It's been awhile since a CSOTB feature occupied a
Push.ca web page. In fact, the last one was posted back in March 2010 and
featured Sierra
Fellers. Well, this time it's back with a vengeance. REAL pros Peter
Ramondetta and Justin Brock accepted the challenge (with a little help from Deluxe VP and REAL co-founder Jim
Thiebaud) while they were in
Vancouver for the Canadian premiere of Since Day One.
Before we explore this CSOTB session (which was
recorded at the Loose Moose pub just off the downtown Granville Street strip),
let's reveal where they're from. Peter Ramondetta hails from Wichita, Kansas
originally, but grew up in Guthrie and Tulsa Oklahoma before moving to his
current home-city of San Francisco. Justin Brock can be found in Atlanta,
Georgia these days, but grew up in Mount Airy, North Carolina and mentions: "That's where Andy Griffith is from."
Peter had the clear time-spent-in-Canada advantage,
with prior trips to Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto and
Montreal under his shoelace belt. Justin, on the other hand, was experiencing
his first-ever trip to Canada and had a mere 24 hours in Van to draw from. As
you'll see, this thing took on a life of its own...
Peter Ramondetta and Justin Brock, about to be grilled on Canadiana.
Do you guys know who
the Prime Minister of Canada is?
Peter Ramondetta -
It's going to be a complete left-field guess, I've got no basis for it. I don't
know, Tom Whitely?
Justin Brock - What
about Pierre-Luc
Gagnon? He should be the Prime Minister with a name like that [laughs]. Well, I would actually vote
for Sluggo before PLG.
Peter - If we're
picking skaters, I would say Grant
Patterson and Sheldon
Meleshinski could probably team up and do some good stuff for Canada.
That might be a bit
concerning [laughs]. Well, the actual
Prime Minister's name is Stephen Harper.
Peter - We were way
off [laughs].
Peter Ramondetta's ‘Lost Days & Throwaways' footage.
What are the biggest
differences between being in Canada versus being in the U.S.?
Peter - I always
notice that it's less stressful every time I come up here. People seem mellow.
In the States it seems like everyone is trying to prove something or get over
on someone. In Canada it seems more like teamwork, people come together a
little more than in the States. I kinda think there's more of a selfish
mentality down there.
Justin - Well, I've
only been in Canada for about 24 hours [laughs].
It seems like a real good scene in Vancouver. Everyone seems super nice, except
for the old lady who said, "Excuse me
smokers, can you let me pass?" while we were walking down the street. Pete
was like, "You can't smoke cigarettes
outside in Canada?" But there's people smoking weed outside. As soon as we
got here and started walking around I noticed the smell. So they're more laid
back about weed here than cigarettes [laughs].
That's kinda cool.
(keep reading for Peter and Justin's knowledge of Canadian bands, sports teams, and poutine)