Chasing Kings really hits that special place for me in my musical soul that not many local bands hit. Some bands require a warming period, in order to see possible hit songs.
Chasing Kings: a Band Review
Useless Keys: a Band Review
Grunge fans, your post-Nirvana phase will be rebuilt with the psychedelic sounds of Useless Keys. They’re currently in the studio to record the album Anything But White Noise, their debut LP. The band has been around for several years, and I have followed them for about two. I’ve seen members come and go, and now I am so pleased to announce they are back to their original four. Continue Reading →
Amon Tobin @ Vogue Theatre
On September 28, 2011, Amon Tobin came to Vancouver where he played to a sold out Vogue Theater. This wasn’t your typical show. Amon Tobin isn’t your typical artist.
I knew Amon was a special artist right when I first heard his music back a few years, and it was re-enforced when when I watched his little video documentary he made for the making of Foley Room
Ego and Ink by Chris Cobb
Ego and Ink
Ego and Ink
Kooznetz @ Tom Lee Studios
I was invited by a classmate to come check out his band, Kooznetz play the Tom Lee music space downtown Vancouver on Granville Street on Friday the 13th. A great evening for a metal show if I may say so myself!
These boys were up to the task. Continue Reading →
Kina Grannis w/ Imaginary Friend @ Venue
On Sunday May the 15th, The Venue in downtown Vancouver hosted Kina Grannis (@kinagrannis), an acoustic singer/songwriter/guitarist. She blew my mind. Lets start there. Continue Reading →
Joe Purdy @ Rio Theatre
On Saturday, May the 7th, 2011 I had the pleasure to see Joe Purdy play at the Rio, an old theater just off of Commercial Drive on Broadway in Vancouver.
Joe Purdy has been a huge inspiration to me, as well as a beacon of hope during all those lonely hours along the road. Continue Reading →
Kiss Each Other Clean by Iron & Wine
Samuel Beam, from South Carolina, I guess Texas now, is the genius behind Iron & Wine. His work is strong yet not abusive. It’s a mix of big band sound, and soulful introspective.
The album is Kiss Each Other Clean, and its his 2011 release. I enjoy this album.
Iron & Wine is a band that you listen to when your in-laws are over for dinner. It’s smooth, yet a bit risky; it’s not like some wild indy stuff that’s out there, It’s an easy thing to listen to.
Monkeys Uptown has a funky keyboard in there like some Stevie Winwood, reminiscent of the funky disco days.
Then Half Moon takes you on a delightful waltz through time and space. It’s a walk with a lover through the park, butterflies flying lazily around.
Rabbit Will Run is another much more upbeat song, that sounds like its infused with some Jethro Tull, flute included. It’s great.
Godless Brother In Love is another great song. It’s very emotional and soft. It sounds like mostly just a guitar and piano, with harmony singers. So beautiful.
I would really enjoy to sit through a concert of Iron & Wine’s. Maybe it’s just me becoming more peaceful with life, but this stuff is beautiful. I enjoy songs where it’s just the singer up there with a guitar, real raw and really from the heart.
Wikipedia says that Iron & Wine tours with a full band sometimes, which is needed for most of the songs on this album. I’ve read countless articles on bands that are 2 or 3 piece bands, and they express interest in trying things out with a larger band. I can see how only a 3 piece band could be fairly restrictive, but also it could create a really interesting scenario for some amazing stuff to be created. Sometimes its easy to get taken away by all the gizmos and forget about where your roots are, but that is also creation… What do you think?
I enjoy this album, and I sure hope you let me know how you enjoy it too!?
Concert Review: Matt Costa with The Threes and Nines
Tuesday the 19th of October I was so lucky to find myself standing in front of the stage at Matt Costa‘s Vancouver date in the Venue right smack downtown on Granville St. Matt Costa is one of my favorite musicians, so I am immediately biased, I must warn you, but the show was good. Turned out it was even one of the guitarist’s birthday!
The show opened with a band called the Threes and Nines. The singer/guitarist was clearly a lyricist taking pride in being a songwriter, and enjoyed it the whole time. The band was definitely a hard working band, with guts to leave everything and face the life of no money to play for crowds all across North America. They had some great songs that had some great feel to them, and the band was tighter than the glue holding my shoes together!
Matt Costa opened by walking through the crowd, washboard, mandolin in toe, guitar and harmonica in hand. It was a great intro, most people didn’t understand what was going on. I love when the artists interact with the crowd like that. I was actually quite surprised at how small the venue was that he was playing in. Last time I saw him he had packed a much larger venue, but I know that some artists crave a smaller venue to do just that; interact with the crowd.
His set, however, I felt started off somewhat slow. Something was off, the band was rattled for some reason or another, so I felt that it wasn’t the Matt Costa experience that I was expecting. However, as the show continued on, I found that Matt started to really get into it. He sat down for a few songs and played just him and an accompanying instrument, guitar for two songs and banjo for another. After this, I think he felt more at ease. I think the crowd was waiting for Astair.. and they got it!
He finished the show in fine fashion. Pumping out Mr. Pitiful on that piano of his was exciting. I was standing nearly 8 ft away from him. I like this Matt Costa character. I suggest you check him out.
The show was great, I enjoyed it. The crowd was very nice. I am beginning to really enjoy that venue, Venue. Did any of you go to the show? I’d love to hear how you’re enjoying the rest of his tour. 
Baby Darling Dollface Honey by Band of Skulls
I had the pleasure of experiencing this dynamic trio, Band of Skulls at the Venue in late April, and what a show it was. This album is all that in a pre-packaged little gem of wonder for me to carry with me everywhere.
Baby Darling Dollface Honey is what new rock has turned into for me. The album epitomizes what its all about. Killer crunching guitar riffs that explode at times, but seek the most soothing lines at others filling up the spaces with rhythm that one wishes they could dream up, or is it that we dream up as it plays, its hard to tell.
The first few songs push you into a three piece galaxy that you’d think was experimental orchestrations with distortion pedals so fat the couldn’t make it through the studio doors so they had to be blasted from outdoors. Russel Marsden is really an amazing guitarist, and seeing him live really proved to me that he loves to play guitar, and has talent more than enough to make it sing.
Then as Fires and Honest come to the speakers, it slows down into melodic numbers that make me want to swirl around my room dancing like I was lost in heaven. I love Emma Richardson singing on Honest, its one of my favorite songs out there.
Soon though, it clicks back into tracks like Hollywood bowl that make you understand that this band is for real, a rock band, with all the love that goes on in it.
Get this album, its a doozie.