on singing songs to my pals. I have proper gigs this Thursday and Saturday (more info later) but please come down to the songwriters club tonight at Meow! That’s Hot (519 Bank) and we will regale you with lovely original music. Put in your requests now.
November 18, 2025 at 2:40 PM
It is my birthday week. To celebrate I plan on singing songs to my pals. I have proper gigs this Thursday and Saturday (more info later) but please come down to the songwriters club tonight at Meow! That’s Hot (519 Bank) and we will regale you with lovely original music. Put in your requests now.
Happy International Fastbacks Day! #iwasstolen
November 17, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Happy International Fastbacks Day! #iwasstolen
So I’m out waiting for the indie rock show to start. Have taken Double Drugs. Wish me luck. Hoping there will be some nice guitar jangle.
November 15, 2025 at 12:46 AM
So I’m out waiting for the indie rock show to start. Have taken Double Drugs. Wish me luck. Hoping there will be some nice guitar jangle.
Next weekend I am performing live concerts in two separate venues with my friend John Allaire. I like him a lot and a fun thing is this: We each have individually written songs in which we both try to get our audiences to sing names of towns in Quebec. How fun is that?
November 15, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Next weekend I am performing live concerts in two separate venues with my friend John Allaire. I like him a lot and a fun thing is this: We each have individually written songs in which we both try to get our audiences to sing names of towns in Quebec. How fun is that?
Last night a pal visited who is recently heartbroken. We got high and I tried to keep the records cheerful. When he came in I was spinning Lee Hazelwood. But Love And Other Crimes is a bummer so I swapped it out for Trouble Is A Lonesome Town. We then just fell back on dumb punk records. Poor kid.
November 14, 2025 at 12:18 PM
Last night a pal visited who is recently heartbroken. We got high and I tried to keep the records cheerful. When he came in I was spinning Lee Hazelwood. But Love And Other Crimes is a bummer so I swapped it out for Trouble Is A Lonesome Town. We then just fell back on dumb punk records. Poor kid.
“I used to have a theremin but I never touched it.”
- John Davis, The Gruesomes
- John Davis, The Gruesomes
November 13, 2025 at 3:47 PM
“I used to have a theremin but I never touched it.”
- John Davis, The Gruesomes
- John Davis, The Gruesomes
Drove to Hamilton for what turned out to be a Canadian Garage-Rock Who’s Who. Great old familiar friends, faces and jokes. “I recognized their go-go boots!” So good for my heart to see everyone. Oh yeah, and The Gruesomes played too!
November 8, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Drove to Hamilton for what turned out to be a Canadian Garage-Rock Who’s Who. Great old familiar friends, faces and jokes. “I recognized their go-go boots!” So good for my heart to see everyone. Oh yeah, and The Gruesomes played too!
Reposted by Patrick Shanks
A lovely time at the NAC. I dig a 6PM concert. I had a seat, a railing for note-taking and an option to stand. Very fortunate to have such a wonderful venue just a few blocks from my home. Ken Yates and band were captivating. Sweet songs and groovy guitar sounds. Folks paid attention. It was nice.
November 7, 2025 at 12:27 PM
A lovely time at the NAC. I dig a 6PM concert. I had a seat, a railing for note-taking and an option to stand. Very fortunate to have such a wonderful venue just a few blocks from my home. Ken Yates and band were captivating. Sweet songs and groovy guitar sounds. Folks paid attention. It was nice.