Sunday, March 22, 2009
I don't need an answer, so don't answer
Why don't we start with some new music?
The Paper Cranes are giving away their new single, "Telephone," on their website. You don't even have to sign up for a mailing list or anything like that. I was really high on "I'll Love You Til My Veins Explode" and I'm equally stoked on this track. The two tracks share a plunking piano base and some wiry guitar lines over top, but the harmonica is a nice touch. The hook is pretty huge too.
On Friday, the Astoria re-opens. Neil Hillbrandt (Glory Days/Better Than Loneliness) and Dustin (Sex Attack/Adjective) are DJing. No bands are booked for Friday, but the room should start hosting some of those quite soon.
Speaking of resurrected venues, the Sex Negatives headlined show that was supposed to go down at the Peanut Gallery this Saturday, before it's closure was announced, will now be at the original Emergency Room. (thanks Ben.
The Mohawk Lodge return to Vancouver on Saturday as well. They'll play Pub 340 with Bel Riose, the Painted Birds, and Quinzy.
The same night, Sex With Strangers play the Biltmore with You Say Party! We Say Die!, Beast, and 16mm.
On April 3rd, Seven, Nines, & Tens play the Railway with the Ludvico Treatment, My Mom's A Werewolf.
On April 15th, Fake Shark-Real Zombie, the SSRIs, and Hard Feelings are at the Media Club.
The Mt. Eerie show originally scheduled for May 16th is now on May 30th, still at St. James Hall. The Chain & the Gang/Hive Dwellers show on the same night, originally scheduled at the Sweatshop, will now be at Riley Park Community Centre. The promoters are working together to time things so you can check out both things, if you're so inclined.
now playing: The Pink Mountaintops - Execution
Friday, November 02, 2007
our hearts are cagey, but we're not wasting time
I do apologize for not mentioning that the Octoberman/Mohawk Lodge/Leah Abramson musical caravan returned home this week and played a celebratory show at the railway last night. I bet it was good. Leah played solo.
I, however, was at the ANZA for the Clips CD release. I won't go heavy on details, but Small Fame opened and it was pretty much what you would expect from a Dan Moxon fronted project. Less metal riffage than Bend Sinister. The Paper Cranes actually closed out the night, which was gracious of them, since the weeknight show date meant a lot of people called it a night rather early, and checked out after the Clips. Those early-to-bed people missed out on a pretty great set that was highlighted by a Jam cover.
The Clips, as you'd expect, came to party. They also filled the room with their friends, who gave them a proper album kick off.
You can check out my thoughts on their newie, Matterhorn (sort of), at Streethawk. Luisa also had a nice chat with Andrew and Edo: here.
Nardwuar's now been on the air for about 12 hours already. He'll rock the UBC SUB Ballroom tonight. It's all-ages and free.
Matt did his annual Hottest Canadian Bands Poll. It's not that I haven't been excited by a lot of Canadian acts this year, but I wouldn't exactly call them "hot." I felt a bit out of touch with the rest of the blogosphere, although 8 of my 9 picks made the list. Here's my ballot, if you were curious. Note the overuse of the word "someone" in the comments for AF:
There's a bunch of stuff going on this weekend. Get out there and at least look like you're having fun.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
middle class guilt
Anyhow, despite fatigue, I was looking forward to seeing the Paper Cranes again, and to checking out the Good News.
I'd heard the *obvious bad play on words that I would usually make* about the latter, and they certainly didn't disappoint. I was about to say that they might be my new favourite band that somehow includes Natalie Vermeer, but I'm sure I'm forgetting one of her innumerable projects, and that statement will come back to bite me in the ass. At any rate, they were a good fit for the Cranes, and pretty enjoyable in their own right. More important than my dodgy opinion, they also seemed to have a sound that could get pretty popular (in that indie way).
Apparently lead Crane, Ryan McCullagh, was worried about the sound when they were playing. Apparently, this was due to the fact that the sound guy at Richard's was over at the Plaza doing sound for the Bang Lime show - how's that for professional? It wasn't the best sound I've heard at Richard's, but it certainly wasn't noticeably bad either. More importantly, the band put on a pretty great performance. When speaking of their EP, I always tended to mention how they seemed to have two personalities, shifting from darker new wave to bouncy pop. I'd always favoured the latter, and it seems that they've embraced that side of themselves too. Good stuff.
If this pans out, it'll be epic. For those of you too lazy to click, it's a link to a local electronic music board, where someone dug up news that the Fool's Gold Records tour is coming through on October 18th at Celeb's. The show will feature A-Trak, Medhi, Kavinsky, and Kid Sister. Sick.
Annuals are at the Plaza on November 11th with Manchester Orchestra.
Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings are at the Commodore on December 9th. Peep their new single...
download: Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings - 100 Days, 100 Nights (via World's Fair)
Champion is at Richard's on September 28th.
The Aliens are at Richard's on October 1st with Augie March
now playing: Cat Power - Colors and the Kids
I don't need an answer, so don't answer
Why don't we start with some new music?
The Paper Cranes are giving away their new single, "Telephone," on their website. You don't even have to sign up for a mailing list or anything like that. I was really high on "I'll Love You Til My Veins Explode" and I'm equally stoked on this track. The two tracks share a plunking piano base and some wiry guitar lines over top, but the harmonica is a nice touch. The hook is pretty huge too.
On Friday, the Astoria re-opens. Neil Hillbrandt (Glory Days/Better Than Loneliness) and Dustin (Sex Attack/Adjective) are DJing. No bands are booked for Friday, but the room should start hosting some of those quite soon.
Speaking of resurrected venues, the Sex Negatives headlined show that was supposed to go down at the Peanut Gallery this Saturday, before it's closure was announced, will now be at the original Emergency Room. (thanks Ben.
The Mohawk Lodge return to Vancouver on Saturday as well. They'll play Pub 340 with Bel Riose, the Painted Birds, and Quinzy.
The same night, Sex With Strangers play the Biltmore with You Say Party! We Say Die!, Beast, and 16mm.
On April 3rd, Seven, Nines, & Tens play the Railway with the Ludvico Treatment, My Mom's A Werewolf.
On April 15th, Fake Shark-Real Zombie, the SSRIs, and Hard Feelings are at the Media Club.
The Mt. Eerie show originally scheduled for May 16th is now on May 30th, still at St. James Hall. The Chain & the Gang/Hive Dwellers show on the same night, originally scheduled at the Sweatshop, will now be at Riley Park Community Centre. The promoters are working together to time things so you can check out both things, if you're so inclined.
now playing: The Pink Mountaintops - Execution
Labels: paper cranes, show announcements
Friday, November 02, 2007
our hearts are cagey, but we're not wasting time
I haven't felt much like blogging in the last couple of days, though I'm sure you have found other, more superior methods of slacking off from work/school/vacation on other corners of the internet, so it's no biggie.
I do apologize for not mentioning that the Octoberman/Mohawk Lodge/Leah Abramson musical caravan returned home this week and played a celebratory show at the railway last night. I bet it was good. Leah played solo.
I, however, was at the ANZA for the Clips CD release. I won't go heavy on details, but Small Fame opened and it was pretty much what you would expect from a Dan Moxon fronted project. Less metal riffage than Bend Sinister. The Paper Cranes actually closed out the night, which was gracious of them, since the weeknight show date meant a lot of people called it a night rather early, and checked out after the Clips. Those early-to-bed people missed out on a pretty great set that was highlighted by a Jam cover.
The Clips, as you'd expect, came to party. They also filled the room with their friends, who gave them a proper album kick off.
You can check out my thoughts on their newie, Matterhorn (sort of), at Streethawk. Luisa also had a nice chat with Andrew and Edo: here.
Nardwuar's now been on the air for about 12 hours already. He'll rock the UBC SUB Ballroom tonight. It's all-ages and free.
Matt did his annual Hottest Canadian Bands Poll. It's not that I haven't been excited by a lot of Canadian acts this year, but I wouldn't exactly call them "hot." I felt a bit out of touch with the rest of the blogosphere, although 8 of my 9 picks made the list. Here's my ballot, if you were curious. Note the overuse of the word "someone" in the comments for AF:
1. Feist
People who don't like Feist are the same people who don't like kittens and world peace and things like that.
2. Arcade Fire
Neon Bible isn't as good as Funeral, and I honestly haven't listened to either very much this year, but denying that they're "hotter" than someone like Crystal Castles or someone like that is a bit delusional, no?
3. Julie Doiron
She didn't win the Polaris Prize, but at least her record wasn't boring as hell. In fact, with her Eric's Trip colleagues backing her, it was anything but. I would've ranked her higher if the Trip reunion tour had actually made it further West than Ontario.
4. Sunset Rubdown
I was actually a bit underwhelmed by their live performance, but the record is pretty amazing. Plus, everyone always loses their shit over anything Spencer Krug does (rightfully so).
5. New Pornographers
Challengers is probably their weakest effort to date, but the first full scale tour with both Neko and Dan is worth celebrating.
6. Pride Tiger
The guys in this band have always been pretty integral parts of the scene here in Vancouver, but Pride Tiger is probably their first opportunity to reach a bigger audience. And by "bigger," I mean "huge." The Lucky Ones is full of the kind of no frills rock that could score them points with absolutely anybody who appreciates a good guitar riff.
7. Neil Young
Honestly, I haven't even heard Chrome Dreams II yet, but it's Neil Young.
8. Crystal Castles
If blogs were really as influential as people seem to think, these guys would be Daft Punk or something. They're not, but they're still pretty good.
9. Basia Bulat
I mean, just look at her. Of course she's hot. Only kidding. But if we want to talk about names that were on everyones lips, Basia's is probably right up there.
There's a bunch of stuff going on this weekend. Get out there and at least look like you're having fun.
Labels: lazy show recaps, paper cranes, small fame, the clips
Sunday, August 19, 2007
middle class guilt
I'm on the fence about Half Alive hosting bands. On one hand, it's nice that they're showcasing some live talent. But it just doesn't seem like there's all that much time for dancing once the bands are done playing. That suited me just fine on Friday, since I was pretty bagged from the night before, but, you know, sometimes you want to see people make music and sometimes you just want to dance to people spinning music that's already been made. Maybe that's just me.
Anyhow, despite fatigue, I was looking forward to seeing the Paper Cranes again, and to checking out the Good News.
I'd heard the *obvious bad play on words that I would usually make* about the latter, and they certainly didn't disappoint. I was about to say that they might be my new favourite band that somehow includes Natalie Vermeer, but I'm sure I'm forgetting one of her innumerable projects, and that statement will come back to bite me in the ass. At any rate, they were a good fit for the Cranes, and pretty enjoyable in their own right. More important than my dodgy opinion, they also seemed to have a sound that could get pretty popular (in that indie way).
Apparently lead Crane, Ryan McCullagh, was worried about the sound when they were playing. Apparently, this was due to the fact that the sound guy at Richard's was over at the Plaza doing sound for the Bang Lime show - how's that for professional? It wasn't the best sound I've heard at Richard's, but it certainly wasn't noticeably bad either. More importantly, the band put on a pretty great performance. When speaking of their EP, I always tended to mention how they seemed to have two personalities, shifting from darker new wave to bouncy pop. I'd always favoured the latter, and it seems that they've embraced that side of themselves too. Good stuff.
If this pans out, it'll be epic. For those of you too lazy to click, it's a link to a local electronic music board, where someone dug up news that the Fool's Gold Records tour is coming through on October 18th at Celeb's. The show will feature A-Trak, Medhi, Kavinsky, and Kid Sister. Sick.
Annuals are at the Plaza on November 11th with Manchester Orchestra.
Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings are at the Commodore on December 9th. Peep their new single...
download: Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings - 100 Days, 100 Nights (via World's Fair)
Champion is at Richard's on September 28th.
The Aliens are at Richard's on October 1st with Augie March
now playing: Cat Power - Colors and the Kids
Labels: good news, paper cranes, show announcements, show recaps
