Category Archives: words

by | February 23, 2012 · 9:20 am

Message from Rena

Oh man, the blog. It is so hard to see.

I feel like I need to say something on his behalf about how much everyone meant to him – I mean I believe I was close enough to relay the message as he would want it told.

That all of them, everyone he encountered through his tours, he connected with in music he was so touched by. I would watch him get a message or email from someone he met once, or someone he worked with for a week, and it never failed that he would say “yes! I love that man/woman” and would be genuinely warmed by the contact of someone he clearly appreciated.

To his closer friends, oh man you guys he loved you. He loves showing me things you’d done together, he told me countless stories with such genuine excitement. And of course he often spoke of how he felt his talent was inferior to all of yours. Which if course I wouldn’t tolerate for a second. Dude was damn good. I have some songs you all need to hear, some stuff he might be embarrassed about but I know from the look in his eye the night before he passed that he knew he was making sounds he was proud of. He was on the verge of making so much more too, and probably the only regret I really have is not convincing him to finish a full project sooner. But he was busy also helping me feel good about my music and helping us get out there too. We all had good ideas and a bit of a community going surrounding Chris and my goal now is to take that motivation and inspiration he gave us and keep on running. Continue reading →

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by | February 23, 2012 · 9:14 am

Nikki Reimer (email transcript)

Chr Is to me
10/30/11
Sister!Long time no chat! I have been trying to whatsapp you but it doesn’t seem to be working. Mom said you were getting that mould in yr bathroom fixed. How’s that going? Tell me things!

It’s pretty much business as usual around here. I miss Sophie a fair bit. I’m not sure if Lucy has noticed that she is the only cat or not. But she is 16 and probably a little scattered in the mental department anyways. How are your cats?

Also, could you give me JC’s email address? I keep losing it. I wanted to thank him again for the cello loan, and to ask a question about clarinets…

That’s about all. It was really great to see you whenever I saw you. My sense of time blows. But I hope it’s sooner than later. Xmas?

Ok,

Reimer out,

reimer

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by | February 23, 2012 · 9:01 am

Mike Scorgie

My name is Mike Scorgie.

I’ve known Chris since 2006, I met him when he was playing with one of the acts on my label, Pressure Kill Common Style.

The first day I met him was in Montreal when PKCS were playing Pop-he flew out with the band (he recently replaced Rena as the bass player-ha!). We got to hang out a lot that weekend and I liked him immediately. I have nothing but really fond memories of hanging out with him. He was one of the nicest, funniest people I’ve met.

I wouldn’t say our friendship was terribly strong, but we did have a bond. Over the next few years we shared tracks that we made via email and whenever we were in the same city we would hang-out.

I have a few pictures from last year when Chris was touring with The Dodos in Edmonton. This was the last time I saw him. I got to hang out with him backstage and Rena and Chris came over to my place for a late night meal after the show.

I was devastated when I heard last night. I’m really sorry for your loss. He will truly be missed by many i’m sure. Best wishes in this tough time, Nikki.

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by | February 23, 2012 · 8:46 am

Emily Moore

hi Nikki,

Just wanted to say how terribly sorry I am for your heartbreaking loss.

Chris was absolutely beloved by those of us who knew him through Women. I was lucky enough to spend some time with them in various cities over the years, and he was always thoughtful and wise and wisecracking and kind.

Here is a picture from Cargo, London, 1 September 2010. Endlessly inspiring. Endlessly missed.

x

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by | February 23, 2012 · 8:42 am

Anna Katrina Lockwood

Nikki,

First of all, my deepest condolences for your loss. It felt like a total punch in the gut when I heard, so I can only imagine how you’re feeling right now.

I’ve only known Chris for the last couple years, since early 2009. I was already a huge fan of Women when they played at the venue I worked at in Portland, opening for Chad VanGaalen, and immediately found that
whole crew to be such a sweet, hilarious bunch of people. Chris made me feel like I was instantly part of their gang, too, with that friendly, welcoming, warm vibe he always had. Over the next couple years of touring I kept running in to those guys at various festivals and such, and got to know Chris as a dude always ready with an excited hug in greeting, an offer of beer, and ready to chat and joke around for hours. I was consistently dazzled by his playing too. An unbelievably inventive, amazingly gifted guitarist. He made Women sound like the future, which is a remarkable thing for a dude with a guitar in this day and age. Continue reading →

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by | February 23, 2012 · 8:35 am

Grace Jones

Chris Reimer aka “Mirage”

I first met Chris in Chicago a few years ago when he was playing a festival with Women. He was by far the shyest of the group, the hardest to read but there was always something sincere in those blue eyes.

In our first 24 hours of meeting we all got drunk and ended up in a make shift fight club in some musty Chicago basement. The friendship kind of took care of itself from there.

I remember later that same weekend, still strangers but instantly great mates, we talked about the future. I asked him what he would be doing if he wasn’t making music, he looked at me like that was the most insane question ever asked in the history of the world and he replied ‘nothing’.

Chris was the first person who ever taught me what it meant to be a real musician, not just someone who puts out records or gets up on stage but someone who gave a shit about making music and nothing else.

Chris was a solo artist as well. He created amazing, stunning, striking, stomach wrenchingly beautiful noise, yet so delicate, so intense all you can do when you listen to it is want to curl up in a ball and submerge yourself in his world.

I will never get over the fact he won’t be making music again.

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by | February 23, 2012 · 8:21 am

Deanne Walsh

Dear Nikki,

I am so sorry for your loss. I am deeply shocked and saddened by the news of Chris’ passing. He was such a beautiful soul who will be genuinely missed by all those who came into contact with him. I have attached a few photos I scanned of the time when I first knew Chris, many years ago when he danced as child with Youth Dance Unlimited. He was like a little brother to me during that time, and I maintained a connection with your family through the years afterwards. My heart goes out to your family, there are no words to describe my sentiment for your family in this time. Please pass on my love to Joanne and Tim, my heart hurts for the pain you all must be experiencing. Please post any part or all of this message and photos on your blog, I would love to participate in celebrating his life as certainly he would have wanted.

Deepest Regards,
Deanne

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by | February 23, 2012 · 8:05 am

Logan Kroeber

This was my last correspondence with Chris. Despite being brief it says so much about him. Even in passing he was the thoughtful, creative, and hilarious person I will miss so much. I was so excited at the prospect of writing songs together, touring the world, and all the other little plans we made. I wish I would have told him that. But still, I’m so glad that my last words to him could let him know that we loved him, and we were missing him already.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012 2:38 PM

Don’t lose any fingers in this cold snap bud. It’s freezing at night down here so I can only imagine what’s happening up there. Saw this the other day: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjfTWGx5Oi0 a reminder of warmer times in Cowtown. Hope you and Rena are swell!

L
Thursday, January 19, 2012 5:03 PM
Bro City!!!!

Its the very truth. Its been the fuck cold up here for a little while. But it was so nice right before, it must be wreaking all kinds of havoc in the animal kingdom. I just hope they have access to jackets. Preferably made out of their own skins. Anyways…
Thanks for the vid and warm wishes!! I have never seen a skate video shot in cowtown before, its pretty cool seeing it in that context. I basically know/have walked/driven almost all of those places. And that CVG song is up there in my list of his rocking rockers to rock to.
So the other day I was driving a work truck (started a new job, its pretty funny) and it was so cold there was steam rising from literally everything. Car exhaust, frozen lakes, every last building. And the sun was insanely bright. There is a killer DJ on my local university radio station that plays music of the ‘americas’. Mostly folk songs and early music from spanish speaking countries. Anyways, he was playing this amazing jam by a dood named Silvio Rodriguez that blew my mind
See here:
Track three. Its a doosey. The bassline kills me. Made me think of you.
So if you find yourself in front of a computer on a tuesday between 12 and 2pm mountain time, go to cjsw.com and stream some shizz..
Word.
Take care pal,
c.

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by | February 23, 2012 · 7:30 am

Jess Panther

Here are some photos I have of Chris from the house-show Rena, myself and our roommate Matt hosted at SeventeenNineteen last December.
My heart goes out to you and your family, Nikki. This is a lovely memorial page that you have put together. Chris really touched a lot of lives. It was hard not to recognize how magnificent and truly inspiring he was as a human being, as well as a musician.
– Jess Panther

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by | February 23, 2012 · 7:12 am

Malissa Dunphy

Hi Nikki,

I am so so sorry about Chris. This is an incredible loss and I’m praying for you and your family right now. We had only met once, but I’ve known your brother for years.

He was such an amazing person, guitarist and friend. I’ve attached some of my favourite photos of him from when we first met and will be doing a tribute to him on X92.9 this Sunday on Xposure

http://www.x929.ca/shows/xposure/?p=1660

I first met him during an Azeda Booth interview I was doing for school. The guys hadn’t seen each other in a while so the interview was scattered as we drove in the van down to their show at Broken City. However, Chris sat calmly in the back seat answering my questions with such composure that contrasted so well with the energy from the others.

Rum milkshakes were always an inside joke between us. He suggested we go out for rum milkshakes after we had met and well… let’s just say they’re not as delicious as they sound.

Another favourite memory I have of him was when I asked “So Chris, what do you do?” his reply “…Women”

Always brings a smile to my face when I think about that. Continue reading →

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