Alternative Reality Games Spread to Books

When I was growing up, "choose your own adventure" books were the coolest. I mean, they were so different, heavily involved the reader and allowing you to put yourself in the character's shoes and make decisions that could find you in a snake pit, quick sand, or onto the next chapter.

Today there is alternative reality games. You can pick up a book that takes you on a journey from its pages to webpages, as you peruse real sites, such as characters' myspaces.

CBC wrote about this here, using the novel Cathy's Book as an example of an ARG. The novel requires intense reader participation in order to solve mysteries and follow the plot.

For youth growing up in the age of social networks and YOUniversal Branding, I'm sure this is a really fun read. I'll stick to my Goosebumps books, though.

The Stance Shall Inherit the Earth

The Stance want your attention. This Dartmouth band is quickly becoming a permanent fixture in the Nova Scotian music scene. This rock quartet, comprised of Jeff Leadbetter (23), James MacAulay (23), Mark MacAulay (21), and Matt Nicoll (21), has been on the rise since the debut of their album The Stance Shall Inherit the Earth this August.

The Stance is a relatively new band, but not new to making music, as James MacAuley explains.

“The Stance rose from the ashes of two now defunct bands: power-pop heroes the Murrays and rockabilly stars the Candy Girls,” said MacAuley. ”We combined forces when we realized that the potential for some pretty bad-ass rock n' roll was very, very real.”

Described by the band as being “part sneering sixties punk and Motown-inspired rhythm and blues”, you have to agree that the sound is infectious. Although the sound leans towards garage rock, old R&B and girl groups, such as Barrett Strong, Don Covay, the Chiffons, and the Shangri-Las, influence the Stance. Current favourites include Their Majesties, Brent Randall and his Pinecones, the Maynards, Mando Diao, Deadly Snakes, and the Meligrove Band.

A sample of their music can be found on their Myspace page. If that leaves you hungry for more, their first record can be bought through music stores in Halifax, or online at Just Friends.

This EP is the product of a grueling four-mouth recording process.

“Half of it was recorded in my and Mark's parents' basement in Dartmouth, and half was done in the Stance household living room. We also got some help from Brent Randall, recording his organ parts at the Echo Chamber,” said James MacAuley.

The band spent August and September on tour, and had the privilege of opening for indie-rock favourites Metric in Halifax and Fredericton.

On Friday, October 20 they are playing at the Seahorse with Clothes Make the Man, Five Blank Pages, and the Barmitzvah Brothers. This is part of the Halifax Pop Explosion, which also features local favourites Joel Plaskett Emergency and Wintersleep, and has attracted come-from-aways the Weakerthans and K-os. The Pop Explosion also gives up-and-coming bands a chance to showcase their talents along with their better-known counterparts.

“The Halifax Pop Explosion is something we've all kind of grown up with, but participated in as fans. We've always appreciated it as a huge deal and something that so many of our heroes have helped shape. It's really exciting to be a part of it this year,” said MacAuley.

Currently the band is cutting back the number of shows they’re playing, and focusing on song-writing. Charles Austin (formerly of the Superfriendz), one of the bands heroes, has agreed to work with the group on writing a full-length album.

While they are expanding their horizons, the band will always look fondly back to their roots, said MacAuley.

“Dartmouth is our hometown, and it treated us well when we were there. A lot of great bands have come from Dartmouth, and still are coming from Dartmouth. The Grass are a great rock 'n' roll band that's getting things done proper. We're happy to be from Dartmouth, and I'm certain it will continue to pump out purveyors of patently pure soul.”

You can read more about the Stance on their website.