Thursday, September 24, 2009
motorcycle emptiness
I've been out a lot in the last week, which means that while I have a lot that I could have blogged about, blogging has been low on the priority list. But here's a quick and dirty recap...
I booked it, so I'm biased, but Techromancer kicked ass at Damaged Goods on Friday. Thanks to Calli and Andrew for playing.
On Saturday, I caught one of my favourite bands, the Hold Steady, at the Vogue. It wasn't really the best venue for the band, but I guess it was the best suitable all-ager they could find (though it didn't look like there were too many kids in attendance). The band played a nice mix from their whole catalogue, also throwing in a handful of new songs, including one that was performed for the first time. I've seen them quite a few times and it was the first time they've played "Positive Jam," so that was nice to hear, but the highlights were a pair of b-sides: "Girls Like Status" and "212 Margarita."
Exactly 10 years ago, Tuesday, I tried (and failed - it was sold out and I was underage) to see the Manic Street Preachers. So, this Tuesday at the Commodore was a long time coming. They played pretty much exactly what you'd expect a band that hasn't been on the continent in a decade to play: a smattering from the new record mixed into what was largely a greatest hits set... which was fine with me. I've been waiting to hear "Faster" live forever, but "Motorcycle Emptiness" and "Design for Life" were pretty epic ways of opening and closing (respectively) a show.
And, last night, I caught Brasstronaut, who were their usual charming selves, at the Biltmore. The opening band, whose name currently escapes me, sort of sounded like Tegan & Sara (minus one female harmony and plus a male one), which is fitting, as Tegan apparently produced their record.
Tomorrow, Slaves and Cloaks play at Solder & Sons.
Wooden Shjips, Von Bingen, and Solars play the ANZA on Sunday.
Jeffrey Lewis plays the Rickshaw with Ora Corgan on September 28th.
City Center, Tigerhead, and Haunted Beard play Little Mountain on October 1st.
Kidnap Kids, Fine Mist, Candles, Magician & the Gates of Love, and Half Chinese play Goonies on October 3rd.
Nadja, Empty Love & Scantintone, Ahna play the Rickshaw the same night.
Adjective, Fake Shark Real Zombie, and Hard Feelings play the Media Club on October 5th.
now playing: Fine Mist - When No One's Home
Monday, September 14, 2009
epic battle
"Spoiler Alert" is competing with Fine Mist's "Stop or Start" for dance jam of the Summer, so if for nothing else, show up to shake it to that.
Regulars: September 14th-20th
Monday
Tuesday
Boosh Tuesdays @ the Cobalt: Joel and the Last of the Neighbours, Plus Perfect, and Safety Show
Sailing @ the Astoria: Peace
Wednesday
Fake Jazz Wednesday @ the Cobalt: David Slave, Stefana Fratila, Wundershnausen, the Sorrow & the Pity
The Beehive @ Honey: back on September 30th
Discorder Presents... @ the Astoria: back in the first week of October
Gypsy Fade Wednesday @ the Media Club: back at the end of September
Thursday
Honey Lung Thursday @ Honey: Manta Ray-Gun, Cat Attack, Student Teacher
Friday
Damaged Goods @ the Astoria: Techromancer
Far Away @ the Media Club: unknown
Good Burger @ Babar: B-Lines
Saturday
Glory Days @ the Biltmore: Ninjasonik, Totally Michael, and Mad Rad (and it's Jason's birthday)
Night Shift @ the Astoria: back on the 26th. Astoria Soul Club is on this week.
No More Strangers @ Funky Winkerbean's: Half Chinese and Student Teacher
Friday, June 12, 2009
isabella rossellini
Real quick, because game 7 is starting.
Techromancer had a slow start, but they got better as the set went on and their closer was unreal. If you were going to pick a band from Music Waste that could make it (not that that's the point of Music Waste--quite the opposite--but there's nothing wrong with "making it" either), it's probably these two.
I caught a bit of Kidnapping before heading taking off. I'd heard that Sean's vocals didn't really mesh with what the band was laying down behind them at the show they played with Women, but he's really found his groove now. Good stuff.
In fact, I probably should have stayed for their whole set instead of going to Honey. It's not that Makeout Videotape's performance was bad, but the sound was brutal. I'm psyched to see them again in a place better suited to live music.
I caught MT-40 at Night Shift about a month ago and was pretty impressed, but they absolutely killed it last night. There's still two days left, but their's is definitely the set of the fest thus far. They were so good, you hardly noticed the drunk girl (see the blur above) that climbed on stage behind them do a little interpretive dance.
London Drugs were pretty good. Plus, they score major nerd points for generating most of their noise from Nintendo DS's. It was hard to follow MT-40 though.
now playing: Pens vs. Wings
motorcycle emptiness
I've been out a lot in the last week, which means that while I have a lot that I could have blogged about, blogging has been low on the priority list. But here's a quick and dirty recap...
I booked it, so I'm biased, but Techromancer kicked ass at Damaged Goods on Friday. Thanks to Calli and Andrew for playing.
On Saturday, I caught one of my favourite bands, the Hold Steady, at the Vogue. It wasn't really the best venue for the band, but I guess it was the best suitable all-ager they could find (though it didn't look like there were too many kids in attendance). The band played a nice mix from their whole catalogue, also throwing in a handful of new songs, including one that was performed for the first time. I've seen them quite a few times and it was the first time they've played "Positive Jam," so that was nice to hear, but the highlights were a pair of b-sides: "Girls Like Status" and "212 Margarita."
Exactly 10 years ago, Tuesday, I tried (and failed - it was sold out and I was underage) to see the Manic Street Preachers. So, this Tuesday at the Commodore was a long time coming. They played pretty much exactly what you'd expect a band that hasn't been on the continent in a decade to play: a smattering from the new record mixed into what was largely a greatest hits set... which was fine with me. I've been waiting to hear "Faster" live forever, but "Motorcycle Emptiness" and "Design for Life" were pretty epic ways of opening and closing (respectively) a show.
And, last night, I caught Brasstronaut, who were their usual charming selves, at the Biltmore. The opening band, whose name currently escapes me, sort of sounded like Tegan & Sara (minus one female harmony and plus a male one), which is fitting, as Tegan apparently produced their record.
Tomorrow, Slaves and Cloaks play at Solder & Sons.
Wooden Shjips, Von Bingen, and Solars play the ANZA on Sunday.
Jeffrey Lewis plays the Rickshaw with Ora Corgan on September 28th.
City Center, Tigerhead, and Haunted Beard play Little Mountain on October 1st.
Kidnap Kids, Fine Mist, Candles, Magician & the Gates of Love, and Half Chinese play Goonies on October 3rd.
Nadja, Empty Love & Scantintone, Ahna play the Rickshaw the same night.
Adjective, Fake Shark Real Zombie, and Hard Feelings play the Media Club on October 5th.
now playing: Fine Mist - When No One's Home
Labels: brasstronaut, damaged goods, manic street preachers, show announcements, show recaps, techromancer, the hold steady
Monday, September 14, 2009
epic battle
This week at Damaged Goods, I have the distinct pleasure of helping welcome Victoria's Techromancer back to Vancouver. They were awesome at Music Waste, but went on at an all-too-un-rock'n'roll hour and suffered through some technical glitches at No More Strangers last month, so we're bringing them to town to show off their stuff at a more party friendly time with (cross your fingers) all the sound sorted out.
"Spoiler Alert" is competing with Fine Mist's "Stop or Start" for dance jam of the Summer, so if for nothing else, show up to shake it to that.
Regulars: September 14th-20th
Monday
Tuesday
Boosh Tuesdays @ the Cobalt: Joel and the Last of the Neighbours, Plus Perfect, and Safety Show
Sailing @ the Astoria: Peace
Wednesday
Fake Jazz Wednesday @ the Cobalt: David Slave, Stefana Fratila, Wundershnausen, the Sorrow & the Pity
The Beehive @ Honey: back on September 30th
Discorder Presents... @ the Astoria: back in the first week of October
Gypsy Fade Wednesday @ the Media Club: back at the end of September
Thursday
Honey Lung Thursday @ Honey: Manta Ray-Gun, Cat Attack, Student Teacher
Friday
Damaged Goods @ the Astoria: Techromancer
Far Away @ the Media Club: unknown
Good Burger @ Babar: B-Lines
Saturday
Glory Days @ the Biltmore: Ninjasonik, Totally Michael, and Mad Rad (and it's Jason's birthday)
Night Shift @ the Astoria: back on the 26th. Astoria Soul Club is on this week.
No More Strangers @ Funky Winkerbean's: Half Chinese and Student Teacher
Labels: damaged goods, show announcements, techromancer, weekly listings
Friday, June 12, 2009
isabella rossellini
Real quick, because game 7 is starting.
Techromancer had a slow start, but they got better as the set went on and their closer was unreal. If you were going to pick a band from Music Waste that could make it (not that that's the point of Music Waste--quite the opposite--but there's nothing wrong with "making it" either), it's probably these two.
I caught a bit of Kidnapping before heading taking off. I'd heard that Sean's vocals didn't really mesh with what the band was laying down behind them at the show they played with Women, but he's really found his groove now. Good stuff.
In fact, I probably should have stayed for their whole set instead of going to Honey. It's not that Makeout Videotape's performance was bad, but the sound was brutal. I'm psyched to see them again in a place better suited to live music.
I caught MT-40 at Night Shift about a month ago and was pretty impressed, but they absolutely killed it last night. There's still two days left, but their's is definitely the set of the fest thus far. They were so good, you hardly noticed the drunk girl (see the blur above) that climbed on stage behind them do a little interpretive dance.
London Drugs were pretty good. Plus, they score major nerd points for generating most of their noise from Nintendo DS's. It was hard to follow MT-40 though.
now playing: Pens vs. Wings
Labels: kidnapping, london drugs, makeout videotape, mt40, show announcements, techromancer
