It’s been a while since we’ve seen a show quite as outstanding as the Saturday we spent at The Media Club but the evening didn’t start out quite as well as it ended. We arrived for the 8PM doors at 8:10 and the line-up of people was starting to get a little long. We didn’t worry about it too much since our last trip to the venue also had us standing outside for almost 20 minutes but when, at 8:45PM we were still standing out in the cold while the bands sound checked, I, and the other folks in line were getting impatient. And then, for no particular reason, a huge group of people came from behind us to create a second line out front. It was a disaster because no one knew what that second line was for and the entire thing ended with a huge clump of bodies at the front and a door man who didn’t seem to care that half of the line had jumped the queue.
Once inside and after a drink, we settled in for the first band of the night, a local act called Run the Red Light. They were high energy, their tunes were catchy and they got the crowd going. I was so impressed, I picked up one of their download cards and by Sunday afternoon, I’d purchased their EP and had a few more listens. They have a bit of a Brit rock sound which I've been really digging lately. I’ll be keeping an eye out for these guys playing around town – would love to see them again.
We took a little break between bands and headed outside for some air where we bumped into a guy whose name we never got and whose website I can’t find. That said, he kept insisting that if we took nothing else from the conversation, we should take note of another local up and coming act called Data Romance. I haven’t listened yet but considering he seemed to know what the heck he was talking about (and he certainly has good taste considering the show we were at), they’re worth at least a listen.
UK group A Silent Film took to the stage next and they too belted out some pretty amazing tunes. So impressed was I that I picked up their debut album “The City that Sleeps.” It is solid from beginning to end and I’m particularly fond of “Driven by their Beating Hearts;” it’s a stellar single.
Unfortunately, I was so far back I could barely see the band never mind take a photo. I hope these guys roll through town again. I’d happily see them headlining.
Now onto the main act. We saw South African band Civil Twilight opening for Anberlin last year (mind you, I remember having seen them but I couldn’t figure out what band they’d opened for). For whatever reason, I hadn’t listened to any of their stuff but I was more than happy to hang out with Special K and an evening of live music and good god I’m thrilled I did.
Much to the dismay of a few ladies, I snuck us in right in front of the stage – there was no way I was going to stand in the back again when there was room up front. I don’t think they were particularly happy by my boldness but seriously, if you don’t want anyone to stand in front of you, don’t leave a space. I can see why they were a little miffed; lead singer Steven McKellar is pretty easy on the eyes though I was a bit irritated by their ogling - control yourselves ladies. We're not 12.
They put on a really fantastic show though guitarist Andrew McKellar spent most of his time looking at his board rather than at the crowd. He did look over at his brother a few times and the two shared more than a few smiles. I'd venture to say they were having a pretty good time.
It could well be nerves – the stage at The Media Club is pretty low and the crowd is *right there* but it didn’t stop the band from performing an impressive set. I loved their cover of Massive Attack’s “Teardrop” (which is available on iTunes as a single). At this rate, I'm pretty sure the next time we see them will be at the Commodore. They're a solid act and I can't imagine them rolling into such a small venue on their next trip through town and I have no doubt there will be a next trip.
It was a fantastic night and I can’t remember the last time I liked all three bands so much. Seeing any one of them on a given night would be great but seeing all three on the same bill was down right spectacular.
I managed to snap some decent photos (considering the crummy camera and limited lighting). As per usual, they're all up on Flickr.
I first caught wind of Canadian rockers The Tea Party sometime in the mid nineties when I saw a video for "The River" on Much Music which, at that point, was still playing music; what a novel idea eh?
My first thought was that Martin was the reincarnation of Jim Morrison: same raw sex appeal, simiar 70s rock vibe and an amazing voice. It would be a few years before the release of "Edges of Twilight," still my favourite Tea Party album, but it would be years before I finally had a chance to see the band live just before their break up in 2005 when they played two acoustic shows in Vancouver.
It's been years since I heard anything else about the band and whenever they crept up on my playlist, I found myself delving back into the music and it still rocks solid. So when picking up tickets to Civil Twilight we noticed that Jeffwas coming into town, Kathy and I dediced we had to go.
The show didn't start off too well. To begin with, they kept us waiting outside the venue well past 8PM. The firts band, a local act called Angel Down, took the stage at about 8:45PM. I really didn't care for their heavy sound and I don't see them as "melodic hard rock" but to each their own. Let's just say it's was a looooooooong 30 minute set.
The second band, a Toronto act named Flowerchild were much, much better and did a fairly good job of getting the crowd, by this point much of it talking loudly and clearly bored, back on track. I really dug their mix of blues, jazz and rock. Definitely worth a bit of a closer listen.
Martin and his band came on at 11 and they rocked the house for nearly two hours. The band kicked off with a couple of tunes from Martin's new album, "The Ground Cries Out," which Martin went on to inform us, had sold out across Canada upon release on Wednesday (but I got me a copy. Boo yah!). He then kicked off into some old stuff and a couple of cover tunes including renditions of NIN's "Hurt" and Joy Division's "Love Will Tear Us Apart." They also dipped into some old school Tea Party tunes which really got the crowd going.
My photographer had shaky hands :)
These guys are true classic rockers. The music is timeless, as good rock music should be - I'm still a bit surprised at the fact that the band never did particularly well int he US - and they play a mean set. I was particularly impressed by their continuous play from song to song. I can't remember the last time I saw a band do that - it seems something very old school.
It was a fantastic show. I wish I'd thought about it and picked up tickets to tonight's show as well.
Looking forward to seeing Martin and the band again when they come rolling through town next time. Hopefully it won't be another six year wait. As for those going to tonight's show, I'M JEALOUS. And be prepared for a rockin' good time.
Special K: Wanna see Jordan Catalano? Me: Wha????? Special K: Jared Leto. You know, the hot dude from MSCL? He's coming to town with his band. Me: You don't have to tell me twice. Never heard their stuff. I'll check them out but yeah, I wanna see JORDAN!!! Conversation not factual.
That's sort of how we ended up at the 30 Seconds to Mars. Special K said Jordan Catalano and I was all over that like a dirty shirt. Seriously, how could I pass this up?
We had dinner prior to the show at Jimmys. Not our first choice but Library Square was packed (hockey game) and I'd been to Jimmys before. After a nice dinner full of me bitching, we headed over to the Queen Elizabeth Theatre (another not so great venue for rock music) with plenty of time to check out the opening act.
From what Special K tells me, Neon Trees have a single which is on radio rotation but since the radio and I don't mix, I'd never heard of these guys. They were already a step ahead when their drummer Elaine Bradley came out. Female drummer: thumbs up from me. They've got an interesting pop/electro sound which I didn't mind and their lead vocalist Tyler Glenn certainly is an interesting character. Their second to last song was one I really enjoyed though I'm having a hard time tracking it down. If anyone can help, here's a portion that was recorded at a show earlier this year. And no, it's not called "Hole in My Heart" (at least from what I can find...unless it's a cover).
After a very long set-up, the house lights went down and the crowd surged forth (forget the fact that there are seats bolted to the floor) to get a glimpse of 30 Seconds to Mars. I've been listening to a fair bit of the band the last few days and have come to love their most recent album "This Is War" (particularly this track) but I wasn't really prepared and completely unsure of what to expect. Would they be any good? Are they one of these bands that sounds great in studio but suck live? I had nothing to worry about because the band blew the roof off the Queen E.
Leto came on stage sporting sunglasses white jacket and fingerless gloves (Diva! Or maybe channelling MJ?). From the get go the crowd was pretty energetic but not enough for Leto who also happens to be an excellent showman. Partway though the show (through a song actually) the lights sort of came up and he basically coaxed the crowd to move closer and put some energy into it. His commentary was amusing and effective and when the band resumed, the crowd was even more alive.
Partway through the show, as if to prove that he can and does indeed sing, Leto came on stage alone with an acoustic guitar and played three songs, two of which were selected by the audience. Yes, the guy can sing.
Soon after this, Leto really got into the action, jumping off the stage and making his way through the adoring crowd. Like we didn't already know it, yes, he's very handsome. I should know, he was mere feet from me. It was super exciting and I'm over it now (not).
The band finished the show with "Kings and Queens" for which they selected audience members to join the band on stage. It was pretty awesome.
I was more than impressed by the band. There was a real sense of family in the audience and though it was a big weird hearing Leto constantly say "true believers" (too reminiscent of a cult for my liking), it's not often you get that sort of feeling from an audience as diverse as this one. There was a father and his young son sitting next to me and even dad got into the action partway through the show. It was infectious.
Adding to the feeling of "family," you should check out the official tour flickr group where fans can upload their pictures from the shows. There are some much better shots in that pool (though I've yet to see any Vancouver photos). They also encourage their fans to send them video of their performances (you can do so here).
Even though it was a short show (about 90 minutes), it was a darn good one. I'll definitely be taking these guys in again though I hope next time they perform somewhere else (the Commodore or Venue would be great!).
It's official. I'm a big Sweet Thing fan. Like BIG. How do I know? 1) This is the second time (the first time was at the Media Club in June) I've seen the band in one year and 2) this concert marked only the second time in my life that I purchased tickets to see an opening band (the first time was NIN and David Bowie in 1995 which doesn't really count 'cause NIN was as much the headliner as Bowie was). In reality, the title of this post should be "Justin Nozuka & Guests at The Vogue" but I knew (and continue to know) little about Justin Nozuka aside from the fact that he's Canadian and that I've seen him talk in the pre-show tape at the movie theatres. Yeah, well versed.
We hit Cafe Crepe for a pre-show dinner (yummy panini with crispy fries and a cold beer after a long day at the office) before heading to the show. Now, The Vogue isn't necessarily a bad venue but it is a bad venue for live music. I may be old and it may be uncomfortable to stand for long periods of time but at shows, when you're moving around, it's not so bad. But when you have a band as high energy as Sweet Thing, it's strange being glued to your seat.
The band took the stage at 7:30 sharp and played a rocking 30 minute set. As good as the first time we saw them but this is definitely not the venue for them. I'm not much of a radio listener so other than the web sensations, I have no idea what's popular but I have heard Sweet Thing on CBC and if the fan reception at this show was any indication, they'll be making a pretty big splash on the music front in the coming months. I only hope they headline their next Vancouver stop and that the show is at a better venue.
They finished with one of my favourite tunes off of their debut album which is out now (more details on that here) "Change of Seasons." Sounded pretty much like this:
After a short stage clearing, Justin Nozuka and his band came on to the glee of the adoring fans (lots of girls for Mr. Nozuka). After one song, I mentioned to Special K that I thought his music was "music to make love to" but really, that's not the best explanation. It's a mix of country, blues, afro/jamaican beats that are just a little too mellow for me. There was one tune which was heavy on the instrumentation that we both really enjoyed but after 5 songs, we called it a day and left partway through the set. We came for what we wanted to see. No use in sitting through a show neither of us was enjoying. It's not a case of a bad performance as he's certainly a talented individual with a great voice; just a case of "not my cup of tea."
One thing worth mentioning is that Special K noted that in some parts, Justin was reminiscent of blues rocker(s) Kenny Wayne Shepperd. She's absolutely right and if he had stayed with that sort of style, I would have made it through the show. If you don't remember him, check out this wicked live rendition "Blue on Black" which should shake up your memory.
Overall, a fun night, even if we didn't get a "full" show.
The energy around GM Place Rogers Arena (now aptly nick named “The Cell”) was palpable on Friday night. Even across the street at The Atlantic Trap where we had a pre-show dinner and drink, the majority of the crowd was headed to the concert. No, we didn’t talk to everyone but judging from the excessive black outfits in the insane heat and the oodles of Tool and A Perfect Circle tees (among an assortment of other metal insignias), it’s safe to assume that a big chunk of the patrons were heading to the show after dinner.
We headed over sometime around 7:45, hoping to catch some of the opening act, a new LA act called Rajas, but when we made our way over to the arena, the lines indicated that we weren’t going to make it. We finally ended up at one of the gates (not our gate but thanks to the security lady who suggested we avoid it as it’s the busiest and the line insane).
The line was moving at a good pace until near the door when, for the security check, they separated men and women. No problem since the women’s line was much shorter. Except there was a problem: they only had one guard for the ladies line (and some of these girls were carrying a lot of stuff) and to make matters worse, the occasional guy who refused to leave their girlfriend (insecure much?) also merged in making the much shorter line move that much slower.
We finally made it inside and into our seats just before nine but we needn’t have worried because Tool didn’t actually take the stage until approximately 9:15PM.
It was a bit weird being in an arena filled with so many men and the energy emanating from the crowd was infectious. It wasn’t angry but there was an edge to it, an edge I attribute to the immense amounts of testosterone floating in the air. It even infected me as is clear from this tweet:
Yeah, that wasn't *really* me.
Wasting no time, the band kicked into a wicked set of tunes with Maynard Keenan in the background on a platform near the back of the stage near the drum set. It was an interesting placement, almost as if he was afraid of the crowd, but regardless of the fans being able to see him (for all we know it could have been some random dude and Keenan could have been hiding back stage the entire time), the band put on a fantastic show including some trippy visuals and a pretty awesome laser show.
At one point, Kennan made some reference of everything going upwards which gave me the sense that they may have had some technical difficulties pre-show (which would also explain the delay) but everything went off without a hitch.
After nearly an hour of play, the band took a short break while roadies set up a second drum kit on stage, this one belonging to the Rajas’ drummer (nameless as the band’s website doesn’t have a line-up listed) who had a sort of “drum off” with Danny Carey which was absolutely the highlight of the show. Truly spectacular.
Some of the best moments of the show came from the male bonding going on around us. Prior to the band taking the stage there were a group of guys sitting a few rows back constantly yelling “TOOL!!!!” and once the band took the stage, the bonding seemed to get more intimate. At one point, a trio of guys a few rows down linked arms and swayed side to side, something more akin to a Carly Simon concert than Tool but eh, whatever floats your boat man. If it takes a little ganja and some wicked guitar to get you all friendly with your boys, who am I to argue?
I was a tidbit disappointed that the band played for under two hours but it was a very good show and when you’re Tool, you can do whatever the hell you want. And yeah, I’d definitely see them again.
A few weeks ago while heading home after a show at the Commodore, I spotted a poster advertising Vancouver band Econoline Crush playing at Venue. That right there was enough of a draw but the $9.93 price tag sealed the deal.
We arrived at the Venue a little late and missed part of the first half of the opening act which was, all things considered, a god sent. Can’t even tell you what they were called but boy, they were not very good. The lead singer was drowned by the instruments and frankly, that’s probably not a bad thing since it didn’t really sound like he was doing much beyond yelling into the microphone.
Up next was another local act, Like a Storm. Now these guys looked like rock-stars and compared to their garage-band-we-had-too-much-to-drink predecessors, they looked like a real band.
They started off their set well bringing out a didjeridu but as soon as the guitars and singing started, it all went downhill. More incorrect levels and a bit of awkward stage presence (there were a lot of horns going up throughout the show), the band managed to exude energy – it was too bad the music just wasn’t up to par. I’m not sure what the problem was that night but the band must have been off because cruising their YouTube Channel and website, it’s clear the guys have talent (did I already mention that they’re exceptionally good looking? Yeah, that’ll help sell albums). I’ll check out their album and give them another shot.
Here's a taste of their sound. From their recently released record "The End of the Beginning," this is their first single "Chemical Infatuation"
After a very long break between sets, Econoline Crush took the stage and our first thought was… what on earth happened to Trevor Hurst? Plastic surgery much? The band had been way under my radar since the late 90s though they seem to have been releasing new material for years but the sound and energy just isn’t there anymore (or was missing this particular night).
I first saw EC at a side stage during an open door show in the mid 90s and they rocked it, drawing in a crowd from across the field to check out the action. Though the songs are the same, the band seems to have lost some of its edge and quite frankly, it’s a little scary looking at Trevor who looks younger now than he did 15 years ago. This is what it must feel like when my dad goes to see bands he remembers from his youth: they’re almost the same but not really.
We left early (like 5 songs in), partly due to the transit situation and partly due to the laughably bad show (not to mention the fact that they only played two songs from their first two albums - my faves - and a bunch of stuff I didn't recognize from their later years). If nothing else, it was entertaining to see Trevor run around the stage offering himself to the fans as some sort of rock god. I’m thinking some of the problems from the night may stem from the bad audio set-up but I’m not sure I’d want to see EC live again. I’m quite happy re-living the memories via CD thanks.
I had a better camera this time and even some help from Special K who took a few shots but Trevor was running around the stage so much all of the pictures of him are blurry. The trend continues.
Saturday was, by far, one of the best shows I’ve ever been to and I like to think I’ve seen some great shows. There wasn’t one bad performance to be had and the energy at the Media Club was through the roof.
The night started early with local artist Bradley taking the stage with his interesting mix of synth sounds and guitar. It’s hard for any artist to take the stage but I presume it’s particularly difficult for one dude with a guitar and a computer but he rocked the house with his low-fi sounds which had me reminiscing about the old days of Trent Reznor. The sounds are very, very different but I picture a lone guy with his notebook and computer in both instances. His album, “MountainTigerWolf,” features a few tracks that are much more melodic. I’m looking forward to seeing him play around town again.
I was having issues with my phone and didn’t manage to take any good pictures or video but I found this live rendition of “Your Money” online. Check it:
Shortly after Bradley, Run GMC took to the stage, filling the tiny stage with bodies. Now this… this was a total surprise. These boys belted out an awesome set of country rock/bluegrass tunes that had the place popping. They’re apparently quite the fixture around town and you’d better believe I’ll be checking them out again soon. Seriously awesome. Here they are playing “Midnight Train” on Urban Rush:
Last but not least, Sweet Thing invaded the stage. The Toronto outfit is on a Canadian tour and they’re more than worth your hard earned money. Their tunes are infectious, their pop rock sound is destined for big, big things. The band has enough stage presence to fill a venue two or three times the size of The Media Club and lead singer Owen Carrier exudes energy to match Mick Jagger. Their first full length album is due for release in August but you can download the first single, a catchy tune titled “Dance Mother,” for free from their website.
Keep your eyes open for these guys coming back across the Great White North later this year. In the meantime, check out my favourite track, “Change of Seasons”:
All in all, a stellar night of great Canadian music!
A few weeks ago, my radio station of choice CBC Radio 2, debuted a song by the newly formed Broken Bells. The first single off of their debut album, a catchy tune called “The High Road,” was the lead into a great album which I’ve been listening quite a bit lately.
A few short days after first hearing the song, I spotted a concert listing for the band’s tour which brought them to Vancouver last week.
We waited patiently in line at 8PM, finally making inside shortly after that only to wait around for 90 minutes before the opening band hit the stage. The Morning Benders, an outfit out of California, got a few people up and moving around but from the volume of the chatter from the crowd, I’d venture to say that they’re indie pop sounds weren’t working for everyone. I loved their opening track, an instrumental which had great depth, but didn’t care for their California sound. Special K noted that some of their tracks started well and then sort of fell apart and other didn’t star off so well and then got better. Overall, they were OK but nothing to write home about (though I’ve searched high and low for that opening track and have discovered one a second track I really dig off of their new album “Big Echo.”
After much tuning and my impatience at having to wait so bloody long for the band to get on with the show, Broken Bells took the stage and started a great set. They played everything off of their debut album and mixed in a couple of covers (most notably Joan Jett’s “Crimson and Clover” which had the crowd swaying as if Kumbaya was blaring from the speakers). The appreciative crowd seemed to know one or two songs but went nuts when “The High Road” came on.
Overall, they played everything they had and still only managed a set which ran a little over an hour. It would have been nice to hear more, even if it was just more covers, but I’ll take what I can get and though I was frustrated at how late the band went on stage, I thoroughly enjoyed their performance. I’d definitely see Broken Bells again – hopefully when they have more material to play.
And just a taste, here’s my favourite song from the album, a little track called "Mongrel Heart":
A concert on a Sunday night? Might as well say I was out on a school night but alas, that's the way it goes. It's also one of the perks of being an "adult" - one bad night out a little extra late and guess what? I didn't explode or turn into a pumpkin (though I did find it a little more difficult to get out of bed this morning). There was good reason for it though. A few weeks ago I discovered that Band of Skulls was coming into town but the Saturday show sold out in the blink of an eye. Thankfully, Special K wielded her magical ticket aquiring abilities and we scored tickets to the second show which was added for Sunday night.
We started off with dinner at the Lennox Pub (the food was great) before heading to Venue, a place which is quickly becoming a great spot for seeing up-and-coming bands. The night started off with a great set from California band Saint Motel whose pop/punk tunes had me up and moving. Their set was accompanied by a video (which the band created themselves) of Vancouver "stuff" including Fin, Canucks footage, an assortment of trippy sci-fi classic movies ("Barbarella" and "Logan's Run") followed up by porn-footage which had been doodled to cover up any of the bits folks might find offensive. It was immensely amusing (mostly because everyone knew exactly what was going on) and a nice touch though really unnecessary as the guys really rocked it. I'm looking forward to checking out more of their stuff.
A Montreal group called Silver Starling took to the stage next and frankly, they may as well have had some dude pumping music from the DJ booth. It's not that they were bad but their sound really wasn't working for me and certainly didn't fit either the opening act or Band of Skulls.
Shortly after 9, the head liners took the stage and rocked out some seriously great tunes. The first time I checked out a picture of the band I remember thinking that they looked like Southern rockers and I knew little about them other than to know that they met in College. I was a little surprised when singer/guitarist Russell Marsden opened his mouth and a string of barely recognizable English, complete with an accent marking him as clearly from "across the pond", came streaming out. Shocker - another awesome Brit band. And I can't go without mentioning bassist Emma Richardson who commands the stage. That girl's got serious "don't mess with me 'cause I can kick your ass" vibes. I dig.
It was an awesome show and I'd most definitely see these guys again. And if you're curious as to what you missed, here's just a taste (they closed with this tune):
A few weeks ago Special K sent me an email asking if I'd be interested in checking out a show. I'd never heard of the artists but a bit of cruising You Tube, I figured I'd give it a go (deep inside the only thing I could think about was "Yey! Live Music!!"). Saturday was the day of the big show and wow, what a show it was.
After struggling through line and the bouncer who looked ready to go home (he was one grumpy man), we headed inside to take in Montreal's DJ Champion and his G-Strings and no, there were no naked girls on stage. The G-Strings actually refers to the five guitarists rocking it out on stage alongside the wicked DJ beats. It was a great show. The small crowd (The Venue is a small club) was enthusiastic, the beats awesome and the guitar orgy on stage was enough to make rock fan happy. Champion looked every bit the music geek and maestro, conducting 5 guitars to dance beats with ease and expertise.
As the night progressed, I started to wonder where all the metal heads were hiding since there are more than a handful of heavy guitar riffs permeating through DJ Champion's mix. The question was answered as the lights came up and the crowd started to make for the door. I spotted more than a handful of metal heads making their way out - looks like they'd all been up front.
It was an awesome show. I moved, I drank Red Stripes (OMG! Stubbys!) and listened to great music. Definitely a good night out. And heck, I'll definitely be keeping my eyes and ears open for the return of DJ Champion!
After a crazy Saturday night which included a trip to Irish House 2010 (a badly planned outing on my part considering I didn't check the schedule to make sure that the Irish bands were performing. After a near 5 hour wait, we entered the drunkfest only to shell out $9 for a plastic cup of Guiness. The beer price was painful to take but the company was good as was the burger), I spent Saturday at home lounging with movies but Sunday was a whole other ballgame.
I headed out to Granville Island for a little adventure with a few folks from the Bookcrossing group. We had a great time wandering around the Island, checking out the sites, taking lots of photos and just having a jolly good time.
While there we also did a little shopping, a bit of eating and lots of walking around allowing me to take photos of everything from birds to jugglers.
Dale and I left the ladies around 2PM to head into Vancouver and meet up with Special K. Dale was smart and decided to listen to his body and while headed for dinner on Commercial, Dale called it a day. Special K and I ended up at Lombardo's, a great little place I'd always hear about but never been to. With amazing food, we sat for a break and watched the devastating Canada vs. US hockey game.
After an incredible dinner, we headed back downtown to check out the happenings around Concord Pacific before heading into Ontario House and checking out the Great Lake Swimmers. The band played for a little over an hour. They put on a great show which I thoroughly enjoyed. Kudos to CBC Radio 2 for introducing me to this great little band.
After a full day of walking and standing, I was pretty much ready to call it a day. I collapsed into bed sometime just after 1AM but judging from what I felt like this morning, it may as well have been 5AM. My body felt like someone had beat me up. It was a long and painful day and I should really have been in bed by now but alas, this is the way the cookie crumbles.
If you're curious, many more photos from our Bookcrossing adventures can be found in this Flickr Set while my Olympic Set simply keeps growing as I add new images every day!
I leave you now with this great tune from Ontario band Great Lake Swimmers who sounded as fabulous live as they do on the radio (and in this song).
While cruizing Last.fm early last year, I uncovered a UK band called "Editors." I thought they sounded great and after listening to them ad nauseam for a year, they released a new album late last year which sounded almost nothing like their previous work but still managed to rock. My favourite song off of that album is Ear Raw Meat. Check it:
It was after hearing this live version of the song that I decided I really needed to see the band for myself and lucky me, I didn't have long to wait. A few weeks back a friend asked if I'd be interested in seeing them live (I'd totally missed the concert announcement) and boy, did I jump on that bandwagon. The show was Saturday and let's just say it was pretty awesome.
We started the night off with a little dinner and a whole lot of walking around town. We went from Gastown to Robson Square snapping pictures as we went along.On Robson, just outside of Sears, I spotted this "Welcome" sign in Portuguese and simply had to take a picture. K was adamant that I had to be in the picture too and this is the result:
Not too shabby.
We eventually did make it to the venue and sat down with a few drinks. It was pretty quiet when we arrived and I was a bit worried the show would be poorly attended but for no reason - as the night progressed it did get, thankfully, much busier.
The show opened with a performance from California based Princeton. They're not bad but a little too softie hipster for me. The totally awesome me snapped this picture with my phone. I had to give Twitter *something*:
Editors took the stage sometime around 10:15 (I think) and rocked the house until sometime after midnight and man, were they good. They had great energy, the crowd seemed into it and lead singer Tom Smith's on-stage antics had K and I laughing pretty hard. Here's a blurry photo I snapped of the band from our little perch:
This one is a little better, but not by much:
Mine are no where near as good as photographer Lauren Keogh's pictures from the night. You can check them out in this Flickr set.
It was a hugely enjoyable night. Looking forward not only to seeing the band again but hanging out with K who's as much of a music lover as I am. It was seriously awesome fun.
I picked up a pair of tickets, intending on going with a girlfriend who decided to bail on the show when she discovered it landed in the middle of the week (can't say I blame her - she lives out in Surrey) so I harnessed the power of Twitter once more and landed a date with the very awesome KC Dyer, a local author of children's lit.
I've been to The Centre a few times in the past but never sat in one of the alcoves which, by the way, are the best seats in the house. Here's our view of the stage from our seats:
And here's the view of the main seating area (floor) down below:
The show started with a performance from New York artist Thomas Bartlett. He's the voice behind Doveman, an artist collective which has released a few albums. Bartlett played an assortment of tunes from his new album "The Conformist." He was a chatty character but very entertaining and his music was mournful and romantic. It's a bit dark in this photo but KC noted that he plays curled over, much like Glenn Gould:
The Swell Season took the stage after a short break and rocked the house for the next two hours. It was an amazing show which included an assortment of songs from the band's new album "Strict Joy," from the "Once" soundtrack and even a few tunes from "The Frames" which joined the duo on stage and played accompaniment for most of the show. At one point, the band left the stage and Glen unplugged and stepped down off the stage. He told a wonderful story about a woman and a coat, played a little ditty and then stepped back on the stage. It was a wonderful moment. Again, hard to see but yes, that is Glen all alone...
At one point, Colm Mac Con Iomaire (of The Frames), came out to play a gorgeous, tear inducing rendition of an Irish love song on his violin. It was truly breathtaking. I look forward to taking in more form Iomaire when I get my hands on his new album titled "The Hare's Corner" which you can buy (ah ha!) right here! Good thing too because I waited in a huge merch line after the show only to get up front and find that those CDs were all gone.
The show wrapped at 10:30ish after two well deserved standing ovations.
A good friend of mine plays the harp (along with a few other instruments) and a few weeks ago he sent me some information about an upcoming harp concert. Me being the fan of Celtic music that I am, couldn't pass up the opportunity for this rare event and on Saturday, I made my way over to Celtic Traditions, a wonderful little store/music school on West 10th for an unprecedented treat.
The night started off with a great performance from Victoria harpist Josh Layne. He's a fabulous musician who played a few of his own compositions beautifully and watching him perform was spectacular. The power and concentration on his face while he was performing was nearly as mesmerizing as the music itself. He performed this piece, titled "Passage", which blew my mind:
After a short intermission and my indulgence in a decadent slice of banana cream pie, Clare Morgan took the stage. She was easily my favourite of the performers - mostly because she has a much more modern approach to the harp which I heard referred to as "punkified". I absolutely loved her set and can't wait to get my hands on a CD of her work. I snapped this video of her performing "Cheshire Moon":
The night was closed off with a performance from Mehlinda Heartt who performed a number of pieces - a few solo and a few with some of her students that joined her on-stage. Here's one I thoroughly enjoyed:
You can check out more from Mehlinda at her YouTube Channel or her MySpace page.
All in all, it was a very enjoyable night and I can't wait to take in more music! Apparently Celtic Traditions holds a concert series (of which this event was the last for the year) which starts again in September. I've put myself on the mailing list for upcoming events and I'm very excited at the prospect of seeing more. This harp event was one of a kind (apparently it's not often you get three world class harpists performing together in such an intimate concert) but live music in general is a win for me and this was a wonderful taste. I also have a few more pictures from the event over on Flickr.
Sis and I have come to the conclusion that we need to go to more shows. At least once a month. We're not teens anymore but going to shows together is always awesome fun, we always have an adventure and I always leave with a spring in my step that lasts for a few days. It's a great feeling and one I'd love to experience more often.
All ages, no alcohol show. The no alcohol bit had a few people upset but we went with the flow. We stopped for dinner beforehand and missed the first band but there was no way I was going to miss Shiny Toy Guns. After discovering that the stand seating was nearly empty, we found a comfy spot and settled in. STG were good but something I noticed live that hadn't occurred to me listening to the album is that they're all all over the place when it comes to their sound (a little pop, a little punk, a bit of electronica). They didn't play "Major Tom" but "Le Disko" really got the crowd going.
The Offspring were, as per the last time I saw them way back in the day, awesome. Their line-up smartly consisted of one new song/one old and you could tell the crowd on the floor was of the younger persuasion as they seemed to recognize all the new songs and not the old. I haven't listened to much of the band since the release of "Americana" but I still enjoyed myself and I'm thinking I need to pick-up some of the newer stuff for a listen. Sadly, they didn't play anything from "Ignition" - that made me a tiny bit sad.
I did get to play with my little camera, taking some video of the show - video which would have been much better if we were closer. It's also a little shaky - I need a guerrilla pod - badly.
The first video is an acoustic version of "Gone Away":
And the classic "Come Out and Play". The camera's audio recorder really doesn't like the bass:
It was an awesome night and yes, we'll be doing it again. I'm hoping next time it's at The Commodore and if it's not, we're springing for floor tickets. I was pining to jump into that pit.
Everyone does it differently: some go clubbing, some dig through their closets or boxes for the mementos, I relive my teen years through music. Case in point: The Offspring.
I haven't heard anything new from the band since the release of 1998's "Americana" and by that point I'd already lost most of my appreciation for the band. They went from a great punk pop sound to an almost complete pop sound and I just wasn't digging it but when I spotted a local radio station giving away tickets to the show, I entered and won a pair of tickets to tonight's show at Thunderbird Arena.
Listening to a few "classic" tracks last night, I was reminded of the first and last time we saw the band. Sis and I caught them at the Pacific Coliseum in '97 or '98 (it's a little foggy now). Sis had acquired chocolate mushrooms which we consumed before the show but before going in, we still had a few left. I decided that I wasn't feeling the high and took the rest. Not a great idea but surprisingly not one I regret. I don't think I've ever been that high in my life and the resulting few hours consisted of me thinking I was on stage with the band. SERIOUSLY awesome. I doubt the same will happen tonight but I did have a little pang of excitement that I'd be reliving the moment with Sis.
As for the band, I still haven't listened to anything new (hopefully they don't disappoint) but I am hopeful that they play some of the classics including this one from their debut album "Ignition":
At this point I'm much more excited to check out Shiny Toy Guns who I discovered a few weeks back when searching for some wicked music I'd heard on a car commercial (only with in today's day and age can you find out the exact song in a commercial - crazy awesome). After a little research (10 minutes or so) I discovered the band (whose other major song "Le Disko" has appeared in another commercial). I've only listened to their "We Are Pilots" release and it's solid (though I notice that they released a new album late last year) but I love this cover of "Major Tom" (which at one point was available for free from the band's website). Check it:
Oh god. I'm not sure if I'm a moron or just crazy. A few months back I made plans to go with some friends to the Def Leppard concert. I somehow managed to get into my head that the show was on my birthday, the 28th.
So for 2 weeks D has been asking me when the show was. I kept saying the 28th and then Monday he told me he thought he'd heard on the radio the 27th.
"It can't be the 27th! That would mean it's on a school night and to boot, a school night when I have an in-class essay on Virginia Woolf's 'A Room of One's Own'!"
"Double check honey," he says rather smugly.
"Fine, but I know you heard wrong!"
So I check ticketmaster and lo-and-behold, the show is on the 27th.
ARGH!!! WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE? I've been looking forward to this for months and now I can't even go. I just hope we can find someone who does want to go so I can recoop some of the ticket cost.
Worse part is that now I have to find some other way to celebrate my b-day. YUK.
Yesterday was Brit night for me. It started with the viewing of the hilarious Hot Fuzz (review to follow later today) and ended with a great show at the Commodore Ballroom where, once again, We had the chance to see the Kaiser Chiefs.
Too much drinking. Too much smoking. Too many people. Spotting someone I now other than my sister. Those were the highlights. The only low point came at the end of the night when I thought I'd lost the little one when, in fact, she'd left the show early (with my jacket no less!) and because I had her credit card, I hung around for 30 mins trying to find her and call her. I didn't want to leave thinking she might still be there and because I had her card, she'd be stranded with no way of getting home. When she *finally* called me, she was already on her way home. It all worked out and what's best is that I didn't have to wait around by myself like a loser (thanks to Sonny and his GF Steph)!
The Chiefs were great once again and there were a lot more people there this time around. Fun was had by all. Here is one of the pictures from the show. You can check out the rest on my Flickr page.
As you may be able to tell from the Flickr pics, the first 11 were taken with my shiny new camera and the bad ones are from last year's show with the not so great old camera.
