CONCERT REVIEW : Great Lake Swimmers w/ Jon-Rae Fletcher

If there is anyone reading this who has not seen Great Lake Swimmers live, stop reading. Go buy a ticket at one of their upcoming shows, now.

Now that I've gotten that exhortation out of the way, there are few things I can say about the Swimmers' performance that has not been said a thousand times. Yes, they are tight-knit, never missing a cue from one another. Yes, their music only sounds more expansive and mesmerizing in real life compared to the already excellent recorded version. Yes, Tony Dekker has a comforting, sandy angelic voice. They've placed highly on both my favourite shows AND albums of 2009 lists.

But, I do think I have a contribution to the vast sum of critical acclaim for the Great Lake Swimmers. You know how when you're reading a good novel, you're drawn into a fantastical world that is not your own, in which you reside for the duration of the novel and for quite a while after? That has been my experience with the Swimmers' music, in particular their live shows. And their sonic tales have been ones of loving, longing, treasuring and exalting. It's not until they're finished with you that you realize you'd been holding your breath.

Seeing them, full-band and not unplugged, at the beautiful Vogue Theatre in Vancouver definitely showed that there was much more to add to my already bountiful love for GLS. They brought along Miranda Mulholland, with her lovely voice and deadly fiddling, as opposed to their usual companion Julie Fader. Watch out for this redhead, she not only stole the hearts and minds of all the men in the theatre (and most of the women), but also showed her chops during an extended jam-out of "Still" at the end of their set. In her own words, she really did "giv'er."

Opener Jon-Rae Fletcher and band showed the crowd that country is not dead. In fact, they had the crowd bursting into spontaneous bouts of applause during their songs. Crowing favourites such as recent "Maria" to the 14 year old song "14 Years," Fletcher had his heart on his sleeve and the ears of all who could hear. An encore was demanded even before the last song, and he happily complied.



Jon-Rae Fletcher's set list:
As I Die
Maria
City Lights
Red Raven
Blessed Assurance
Big Talker
Open/Broken
14 years
The Hill
Downtown
Encore-Fire

For a small handful of photos, visit my Flickr.
For much better photos, check out Christine McAvoy's.

Handy Handout #8 - Robson Square GE Plaza

This table consists solely of Canadian indie artists that I've taken an interest in who are playing at Robson Square GE Plaza (downtown Vancouver) during the 2010 Olympics. For the full schedule, which is pretty well laid out requiring no tweaking on my end, download and print here [pdf].

If this is helpful to you at all, please share it / forward it on with a link back to this blog. All of the information courtesy of their respective websites.

*** Update: iCal file for Robson Square now available (Feb 4). ***

If you would like a Word document forwarded to you, please email me at brendahlee [at] gmail [dot] com.

Robson Square GE Plaza. Free. All p.m. unless noted.
Date	Time	Artist
Feb. 12	4:00	Ali Milner
	10:00	Run The Red Light
	11:30	The Left
Feb. 13	11:30	Jeremy Fisher
Feb. 15	11:30	Bria's Hot Five
Feb. 18	4:00	The Breakmen
Feb. 19	10:00	Hey Ocean!
	11:30	Said The Whale
Feb. 20	11:30	Alex Cuba
Feb. 21	4:00	Shari Ulrich
Feb. 24	10:00	Dustin Bentall
Feb. 25	11:30	Ridley Bent
Feb. 27	11:30	Mother Mother
Feb. 28	10:00	Carly Rae Jepsen

NEW VIDEO : Ruby Jean and the Thoughtful Bees - You Don't Miss Me

Well, kind of new. The video's been out a week. Give me a break.
From their eponymous EP, Ruby Jean and the Thoughtful Bees release the first video for their first single "You Don't Miss Me." It films them doing what they do best-- dancing and stirring the crowd into a spastic frenzy with their electro-pop music. Sadly, guitarist Jason Vautour is not sporting his leather vest/short-shorts combo like he did in Ruby Jean's Vancouver show back in the fall.

Enjoy!

NEW VIDEO : Zeus - Marching Through Your Head

This video is absolutely delightful. Off their yet-to-be-released full-length Say Us (Feb 23, 2010) comes the first single, "Marching Through Your Head." It's a stop motion video which shows the boys of Zeus searching for the eponymous Greek god, only to discover their own band in the end. Implying your own music is heavenly? That's quite the claim!

Handy handout #7 - Atlantic Canada House

This table consists solely of Canadian indie artists that I've taken an interest in who are playing at the Atlantic Canada House during the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver. For the full schedule, which is pretty well laid out requiring no tweaking on my end, download and print here [pdf].

*** Update: iCal files now available for Atlantic Canada On Deck - Granville Island Stage & Atlantic Canada Kitchen Party - Backstage Lounge (Feb 4) ***

If this is helpful to you at all, please share it / forward it on with a link back to this blog. All of the information courtesy of their respective websites.

If you would like a Word document forwarded to you, please email me at brendahlee [at] gmail [dot] com.

Atlantic Canada House. Free. All these acts are Canadian (obviously).
Date	Time	Granville Is. Stage	Time	Backstage Lounge	Revue Stage
Sat. 2/13	7:30	Amelia Curran			NOTE:
Mon. 2/15			10:30	Sloan	Everyday at
Tue. 2/16	7:30	Amelia Curran	10:30	The Trews	12:30, 3:00,
Wed. 2/17			8:30	Two Hours Traffic	and 6:00pm,
Thu. 2/18			10:30	Two Hours Traffic	David Myles
Sat. 2/20	7:30	In-Flight Safety; Hey Rosetta!			(amongst other
Sun 2/21			8:30	Hey Rosetta!	artists) will be
Mon. 2/22	7:30	Classified	10:30	Matt Anderson	Performing in a
Tue. 2/23	7:30	Matt Anderson	10:30	David Myles	songwriters
Wed. 2/24	7:30	Julie Doiron; Jill Barber; Catherine MacLellan	10:30	Wintersleep	workshop
Thu. 2/25	7:30	Rose Cousins	10:30	Julie Doiron	Called “Come
Sat. 2/27	7:30	David Myles	10:30	Matt Mays	On In!”

MORE FREE OLYMPIC SHOWS : Free CBC Events

CBC, with its newly constructed headquarters located in a swank building in downtown Vancouver, will be hosting several free events to promote their programs during the Olympic period. The programs which are participating include Canada Live, Canada Reads, Cross Country Roundup, The Current, The Debaters, Hot Air, Saturday Afternoon at the Opera, Tempo, Q, and Wiretap.

If you're interested in being part of the in-studio audience, check out the CBC website here and hover on Free CBC Events under the heading. The different programs will show and you can email a request (or multiple requests) for tickets-- for absolutely free.

*** Update: iCal for the free CBC events now available. (Feb 4)***

Below are some Canadian indie highlights:

Q with Jian Ghomeshi
Thursday Feb. 18 at 4:00 pm in Studio 1
Q is coming to Vancouver for a special "Friday LIVE" taping from the Vancouver. Be part of the studio audience for this special two-hour variety show with performances by top International and Canadian artists. Get your front row seat as Jian Ghomeshi hosts this intimate, once-in-a-lifetime event. Don't miss it!

Canada Live -- Toque Sessions

Toque Session #1
Saturday, February 6 at 7 p.m. in Studio 40
C.R. Avery and the Legal Tender String Quartet with opening act Sam Parton
American music icon Tom Waits said of Vancouver's C.R. Avery that "...(he's) blowin' my mind..." Come witness the energy and artistry that is C.R. Avery with his current band that includes a classically trained string quartet! Former Be Good Tanyas front girl, Sam Parton, kicks off the evening with a set of intimate songs from yesterday and today.
Host: Grant Lawrence (tbc)

Toque Session #2
Sunday, February 21 at 7 p.m. in Studio 40
Jill Barber
Double-Juno nominee and multiple East Coast Music Award winner, Jill Barber, shatters the myth that says "they don't write songs like they used to". This Canadian chanteuse brings a 2010 sensibility to newly composed songs with a timeless, jazzy feel.
Host: Andrew Craig

Toque Session #3
Thursday, February 25 at 7 p.m. in Studio 40
Bluebird North at CBC presented in partnership with the Songwriters Association of Canada.
There's no purer expression of the songwriter's craft than a song circle. Join a group of amazing singer-songwriters including Shari Ulrich, Joel Kroeker, Tariq Hussein, Adaline and Ryan Guldemond [of Mother Mother]. They’ll be in the round, taking turns communicating oh so directly with their lucky audience.

Toque Session #4
Friday, February 26 at 7 p.m. in Studio 40
The British Columbians
This young quartet brings a fresh take on music that straddles the border between old time blues, and stompy rock 'n' roll. Real, earthy and rugged as a B.C. mountain top.

NEW VIDEO : Rock Plaza Central - (Don't You Believe The Words of) Handsome Men

This video for Rock Plaza Central's "(Don't You Believe The Words of) Handsome Men" is part social commentary, part late night spoof but all catchy single. Enjoy.

Handy handout #6 - Canadian Indie Highlights

This table consists solely of Canadian indie artists that I've taken an interest in. Consider it a compilation of all other lists on my blog, or my comprehensive show times list of highly recommended shows.

**Updated February 1 (again) - Ontario Pavilion, Saskatchewan Pavilion, Alberta House and free CBC shows now added. **

If this is helpful to you at all, please share it / forward it on with a link back to this blog. All of the information courtesy of their respective websites.

If you would like a Word document forwarded to you, please email me at brendahlee [at] gmail [dot] com. 

Metro Vancouver Canadian Indie Highlights. Free unless italicized.
Date	Time	Artist	Venue
Feb. 12	5:30	Jeremy Fisher	Surrey House Stage
	9:00	Nathan; The Deep Dark Woods	Performance Works
	9:00	Bedouin Soundclash	Ontario Pavilion
	9:30	Malajube	Place de la Francophonie
Feb. 13	6:00 - 8:00	Jets Overhead; Current Swell; Wil	Surrey Celebration Stage
	8:00 - 11:00	Bedouin Soundclash; Hey Ocean!	Richmond O Zone
	11:30	Jeremy Fisher	Robson Square GE Plaza
Feb. 14	8:00	Mother Mother	LiveCity Yaletown
	9:30	Elliott BROOD	LiveCity Downtown
Feb. 15	8:00	Malajube	LiveCity Yaletown
	8:00? - 11:00	Jenn Grant; Kathleen Edwards	Richmond O Zone
	8:00	City and Colour; The Rural Alberta Advantage	Queen Elizabeth Theatre
	9:30	Jets Overhead	LiveCity Downtown
	10:30	Sloan	Atlantic Canada House
Feb. 16	9:00	Elliott Brood	Ontario Pavilion
	9:30	Buck 65	LiveCity Downtown
	10:30	The Trews	Atlantic Canada House
Feb. 17	6:00	Karkwa	Place de Francophonie
	8:00 - 11:00	Hawksley Workman; Jill Barber	Richmond O Zone
	8:00	Feist; Gonzales	Orpheum
	8:15	Bend Sinister	Surrey House Stage
	9:00	The Arkells	Ontario Pavilion
	9:30	Corb Lund	LiveCity Yaletown
	11:00	Cadence Weapon	Alberta House
Feb. 18	4:00	The Breakmen	Robson Square GE Plaza
	4:00	CBC Q Live	CBC Vancouver Studio
	8:30	The Arkells	Richmond O Zone
	9:00	Corb Lund	Surrey House Stage
	10:00	Bell Orchestre; Brasstronauts	Great Northern Way Campus
Feb. 19	5:00 - 10:00	Sam Roberts Band; The Arkells; Dan Mangan; Goodbye Beatdown; We Are The City	Surrey Celebration Stage
	8:00	Stars; Hey Rosetta!	Orpheum
	8:15	The Dudes	Alberta House
	9:00	The Constantines	Ontario Pavilion
	10:00 - 11:30	Said The Whale; Hey Ocean!	Robson Square GE Plaza
Feb. 20	6:30 - 11:30	Sam Roberts Band; Coeur de Pirate, The Arkells	LiveCity Yaletown
	7:30 - 11:30	Mother Mother; Hey Ocean!; Said The Whale	Surrey House Stage
	7:30	In-Flight Safety; Hey Rosetta!	Atlantic Canada House
	9:00	Library Voices	Saskatchewan Pavilion
	9:00	“Surprise performance TBC”	Ontario Pavilion
	10:00	Chromeo; Team Canada DJs	Great Northern Way Campus (SOLD OUT)
Feb. 21	7:00	Jill Barber	CBC Vancouver Studio
	9:00	Library Voices	Saskatchewan Pavilion
	9:00	Great Lake Swimmers	Ontario Pavilion
	9:30	In-Flight Safety	LiveCity Downtown
Feb. 22	8:00	Jill Barber	LiveCity Yaletown
	9:00	Library Voices	Saskatchewan Pavilion
Feb. 23	8:00 - 11:00	Wintersleep; Constantines	LiveCity Yaletown
	8:00	Julie Doiron	LiveCity Downtown
Feb. 24	7:30	Julie Doiron; Jill Barber; Catherine MacLellan; Wintersleep	Atlantic Canada House
Feb. 25	7:00	Songwriters’ Circle (ft. Shari Ulrich, Joel Kroeker, Tariq Hussein, Adaline and Ryan Guldemond)	CBC Vancouver Studio
	7:30 - 12:00	Rose Cousins; Julie Doiron	Atlantic Canada House
	8:00 - 11:00	Wintersleep; Two Hours Traffic	Richmond O Zone
	8:00	K’naan; Tinariwen	Orpheum
	9:00	The Wooden Sky	Ontario Pavilion
Feb. 26	5:15	Ben Sigston	Surrey House Stage
	5:30	The Deep Dark Woods	Saskatchewan Pavilion
	7:00	Two Hours Traffic	Surrey Celebration Stage
	7:00	The British Columbians	CBC Vancouver Studio
	9:30	Tokyo Police Club	Richmond O Zone
Feb. 27	5:30	The Deep Dark Woods	Saskatchewan Pavilion
	6:00 - 11:00	Wintersleep; Tokyo Police Club; You Say Party! We Say Die; Hey Rosetta!	Surrey Celebration Stage
	6:30	Matt Mays	LiveCity Yaletown
	7:30 - 12:00	David Myles; Matt Mays	Atlantic Canada House
	9:00 - 11:00	The Stills; The Dudes	Richmond O Zone
	11:30	Mother Mother	Robson Square GE Plaza
Feb. 28	3:00	Maurice	Surrey Celebration Stage
	7:30	The Deep Dark Woods	Saskatchewan Pavilion
Mar. 18	9:30	Martha Wainwright; Jorane	Commodore Ballroom

*Note: highlighted sets indicate ones I plan on attending.