Sunday, June 08, 2008
amy white out
I got to Hoko's for day four of Music Waste just in time to catch the last two songs from gr8-2000. Tom was his usually rambunctious self, even donning a cape before a set closing cover of Kraftwerk's "Pocket Calculator."
Piper Davis followed things up. She (and her band) sort of stuck out on the bill. All the acts at Hoko's shared an electronic element, but Piper's set injected a welcomed dosage of soul into the evening's proceedings. It's been about a year since the first time I saw her perform, but I'm still amped to hear "Academics" - which she closed with - any day.
Onomatopoeia is Dustin's (from Sex Attack/Adjective) "retired" solo project. It consists of Dustin singing over electro tracks he plays off of an ibook. Half the room seemed to love it (myself included) and half the room seemed to hate it and Tom (gr8-2000) really fucking loved it.
I think Music Waste billed the headliner as Jesse Taylor, and the last time they played they were Soft Disco, but right now they're playing as Reflektions. I really wanted to attempt to catch the entire bill over at 340, so I only caught a couple songs, but the eletronic joints are familiar sounding Jesse songs (since he's singing) backed by music that's a little more dance floor friendly than Twin Crystals or Channels 3+4.
I got to 340 in time to catch the very end of Gang Violence's set and spent large parts of the evening cursing the scheduling, because they were awesome. Rocking guitar and drums with a healthy dose of noisy electronics over top, the pair were one of the best surprises of the fest so far for me. They're looking for a singer. Hopefully they find a good one, because the rest is already great.
Golden Touch, who were another two-piece, followed up. They didn't blow me away like Gang Violence, but their straight ahead punk wasn't anything to complain about. And there were a few tunes that stuck out as pretty great.
I'd heard good things about Sorcerers, so I was excited about seeing them. They sound a lot like Bad Brains (early Bad Brains), which certainly isn't the worst thing that could happen to a band. As with Bad Brains, I liked the songs that leaned a little further from reggae and more towards the hardcore side of things, but they're whole set was pretty sweet. Plus, their lead singer looks like Axl before he went crazy, got fat, and stopped working with Slash and how awesome is that?
White Lung: still awesome (in case you were wondering). Yeah, not much more to say than that.
See you out there for the final night of Music Waste!
now playing: Guns n Roses - Nightrain
Monday, February 25, 2008
damaged enough
I was going to take it sort of easy this weekend, but there was a ton of stuff going on, so that resolution became one those "who am I kidding?" statements.
On Friday, I headed down to the Astoria to catch Twin Crystals. They weren't as intense and loud as last time I've seen them, but that wasn't worse per se, just different. Jesse only rocked a guitar on the first song, with the rest of the set being characterized by he and Jeremiah's dueling synths. Oh, and just because it was less loud, doesn't mean it wasn't loud enough.
They've got a super-limited (50 copies) lathe cut 10" up for sale at Summer Lovers Unlimited that I should order soon.
I'm pretty into Taxes at the worst of times, but they were on fire on Friday. Best performance of their's that I've seen for sure. When Twin Crystals took the stage, Jesse quipped that he "(didn't) know how (they) could follow Taxes." Usually such statements - even when the opening band really delivers - are a polite way to give a nod to whomever went on before you, but as good as Twin Crystals consistently are, he may have had a legitimate point that night. That's not taking anything away from Twin Crystals, Taxes were just really on point.
I bailed during Owl Drugs first song. That's not a reflection on them, since I wasn't even there long enough to form a proper opinion, but I was still under the false impression that I was going to have a relaxed (and sleep filled) Friday/Saturday.
On Saturday, I started things off at Hoko's, getting there in time for Nihilist Party. I was down with the beats, but less down with the rhymes (well, vocals, not necessarily "rhymes"). But there are worse side dishes for your sushi, I suppose.
Terrorbird were up next, and were playing as a two-piece. Good stuff as usual, though when they had the extra keys, they definitely added something to the overall product.
Nu Sensae were their usual wonderful selves: loud and fast. So fast, in fact, that I stepped out for a moment and missed most of their set. My loss.
gr8-2000 finished things off with his frenetic brand of electro. Tom, as always, was full of boundless energy, and was also having fun throwing thinly veiled barbs at the people chatting in the back.
And also worth a mention (and some praise): Ben from Crystal Beard was there with the lovely ladies who do videos at BtL to provide some added visual flavour to the evening.
I was going to head to the Biltmore after that, but apparently they've been rezoned and can only stay open until 1am now, so it was off to the Emergency Room.
I got there in time for Mutators, whom I have nothing new to say about... favourite live act in Vancouver... slayed... etc. etc. etc.
Actually, on that note, Shearing Pinx were up next, and my sentiments are similar: quality as usual.
The main event of the evening was Monotonix, who were here all the way from Tel Aviv. To put it succinctly, they were mind blowing.
I was standing around wondering when they were going to start when my question was answered by a drum cymbal that was thrust in the air... on fire. From there it was about an hour of absolute madness. Throw their name into google, and you'll note that Vancouver isn't the only place that's been totally destroyed by these guys.
The recorded material just isn't the same, but if they ever come back, definitely go see them.
And if you were there, no, that wasn't Frank Zappa.
Speaking of Twin Crystals, they're kicking off their tour (which takes them down to SXSW and back) on Friday at the ER. Nu Sensae, Basketball, and Adjective are going to help give them a proper send off. Justin, Jesse, and Benjamin spin records after the bands.
Attack in Black and Smoosh open up the Tokyo Police Club show on May 16th at the Plaza.
Atmosphere is at the Commodore on May 14th with Abstract Rude
Mutators and Modern Creatures are having a fundraiser for the epic (seriously, check the dates) tour that they're set to embark on this Spring/Summer on April 26th at the ER.
The SSRIs are giving away their music. I haven't listened yet, but if you like it, make sure you toss them some money by paying to see them play... but that goes without saying.
Speaking of free music, if you haven't already checked out the latest Radio Zero podcast, you should get on that. All of them are quality, but #47 features one of my favourite tracks from the (sadly) now-defunct local unit, Fuck Me USA, "Infinite Slope."
now playing: Radio Zero Podcast (December 9th, 2005)
amy white out
I got to Hoko's for day four of Music Waste just in time to catch the last two songs from gr8-2000. Tom was his usually rambunctious self, even donning a cape before a set closing cover of Kraftwerk's "Pocket Calculator."
Piper Davis followed things up. She (and her band) sort of stuck out on the bill. All the acts at Hoko's shared an electronic element, but Piper's set injected a welcomed dosage of soul into the evening's proceedings. It's been about a year since the first time I saw her perform, but I'm still amped to hear "Academics" - which she closed with - any day.
Onomatopoeia is Dustin's (from Sex Attack/Adjective) "retired" solo project. It consists of Dustin singing over electro tracks he plays off of an ibook. Half the room seemed to love it (myself included) and half the room seemed to hate it and Tom (gr8-2000) really fucking loved it.
I think Music Waste billed the headliner as Jesse Taylor, and the last time they played they were Soft Disco, but right now they're playing as Reflektions. I really wanted to attempt to catch the entire bill over at 340, so I only caught a couple songs, but the eletronic joints are familiar sounding Jesse songs (since he's singing) backed by music that's a little more dance floor friendly than Twin Crystals or Channels 3+4.
I got to 340 in time to catch the very end of Gang Violence's set and spent large parts of the evening cursing the scheduling, because they were awesome. Rocking guitar and drums with a healthy dose of noisy electronics over top, the pair were one of the best surprises of the fest so far for me. They're looking for a singer. Hopefully they find a good one, because the rest is already great.
Golden Touch, who were another two-piece, followed up. They didn't blow me away like Gang Violence, but their straight ahead punk wasn't anything to complain about. And there were a few tunes that stuck out as pretty great.
I'd heard good things about Sorcerers, so I was excited about seeing them. They sound a lot like Bad Brains (early Bad Brains), which certainly isn't the worst thing that could happen to a band. As with Bad Brains, I liked the songs that leaned a little further from reggae and more towards the hardcore side of things, but they're whole set was pretty sweet. Plus, their lead singer looks like Axl before he went crazy, got fat, and stopped working with Slash and how awesome is that?
White Lung: still awesome (in case you were wondering). Yeah, not much more to say than that.
See you out there for the final night of Music Waste!
now playing: Guns n Roses - Nightrain
Labels: gr8-2000, music waste, onomatopoeia, piper davis, show recaps
Monday, February 25, 2008
damaged enough
I was going to take it sort of easy this weekend, but there was a ton of stuff going on, so that resolution became one those "who am I kidding?" statements.
On Friday, I headed down to the Astoria to catch Twin Crystals. They weren't as intense and loud as last time I've seen them, but that wasn't worse per se, just different. Jesse only rocked a guitar on the first song, with the rest of the set being characterized by he and Jeremiah's dueling synths. Oh, and just because it was less loud, doesn't mean it wasn't loud enough.
They've got a super-limited (50 copies) lathe cut 10" up for sale at Summer Lovers Unlimited that I should order soon.
I'm pretty into Taxes at the worst of times, but they were on fire on Friday. Best performance of their's that I've seen for sure. When Twin Crystals took the stage, Jesse quipped that he "(didn't) know how (they) could follow Taxes." Usually such statements - even when the opening band really delivers - are a polite way to give a nod to whomever went on before you, but as good as Twin Crystals consistently are, he may have had a legitimate point that night. That's not taking anything away from Twin Crystals, Taxes were just really on point.
I bailed during Owl Drugs first song. That's not a reflection on them, since I wasn't even there long enough to form a proper opinion, but I was still under the false impression that I was going to have a relaxed (and sleep filled) Friday/Saturday.
On Saturday, I started things off at Hoko's, getting there in time for Nihilist Party. I was down with the beats, but less down with the rhymes (well, vocals, not necessarily "rhymes"). But there are worse side dishes for your sushi, I suppose.
Terrorbird were up next, and were playing as a two-piece. Good stuff as usual, though when they had the extra keys, they definitely added something to the overall product.
Nu Sensae were their usual wonderful selves: loud and fast. So fast, in fact, that I stepped out for a moment and missed most of their set. My loss.
gr8-2000 finished things off with his frenetic brand of electro. Tom, as always, was full of boundless energy, and was also having fun throwing thinly veiled barbs at the people chatting in the back.
And also worth a mention (and some praise): Ben from Crystal Beard was there with the lovely ladies who do videos at BtL to provide some added visual flavour to the evening.
I was going to head to the Biltmore after that, but apparently they've been rezoned and can only stay open until 1am now, so it was off to the Emergency Room.
I got there in time for Mutators, whom I have nothing new to say about... favourite live act in Vancouver... slayed... etc. etc. etc.
Actually, on that note, Shearing Pinx were up next, and my sentiments are similar: quality as usual.
The main event of the evening was Monotonix, who were here all the way from Tel Aviv. To put it succinctly, they were mind blowing.
I was standing around wondering when they were going to start when my question was answered by a drum cymbal that was thrust in the air... on fire. From there it was about an hour of absolute madness. Throw their name into google, and you'll note that Vancouver isn't the only place that's been totally destroyed by these guys.
The recorded material just isn't the same, but if they ever come back, definitely go see them.
And if you were there, no, that wasn't Frank Zappa.
Speaking of Twin Crystals, they're kicking off their tour (which takes them down to SXSW and back) on Friday at the ER. Nu Sensae, Basketball, and Adjective are going to help give them a proper send off. Justin, Jesse, and Benjamin spin records after the bands.
Attack in Black and Smoosh open up the Tokyo Police Club show on May 16th at the Plaza.
Atmosphere is at the Commodore on May 14th with Abstract Rude
Mutators and Modern Creatures are having a fundraiser for the epic (seriously, check the dates) tour that they're set to embark on this Spring/Summer on April 26th at the ER.
The SSRIs are giving away their music. I haven't listened yet, but if you like it, make sure you toss them some money by paying to see them play... but that goes without saying.
Speaking of free music, if you haven't already checked out the latest Radio Zero podcast, you should get on that. All of them are quality, but #47 features one of my favourite tracks from the (sadly) now-defunct local unit, Fuck Me USA, "Infinite Slope."
now playing: Radio Zero Podcast (December 9th, 2005)
Labels: gr8-2000, monotonix, mutators, nihilist party, nu sensae, shearing pinx, show announcements, show recaps, ssris, taxes, terrorbird, twin crystals
