An Open Letter to Jian Ghomeshi

Dear Jian,

From the looks of the Intarweb, you might receive a letter such as this at least once a day, but humour me for just this once.

I can’t remember when I became aware of Moxy Fruvous, but I think it had something to do with a friend’s older brother. Soon, I had the Bargainville tape. And then soon after that, I had to buy that tape again because I’d worn the damn thing out.

I’d been labouring under the false impression that my very first concert was Aerosmith at the Skydome (can we still call it that?), but when I found the copy of the Bargainville CD I received for Christmas last year and popped it in, I realized the truth. My absolute first concert was a Moxy Fruvous show at a shady place called The Hideaway (could it have been anything other than shady with a name like that?) in St. Catharines, ON. It was an all ages show and my friend and I convinced our respective parental units that we could go, and we could go unsupervised. I have a very-much younger sister who is only now 14  and I doubt very much that  my father and her mother would let her go to the backyard without adult supervision, but somehow we managed to get the okay.

Perhaps you remember that concert? You were wearing a tucked in plaid shirt and ankle-biter jeans. Oh, wait. That may have been everyone in the bar? It was afterall the hey-day of puffy jeans that hugged the ankle. Anyhow, we stood in the front row and it was the most awesome thing our 14-year old eyes had ever seen. Four men in perfect harmony. And later, you did and encore in your underwear. I think if I had’ve known the word “agog” back then I would have used it to describe how we felt climbing back into the minivan when show ended.

So now, the big question… what happened? Is it because I didn’t buy a t-shirt? Because I would have, if I had not been 14-years old and working for $6.45. I probably spent my HUGE paycheque on lip balm and a Diet Coke before the show. I got a sticker. Clearly, I didn’t do my part to support the band, but I didn’t know too much about indie music back then. I’ve done some digging and as far as I can see, post-2001 there is no more Fruvous. Hiatus? Really?

And I get the whole CBC thing and way to go with the National Post writing gig. A singer gots to get paid, son. But what I wouldn’t give for one crazy reunion, pants or no pants. I’d do it right this time… I’d buy the t-shirt.

Thanks.

Kim Landon

PS… In case you have been thinking about the proper venue for a reunion, I’m holding My First Annual 29th Birthday Party in February 2009. You only say good-bye to your twenties once and I am doing it in style (In so much as giant bash in a rented hall can be considered style… party favours? Would that make it more stylish?) with 100% of the proceeds going to the Niagara Peninsula Children’s Centre. I’m just putting it out there…

Author’s note: This letter was sent to Jian Ghomeshi via the Q website at cbc.ca.