Surrey locals Versus the Nothing are a really nice bunch of guys. In what would become a stark contrast to the opening remarks of Southern Death Threat, Versus the Nothing chose to open their set by modestly thanking everyone for coming to the less-than-ideal gig before rocking as hard as they could at 7pm to an empty room (I counted thirty people, including the bartender and waitress). The highlight of their set was the first single from their new album ‘Let It All Come Down’ , which goes juh-juh-juh-juh-juh, haha, you get the picture. It’s a tried and true formula for the lads, but they play with a lot of heart and while they’re not doing anything that hasn’t been done, they do give it their best and they’re entertaining as all hell. The members of the band formerly known as Elixir are capable musicians, their set was tight, and their lead singer is able to shred vocals with the best of them. Is this a band destined for greatness though? Probably not. However every city needs a couple of these solid alt-rock bands in order to maintain a base of decent live music. Read more »
There is something unnerving about witnessing true sincerity in a performer. And I don’t mean ‘unnerving’ in the bad way that makes you feel uncomfortable. I mean in a way that when it happens it catches you so offside that it takes you a couple of minutes to recuperate and find your bearings. Musically, I can’t remember the last time that happened to me, but it was probably the night Sarah Slean opened for Ron Sexsmith at the Commodore Ballroom back in 2004. Anyway kids, I’m here to tell you that I saw just such a show last night at the Vancouver East Cultural Centre when Royal Wood opened for Sarah Slean. Funny how that works out huh? So who is Royal Wood? That’s what I was wondering too! Based out of the Toronto musical wheelhouse, Wood is a singer/songwriter who first stepped onto the music scene in 2002 with The Milkweed EP, followed by his first full-length release Tall Tales in 2004. However it was not until the 2007 release A Good Enough Day that he began attracting recognition for his efforts, landing songs in the backgrounds of several Canadian television programs. Read more »
As much as I love going to shows, and listening to countless CDs, I can’t do it all on my own. As a result, I have enlisted some help from a very good friend of mine, Mace, who has an ear for music and a taste for live shows. I trust his judgment about bands more than I would anyone else, so here’s a treat for all of you loyal readers. He has gratefully accepted my invitation to review bands, and you’ll be hearing from him from time to time. Here’s his first article, and believe me, it’s quite the read. So enjoy! Read more »
If some of you recall, I did a show review for “David Ward Loose Change Trio” a while ago when they played at the Backstage Lounge. From what I remember, they were all really talented musicians and genuinely good people. During our first encounter, I had the opportunity to meet and have a chat with David Ward, guitar and vocals, and Greg Bevis, percussion extraordinaire. We talked about each of their respective background in music, with David coming from the theatre program at The University of Victoria, and with Greg coming from the L.A. Music Academy, as well as Capilano College. At the time, I only heard the material they had on their myspace page, which I was thoroughly impressed with, but I wasn’t ready for their live performance. They blew me away with their strong vocals and overall passion for what they were doing and they seemed at ease on stage, which portrayed them as seasoned musicians. Since our last meeting, David Ward has had an amazing, life changing adventure that took him all the way to Africa, in which you can read about in his Blog. His passion for music drew him away from Vancouver and to a whole new Continent, but once he got back to Canada, the same passion for creativity remained. One thing that did change is their band name. Although it’s not drastic, they are no longer using David’s name at the front, and are now simply called “Loose Change Trio.” But this change doesn’t affect the band in anyway, as they still make stunning and breathtaking music. Read more »
Many talented artists stay strong to their essence and can use their various skills to entertain and to perform. David Ward and his Loose Change Trio are perfect examples of how musicians are not just there to play music, but to entertain as well.
Formed in 2005, this three-piece band has delighted audiences from local cafes to summer festivals. David Ward, the lead vocalist, guitarist, and all-around great man (Sorry I had to slip that in; He was really nice when I met him), is a pleasure to watch on stage. He is influenced by such artists as Jeff Buckley, Ray Charles, and the Barenaked Ladies, to name a few, which can attribute to his wide musical range. But not only is he a talented musician, his Bachelor’s of Fine Arts background shines through on stage and shows he is a natural performer when he plays with the crowd. Read more »
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It is extremely hard to classify a band into one specific genre, but one has to for the sake of the media. Few bands out there can cross this categorical border, but I have taken it upon myself to prove you doubters wrong when classifying bands. “The Glim Project” is a perfect example of how a band can be diverse. They bring in many influences to their music, ranging from classic rock, grunge, heavy metal, and modern day alternative; their musical arrangements and riffs remind me of such bands as “Tool“ and “A Perfect Circle,” along with other artists such as “Nirvana,” and even “Metallica.” This musical variety brings them a devoted fan base and somewhat of a cult gathering as their CD release party for their self-titled EP at the Media Club was SOLD OUT! Read more »
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There are some bands out there that you know will make it big, and in my opinion, Yuca is one of those bands. I had the pleasure of watching them perform on more than one occasion, and every time, I get the feeling that they won’t be staying a local act for much longer.
Formed in 2003, Yuca is composed of Matt Borck on Lead Vocals & Guitar, James Pendleton on Lead Guitar, Jeremy Friesen on Bass, and Mike Newman on Drums. This dynamic quartet is a nice break from the norm of ordinary rock as they try to set themselves apart from the rest of over-commercialized world of rock. With all this in mind, they set out to record their first independent record at Turtle Recording Studios with John Maclean, who produced the three tracks that got Yuca into the seeds competition, and engineer Larry Anschell, who has worked with artists such as Sarah McLachlan, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Bryan Adams and Nickleback. Yuca’s intensity to work hard and maintain a strong fan base has led to tremendous success. In 2006, the band got a huge break by becoming one of the CFOX SEEDS bands. With the promotional help of this local rock radio station, Yuca is spreading their music to people all around the lower mainland, as well as to big industry heavy weights. Read more »
What better way to spend the hottest night of summer than in the hottest venue for live shows. Literally. The Media Club didn’t seem like a club at all, but rather a nice steaming sauna packed with people waiting to get a nice cold beer. The heat didn’t stop people from having fun though, but rather it encouraged people to get up and dance and sweat off their alcohol, just so they could go and buy more.
This fateful night just so happened to be “Lotus Child’s” CD release party and tour kick off. Little did I know that a certain band was going to amaze me. This band is known as “Mother.” Formed in 2005, this band soon began to wow audiences wherever they played. At “Listen Up” festival in Vancouver, a CBC executive heard their original songs and decided to bring them into CBC Studio One, where they recorded an eight song demo. This demo eventually got into the hands of producer Howard Redekopp, who has worked with artists such as “The New Pornographers”, “Teagan and Sara”, and “54.40.” They eventually recorded a full length album together and blended in successfully the genres of pop, jazz, folk, country, and rock. Read more »
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One of the few bands that I personally love and make me jump around like a crazy teenage girl (not that all teenage girls jump around in a crazy manner) is none other than “On Holiday.” This Vancouver based band is extremely energetic and puts on a passionate show, reminiscent of a big named Canadian band called “Billy Talent.” In 2005, they recorded their 6 song EP at 604 Studios with recording engineer Jay Vanpoederooyen, who has also worked with recording artists “Hedly.”
In such a short period of time “On Holiday” has accomplished many musical feats that usually take years for other bands. With the help of a little contest run by a Vancouver based radio station called CFOX SEEDS competition, “On Holiday” will surely get all the exposure they seek. In 2005, they became a top 20 finalist and obtained enormous experience and fan support, but the big break came a year later when they entered the SEEDS again. In 2006, “On Holiday” finally won the coveted prize of being the top 5. One of the prizes they received was a slot in the Canada Day “Foxfest” concert with headliners “Billy Talent.” Read more »
Music Waste, the antithesis to the hyped New Music West, brings an underground feel to the west coast, as indie bands get to show off their talent and skill to the public. It started out in 1994 as a one night only music festival but it has grown exponentially and is now one of the most influential and important events in Vancouver. Showcasing talent in venues such as The Pic, The Columbia, Pat’s Pub, Pub 340, and Marine Club, Music Waste has surely had a significant impact on Vancouver’s music industry. Read more »
