Monday, October 22, 2007
what do you think will happen next?
Saturday:
I certainly wish I had seen this before the Final Fantasy show on Saturday. It seems that the resident Vancouverites on the FF message board held it down though. Good call to whomever requested "the Sea" (which was played over a bed of very nice sounding feedback).
What can you really say about Owen Pallet's live show that hasn't been said by now? I'll spare you the fawning praise and just note that Richard's was more packed than I've ever seen it and he covered "An Actor's Revenge" (by Destroyer, as you probably know).
I quite like Great Lake Swimmers on record, but the similar sounding tunes at mercilessly similar tempos made for a somewhat boring (albeit rather pretty) opening set.
I was driving around trying to find a place to park for most of Basia Bulat's set (like, in pay lots and everything). My penance for not taking transit is that I heard her second last song while hastily relieving my bladder, and caught the last song from the floor, which sounded pretty good.
I think this is the first time that urination has made it into a show recap. Hurrah!
Ardenstreet on Flickr has photos. So does Steve. A commendable job by both, especially considering the lighting.
Friday:
I made it to the Emergency Room for the Modern Creatures 7" release. I'd actually only heard them via MySpace before, and the live version of the dueling basses/reverbed girl vocals combo that they spit out certainly didn't disappoint live.
I've actually seen Nu Sensae three times in the last month, but I think this is the first time that I've ever written anything about them, other than giving a nod to their Wire cover. Though they're less precise and more snarling than my favourite post-punkers, they share a no frills approach to things. Bass and drums tangle up with screaming vocals and there's lots of stops and starts, but they keep it pretty simple, which isn't always the worst idea. Like I mentioned, I've seen them almost once a week for the last month, and I'm excited to see them again, if that says anything.
I got to the ER in time to see A.R.C., who were Jesse from Channels 3+4/Shearing Pinx/Cheerleader Camp/etc on sax and another guy on drums. Not exactly my bag, but I couldn't find anything to complain about either.
Jesse also played DJ along with Justin from Mutators. The mix of soul, new wave, and Madonna made for a good counterpoint to the noisier live music.
Speaking of Mutators and Modern Creatures, they're playing together at the Balmoral on November 9th. Ghetto fab.
Everyone's favourite fake DJs, Sex Attack, will be pressing play on their laptop and rocking you harder than most guys who pack around two crates of vinyl at Frank's on Franklin on November 17th. If you're not mulling around in front of your computer and telling dudes off for pissing all over the sanctity of turntablism, go and get sweaty and have some fun.
If the new Wu-Tang gets bumped back again it'll come out on my birthday. Best present ever.
Rob outlines why our government is stupid (if you needed another reason).
Thursday, April 05, 2007
backstage with modern dancers
The only downside to the decreased cost, was that it apparently facilitated a handful of people who were willing to pay the cover to stand around and talk loudly in the back, but those people tend to show up at $45 shows too. What can you do? (Well, you could do a lot of stuff, but most of it would be illegal). But I digress.
The last time I caught GLS, Tony Dekker was representing the name all by his lonesome. While he got an occasional hand from Jonathan (of Jonathan, Inc) and his solo show certainly wasn't a let down, the full band treatment that most of the tunes got this time around was welcomed. If you could knock the Great Lake Swimmers for something, it would be that the songs tend to have a same-y feel when it comes to composition (how many times can you reinvent 3-4 chords and hushed vocals?), and the added instrumentation provided some more variety. On the other hand, Dekker's got a voice that could probably carry an evening by itself. As mentioned, the Gallery was plagued with some idle chatter earlier in the set, but when the band dropped out during one number and Tony carried the bridge acapella, it was amazing how quickly everyone shut up.
If you're headed to Richard's tonight, you're unlikely to leave disappointed.
Music Waste - which is running June 7th to 10th this year - is now accepting submissions.
Tara Henley has a decent article on homophobia in hip-hop in the Straight
The Queers are at the Red Room on June 9th.
Beyonce is at GM Place on September 7th.
Only is tired of CobraSnake clones. The discussion gets nasty. Teh internerdz rulz!!1111
Half Alive has a temporary home for tomorrow night.
now playing: Sleater-Kinney - Modern Girl
what do you think will happen next?
Post-weekend update...
Saturday:
I certainly wish I had seen this before the Final Fantasy show on Saturday. It seems that the resident Vancouverites on the FF message board held it down though. Good call to whomever requested "the Sea" (which was played over a bed of very nice sounding feedback).
What can you really say about Owen Pallet's live show that hasn't been said by now? I'll spare you the fawning praise and just note that Richard's was more packed than I've ever seen it and he covered "An Actor's Revenge" (by Destroyer, as you probably know).
I quite like Great Lake Swimmers on record, but the similar sounding tunes at mercilessly similar tempos made for a somewhat boring (albeit rather pretty) opening set.
I was driving around trying to find a place to park for most of Basia Bulat's set (like, in pay lots and everything). My penance for not taking transit is that I heard her second last song while hastily relieving my bladder, and caught the last song from the floor, which sounded pretty good.
I think this is the first time that urination has made it into a show recap. Hurrah!
Ardenstreet on Flickr has photos. So does Steve. A commendable job by both, especially considering the lighting.
Friday:
I made it to the Emergency Room for the Modern Creatures 7" release. I'd actually only heard them via MySpace before, and the live version of the dueling basses/reverbed girl vocals combo that they spit out certainly didn't disappoint live.
I've actually seen Nu Sensae three times in the last month, but I think this is the first time that I've ever written anything about them, other than giving a nod to their Wire cover. Though they're less precise and more snarling than my favourite post-punkers, they share a no frills approach to things. Bass and drums tangle up with screaming vocals and there's lots of stops and starts, but they keep it pretty simple, which isn't always the worst idea. Like I mentioned, I've seen them almost once a week for the last month, and I'm excited to see them again, if that says anything.
I got to the ER in time to see A.R.C., who were Jesse from Channels 3+4/Shearing Pinx/Cheerleader Camp/etc on sax and another guy on drums. Not exactly my bag, but I couldn't find anything to complain about either.
Jesse also played DJ along with Justin from Mutators. The mix of soul, new wave, and Madonna made for a good counterpoint to the noisier live music.
Speaking of Mutators and Modern Creatures, they're playing together at the Balmoral on November 9th. Ghetto fab.
Everyone's favourite fake DJs, Sex Attack, will be pressing play on their laptop and rocking you harder than most guys who pack around two crates of vinyl at Frank's on Franklin on November 17th. If you're not mulling around in front of your computer and telling dudes off for pissing all over the sanctity of turntablism, go and get sweaty and have some fun.
If the new Wu-Tang gets bumped back again it'll come out on my birthday. Best present ever.
Rob outlines why our government is stupid (if you needed another reason).
Labels: a.r.c., basia bulat, final fantasy, great lake swimmers, modern creatures, nu sensae, show announcements, show recaps
Thursday, April 05, 2007
backstage with modern dancers
Somehow, my friend Shea managed to book Great Lake Swimmers in at UBC for a show in a room with half the capacity and at 2/3rds the ticket price (1/2 in advance) the day before their big show at Richard's with SWAK's blessing. So, kudos to him for that.
The only downside to the decreased cost, was that it apparently facilitated a handful of people who were willing to pay the cover to stand around and talk loudly in the back, but those people tend to show up at $45 shows too. What can you do? (Well, you could do a lot of stuff, but most of it would be illegal). But I digress.
The last time I caught GLS, Tony Dekker was representing the name all by his lonesome. While he got an occasional hand from Jonathan (of Jonathan, Inc) and his solo show certainly wasn't a let down, the full band treatment that most of the tunes got this time around was welcomed. If you could knock the Great Lake Swimmers for something, it would be that the songs tend to have a same-y feel when it comes to composition (how many times can you reinvent 3-4 chords and hushed vocals?), and the added instrumentation provided some more variety. On the other hand, Dekker's got a voice that could probably carry an evening by itself. As mentioned, the Gallery was plagued with some idle chatter earlier in the set, but when the band dropped out during one number and Tony carried the bridge acapella, it was amazing how quickly everyone shut up.
If you're headed to Richard's tonight, you're unlikely to leave disappointed.
Music Waste - which is running June 7th to 10th this year - is now accepting submissions.
Tara Henley has a decent article on homophobia in hip-hop in the Straight
The Queers are at the Red Room on June 9th.
Beyonce is at GM Place on September 7th.
Only is tired of CobraSnake clones. The discussion gets nasty. Teh internerdz rulz!!1111
Half Alive has a temporary home for tomorrow night.
now playing: Sleater-Kinney - Modern Girl
Labels: great lake swimmers, show announcements, show recaps
