Category Archives: images
Pygmalion Music Festival 2011
In September of last year, I had the distinct pleasure of meeting Chris Reimer during Pygmalion Music Festival. He was kind and patient — despite the fact that he wasn’t thrilled about having his photo taken. When we finished, he shook my hand and gave me a huge thanks. Later that night, I returned to watch their performance and it was stellar.
I learned this morning that he passed away in his sleep yesterday. My deepest condolences go out to his family and friends. He was an extraordinary musician and he will be missed by many. It is a shame when the music world loses someone so humble, young, and talented.
Christopher JJ Reimer Memorial Show Recaps!
Mad love and thanks to all the peeps who came out to see our boy’s show at Sled Island last week. (Two weeks ago, I guess. They say you lose time in grief. It’s true. It goes somewhere).
Also, I don’t know that I properly thanked the Sled Island Festival, and Paisley Sim in particular, for so generously making possible this event. From FFWD:
For Sim, however, one exhibition stands out from the rest: the Reimer show at MOCA. “Marc Rimmer curated it and Marc and Chris were best friends for many, many years,” she says. “It’s a collection of photographs of him by many people in his life and then we’re playing many of his unreleased, ambient scores — they’re all so textured.”
The show features a silent auction to raise funds for a foundation in Reimer’s name.
“More than anything, I feel humbled to be able to present it. I loved Chris and I hope that the show is well-received by his family more than anything else.”
CBC Calgary’s The Homestretch spoke to Marc in advance of the show.
And BeatRoute interviewed Rena about Gold.
Thanks to DivinerOne/Kathleen Moors for this lovely ambient video:
Don L’Orange
hi nikki, i was a friend of chris’s. i’ve yet to submit to ur/his blog, but i just wanted to send u a msg, as i’ve been following ur twitter for awhile. here’s a pic of chris, pat, and i.
anyways, hope ur doing ok love, shammy
Our Dear Sweet Chris
-by Clinton St. John
I don’t know where to start. I can’t stop thinking about Chris. I just revisited the site and tears are flowing again like I just found out. I miss that guy so damn much. Its obvious how easy it was to take Chris for granted.
There was never a moment where I felt it was necessary to break it down like an equation what an amazingly kind genius that dear sweet man was. And now its all there’s left to do. I wish I could have been here for the celebrations of Chris’s life but I was in Cuba and couldn’t make it back. Looking back I wish I would have made it home somehow, not that it would have changed anything but it would have been good to be with our friends. I can’t imagine how hard this has been for you and your family, and I offer my sincere condolences. Continue reading
Stay Gold, Ponyboy
Nothing Gold Can Stay
Nature’s first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf’s a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.
-Robert Frost, 1923
From S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders
Johnny: It’s like the mist is what’s pretty, ya know? All gold and silver.
Ponyboy: Hmm
Johnny: Too bad it can’t stay like that all the time.
Ponyboy: Nothing gold can stay.
—-
Johnny’s last lines to Ponyboy: Stay gold, Ponyboy. Stay gold.
Logan Kroeber
WE LOVE YOU CHRIS
Filed under images, notes from nikki, tributes, words
Benjamin Middleton
Hi Nikki,
I knew Chris in a very general sort of way, mostly acquainted through mutual friends and from going to shows etc. We spoke only a handful of times; I always had a “bro crush” on Chris and wanted to pick his brain about pedals or talk about deerhoof records…
I was lucky enough to see him perform very intimately, quite literally in my kitchen for what must have been a very early “Women” gig and one of the last shows “Azeda Booth” shows as a sextet…. quintet if memory serves Marc wasn’t present.
Even though I wasn’t close with him, Chris had this “sunshine prince” quality that made you feel like you had been pals your whole life when you were around him….everyone already has said so many wonderful truths about him, much better than I ever could. Continue reading
Robert Earl Starratt
I have known Chris for about 10 years, and had the fortune to travel around the world with him, faking my way as some kind of tour manager for the band he played in with the Flegel brothers and M. Wallace. I have been blessed to have spent so much time with him. Chris and I were close, and I know we would have been friends forever. In a way now, we are friends forever.
Chris attracted the best people, and this last week in Calgary has been amazing. Thank you Nikki, and your whole family. Chris loved his family in a way that is uncommon, and you guys meant so much to him.
Lots of love,
RS
Reimer’s Memorial from Lind and DiNinnos
Steven Lind
As a musician Chris would continuously blow my mind and as a friend he was endlessly hilarious, kind and genuine. I met him in 2007 and he quickly made a huge impact on my life. I feel very fortunate to have known Chris and to have been able to make music with him. He was a sonic prophet and a hero. I loved him and I will miss him a lot.
Robert DiNinno
I don’t really know what to say about Chris that hasn’t already been said. He was an amazing musician and an even better friend. I met Chris 5 years ago and in that short time he managed to make a pretty big impression on my life. He was among the most humble of men, never too concerned about himself and always ready to lend a hand and help out with anything. He was always in a good mood and always had something ready to add to any conversation. Chris was, is, and always will be an inspiration to me in both music and life and he will be missed.
Thomas DiNinno
I really looked up to Chris. He was an amazing person, an amazing musician, and an amazing friend. It is rare that you meet such a genuine person and I will forever love and miss him. He has inspired and encouraged me to execute some of the proudest accomplishments in my life. Having the privilege to make music with him was mind-blowing, to say the least… a truly inspirational person, a personal hero of mine, and a great friend… never a dull moment. I really can’t explain how much I will miss chris. Chris you make me strive to be a better musician and a better person…love you man.
christopher john joseph reimer 