I have neglected this blog. I know. But Music Waste 2010 is coming up!
Head over to the Music Waste 2010 website now to see the full line up, band portraits, 2010 artwork and posters and much more.
I believe there are still some passes left at Neptoon Records, and they're only 15$ - otherwise - all shows are 5$ or less each. So grease your bike chains, find your helmet and possibly some earplugs and come out for a weekend of the best live and independent music Vancouver has to offer.
I love love love Tender Forever. It is the moniker of singer and musician Melanie Valera, who has one of those voices that never fails to grab your attention. Valera is not necessarily a vocal powerhouse, but has an original quality and sound. The songs she writes are equally great.
Tender Forever will be releasing a new album at the end of the month titled No Snare.
As 2009 comes to a close one can't help but look over the past year and remember its most memorable moments. Best-of lists are abundant, especially considering we are exiting yet another decade, and while listening to CBC Radio 3 today, the topic of best live shows came up. As such, I thought I would feature the three best acts I had the chance to see this year. Unintentionally, they are all Canadian, and that is a realization puts a big smile on my face.
First up, Rae Spoon. I caught Rae's performance at the Solstice Cafein Victoria, BC at the very beginning of the year. The tiny cafe was packed with people, and as I sat on top of a friend on the floor beside the bathroom, watching the praries-born singer songwriter through the legs of a chair in front of me, I swiftly fell in love. Rae sings songs inpired by his regard for the vast Canadian landscape, from the Yukon to the Great Lakes, in addition to ongoing issues of colonialism and his experiences as one of the few transgendered musicians to tour North America, Europe, and Australia.
His latest album Superioryouareinferior is available on iTunes and in your local Canadian record shop.
Here is one of my favorite Rae Spoon songs, "We become our own wolves." That evening at Solstice Rae had the whole audience howling like wolves at one point - one of those magical moments you won't soon forget.
The next show on my short list (I've decided right now to make it a top-three) is the one and only Peaches at the Commodore Ballroom just a couple weeks ago. Always a big fan of her music, and inspired by her uninhibited presentation of taboo topics, I had the chance to see her show in support of her latest album "I Feel Cream."
As expected it was awesome. There was crowd-surfing, (and walking - shortly after she announced that "Jesus walks on water, Peaches walks on you"), there were uncheesy costume changes, there were hilarious on stage antics, and by the end of the show there were few people with their shirts left on.
Below is a Peaches classic and one of my favorites. If you ever get a chance to see her live, jump!
The final greatest gig of 2009 on my list would have to be Japandroids at the Biltmore just last week. I went to review it, and left with my mouth hanging wide open and one of the greatest live shows I have ever seen etched into my brain.
The east-Vancouver garage-rockers who have found a considerable amount of success as of late, with critical aclaim from media outlets such as Pitchfork and Rolling Stone magazine, had just returned from an extensive North American tour. Playing songs from their universally acclaimed album "Post-Nothing," the venue was packed and the atmosphere triumphant as Brian and Dave rocked out with every last ounce of energy they had. I would elaborate, but a review will be out shortly, and I will be sure to post it. Just know that this two-piece band has a lot of heart and a huge career ahead of them.
Back at the end of September when I was in Victoria for the Rifflandia Music Festival I had the great privilege of catching Victoria's Aidan Knight perform an opening set for Tegan and Sara. I will simply say that it was jaw-dropping. Some of the best songwriting I have heard in a while. Atmospheric, hopeful, sad, funny...no one should miss it.
The Polaris Music Prize (Canada's equivalent to the Mercury Prize in the UK) was handed out tonight and Toronto band Fucked Up took home the prize for their album "The Chemistry of Common Life," with vocalist Damian Abraham accepting the award and then proceeding to take his shirt off and then land a wet one on the presenter. I would expect nothing less.
On another note, I will be heading over to Victoria for the Rifflandia Music Festival this weekend
and if you're in the area I encourage you to check it out. The festival has a ridiculously amazing offering again this year and you can still pick up a wristband for the weekend...it's not too late! Highlights include Tegan and Sara, Beach House, K-Os, The Pink Mountaintops and much much more. Just head over to the Rifflandia website for the lineup, ticket info, and more.
