Every Friday, 3am Revelations gives you our picks for some of the fantastic live shows happening in and around our city of Vancouver. What are you seeing this week? Let us know in the comments below.
Kirk's Pick
Who?Big Sugar Where? The Pearl When? Saturday, April 20 Why? I don’t think it’s any coincidence Big Sugar are playing on this particular date. Head down to The Pearl as they celebrate the reissue of their album 500lbs.
Christine's Pick
Who?Bahamas Where? The Centre in Vancouver When? This Evening! (Fri Apr 19) Why? Bahamas brings is new country sound to town with his Bootcut tour, and it’s a must see!
BONUS Pick
Who?JP Maurice Where? Guilt and Company When? Saturday April 20 Why? Hope you’re not getting up the next morning for the Sun Run, because this JP Maurice show is a late one, but worth staying up for!
BONUS Pick
Who?Combine the Victorious Where? The Cascade Room When? Thu, Apr 25 Why? Head on down to Main St. as CtV plays the Cascade for their After Dark series!
As the fall rolls along, the shows just keep coming. October looks to be another packed month, and here are the five(ish) shows I'm looking forward to most.
And I'm posting this a few days early to make sure enough people know about.... October 1st:Dirty Threeat the Biltmore You may know them from their work with Nick Cave, but Australian trio are back for their first album in seven years. The instrumental Towards The Low Sun is dense and chaotic and brilliant, and I can't wait to see how it translates live. October 19th: Big Sugar w/ Wide Mouth Mason at the Commodore
Reprising their Big & Wide tour from last year, the two iconic Canadian blues rock bands team up once again to storm the Commodore. They've also got Ontario's The Balconies in tow, who I've heard about for a while now and am looking forward to checking out.
It's their first of two shows, which is good because the second night conflicts with... October 20th:Royal Woodat the Rio Theatre I haven't had the chance too see Royal Wood live before, always missing the shows, and I can't think of a better venue for him than the Rio Theatre. October 24th:Matt Maysat the Commodore It's been a few years since Mays has been through Vancouver, but I was lucky enough to catch him during NXNE in June, and he was better than ever. Now that his new album, Coyote, is out Of course, it's a tough call when on the same night is...
October 24th:Bahamas&Jason Collettat the Rio Theatre This one is going to be hard to miss. Last time I saw the two together was during the Bonfire Ball with Zeus, which is still one of my favourite shows. I may yet try and figure out a way to at least see Jason, then run over and see Mays at the Commodore...
Much like Royal Wood, the Rio just seems like it will be the perfect venue for Mr. Knight. The show is just in time for his new album, Small Reveal, which is one of my most anticipated albums of the rest of the year.
And of course, the Peak Performance Project is still running at the Red Room through the month. With three showcases left, we'll still hear from Maurice, Dominique Fricot, Portage & Main and many more. The first two showcases have been pretty swell, so don't miss them.
Well, I did this last month, so let's try it again, shall we? Here are some of the shows I am excited about in the month of October. It's a pretty stacked month, with lots of great shows announced so far (with a few conflicting ones, too).
Big Sugar with Wide Mouth Masonat the Commodore on October 21st & 22nd.
Top of the list would have to be this show, no question. I was at the Commodore eight years ago for what was, at the time, Big Sugar's final Vancouver show and it was phenomenal. I was thrilled when they got back together, and when they announced Wide Mouth Mason -- who Gordie Johnson now plays bass with -- would be opening? well, their show at the Yale in January has probably been one of my favourite shows of the year, so that's just extra added awesome.
Chad VanGaalenat the Rio Theatre on October 15th
Even though Pop Okanagan is happening this same weekend, I am pretty sure seeing CVG live trumps an entire festival. It will be two years to the day (and, in fact, at the same venue) since I last saw him, which is far too long. (Accompanied video not mine, was taken from the last show, with Julie Fader on keys)
Kathryn Calderat the Biltmore on October 27th
Even though I've seen her a couple times this year, Calder is always incredible live. Her new album is out soon, and I am very much looking forward to seeing her live again.
Dominique Fricot with Sidney Yorkat the Electric Owl on October 14th
Ten and a half months. That's all it took between seeing him at One Night Stand and finally seeing him perform his own material. Which is inexcusable. And of course, there's Sidney. The only time I've seen her was at a venue with sub-par sound, so I am very excited to see her somewhere that will sound good.
And the conflicts? That lies with the aforementioned Big Sugar/WMM show as well as: Sidney York with The Ruffled Feathers & The Belle Game at the Railway on October 20th. Zeusat the Biltmore on October 21st The Zolas & The Liptonians on October 20th at the Electric Owl and October 24nd at St James Hall
So. There's all that. Zeus is a fantastic live band who haven't been here since the (incredible) Bonfire Ball tour. The Liptonians blew me away live earlier this year, and pairing them with The Zolas is perfect. And the show at the Railway has just an excellent lineup. There could be a way to see all the shows, but it might be tough!
Oh, and there's the lastPeak Performance Project showcase with Maurice, Lindsay Bryan, 41st & Home and Rococode on the 6th at the Red Room well as Danny Michel with Jody Glenham at the Biltmore on the 13th, which should be fun, and of course, the Foo Fighters at Rogers Arena on the 25th. But as much as I love the Foos, and as great a live show as they put on, I have a feeling I won't be able to make this show unless I somehow get press, or win tickets...
