Vancouver's Mother Mother has (quietly) released a new video for their song "The Stand" from their yet-to-be-released album Eureka. The video captures the song (and listeners' reactions) quite aptly... Rorschach tests, phallic symbols, strait jackets-- "everyone's f*cked and they don't even know."
Enjoy!
Showing posts with label Mother Mother. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mother Mother. Show all posts
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Thursday, December 30, 2010
NEW ALBUM : Mother Mother - EUREKA
Vancouver's Mother Mother announced that their third full length album, EUREKA (Last Gang Records) will hit stores March 15, 2011 worldwide. Tour dates to follow and will be announced soon. In the meantime, here is the track listing for EUREKA:
1) Chasing It Down
2) The Stand - streaming now at exclaim.ca!
3) Baby Don't Dance
4) Original Spin
5) Born In A Flash
6) Simply Simple
7) Problems
8) Aspiring Fires
9) Getaway
10) Far In Time
11) Oleander
12) Calm Me Down
Here's Mother Mother performing one of those new tracks "Simply Simple" on CBC Radio Q during the Olympics in February:
Thursday, September 9, 2010
RECAP : Live at Squamish Festival - Day 2
After a night of camping and air mattress-aided sleep, it's time for Day 2!
Read about Live at Squamish Day 1 here.
Brenda: We got to the festival grounds just as the first notes of You Say Party’s “There Is XXXX (Within My Heart)” sailed through the air. Although the sound set up was rocky in the beginning, the crowd soon could hear Becky Ninkovic’s warm, gritty voice alongside her bandmates’ accompaniment.
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| You Say Party (photo: Brenda Lee) |
Brenda: I really liked another one of the new tracks named “Enchantress of the Light.” Which aptly describes Becky Ninkovic’s stage persona; she’s enchanting. As a consummate frontwoman, it’s hard to take your eyes off of her.
Alex: She charmed the crowd as usual with many people shouting their love for her and the band. She came down to the front barricade meet with the crowd and finish their set on a more personal level. If the new songs are any indication I think we’re in store of a fantastic third album from You Say Party.
Brenda: After You Say Party wrapped up their set, I wasn’t paying much attention to the stage until Cape Town’s Civil Twilight stole my attention with their orchestral, operatic rock. Vocalist and pianist Steven McKellar had a phenomenal voice with impressive range (and falsetto). One friend commented that their sound is reminiscent of Radiohead, I said Muse, and another mentioned Massive Attack. Perhaps the latter comparison was the most apt, as Civil Twilight soon burst into a cover of Massive Attack’s “Teardrop.” If the increasingly larger apt crowd was any indication, I wasn’t the only new fan that Civil Twilight made that day.
Alex: Vancouver favourites Mother Mother then took the stage to a warmed up crowd, playing up their unique synchronized vocals. There was a stronger guitar presence than usual, with Ryan Guldemond featured prominently, especially in the new songs they played. These new tracks sound more straight-up rock than their previous releases.
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| Mother Mother (photo: Alex Cameron) |
Mother Mother’s set was nearly equally split between new material and tracks from their previous two albums Touch Up and O My Heart. A new album is surely not far from being released. For a sample of one of their new-ish songs “Simply Simple,” check out this video from the Olympics in February.
Alex: The crowd on the second day loved what the main stage was offering. It remained packed as Tokyo Police Club started into their set. These guys have gotten a pretty strong following especially after having opened for Weezer. The crowd exploded into cheers and adulations as they started off with single “Your English is Good.”
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| Kuba Oms with Velvet (photo: Alex Cameron) |
Brenda: Over at the Serf stage, Kuba Oms & Velvet were playing a headlining set. We arrived just as fellow Peak Performance Project finalists Adaline and Kyprios were performing an improvisational piece alongside Oms and his very competent band.
Alex: Kuba Oms plays a type of funk-infused rock. Being unfamiliar with both his and Velvet’s music, I couldn’t tell how much of the influence was reciprocal.
But enough of the laid back vibe. We headed to the clubZone stage to get our blood flowing again. Tom Middleton from the UK was spinning on stage, and although his music sounded a bit repetitive at times, it was still a really strong DJ set.
But enough of the laid back vibe. We headed to the clubZone stage to get our blood flowing again. Tom Middleton from the UK was spinning on stage, and although his music sounded a bit repetitive at times, it was still a really strong DJ set.
Brenda: The internationally adored DJ had a surprisingly strong stage presence, often punctuating his tracks with comments about the crowd. We got there just as he announced “random hour” and proceeded to sample “Insane in the Membrane” and Jackson 5, just to name a few.
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| The Decemberists (photo: Alex Cameron) |
Brenda: Either way, seeing people moshing and crowd surfing to The Decemberists was still a strange sight.
For more photos from Live at Squamish, check out my Flickr.
Friday, June 4, 2010
NEWS BITES : June 4, 2010
FREE STUFF
Audio Blood does North by North East Festival! Get a FREE MIXTAPE including artists such as Dinosaur Bones and Leif Vollebekk.
On top of that, Audio Blood is celebrating NxNE by throwing a free, invite-only party at the top of the CN Tower with The Balconies (one of my favourite finds this year), Hollerado and The Meligrove Band playing. Go to their website to win tickets!
NEW MUSIC
Arcade Fire has The Suburbs, due August 3rd, up for pre-order. All orders, whether digital, CD or vinyl, come with instant downloads of the two already released singles "The Suburbs" and "Month of May."
Mother Mother is in studio finishing their upcoming album following the huge success of their sophomore album O My Heart. It's due out in early 2011. In related news, they suddenly became a lot more prolific (and friendly-sounding) on Twitter.
St. John's The Mountains & The Trees, otherwise known as Jon Janes, will release his first full-length I Made This For You on August 10 after critical praise for his EP Hop, Skip & A Jump.
Pre-order Stars' upcoming release The Give Ghosts on iTunes in deluxe and you will also get The Séance EP, which includes tracks remixed by the Album Leaf, Montag and Of Montreal - as well as other bonus singles.
REVIEWS
Rah Rah's new album Breaking Hearts is thoroughly enjoyable and all-around stronger than their first release. Their indie pop polish, combined with their tendency of using pop rocks and confetti cannons in their live shows, don't fully conceal their old souls and turns of cynicism. The elaborate album artwork involves some unfortunate passengers falling off the side of a boat and being torn apart by sharks. hmm.
Shad's newest release TSOL sees him solidifying his formidable position in the Canadian hip-hop scene, which involved selling out his (adopted) hometown show in Vancouver last night at the Biltmore Cabaret. The quick rhymes and clever word play, not to mention profound lyrics which touch on everything from politics to the origins of his name, would satisfy the most elitist of English majors. I see it on the Polaris short list.
Jamie Lidell, UK-based soul/funkster loads latest release Compass with grimy, experimental explorations of how technology expresses, however inadequately, sexuality and desire. It leaves you hot and bothered and a bit agitated, kind of like waking up with your lover on a stuffy summer day. This latest effort is joined by friends such as Feist, Beck, Gonzales and members of Grizzly Bear and Wilco. One of my favourite tracks off the album, "I Wanna Be Your Telephone," is below.
I Wanna Be Your Telephone from Jamie Lidell on Vimeo.
TOUR DATES
Two Hours Traffic from P.E.I. have released 2009's Territories internationally, more specifically in Australia and in the U.S. They will be touring Oz with Dead Letter Chorus.
Said the Whale announces all-ages tour dates on top of their Malahat Revue tour dates with Hannah Georgas, Jeremy Fisher and Aidan Knight.
Contribute to the newly established Canadian Music Wiki, brainchild of Amanda Ash working with CBC Radio 3 and the UBC School of Journalism.
Audio Blood does North by North East Festival! Get a FREE MIXTAPE including artists such as Dinosaur Bones and Leif Vollebekk.
On top of that, Audio Blood is celebrating NxNE by throwing a free, invite-only party at the top of the CN Tower with The Balconies (one of my favourite finds this year), Hollerado and The Meligrove Band playing. Go to their website to win tickets!
NEW MUSICArcade Fire has The Suburbs, due August 3rd, up for pre-order. All orders, whether digital, CD or vinyl, come with instant downloads of the two already released singles "The Suburbs" and "Month of May."
Mother Mother is in studio finishing their upcoming album following the huge success of their sophomore album O My Heart. It's due out in early 2011. In related news, they suddenly became a lot more prolific (and friendly-sounding) on Twitter.
Sam Roberts is in studio as well with their upcoming fourth studio release following Love at the End of the World. Unfortunately, some personality conflicts in studio.
St. John's The Mountains & The Trees, otherwise known as Jon Janes, will release his first full-length I Made This For You on August 10 after critical praise for his EP Hop, Skip & A Jump.
REVIEWS
Shad's newest release TSOL sees him solidifying his formidable position in the Canadian hip-hop scene, which involved selling out his (adopted) hometown show in Vancouver last night at the Biltmore Cabaret. The quick rhymes and clever word play, not to mention profound lyrics which touch on everything from politics to the origins of his name, would satisfy the most elitist of English majors. I see it on the Polaris short list.
Jamie Lidell, UK-based soul/funkster loads latest release Compass with grimy, experimental explorations of how technology expresses, however inadequately, sexuality and desire. It leaves you hot and bothered and a bit agitated, kind of like waking up with your lover on a stuffy summer day. This latest effort is joined by friends such as Feist, Beck, Gonzales and members of Grizzly Bear and Wilco. One of my favourite tracks off the album, "I Wanna Be Your Telephone," is below.
I Wanna Be Your Telephone from Jamie Lidell on Vimeo.
TOUR DATESTwo Hours Traffic from P.E.I. have released 2009's Territories internationally, more specifically in Australia and in the U.S. They will be touring Oz with Dead Letter Chorus.
Said the Whale announces all-ages tour dates on top of their Malahat Revue tour dates with Hannah Georgas, Jeremy Fisher and Aidan Knight.
MISC.
Voting is open in NxEW's 2nd Annual Shadow Polaris Prize.
Contribute to the newly established Canadian Music Wiki, brainchild of Amanda Ash working with CBC Radio 3 and the UBC School of Journalism.
Monday, February 22, 2010
NEW LIVE VIDEO : Mother Mother unveil new song on CBC Radio Q
From their yet-unreleased new album, here's Mother Mother with "Simply Simple," performed in Studio 40 at the Vancouver CBC Broadcast Centre for the Q taping.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
Saturday, February 20, 2010
NEW LIVE VIDEOS : Off the floor of CBC Radio Q taping
Enjoy two recordings from musical guests of CBC Radio Q on February 18, 2010 -- Vancouver's Mother Mother and Montreal's Stars.
Apologies for the poor video quality, but the sound should be just fine.
Mother Mother performing a stripped down version of "O My Heart":
Stars performing "Dead Hearts," a new song off of their yet-unreleased new album:
Apologies for the poor video quality, but the sound should be just fine.
Mother Mother performing a stripped down version of "O My Heart":
Stars performing "Dead Hearts," a new song off of their yet-unreleased new album:
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Live Blogging Olympic Music : Mother Mother, Elliott BROOD and GOLD!!!
Gold!!! Alexandre Bilodeau got the first gold medal in the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics in Men's moguls! 7.3 million people watched Bilodeau's winning run and approximately a third of the Canadian population watched the run at least in part. Wow. That's a good trivia fact to remember kids. February 14 --Valentine's Day -- first Canadian gold medal on Canadian soil ever.
I found out about this great piece of news through the mesh fences of LiveCity Yaletown, the venue which Vancouver's own Mother Mother was to be playing at 8:00. The lineup around the site exploded with cheering and spontaneous singing of O Canada and the excitement was contagious. A man walked through the streets with a full-sized Canadian flag perched on his back, flapping in the wind. What a sight; the uncharacteristic exuberance and patriotism I'll never forget.
And awesome, they were. Every time I see Mother Mother live, I'm reminded why they were the recipients of the 2009 CBC Radio 3 Bucky Award for Best Live Act. The inventive, unpredictable chord progressions and harmonies explode in real life, and the confidence and style which the band execute their hits bring me back time after time. Lead guitarist and singer Ryan Guldemond stirred the crowd into an insane frenzy with wiry solos and his characteristic falsetto. Jasmin Parkin got some unintentional solos in the first part of the show due to some poor sound mixing; Molly was inaudible for a good bit and the typical three-part harmonies weren't restored until about 4-5 songs in. But there's no use dwelling on a short part of what was otherwise a killer set. The crowd was jumping and flinging about in no time, and of course a couple of crowd surfers graced us with their presence as well.
Toronto's Elliott BROOD played in LiveCity Downtown shortly after at 9:30; this LiveCity had a fraction of the capacity compared to LiveCity Yaletown. This resulted in two separate lineups- one to get into the plaza, and another hour long line within the plaza to get into the venue where the BROOD boys were playing. Lame, I know. Most of the set was spent outside watching the boys on a large screen, hearing the enthusiastic crowd banging their wooden spoons and cookie sheets to hits such as "The Valley Town" and "Write It All Down For You" from EB's latest Mountain Meadows. Not to be outdone, the 20-30ish people watching the screen outside, as well as some in the lineup, danced, jigged, and swung about to the music filtering out from the venue and the large TV outside, yours truly included. And boy, was it good dancing music. My legs were jelly by the end of the night.
For the very last song of their set, Elliott BROOD dedicated "Miss You Now" to their good friend Dan Mangan of Vancouver, saying that they hope to see him soon. Dan, of course, returned the love via Twitter. By last half of the song, the lineup had disappeared, and I was able to run in quickly and snap the photo you see above of the dancing, enthusiastic, noisy crowd.
What a night; running from the show of the winner of Best Live Act to one of the finalists. Maybe next time I'll catch EB in real life real life, as opposed to on a screen, separated by glass and a lineup.
I found out about this great piece of news through the mesh fences of LiveCity Yaletown, the venue which Vancouver's own Mother Mother was to be playing at 8:00. The lineup around the site exploded with cheering and spontaneous singing of O Canada and the excitement was contagious. A man walked through the streets with a full-sized Canadian flag perched on his back, flapping in the wind. What a sight; the uncharacteristic exuberance and patriotism I'll never forget.
Mother Mother was introduced to the stage by one of the Olympic emcees. Although generally cheesy, this one seemed to know and be quite enamoured by MM, declaring that the reason why the band sells out venues nationwide with lineups winding around street corners is because "they're fricking AWESOME!" It was a highlight for sure and got many yelps and cheers from the crowd.
And awesome, they were. Every time I see Mother Mother live, I'm reminded why they were the recipients of the 2009 CBC Radio 3 Bucky Award for Best Live Act. The inventive, unpredictable chord progressions and harmonies explode in real life, and the confidence and style which the band execute their hits bring me back time after time. Lead guitarist and singer Ryan Guldemond stirred the crowd into an insane frenzy with wiry solos and his characteristic falsetto. Jasmin Parkin got some unintentional solos in the first part of the show due to some poor sound mixing; Molly was inaudible for a good bit and the typical three-part harmonies weren't restored until about 4-5 songs in. But there's no use dwelling on a short part of what was otherwise a killer set. The crowd was jumping and flinging about in no time, and of course a couple of crowd surfers graced us with their presence as well.Seeing as it was Valentine's Day, the choice of "Arms Tonite" for the opening track of the set was very suitable. Mother Mother then blitzed through, hit after hit, their two albums Touch Up and O My Heart. Overheard in the crowd: "if they don't play 'Hayloft' I'm going to cry." Well, there was no need to fret, as MM saved the best for last and had the whole crowd go bananas with their latest single.
Much like the set by fellow Vancouverites Hey Ocean!, Mother Mother's set was sprinkled with new songs. Two, "Simply Simple" and "Eureka," were played previously in their live shows. Another new song, which started as a normal love ballad, got MM'ed rather quickly and turned into a rock out dance-fest a verse in. Can't wait for the new album, whenever that's slated to be out.
Toronto's Elliott BROOD played in LiveCity Downtown shortly after at 9:30; this LiveCity had a fraction of the capacity compared to LiveCity Yaletown. This resulted in two separate lineups- one to get into the plaza, and another hour long line within the plaza to get into the venue where the BROOD boys were playing. Lame, I know. Most of the set was spent outside watching the boys on a large screen, hearing the enthusiastic crowd banging their wooden spoons and cookie sheets to hits such as "The Valley Town" and "Write It All Down For You" from EB's latest Mountain Meadows. Not to be outdone, the 20-30ish people watching the screen outside, as well as some in the lineup, danced, jigged, and swung about to the music filtering out from the venue and the large TV outside, yours truly included. And boy, was it good dancing music. My legs were jelly by the end of the night.For the very last song of their set, Elliott BROOD dedicated "Miss You Now" to their good friend Dan Mangan of Vancouver, saying that they hope to see him soon. Dan, of course, returned the love via Twitter. By last half of the song, the lineup had disappeared, and I was able to run in quickly and snap the photo you see above of the dancing, enthusiastic, noisy crowd.
What a night; running from the show of the winner of Best Live Act to one of the finalists. Maybe next time I'll catch EB in real life real life, as opposed to on a screen, separated by glass and a lineup.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Daily Music Blogging from Vancouver 2010 Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver is set to start with the Opening Ceremonies tomorrow night (Friday Feb 12). And with the blow of the whistle, so begins a relentless two weeks of Canadian (and international) musical talent as well. I'll be bringing you a short show recap, hopefully everyday, of the shows that are flowing through this fair city.
If you have yet to check out the list of handy handouts I've made of the upcoming two weeks of concerts, make sure to check it out here. If you want to track the highlighted shows I'll be covering, check out this schedule.
This upcoming weekend (all shows are free):
Friday: Montreal's Malajube will be playing at la Place de la Francophonie at Granville Island at 9:00 pm. Come see what these twice-Polaris-nominated rockers have to offer.
Saturday: Toronto-based Bedouin Soundclash headlines the Richmond O Zone, with openers Hey Ocean! from Vancouver. Guaranteed to be a sun-soaked (-sounding), Caribbean/raggae-inspired dance-off.
Sunday: Hopping venues-- Vancouver's Mother Mother play LiveCity Yaletown at 8:00pm, and Toronto's Elliott BROOD are at LiveCity Downtown at 9:00pm. Expect to be hit by walls of sound; first by MM's three-part harmonies and surprising compositions, then by EB's rousing, foot-stomping pots & pans rock.
Make sure to follow my tweets for up to the minute show updates!
If you have yet to check out the list of handy handouts I've made of the upcoming two weeks of concerts, make sure to check it out here. If you want to track the highlighted shows I'll be covering, check out this schedule.
This upcoming weekend (all shows are free):
Make sure to follow my tweets for up to the minute show updates!
Monday, January 25, 2010
MORE FREE OLYMPIC SHOWS : Free CBC Events
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)
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
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.
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.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Top Albums & Live Shows for 2009
As 2009 is coming to a close, let's wrap up a formidable year in (Canadian independent) music by listing my personal highlights. Feel free to disagree and point me in the direction of your personal favourites!
Top Albums of 2009
Ha, it's not until I researched a bit deeper that I realized a good chunk of my current favourite albums are actually from late 2008! Nevertheless, 2009 saw some strong releases in both full-length and EP categories. Some are Polaris-nominated and some, well, should be.
Honourable Mentions (EPs):
Zeus - Sounds Like Zeus
J.Period & K'naan - The Messengers EP
7. Metric - Fantasies
6. Patrick Watson - Wooden Arms
5. Rose Cousins - The Send Off
4. The Swell Season - Strict Joy*
**1. You Say Party! We Say Die! - XXXX
**1. Joel Plaskett - Three
**1. Great Lake Swimmers - Lost Channels
---
*note: The Swell Season are not Canadian.
** These 3 albums are virtually tied and are in alphabetical order.
Honourable Mention: Hey Rosetta! at Rifflandia -- the set was just way too short.
10. Mother Mother at UBC Pit Pub
Being in the crowd for this fanatic-making show was "like watching Rock Band live," according to the reviewer for the Ubyssey (UBC campus paper). No casual fan left without feeling fanatic and extremely impassioned about this talented Vancouver band.
9. Champion at Rifflandia
His feverish conducting of his team of guitarists and bassists stirred the large crowd into the most rhythmic, hypnotized mosh pit that I've ever witnessed.
8. Hannah Georgas opening for Said The Whale at St. James Hall
This winner of the 2009 CBC Radio 3 Bucky Award for Best New Artist showcased her whimsical lyrics, her playful voice and her chops on guitar with a full backing band consisting of members from Said The Whale.
7. Rose Cousins opening for Royal Wood at the Media Club
I'm not just biased from playing shaker egg for her; it was a phenomenal show. Hilarious and tight knit, musically and personally engaging. Voice like an angel. Upstaged her headliner Royal Wood.
6. Great Lake Swimmers (backed by members of The Breakmen and Rock Plaza Central) at Vancouver Folk Music Festival
Imagine lying in the hot July sun by Vancouver's waterfront, dragonflies flitting above while listening to the angelic melodies of GLS compositions. Tony Dekker's voice surely haunts the halls of heaven.
5. Dan Mangan CD Release for Nice, Nice, Very Nice at the Cultch
There's a drawback to this excellent show; since hearing his material live, I've had a hard time listening to Dan's album. It's hard to capture the raw energy of the band and of Dan's voice that made him so feverishly popular with audiences across Canada and abroad.
4. Joel Plaskett Emergency at the Surrey Fusion Festival
This seemingly impromptu concert, held in one of the most surprising of locales (a relatively far away suburb of Vancouver), was free of charge in a large field in the middle of the city. That didn't stop JPE from putting on an impassioned show filled with favourites from their long career, including from their latest album Three. Peter Elkas singing the back up parts in lieu of Ana Egge and Rose Cousins was the cherry on top.
3. The Swell Season at the Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts
The romance of The Swell Season continues to seduce audiences. To borrow Glen Hansard's phrase, this concert has only made the love for their music "more buoyant." No matter if Hansard or Marketa Irglova was on stage solo, with one another or backed by The Frames, they filled the large theatre with earnest love songs soaked in passion and the grittiness of Hansard's voice.
2. Patrick Watson at the Vogue Theatre
What an inventive, musically satisfying night. Patrick Watson and his band had all ears from the second they took the stage as well as when they left the stage to play through the audience (yes, with the megaphone pack that he sported at the Polaris gala). The delicate, intricate compositions of his latest Wooden Arms came to roaring life in his live show. The audience forgot to breathe and saliva was everywhere from dropped jaws.
1. Joel Plaskett w/ Family and Friends at the Vogue Theatre
A 3-set, 3 hour show from the most personable, lyrically gifted singer-songwriter that Canada has to offer, backed by his father Bill Plaskett, who's an admirable songwriter in his own right, as well as Ana Egge and Rose Cousins, established singer-songwriters with their own critically acclaimed careers. Each artist supported one another and was given their own chance to shine and impress with their personal material, giving the audience a true taste of what the music community should be like.
Top Albums of 2009Honourable Mentions (EPs):
Zeus - Sounds Like Zeus
J.Period & K'naan - The Messengers EP
7. Metric - Fantasies
6. Patrick Watson - Wooden Arms
5. Rose Cousins - The Send Off
4. The Swell Season - Strict Joy*
**1. You Say Party! We Say Die! - XXXX
**1. Joel Plaskett - Three
**1. Great Lake Swimmers - Lost Channels
---
*note: The Swell Season are not Canadian.
** These 3 albums are virtually tied and are in alphabetical order.
Top Shows of 2009
This past year saw the beginning of my infatuation, now full-blown love with attending live shows. It began in January with the Sam Roberts Band and The Stills at the Orpheum, and ended with Patrick Watson and Aidan Knight**. I've both gone to huge stadium shows (U2, Coldplay) and witnessed small, inattentive crowds in bars (Matthew Barber). 2009 also saw the Junos descend upon Vancouver, and early 2010 will see the Olympics with its associated Cultural Olympiad. I was also able to attend festivals, new (Rifflandia) and old (Vancouver Folk Fest). Who stood out? Keep reading!Honourable Mention: Hey Rosetta! at Rifflandia -- the set was just way too short.
10. Mother Mother at UBC Pit Pub Being in the crowd for this fanatic-making show was "like watching Rock Band live," according to the reviewer for the Ubyssey (UBC campus paper). No casual fan left without feeling fanatic and extremely impassioned about this talented Vancouver band.
9. Champion at Rifflandia
His feverish conducting of his team of guitarists and bassists stirred the large crowd into the most rhythmic, hypnotized mosh pit that I've ever witnessed.
8. Hannah Georgas opening for Said The Whale at St. James Hall
This winner of the 2009 CBC Radio 3 Bucky Award for Best New Artist showcased her whimsical lyrics, her playful voice and her chops on guitar with a full backing band consisting of members from Said The Whale.
7. Rose Cousins opening for Royal Wood at the Media Club
I'm not just biased from playing shaker egg for her; it was a phenomenal show. Hilarious and tight knit, musically and personally engaging. Voice like an angel. Upstaged her headliner Royal Wood.
6. Great Lake Swimmers (backed by members of The Breakmen and Rock Plaza Central) at Vancouver Folk Music Festival
Imagine lying in the hot July sun by Vancouver's waterfront, dragonflies flitting above while listening to the angelic melodies of GLS compositions. Tony Dekker's voice surely haunts the halls of heaven.
5. Dan Mangan CD Release for Nice, Nice, Very Nice at the Cultch
There's a drawback to this excellent show; since hearing his material live, I've had a hard time listening to Dan's album. It's hard to capture the raw energy of the band and of Dan's voice that made him so feverishly popular with audiences across Canada and abroad.
4. Joel Plaskett Emergency at the Surrey Fusion Festival
This seemingly impromptu concert, held in one of the most surprising of locales (a relatively far away suburb of Vancouver), was free of charge in a large field in the middle of the city. That didn't stop JPE from putting on an impassioned show filled with favourites from their long career, including from their latest album Three. Peter Elkas singing the back up parts in lieu of Ana Egge and Rose Cousins was the cherry on top.
3. The Swell Season at the Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts
The romance of The Swell Season continues to seduce audiences. To borrow Glen Hansard's phrase, this concert has only made the love for their music "more buoyant." No matter if Hansard or Marketa Irglova was on stage solo, with one another or backed by The Frames, they filled the large theatre with earnest love songs soaked in passion and the grittiness of Hansard's voice.
2. Patrick Watson at the Vogue Theatre
What an inventive, musically satisfying night. Patrick Watson and his band had all ears from the second they took the stage as well as when they left the stage to play through the audience (yes, with the megaphone pack that he sported at the Polaris gala). The delicate, intricate compositions of his latest Wooden Arms came to roaring life in his live show. The audience forgot to breathe and saliva was everywhere from dropped jaws.
1. Joel Plaskett w/ Family and Friends at the Vogue Theatre
A 3-set, 3 hour show from the most personable, lyrically gifted singer-songwriter that Canada has to offer, backed by his father Bill Plaskett, who's an admirable songwriter in his own right, as well as Ana Egge and Rose Cousins, established singer-songwriters with their own critically acclaimed careers. Each artist supported one another and was given their own chance to shine and impress with their personal material, giving the audience a true taste of what the music community should be like.
(Joel Plaskett Emergency, shot at Surrey Fusion Fest)
---
** or possibly will end with the NYE party at the Media Club known as One Night Stand, featuring Hannah Georgas, Laura Smith, and members of Said The Whale, The Painted Birds, Elias, Bend Sinister, & The Gentle Infidels. For more details ... here!
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Rifflandia Weekend Recap in 5 words or less
As pictures are worth a thousand words each, I thought I'd keep it short.
Longest line-up: Mother Mother
Most improved: Aidan Knight
Best banter: Tegan and Sara
Grooviest: Zeus
Worst venue: Sugar Night Club
Best venue: Alix Goolden Hall
Best word-of-mouth: Holy Fuck
Most photogenic: Zeus (/Hey Rosetta!)
Surprisingly awesome: Timber Timbre
Most mesmerizing: Champion
Shortest set: Hey Rosetta!
Must see: Pink Mountaintops
Regrettably absent (sick): Final Fantasy
Regrettably missed: The Pack A.D. (friend's text: "Holy moley rock and roll just happened")
Rifflandia worth your money?: YES
Photos of each night at Rifflandia:
Thursday Night: Hannah Georgas, Timber Timbre, The Racoons, Shad, DJ Champion and his G-Strings
Friday Night: Aidan Knight, Tegan and Sara, Zeus, The Most Serene Republic
Saturday Night: CHAR2D2, Jon and Roy, Jets Overhead, Hey Rosetta!, Pink Mountaintops
Longest line-up: Mother Mother
Most improved: Aidan Knight
Best banter: Tegan and Sara
Grooviest: Zeus
Worst venue: Sugar Night Club
Best venue: Alix Goolden Hall
Best word-of-mouth: Holy Fuck
Most photogenic: Zeus (/Hey Rosetta!)
Surprisingly awesome: Timber Timbre
Most mesmerizing: Champion
Shortest set: Hey Rosetta!
Must see: Pink Mountaintops
Regrettably absent (sick): Final Fantasy
Regrettably missed: The Pack A.D. (friend's text: "Holy moley rock and roll just happened")
Rifflandia worth your money?: YES
Photos of each night at Rifflandia:
Thursday Night: Hannah Georgas, Timber Timbre, The Racoons, Shad, DJ Champion and his G-Strings
Friday Night: Aidan Knight, Tegan and Sara, Zeus, The Most Serene Republic
Saturday Night: CHAR2D2, Jon and Roy, Jets Overhead, Hey Rosetta!, Pink Mountaintops
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Plotting & Planning for Rifflandia
Exciting times; new school year (with new research endeavors), new bachelorette pad (with the sister), new job, new breath of fresh air. And through all that, concert / festival season continues!
Next weekend (Sept. 24-26) I'll be in fair Victoria, BC to cover the Rifflandia Music Festival for NxEW. Likely lots of tweets, lots of pictures, and lots of setlists (I've gotten pretty good at grabbing those).
Next Wednesday night before I depart for the weekend, I'll be going to Basia Bulat's show at St. James Hall, hosted by the UBC Alta Mater Society. This saves me the grief of missing her set in Victoria.
I love her Facebook fan club page name the more I think about it -- Basia Bulat Fan Club: We Love These Woodland Nymph Songs! (It's pretty descriptive.)
So here's my tentative game plan, not taking into consideration how I'll get around ...
Thursday Sept. 24
Hannah Georgas @ 8:00 @ Metro Theatre (1411 Quadra Street)
Final Fantasy (picture, left) @ 9:30 @ Alix Goolden Hall (907 Pandora Avenue)
Shad @ 10:15 @ Market Square (560 Johnson Street)
Friday Sept. 25
I'll likely just stick around at either Sugar night club or Market Square. Most likely Sugar. (Choices, choices...)
Sugar (858 Yates Street)
Library Voices @ 9:30
Zeus (picture, right) @ 10:15
Cuff The Duke @ 11:15
The Most Serene Republic @ 12:00am
Market Square
The Dudes @ 10:30
Mother Mother @ 11:30
Saturday Sept. 26
A toss up between Market Square or Metro Theatre. If it's possible logistically I'd catch Char2d2's set then get to Jets Overhead after.
Market Square
Jon and Roy @ 9:00
Jets Overhead @ 10:00
Hey Rosetta! @ 11:00
Buck 65 @ 11:45
Metro Theatre
Char2d2 @ 8:45
Jon-Rae Fletcher @ 9:45
And now I gotta run this schedule past my good friend Roger who is graciously housing me for a weekend, entertaining me while putting up with my relative absence. He'll be able to tell me if my schedule involves running across town in an impossibly short amount of time...
Next weekend (Sept. 24-26) I'll be in fair Victoria, BC to cover the Rifflandia Music Festival for NxEW. Likely lots of tweets, lots of pictures, and lots of setlists (I've gotten pretty good at grabbing those).
I love her Facebook fan club page name the more I think about it -- Basia Bulat Fan Club: We Love These Woodland Nymph Songs! (It's pretty descriptive.)
So here's my tentative game plan, not taking into consideration how I'll get around ...
Hannah Georgas @ 8:00 @ Metro Theatre (1411 Quadra Street)
Final Fantasy (picture, left) @ 9:30 @ Alix Goolden Hall (907 Pandora Avenue)
Shad @ 10:15 @ Market Square (560 Johnson Street)
Friday Sept. 25
I'll likely just stick around at either Sugar night club or Market Square. Most likely Sugar. (Choices, choices...)
Library Voices @ 9:30
Zeus (picture, right) @ 10:15
Cuff The Duke @ 11:15
The Most Serene Republic @ 12:00am
The Dudes @ 10:30
Mother Mother @ 11:30
Saturday Sept. 26
A toss up between Market Square or Metro Theatre. If it's possible logistically I'd catch Char2d2's set then get to Jets Overhead after.
Jon and Roy @ 9:00
Jets Overhead @ 10:00
Hey Rosetta! @ 11:00
Buck 65 @ 11:45
Metro Theatre
Char2d2 @ 8:45
Jon-Rae Fletcher @ 9:45
And now I gotta run this schedule past my good friend Roger who is graciously housing me for a weekend, entertaining me while putting up with my relative absence. He'll be able to tell me if my schedule involves running across town in an impossibly short amount of time...
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Musical Updates From Twitter - Sept 15
To make life a lot simpler and a lot more internet-addiction-free, I'll try to sum up some notable things to save you time and browsing energy. You're welcome!
K'naan and J.Period team up for another collaboration called The Messenger #3, which apparently features Bob Dylan? Download for free here.
Another free download: Chad VanGaalen offers up a free B-Sides EP to complement his Polaris-shortlisted Soft Airplanes.
Joel Plaskett records an iTunes Original Session which is available for purchase here (leads to iTunes Store) and is being broadcast tonight (Sept 15) at 5pm PT / 8pm ET on CBC Radio 3.
Vote for your favourite songwriter at for the ECHO Songwriting Prize. (I think it's pretty obvious whom I've already voted for.)
A great piece on Herohill regarding how Metric has to fight both relative obscurity in the global music market and the shunning of the indie crowd.
After tweeting about seeing Immaculate Machine at the Biltmore, Grant Lawrence of CBC Radio 3 informed me via direct message that Kathryn Calder is no longer part of the Victoria band. Not to say that the show was any less enjoyable, but I was a bit disappointed to hear that...
Some upcoming Vancouver concerts on top of what's listed at my sidebar: Corb Lund @ Commodore Ballroom Nov 12/14, The Swell Season @ Vancouver Centre For Performing Arts Nov 5. Mother Mother is opening for Matthew Good for 2 shows at The Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts on November 10 and 11. Tickets start at $32.50 and are on sale this Friday.
And to wrap up the entry, here's my concert and EP review for Vancouver's Char2d2 on NxEW. Below is their single Take & Send.
K'naan and J.Period team up for another collaboration called The Messenger #3, which apparently features Bob Dylan? Download for free here.
Another free download: Chad VanGaalen offers up a free B-Sides EP to complement his Polaris-shortlisted Soft Airplanes.
Joel Plaskett records an iTunes Original Session which is available for purchase here (leads to iTunes Store) and is being broadcast tonight (Sept 15) at 5pm PT / 8pm ET on CBC Radio 3.
Vote for your favourite songwriter at for the ECHO Songwriting Prize. (I think it's pretty obvious whom I've already voted for.)
Nominees -
Joel Plaskett Through & Through & Through,
Sebastien Grainger Love Can Be So Mean,
Timber Timbre Lay Down In The Tall Grass,
Land of Talk Some Are Lakes, and
D-Sisive Nobody With A Notepad
A great piece on Herohill regarding how Metric has to fight both relative obscurity in the global music market and the shunning of the indie crowd.
After tweeting about seeing Immaculate Machine at the Biltmore, Grant Lawrence of CBC Radio 3 informed me via direct message that Kathryn Calder is no longer part of the Victoria band. Not to say that the show was any less enjoyable, but I was a bit disappointed to hear that...
Some upcoming Vancouver concerts on top of what's listed at my sidebar: Corb Lund @ Commodore Ballroom Nov 12/14, The Swell Season @ Vancouver Centre For Performing Arts Nov 5. Mother Mother is opening for Matthew Good for 2 shows at The Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts on November 10 and 11. Tickets start at $32.50 and are on sale this Friday.
And to wrap up the entry, here's my concert and EP review for Vancouver's Char2d2 on NxEW. Below is their single Take & Send.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Guess who's going to Rifflandia?
This girl!
Follow my tweets over the weekend of Sept. 24-26 to catch a textual update of my aural pleasures.
Was that meant to sound sexual? Well, tell me, when you hear Mother Mother, aren't you turned on just a little bit?
No?
Then I've got nothing more to say to you.
Follow my tweets over the weekend of Sept. 24-26 to catch a textual update of my aural pleasures.
Was that meant to sound sexual? Well, tell me, when you hear Mother Mother, aren't you turned on just a little bit?
No?
Then I've got nothing more to say to you.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
What is in our water?!
Tyler from Said The Whale put it best when he tweeted, "Vancouver is the new Montreal," then proceeded to list off a litany of amazing artists who have either called Vancouver home relatively recently (Jill Barber), as well as those who have grown up here (Dan Mangan).
After hopping cross-town last night to go to both the Immaculate Machine/Char2d2 show and the UBC students-only Hannah Georgas/Said The Whale/Mother Mother show, it struck me how lucky the inhabitants of our fair city are. I was able to hop from East Vancouver to UBC campus within half an hour and catch the beginning of Mother Mother's set, thanks to an early 11 pm curfew at the Biltmore.
The all-Vancouverites (except for I.M.) lineup did not disappoint; in fact, it was exhilarating to see Char2d2 fill up the Biltmore dance floor as an opening act, and its red-lit lounge with sounds much too filling to have been produced by two musicians alone. It was simply fun to see Brooke of Immaculate Machine swaying his massive head of reddish hair to their infectious pop-rock, like some kind of indie shampoo commercial. And it was mesmerizing to get completely absorbed by Mother Mother, who took a hold of an entire pub of college students, and make fanatics out of casual fans.
Immaculate Machine sings of their hometown Victoria,
Thankfully, we Vancouverites can rest assured that whatever is lurking in our water, its musical results are undeniable.
After hopping cross-town last night to go to both the Immaculate Machine/Char2d2 show and the UBC students-only Hannah Georgas/Said The Whale/Mother Mother show, it struck me how lucky the inhabitants of our fair city are. I was able to hop from East Vancouver to UBC campus within half an hour and catch the beginning of Mother Mother's set, thanks to an early 11 pm curfew at the Biltmore.
The all-Vancouverites (except for I.M.) lineup did not disappoint; in fact, it was exhilarating to see Char2d2 fill up the Biltmore dance floor as an opening act, and its red-lit lounge with sounds much too filling to have been produced by two musicians alone. It was simply fun to see Brooke of Immaculate Machine swaying his massive head of reddish hair to their infectious pop-rock, like some kind of indie shampoo commercial. And it was mesmerizing to get completely absorbed by Mother Mother, who took a hold of an entire pub of college students, and make fanatics out of casual fans.
Immaculate Machine sings of their hometown Victoria,
Streetlights - darkness is unthinkable
It's dirty and the water isn't drinkable
Thankfully, we Vancouverites can rest assured that whatever is lurking in our water, its musical results are undeniable.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Mother Mother - Touch Up
I finally got this album after trolling for it in local record stores. As I had bought their sophomore (and latest) album O My Heart off iTunes, I wanted to make sure I had a physical copy of this album. It took a while to find.
Touch Up was released with Last Gang Records back in 2007. The line-up of Mother Mother has changed since its release, most notably the departure of Debra-Jean Creelman and the addition of Jasmin Parkin. As I had been introduced to the band via O My Heart, hearing Debra-Jean sing lead on Love and Truth off Touch Up really highlighted the change in lineup, since Ryan Guldemond rarely lets go of lead vocals in O My Heart.
In conclusion, Touch Up makes me wonder why this incredibly talented young band was so angry with life, and how the heck they manage to coat them with such melodic hooks and tangy, tight harmonies that they're actually appetizing.
So far, I like...
Dirty Town and the title track are instantly catchy.
Mother Mother is playing at the UBC Pit Pub this coming Saturday (September 12), featuring guests Said The Whale and Hannah Georgas. It's open to UBC students and guests... so better start bugging your student friends if you want to see these amazing artists this weekend!
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Since Twitter is down
Twitter-like music updates:
Not the greatest shots from @samrobertsband, @mothermother & @arkellsmusic concert @ Deer Lake, but heck of a concert :) http://bit.ly/k0wMO
Check out my phone interview with @GrantLCBCR3 on @CBCRadio3 about the above concert
Just got 25 free songs off eMusic (just cancel plan after trial). Including Peter Elkas' Poor Young Things. Not all of us have record player.
Vancouverites: anyone else going to Basia Bulat and/or Final Fantasy shows in September? Almost back to back (to school special).
Don't forget to sign up for @CBCRadio3's email newsletters! Free mp3 from @saidthewhale this week.
Check out the latest Green Brief about the situation in Iran. Greatest shame about #twitterfail is the lack of communication.
Just pre-ordered @danmanganmusic's Nice, Nice, Very Nice and you should too if you like talented husky-voiced singer-songwriters!
RT wowow @Sojourners A Meditation on Christian Extremism: Blackwater and the Bonhoeffer 4 http://bit.ly/FDYTq #FF #Follow Friday
Not the greatest shots from @samrobertsband, @mothermother & @arkellsmusic concert @ Deer Lake, but heck of a concert :) http://bit.ly/k0wMO
Check out my phone interview with @GrantLCBCR3 on @CBCRadio3 about the above concert
Just got 25 free songs off eMusic (just cancel plan after trial). Including Peter Elkas' Poor Young Things. Not all of us have record player.
Vancouverites: anyone else going to Basia Bulat and/or Final Fantasy shows in September? Almost back to back (to school special).
Don't forget to sign up for @CBCRadio3's email newsletters! Free mp3 from @saidthewhale this week.
Check out the latest Green Brief about the situation in Iran. Greatest shame about #twitterfail is the lack of communication.
Just pre-ordered @danmanganmusic's Nice, Nice, Very Nice and you should too if you like talented husky-voiced singer-songwriters!
RT wowow @Sojourners A Meditation on Christian Extremism: Blackwater and the Bonhoeffer 4 http://bit.ly/FDYTq #FF #Follow Friday
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
God is not only alive and well, but loves Canadian music
PLUS
PLUS
EQUALS=D
Sam Roberts, Mother Mother and Arkells play Deer Lake Park on BC Day (Aug. 3). Mini implosion. Commence break dancing.
Tickets go on sale via LiveNation and Ticketmaster this Friday at 10:00 am for the general public.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Who Should Win Polaris?
RE: NxEW's poll!
I'm always tentative to answer these questions, especially since I feel like I have to listen to every single Canadian album released before I can put forward an opinion. And gosh, win? I'm still trying to establish a short list. But I'm just going to put myself out there and vouch for a couple of albums that I've loved this past year. If you've even scanned briefly through this blog, you'll notice that most of these choices have already been mentioned to death, so I'll keep my nominations short.
Metric "Fantasies"
I agree they don't need the recognition, but the album is astounding and deserves any that goes its way.
Joel Plaskett "Three"
IMO it doesn't take even his live performances to hear his skills in stringing concepts and themes throughout his ambitious, thoroughly enjoyable and consistent triple (!!!) record. But, his show definitely sealed the deal for me.
Mother Mother "O My Heart"
Vancouver love!
K'naan "Troubadour"
Generally not a huge fan of hip hop. This was an excellent album though.
Maybes
-----
Arkells "Jackson Square"
Although I love this album, it wasn't as consistently strong as the others I've mentioned...
I'm always tentative to answer these questions, especially since I feel like I have to listen to every single Canadian album released before I can put forward an opinion. And gosh, win? I'm still trying to establish a short list. But I'm just going to put myself out there and vouch for a couple of albums that I've loved this past year. If you've even scanned briefly through this blog, you'll notice that most of these choices have already been mentioned to death, so I'll keep my nominations short.
Metric "Fantasies"
I agree they don't need the recognition, but the album is astounding and deserves any that goes its way.
Joel Plaskett "Three"
IMO it doesn't take even his live performances to hear his skills in stringing concepts and themes throughout his ambitious, thoroughly enjoyable and consistent triple (!!!) record. But, his show definitely sealed the deal for me.
Mother Mother "O My Heart"
Vancouver love!
K'naan "Troubadour"
Generally not a huge fan of hip hop. This was an excellent album though.
Maybes
-----
Arkells "Jackson Square"
Although I love this album, it wasn't as consistently strong as the others I've mentioned...
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Mother Mother in studio
Until the Peak posts this video up on Youtube, I'll have to just link it for you. Mother Mother performs Wrecking Ball and Arms Tonite from their latest album O My Heart in studio for Mother Mothers' day.
Here's a little bet: if you're still not in love with their music after these 9 minutes of quirky compositions, playful lyrics and tight harmonies, give me your address and I'll Fedex a box of Q-tips to you. For Free. So you can clean your ears thoroughly and try again ;)
Here's a little bet: if you're still not in love with their music after these 9 minutes of quirky compositions, playful lyrics and tight harmonies, give me your address and I'll Fedex a box of Q-tips to you. For Free. So you can clean your ears thoroughly and try again ;)
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