2009 Round-Up ft. Japandroids, Peaches, and Rae Spoon

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 Cafe in 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.



Rae Spoon MySpace

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!



Peaches MySpace

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.

Japandroids // Heart Sweats from Ray Concepcioñ on Vimeo.

Japandroids MySpace