LCD Soundsystem @ Malkin Bowl - May 31/10

Setlist:
Us vs Them
Drunk Girls
Get Innocuous
Yr City's a Sucker
Pow Pow
Daft Punk is Playing at My House
All I Want
All My Friends
I Can Change
Tribulations
Movement
Yeah
Encore:
Someone Great
Losing My Edge
New York I Love You/Empire State of Mind

Muse @ Pacific Colliseum - April 1/10

Muse have been on my list to see live for about three years. Just about all the other bands I discovered around the same time along with the British Post-Punk Revival explosion I've now seen: Interpol, Arctic Monkeys, The Killers, Editors, The Fratellis, The Kooks and Maximo Park. I knew Muse were massive in Europe and reputed to be an amazing live act, but where were they?





The only time I remember seeing a Muse date near here was Sept/07 in Seattle. I didn't go to Seattle to see them then and I still have yet to travel that far for a gig. I figure everyone eventually ends up in Vancouver. Well, according to their site, the last time Muse were in Vancouver was at the Commodore on September 24, 2004! That's a five and a half year absence. They've played a handful of shows in Toronto, Montreal and Seattle on their tours since then, but we've been waiting a long time. Welcome back, boys.

So, was the wait worth it? Oh, yes. Even with the high expectations I had from their rumoured greatness live, I was not disappointed. The sound quality in the Pacific Colliseum was excellent, and Bellamy is a damn good front man, but the undisputed star of the night was the set design. I'm including some pics that may capture how impressive it was. Three skyscrapers on the stage that are both movable platforms and video displays, and a light show second to none was an admirable backdrop to a great night of music.

I'm not a fan of the increasingly overt influence of Queen on the band, so those moments during the night were lowlights for me (United States of Eurasia, piano solos). The highlights, beyond the phenomenal stage set, were my old faves Starlight, Supermassive Blackhole, Time is Running Out, and the new tracks Uprising and Resistance. I confess to avoid the crowds, we skipped out before Knights of Cydonia, but I bet that rocked too.

I also have to mention one fan who enthusiastically and single-handed got the entire place doing the wave while we were waiting for Muse to take the stage. Thanks man.


Setlist:
Uprising
Resistance
New Born
Map of the Problematique
Supermassive Blackhole
Hysteria (with Back in Black riff)
Nishe
United States of Eurasia
Feeling Good
(Drum Jam)
Undisclosed Desires
Starlight
Unnatural Selection
Time is Running Out
Plug In Baby
Encore:
Exogenesis Pt.1
Stockholm Syndrom
Knights of Cydonia

Arctic Monkeys @ Malkin Bowl - September 20/09

A very subdued show, and very different in feel to their PNE Forum appearance in September/07.

Perhaps it was the smaller outdoor venue, or that they are touring to support Humbug, a very different sounding album to Favourite Worst Nightmare. All that southwest US/Tarantino/Western themed music. I'll confess I'm not a big fan of their direction this album, but don't mind it in small quantities. Crying Lightning is awesome and I LOVE the Nick Cave cover Red Right Hand. That's been a fave song of mine for 15 years and is a perfect example of the sound the Monkeys are aiming for on Humbug. Hearing those live was a treat, but I was there to hear the stuff of their first two albums.

I wasn't disappointed by the setlist. Quite clever actually. Woven together, the Arctic Monkeys played all ten tracks off Humbug and ten songs from the first two albums, seven off Nightmare and three from Whatever People Say I Am. I would have loved to hear Teddy Picker, A Certain Romance, and Fake Tales of San Francisco but I heard them last time. I was happy they included This House is a Circus and, of course, Dancefloor, which was amusingly modified.

These boys are not what I would call showmen, standing rooted to one spot during the whole show, and very few words to or acknowledgment of the audience, but I have to concede the music is great to experience live. The Monkeys are musically acclaimed for a reason.

Setlist:
Dance Little Liar
Brianstorm
Crying Lightning
Potion Approaching
Pretty Visitors
This House Is A Circus
Still Take You Home
I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor
If You Were There, Beware
Sketchead
My Propeller
Red Right Hand
Dangerous Animals
The View From The Afternoon
Cornerstone
Only Ones Who Know
Do Me A Favour
Secret Door
Fluorescent Adolescent
505

Green Day @ GM Place - July 4, 2009

Green Day are a great live band. I was wary cuz of all the sell-out talk, but I've still been a fan since Dookie, and couldn't let seeing them live pass me by. I shouldn't have been. I highly recommend catching these guys live.

I'm moving away from getting floor tickets unless the band is known for a great live show AND I'm a big fan. Otherwise it's just too exhausting; all that standing around before the show. But, for Green Day, I couldn't imagine sitting down or watching them at a distance and not experiencing the crowd energy down on the floor. It was totally worth it.

Among many, many things, Green Day are great at audience participation. There were no less than 4 different fans brought up on stage, one to even share guitar duties. While some lucky young fans were singled out, Billie Joe and the boys made sure everyone had a great time: energetic performances, pyrotechnics, lots of banter with the audience and leading us in sing-a-longs. The experience both lived up to and exceeded my expectations and made me feel like a young punk kid again. Perfect. Thank you Green Day.

Setlist:
21st Century Breakdown
Know Your Enemy
East Jesus Nowhere
Holiday
The Static Age
Before the Lobotomy
Are We the Waiting
St. Jimmy
Geek Stink Breath
Hitchin' a Ride
Brain Stew
Jaded
Longview
Basket Case
She
King for a Day
Shout / Stand by Me
21 Guns
American Eulogy
Encore:
American Idiot
Jesus of Suburbia
Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Minority
Encore 2:
Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)

The Killers @ UBC Thunderbird Arena - April 24/09

Feeling a bit tired tonight, so skipped the openers. This was my first time at Thunderbird Arena. Apparently it's been renovated in preparation for the Winter Olympics. Sorta like the PNE Forum, but nicer. We didn't have great seats, near the back on the right side, but all seats seem to have a decent view due to steep seating. The only reason I'm sharing these moans is because some of this may have coloured my impression of The Killers show.

I'm glad I got to see them, and the show was okay, but it certainly didn't blow me away. And I thought the sound was a bit muffled, particularly on one of my favourite songs, Read My Mind. And while I'm not a huge fan of the Jumbotron, it certainly would have helped those at the back more fully appreciate the show.

The set decoration was pretty fun: palm trees, and a great layout of lights, where hundreds of lights in a grid pattern blanketed the backdrop and some of the stage fixtures, like the monitors in front. These were different for every song and sometimes during it, giving each song its own visual wash of colour.

The Killers launched right in to Human and then This is your Life off their new album, "Day & Age". In fact they played the first seven songs off the album, mostly in the first part of the set, sprinkling in some early songs and the Joy Division cover Shadowplay, complete with stills from Control, the biopic on Ian Curtis, which is a nice nod to one of their post-punk influences.

Other than the obligatory shout out to Vancouver, Brandon Flowers dedicated one song, I Can't Stay, to Nardwuar and nanaimo bars, making me guess they were interviewed earlier in the day. This song was a departure from my impression of The Killers, adding a full on Vegas show feel, complete with a sax player, and caribbean percussion. Very loungey. And hopefully very ironic. The palm trees didn't help at this point.

A Dustland Fairytale, apparently the new album's third single, brings the set to its first apex, soft teasing parts, followed by catchy and building crescendos. This song looks and sounds like its fun for the band to play, and I guess they'll be doing this live for a long time, maybe as a break from some of those hits they'll have to keep playing whether they like it or not.

This was followed by the highlight of the night, for me, Sam's Town. A super slowed-down and haunting version begins with desolate Las Vegas images projected behind the band, the stage awash in red. And with perfect timing, just as Flowers sings the final words of the line "But I know that I can make it / As long as somebody takes me home", up pops a motel "Welcome" sign. Take me home, indeed. I got shivers.

The main set is rounded out by a trio of hits, thrilling the now hooked and engaged audience. All but a few people are on their feet and dancing or singing along. At least the Killers got the set list down perfectly. Even from a distance it's clear that Flowers is an energetic and interesting front man, skinny in all-black, like the rest of the band, he bounds and dances around, across the stage and up on the monitors, occasionally playing a bit on the keyboard behind the stylized "k" centre stage. But, from our seats, it still felt a bit like watching a show on a 14" TV.

We ducked out before the encore, so we stood a chance at getting back home on the bus without being squashed, but it's pretty likely they played Bones, Jenny Was a Friend of Mine, and When You Were Young, as their setlist has been pretty consistent so far on this tour.

So, an okay show. Certainly got me listening to the new album more, which is slowly growing on me.


Setlist:
Human
This is Your Life
Somebody Told Me
For Reasons Unknown
I Can't Stay
Joyride
Bling (Confessions of a King)
Shadowplay
Smile Like You Mean It
Spaceman
Losing Touch
A Dustland Fairytale
Sam's Town
Read My Mind
Mr. Brightside
All These Things That I've Done
Encore (Probably):
Bones
Jenny Was a Friend of Mine
When You Were Young

The Airborne Toxic Event @ Richard's on Richards - Feb 18/09

Feeling tired, I decided to forgo the openers tonight and arrived just in time for the start of The Airborne Toxic Event's set at 11.

This is an L.A. Band that won me over last year when I was researching the unknown names on the Pemberton line-up. Does This Mean You're Moving On immediately made it onto my playlist and ATE were high on the list of must-sees for me when the Festival finally rolled around in July.

I was not disappointed: they were fun and engaging in the bright afternoon light on the second stage, and seemed genuinely grateful to have been invited. I knew I'd want to check them out if they came through town. And on Wednesday night, they did just that.

Just like on their debut album, The Airborne Toxic Event opened with Wishing Well and closed with Innocence. The first two songs were pleasing, but had me worried that the band's charisma was MIA. But by the third song of the night, Gasoline, it looked like they were warmed up and starting to have fun.

Anna Bulbrook, alternately on violin, keyboards and tambourine was winning and bouncy. She and singer/guitarist Mikel Jollett were the main visual show, climbing on the speakers, drum riser, and sides of the stage and grinning madly at each other. Stephen Chen on guitar was stone-faced and absorbed in playing, as was bassist Noah Harmon for most of the set, save the odd shy smile. Daren Taylor on drums was energetic, but I couldn't help visually comparing him to one of the mustached detectives on Hot Fuzz.


The sold-out Vancouver crowd was a bit loud and chatty during the show, which Jollett commented on a couple of times, scolding and teasing the audience, then apologizing for being snarky. He excused the limited range of his voice to us early on, saying they considered cancelling due to some throat issues, but after a shot of cortisone they decided to come play for us.

Despite the sound being lower than I would have liked, it was a fun, intimate show, and I enjoyed seeing them live again. If I get the chance, I'll see them again.

After a short set (we arrived at 11 and were out at midnight), ATE gave us one encore, Innocence, during which they invited their openers, Rademacher and the Henry Clay Project on stage with them, thanking them for being great tour mates, introduced the band, and then invited the audience to come up on stage if they wanted to. A handful of fans took them up on the offer, dancing and singing. I wonder how long this tradition will last, as I have no doubt this band is going to be playing larger and larger venues very soon.

Partial Setlist:
Wishing Well
Gasoline
Does This Mean You're Moving On?
Echo Park (new)
Goodbye Horses (Q Lazzarus cover)
Sometime Around Midnight
Plus:
Another new song
Papillon (I think)
Something New (I think)
Encore:
Innocence

Glasvegas w/Rich Hope @ Richard's on Richards - Jan 11/09

I was torn about seeing this show, until I saw that the opening act was Carl Barat (formerly of The Libertines, and Pretty Dirty Things). Separately I might have passed, but these two on the same act was worth checking out, to me.

Got there early so as not to miss the opener, and found out immediately that Carl Barat wasn't going to be there. Another example of Canada Customs protecting us from criminals wanting to corrupt us through music, no doubt. So, I was pissed to begin with.

Local rocker, Rich Hope, who've I've seen 2 or 3 times, was the last-minute stand-in, and did a good job winning over the crowd and getting us ready for an evening of rock, despite the fact he was seated with his guitar and the percussion was his foot on a tambourine. He pulled it off.
Glasvegas made us wait, and it wasn't until the sold-out crowd started getting antsy they finally showed up. They began the night with the slowly building Flowers and Football Tops. I was immediately glad I'd come to check them out despite the Carl Barat disappointment.

Glasvegas have a big sound on their debut album, and it was immensely satisfying to hear that richness translate to the stage at Richard's. The creeping, surging guitars and booming scots accent was well-matched to the almost blinding lights, backlighting the band, and along with the smoke machine, creating a transporting rock experience.

It was a short show, with no encore, but it felt right, and is understandable as they only have one album and an EP to draw from. I'm sure there were NO complaints from the gentleman directly to my right. The last song of the night, Daddy's Gone, was drowned out by him singing at the top of his lungs. The turned heads didn't bother him one jot. And in the spirit of the night, I wasn't bothered. It was a testament to the adoration this band can create in its fans. The Glasvegas experience is one you definitely shouldn't miss if you get the chance.

Setlist:

Flowers And Football Tops
Lonesome Swan
It’s My Own Cheating Heart That Makes Me Cry
Please Come Back Home
Polmont On My Mind
Geraldine
Ice Cream Van
Go Square Go
Stabbed
Daddy’s Gone
Encore:
(None)

Against Me! @ The Croatian Cultural Centre - September 15, 2008

I only discovered Against Me! earlier this year, when I was checking out all the 'Best of 2007' lists I could find to see if I'd missed any great bands. New Wave showed up on all of them. From the first songs I listened to ('New Wave', 'Thrash Unreal' and 'Stop!'), I was hooked and deeply impressed. My favourite band is undoubtedly The Clash, and here was a new young band with the same energy and attitude. It was an easy sell.

Speaking as a music junkie, later in the year, I had a real dilemma. The Foo Fighters were coming to town and Against Me! were opening. By the time I found this out, all decent floor tickets were sold, and I had to seriously debate whether it was worth it to pay scalper prices for a decent ticket, just to see an opening band in an arena far too big to appreciate them. After a few weeks of agonizing every time I came across an ad or mention in the Straight, I decided against going. I figured they'd be back in town within a year or so, and I'd see them then.

When I found out about this show, I was thrilled and had my tickets minutes after they went on sale. It seems like I've been waiting forever to finally see this band, when I didn't even know anything about them ten months ago. Such was my desire to see these guys live, undoubtedly the best way to appreciate their rawness and energy.

After that kind of a build up, you'd guess I'd be disappointed, wouldn't you? Me too. But I wasn't in the least. I've already accepted the fact that some of their lyrics are unsophisticated and clunky, and frankly a tiny bit embarrassing. But that is about my only criticism of this band and Tom Gabel. I can forgive some failings of youth because of all the passion he brings to his cause. This is true punk: messy, sometimes stupid, but incredibly rousing. It's the original punk ethic - catchy songs fueled by anger. They aren't as smart or worldly wise as The Clash, but they're a hell of a lot more genuine than The Sex Pistols ever were. You know these guys feel it and live it and love it with all they've got. And that is contagious for their fans. A great live experience.

Needing to brace myself to fully enjoy the show among such a young crowd, me and my boyfriend hit the Beer Garden during the openers, so unfortunately we missed them. Tom Gabel thanked Japanther and the Saint Alvia Cartel twice and said he was sad it was the last date of their tour with them.

From the opening beats of 'New Wave', Against Me! delivered a pounding, non-stop, experience for everyone at this all-ages gig. From the first to the last song, the mosh pit was large and energetic and by the end of the show I was feeling hot and sweaty just being on the edges of that churning soup. The audience were treated to just about every song off the newest album as well as some older gems like 'Pints of Guinness Make you Strong' with the memorable "I'm drinking Irish tonight" line. One personal highlight for me was a trio of perfection 'Piss and Vinegar', 'Don't Lose Touch' and 'Thrash Unreal'. The opening to 'Piss and Vinegar' was cheekily extended by blending in the Pistols "Submission" which just about made me lose my shit. Whether it was intentional or not, I don't know, but would like to think it definitely was. 'Don't Lose Touch' channels the best punk/reggae/dub sounds of 30 years before without losing a scrap of urgency, and who can't love Thrash Unreal? especially when I was feeling that 'Rebel Yell' when it was released too (although despite my young ears, I could still hear Idol selling out his roots).

Tom Gabel and Andrew Seward, stage right and center, respectively, looked they were particularly enjoying themselves and seemed to have a nice ongoing banter and rapport going on, with Gabel frequently grinning and holding drinks for Seward who was already beginning the next song. James Bowman on second guitar and vocals was unsmiling throughout the show, which is standard for him, I gather, and took over the Tegan Quin vocal part on 'Borne on the FM Waves of the Heart'
-->. He was painfully off-key on one track, but that was only a minor distraction from the overwhelmingly entertaining show.
My take-away song from this night was "Miami". I hadn't heard it before and it's a new fave of mine, with a rousing sing-along chorus, biting political vitriol, and a unflinching condemnation of one city from their home state of Florida.

Below is the partial setlist for the show. Ironically, I've been recording setlists for all the shows I've been to, coming home and finding that I can easily find a copy online. Because I miss a few moments of each song keeping a running setlist, I figured I was wasting my time and missing the show unnecessarily. I didn't keep track of the setlist during Against Me! and, wouldn't you know it, can't find a setlist anywhere. The following list is pieced together from what I remember vividly being played and the Georgia Straight's Mike Usinger's review. I would imagine they also played 'Animal', 'Stop!', and 'Those Anarcho Punks are Mysterious', but I don't remember clearly, so can't include them. Crap! I do know, however, that they didn't play 'Baby, I'm an Anarchist' which would have been cool to hear.

Against Me!'s Partial Setlist:

New Wave
Americans Abroad
Borne on the FM Waves of the Heart
From Her Lips to God's Ears (The Energizer_
Miami
Piss and Vinegar
Don't Lose Touch
Thrash Unreal
Up the Cuts
White People for Peace
T.S.R.
Pints of Guinness Make You Strong
Sink Florida Sink

Louis XIV w/What Made Milwaukee Famous @ Richard's on Richards - March 28/08

This was the first time openers What Made Milwaukee Famous have performed in Vancouver. They played a half hour set but still managed to do nine songs, including a cover of Billy Joel's 'You May Be Right'.

Richard's was pretty empty on this Friday night and the majority of those present were 20-something girls dressed in their hottest indie wear, and several couples in their mid to late 20s: a slightly older crowd than I would have guessed Louis XIV would bring out.

I got cancelled on myself by a new boy I hadn't sealed 'the' deal with yet and once Louis XIV launched off their set with the heavy, throbbing beats and suggestive lyrics they're known for, I thought to myself "he's missing out. Doesn't he know what panty-remover Louis XIV are?"

Updated in 2018: I never finished this concert review I'm afraid. My memory is off a fun, energetic set within the  intimate environs of Richards'. I remember thinking that the venue wasn't sold out as there was plenty of standing space. The crowd wiggled around to the catchy and raunchy songs, but never got more animated. The band members were all in hipster vest/suits ensembles and put on a sweaty (on their part) show. Fun.



 
Setlist:

Slick Dogs and Ponies
Paper Doll
The Grand Apartment
Louis XIV
A Letter to Dominique
Sometimes You Just Want To
Illegal Tender
Tina
Air Traffic Control
Finding Out True Love Is Blind
Guilt by Association
All the Little Pieces
God Killed the Queen
There's a Traitor In This Room
Encore:
The Hunt
Pledge of Allegiance

British Sea Power w/Colour Music and Elizabeth @ Plaza Club - March 5/08

I was on my own for this show, due to a last minute cancellation by a friend. It's not a lot of fun standing around without someone to chat to between sets, so I decided to show up a little later than normal. Even then I still caught most of the local band, Elizabeth, opening before Colour Music, so this show was a late starter and continued with lots of delays.

Elizabeth were good, particularly the guitarist, Davor Katinic. Way better than I remember them. They were a last minute opener for the Arctic Monkeys last September at the PNE Forum, when Voxtrot wasn't let in the country (major disappointment). I gave them a couple songs to grab me and then went to the beer garden. Tonight, however, they kinda impressed me. Visually though, it's hard to get past the singers ridiculously skinny girl-pants and ominous arm band. Hypocritically, I would totally forgive this on of a Brit band. At least they have a style I suppose.

Wanting to show my appreciation, I bought the guitarist a Heineken when they emerged after their set and seeing that was his drink. I still thought British Sea Power would be on next, and this would make the band I'd just seen, Colour Music, from god-knows-where. I handed the guitarist his beer and, like an idiot, welcomed him to Vancouver. I figured it all out later with a flash of embarrassment. Sorry guys!

Big delay and then Colour Music, dressed all in white played an energetic, if forgettable, set. Another big delay and British Sea Power finally take the stage sometime before midnight, which is pretty grueling for a Doors at 8pm show. I showed up about 10pm and I was getting tired with all the waiting. I think the sound was the problem tonight, and obviously things were being done to try to remedy it, but I think the sound was pretty crap all night, and it may be the Plaza Club and it may be the sound guys on this particular night. One of the bartenders made an amusing if snarky comment: "trust the Plaza to set the bar this low, and then manage to trip over it". Nice guy and I appreciated the generous pours that helped numb the boredom.

While waiting I was suprised to see very little in the way of props, in contrast to the reviews I'd read previously. Just a couple of flags. I've also read that British Sea Power can put on an insane, almost out-of-control show, with bear suits, climbing and jumping off things, head standing, and so on. It was not to be tonight, with the exception of the final closing jam song, listed as "Van Rock" on the setlist. There was some half-hearted piggy-backing and a head-stand.

Yan and Hamilton share vocal duties, each taking lead on different songs, but neither talked to the crowd much. We got a "hope you like it" before their last song.

Despite my gripes, I thoroughly enjoyed hearing my faves off Do You Like Rock Music? live, particularly 'Down on the Ground'. But the musical highlight for me was during 'We Close Our Eyes'. The setlist doesn't list this song, but I'm pretty sure they substituted it for 'The Great Skua' or at least blended the two together. The instrumental passage was exquisite, showcasing the trumpet player and violinist that rounded out their live sound.


Mostly Accurate Setlist:

Lights Out for Darker Skies
Atom
Childhood Memories
Spirit of St. Louis
A Trip Out
Down on the Ground
How Will I Ever Find My Way Home?
Blackout
Waving Flags
We Close Our Eyes (Great Skua?)
Remember Me
Favours in the Beetroot Fields
Canvey Island
No Lucifer
Encore:
True Adventures
Carrion
Van Rock (A Rock?)

The Hives w/The Donnas & The Hits @ Commodore Ballroom - Feb 22/08

Lights dimmed. "The Hives" red neon sign snaps on. The Hives file in quietly and quickly in the dark, and launch right in with 'You Got It All...Wrong', with Pelle Almqvist skidding up to the microphone stand just in time for the first vocal. An exciting, choreographed start that sets the tone for the next hour: the sonic equivalent of the first half of Trainspotting. No letting up -- go, go, go!

Nattily dressed in matching black suits with white trim sporting crests with The Hives' logo, and diagonally striped black and white ties, they look like cheeky school boys. I'm reminded of Malcolm McDowell from the movie If.

A few songs in and the heat is rising; the jackets and ties come off to reveal black shirts. Almqvist is throwing the mic stand around and snapping it back to him with the cord. Nicholas Arson, as much a showman as Almqvist, is zipping around making faces at the audience. And drummer, Chris Dangerous, stands up clapping vigorously, encouraging the audience to clap along. We don't need much prodding; the dancefloor is bouncing and arms are flailing.

Almqvist chatted to the audience almost constantly throughout their set reveling in his megalomaniacal yet instantly endearing persona: "I love you. We love you. You love us. Hello Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada!" Amusingly, he referenced our full location three times in his Swedish accent, introducing 'Die, All Right' by saying "Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Canadoo, Canadeye, CanISing, CanIDie, Can I Die All Right."

If you haven't sensed it already, The Hives put on one hell of a live show. This may be the best show I've seen in 2008, and I would love to see them again. The songs come fast and furious, Pelle whipping his head from left to right and back, hair flying, hand jauntily on hip a la Jagger, with leg kicks thrown in to emphasize a beat. They faithfully reproduce the sound of their albums with the clean, sharp sound and tapping urgency. Of course, the stellar Commodore sound system helped with this.

Setlist:

You Got It All...Wrong
Try It Again
Square One Here I Come
Die, All Right!
A Little More For Little You
Walk Idiot Walk
You Dress Up For Armageddon
No Pun Intended
Diabolic Scheme
Won't Be Long
Main Offender
Tick Tick Boom
Encore:
Bigger Hole to Fill
Two-Timing Touch and Broken Bones
Return the Favour

Video Clip from February 22, 2008

The Hives - 'You Got It All...Wrong'

Pinback w/MC Chris @ Richard's on Richards - Feb 15/08

When Pinback played Richard's on Richards in February, they were suffering from colds and initially out of tune. And although I don't think it was a great show, I have to say I would gladly see them again if given the opportunity.

Playing mainly material from their 2007 Autumn of the Seraphs album, Pinback was able to recreate the beauty of their recorded music for the assembled crowd. And for a group of mainly 20-somethings, the crowd was somewhat diverse: the expected indie hipster types, baseball cap sporting hip hoppers there for the opener MC Chris, some moshers, and the bookish girls who discovered Pinback on an OC soundtrack on stools circling the balcony, flanked by their harmless-looking boyfriends.

My musician friend pointed out Zach Smith chording on his bass, and after that I was aware that Pinback certainly seem to be all about the bass. Two are featured on some of the songs and bass duties are shared among Smith, Rob Crow and one of their touring musicians. Smith plays bass exclusively and is the higher voice on vocals; the heavily-bearded Crow standing behind a keyboard for the perrformance, switches between that, guitar and bass and does the remaining vocals. Two backing musicians play guitars and keyboards on either side of the Pinback duo when needed and the group is rounded out by the drummer.

Pinback play their set at sped-up tempos making for a more energetic show than you may imagine from listening to them at home. And I was delighted to find the sound was just as pretty and transporting.

Within the 16 song setlist, thoroughly covering the album they're touring to support, Pinback also played a half dozen songs from their earlier albums, including 'Non Photo-Blue' and the best-known song 'Fortress' (welcomed by high-pitched eruptions from the balcony) from the 2004 Summer in Abaddon, 'Penelope' from 2001's Blue Screen Life, and a lone song, 'Loro', from their 1999 debut Pinback.

I know they weren't playing their best on this night, but they still made a bigger fan of me than I was going in. The show gave me an inkling into how good Pinback likely are when in top form, and I hope to have that pleasure one day in the future.

Setlist:

Bouquet
Torch
Non Photo-Blue
Penelope
Good To Sea
How We Breathe
Walters
Devil You Know
Subbing For Eden
Microtonic Wave
(something I didn't recognize)
B
From Nothing To Nowhere
Encore:
Loro
Fortress
AFK

Video Clip from February 15, 2008

Pinback - 'Fortress' (captured from the balcony):

Editors/Hot Hot Heat @ The Commodore Ballroom - Feb 5, 2008

A little thrown off by an earlier start time due to it being a weekday show, the three band lineup, and a friend who needed a smoke or two before the show, I managed to miss the openers, Louis XIV. I’d been really looking forward to seeing them, but will soon be able to rectify this when they come back to town on March 28.
The first thing I noticed when Hot Hot Heat took the stage is the new lighting system at the Commodore. Vibrant colours light the stage and the musicians from a myriad of spotlights adding to the spectacle of the performances and the mood of each song played.
Hot Hot Heat are immediately energetic despite the initially tame crowd. Originally from Victoria, but now based in Vancouver, they are currently recording an album in town, and the singer tells us they're happy to be home.
Steve Bays warns us that his doctor advised him to take two weeks off for his voice, but he declares "we wouldn't let Vancouver down!" Despite the good intentions, his voice does sound weak at times and even fades away to nothing at others. Hot Hot Heat cut their set short, but have still managed to get the fans warmed up.



Hot Hot Heat's approximate Setlist:
Dirty Mouth
Harmonicas and Tambourines
Oh, Godamnit
No, Not Now
Middle of Nowhere
Goodnight, Goodnight
Bandages
My Best Friend
Talk to Me, Dance with Me


I never got around to writing a review on the Editors (this is added in 2018). My memory is of a pretty dull show, but enjoyable music. I believe they were wearing suits, which has changed over the years. There wasn't much audience interaction or showmanship. But the lights and sound were good as this was the Commodore. I recall loving hearing the Editors music live and that it was very faithful to the recorded versions.

Setlist (very partial):
Smokers Outside the Hospital Dorrs
The Racing Rats
An End Has a Start
Munich

Yeasayer/MGMT @ The Bourbon - Feb 1/08

This is the first show I've been to at The Bourbon, and while the door staff were polite and doing the best job they could, I wasn't too impressed with anything else about the venue.
Doors were supposed to open at 8pm for a 9pm show, but with delays for sound checks, we had to stand in the cold with the assembled 20-something hipsters until almost nine o'clock. The boys were shaggy and sensitive-looking, the girls, safe and smart.
It was not a diverse crowd, although I did spot one Mohawk in the crowd later. But this is getting par for the course at Vancouver shows: spot the token "punk".

When MGMT finally took the stage at 9:30pm, the 400-capacity venue made it easy to get close up to the band, but the stage is awkwardly positioned in the middle of the room facing the opposite near wall in a long room. The sight-lines are not great for the entire room, only for the 200 audience members standing between the pillars closest to the stage, or just up the steps at the back third of the room.
MGMT were the reason I wanted to see this show, so I was pretty eager to see how they'd do. They began with their best-known song, "Time To Pretend", which they just performed on Letterman (Jan 8). While MGMT consist of Andrew VanWyngarden and Ben Goldwasser, their touring band has five members, including a bassist who stuck around out front after to watch Yeasayer's set. Andrew who announced "It's my birthday today. I'm 25", is front and centre on guitar and vocals, and Ben is tucked away behind the keyboards. Another guitarist and drummer round out the touring setup.
It wasn't a spectacular performance and the sound was a little fuzzy, but it was a nice introduction to this young band, and an audience member echoed this feeling with a screamed "thank you for coming to Vancouver". It was a short set, perhaps cut short by the initial delays, and I was a little disappointed not to hear "Kids" or "Boogie Down" off their "Time To Pretend" EP. But they are touring to support their debut full-length album "Oracular Spectacular", and understandably focused on that material.
So many things about this band make me think of Ween, and to be clear, I'm a huge Ween fan. From their videos and artwork, to the intelligent but intentionally unselfconscious lunacy, I was hoping more of that feel would make it into the live show, and it didn't. Opening bands often have to pare down their live presentations to fit into someone else's tour, so when MGMT come through as a headliner, you can be sure I'll be there.

Both bands come from Brooklyn, but in contrast to MGMT, the front-man of Yeasayer, Chris Keating, was much chattier and more personable. The four-member band were squeezed onto the very small Bourbon stage along with two keyboards positioned sideways, one distractingly sitting atop a lumber-jacket style checked blanket, and the drumset behind. Anand Wilder also had a guitar to contend with in front of his keyboard, but they all managed.
Yeasayer began with "Final Path", while not on their new album "All Hour Cymbals", it's a song similar to their well-known "2080" in vision. "2080" itself was another highlight for me, but my favourite moment of the show came from Ira Wolf Tuton, the bass-player, and his vocals on "Sunrise". It was like a Middle-Eastern chant, fast, repetitive and hypnotic. I was utterly transfixed and transported. As their MySpace page says "Enya with balls" indeed!
Chris Keating humourously shared with us that his girlfriend is from Vancouver and she recommended to him a restaurant located in Blood Alley. Even coming from Brooklyn, he said he was amazed to pay $45 for a salad when he had to step over a guy shooting heroin in order to get inside. He added "it was a good salad though". Just before 11:30pm, and before we filed out past pissed-off looking clubbers lined up outside, the lead singer thanked his Vancouver friends once more and Yeasayer gave the cheering room a brief encore.
I wasn't a Yeasayer fan before this show, but as I knew I'd be seeing them, I brushed up on their music, beyond the familiar-to-me "2080". And to be honest, I was a bit wary of how world-music/new-agey they may come off. But, even in such a small, unimpressive live venue, I was impressed by their heart and musicianship, and would consider seeing them somewhere else in the future. Yeasayer make their influences their own with new and unique results, and I will definitely be listening to "All Hour Cymbals" and any new releases as they appear.

Partial Setlist

Yeasayer
Final Path
Sunrise
2080
Wait For the Summer
Wait For the Wintertime

MGMT
Time to Pretend
Weekend Wars
Electric Feel
Pieces of What
The Handshake


Video Clips from February 1, 2008

Yeasayer - "Sunrise"


MGMT 24 Seconds with...