Yes, hello, ITER fam!
Another newsletter in the same week? Yes, it seems possible.
I wanted to write something short and sweet, so here we are.
May I suggest you listen to this while reading?
Let’s keep it in theme.
As usual, if you like what you are reading, please share the post!
And share the newsletter with your friends.
Now, back to our regular programming…
If you know me, you know I’ve been nursing an obsession with Hozier since…2019..? 2018? I don’t remember.
And if you know me, you know I’ve been obsessed with Ireland in general since I don’t remember when. And that obsession was also a dream of moving there, and I nearly made a move in 2020 until COVID-19 came along, and I GOT STUCK HERE IN MONTRÉAL. And as life throws at you everything at once, I started a prolific career as a culture writer, met my partner, and now moving seems like not that good of an idea with everything I’ve planned, so I’ve settled on buying a cottage by the sea there.
But back to Hozier. I went to his beautiful show on September 20, ready for him to notice me and fall for me so I could go on and live my dream of being a housewife in the beautiful Irish countryside where I’ll have four kids, long hair, and tell them stories of fairies and bog people…
(The delusion is strong with this one.)
Anyway, while talking with my friend Adriana, another fellow Irishmen lover and Hozier fangirl, I told her it could be funny if my following newsletter were just things I said at the show. So here I am actually doing it: a review, but with stuff I’ve said during the show.
- The lesbians and the bisexuals had to choose tonight between Janelle Monae and Hozier. It was a hard one.
- Who even is Madison Cunningham? She won a Grammy?! (She was the opener. I didn’t like her music.)
- Ugh, WE’RE TOO FAR. HOW IS HE GOING TO NOTICE ME?! (The looks were wasted)
- This is the whitest show I’ve been to in a WHILE.
- There are a lot of Americans…
- To Adriana: Do you need me to claw someone? Is someone annoying you?
- Is Hozier a top or a bottom? Power-bottom?
- *Screaming*
- I’m ready to be impregnated by his voice (I got pregnant 15 times that night)
- I hope he does Dinner and Diatribes. I’m horny for it.
- There are a lot of cottage whores here tonight (A play on cottage core)
- Oooooh, to be alone with youuuuuuu 🎶 *SCREAMS*
- HE’S SINGING IN IRIIIIIIISH. I’m learning Irish, you know?
- He was spotted on Raya six months ago… (After a maybe married scare)
- *Dinner and Diatribes plays* IT’S DINNER AND DIATRIBES. WOOOOOOOO.
- I don’t know if I’m sweating because I’m hot or he’s making me hot
- Oh no. He’s playing his Josh Groban-style songs…
- Please don’t tell him this song is terrible. He clearly hasn’t written it. 16 songwriters!!!!
- I don’t want him to leave
- He does virtue signal a bit…
- I bet he likes to get pegged
- I know it wouldn’t be in good taste to cover Arcade Fire, but his cover of My Body is a Cage is stunning, and he definitely should sing it.
- Is it done?! HE DIDN’T SING HIS HORNIEST SONG! (See the intro to this newsletter.)
- Adri, when are we leaving for Ireland?
Caricatural, but true. If you’re reading this, Andrew Hozier-Byrne, and are intrigued, my DMs are open forever to you.
On gentrification and venue legislation in Montréal
For the Montréal Gazette, I wrote a piece about the city's Laissez-faire attitude regarding excessive gentrification and the closure of venues. I’ve been extremely vocal about it. I genuinely believe we are on the brink of losing the work we have done in the last 20/30 years to make Montréal one of the world’s most creative cultural destinations.
And yes, one of the main reasons why this is happening is unlegislated gentrification and protection of our cultural heritage. Montréal has the power to do something. They are choosing not to do so.
I was talking with my friend Leah from
(I strongly suggest you subscribe to her newsletter.) and she mentioned how she was talking with people about how life had changed in the city in such a short time.In 2012, my first apartment was a 2-bedroom for 725$. I was a student who shared the rent with two other people. The rent was 245$ a month. I could have some groceries for 50$ a week, study full-time, and pay all my bills without issues. I still had money to shop around, have a beer, and go to the restaurant. I had time to live.
Today, this is impossible. In 10 years, 2-bedrooms have doubled in price. Groceries are unaffordable, and to put time into my writing, I have no choice but to have a full-time job that pays exceptionally well. Imagine how artists who need to put their energy into their music are living in Montréal right now. If they lose venues where they can play, their art is also at risk.
Everyone who’s a part of the cultural scene in Montréal has been having a hard time. When the city says that they are “Une Ville qui protège sa culture,” I want to scream and tell them it isn’t the case. Cagibi has closed, Vitrola has closed, Le Balcon has closed, and La Tulipe nearly closed. Last week, two stores said they were relocating because rent was doubled, even tripled. How are we expected to believe the city?? Or do they have some chosen protégés?
What do you think? How’s your city acting? I’d like to know. Reply to this newsletter or write a comment!
Do Not Sleep on This
Introducing Do Not Sleep on This, a new section of the newsletter where I share what caught my attention lately. Here are a couple of things I found interesting in the last week.
Josiane Stratis from
wrote a beautiful text about the “cult” she built [En français]Hasan Minhaj. I believed in YOU! Why did you end up lying? via The New Yorker
Majid Jordan released the song of this cuffing season!
Remember the years we lost to the pandemic? I know I’ve lost a lot. via The Cut
I’m going to New York in February, and bodegas are on my list of To-Eat. via Eater
Shakey Graves has a new album out! Slower than usual, perfect for the weather.
I hope you enjoyed this second newsletter in a week.
Is This Even Real? is independent writing. If you want to encourage me, share my newsletter and ask your friends to subscribe. You’ll help me get my words out there and live from my writing.
And if you liked that show review, please share it!
Thank you for reading me!
Until next time
-xo
Y.
😘