Kathleen Edwards w/ Hannah Georgas @ Commodore -- 04/06/12

The first (and as of last week, only) time I had seen Kathleen Edwards was during the Olympic festivities two years ago, and while I had liked her music prior, it was her after seeing her live show when I really started being a fan. So after two long years, I wasn't going to miss the chance to see her again. And then having Gorgeous Hannah Georgas as both her opening act and on backup vocals, well, that was just the proverbial icing on the musical cake.

For her opening set, Hannah Georgas was only backed by Ted Gowan on guitar and keys, and a drum machine. The set was a little softer and more subdued, just being the two of them, but Hannah still had a great energy. She teased her forthcoming album with almost an entire set of new songs, and I can't wait to hear them with a full band. One of the ones that caught my attention most, after the soft  an gorgeous "Shine", was a higher energy song, "Fantasize" (according to the setlist).
After an all-too-short set, she brought it to an end by inviting Kathleen Edwards and Jim Bryson out to assist with backup vocals and ukulele, respectively, for "Deep End"

setlist
Elephant, Somebody, Chit Chat, Waiting, Enemies, Millions, Shine, Fantasize, Deep end.

Not long after, Kathleen Edwards hit the stage with a band that included Hannah on backup vocals and Jim Bryson on guitar and keys. She kicked off with the opener of her new album Voyageur, "Empty Threat" for an hour and a half set that spanned all four albums. Some of the highlights included "Goodnight California" seeing Kathleen break out the violin and built into an amazing jam ending, and "In State" which gave Bryson a chance to show off his chops, rocking out so hard his glasses literally flew off his face. 

Mid-way through the set, the band took a rest, leaving Kathleen alone for the soft "Hockey Skates", before they came back out with a beautiful cover of The Flaming Lips' "Feeling Yourself Disintegrate". They ramped the energy back up with "Sidecar" and "Back To You" before ended with the main set with the heartbreaking breakup song, "Change the Sheets".
But of course back out, ending off the night with the older "6 O'Clock News" and a couple more, with Kathleen adding how deeply grateful she was to be playing for a packed Commodore.
Edwards has a great energy and presence on stage, with a great gift of connecting with the crowd. Her banter and stories between songs are funny, yet the songs are so personal that you almost can't help but be moved, as she is just dripping with raw emotion at times.

While there were a couple songs I missed from the setlist, that I was hoping to hear, it was still a great show from a couple of Canada's best female singer/songwriters.

setlist

Empty Threat, Chameleon/Comedian, Asking for Flowers, House Full of Empty Rooms, Goodnight California, In State, 12 Bellevue, Hockey Skates, Feel Yourself Disintegrate [Flaming Lips cover], Going To Hell, Sidecar, Back to You, A Soft Place to Land, Change The Sheets.

(encore) 6 O'Clock News, For The Record, September Girls.

Rococode CD Release Show @ Electric Owl -- 04/04/12

At the tail end of a cross Canada tour, Rococode comes home for the official CD Release show of their debut album, Guns, Sex & Glory, released a couple months ago. And they brought with them their "band mentor", and another local band who I've been meaning to catch.

Due to another show, though, (seriously, it seemed like everything was happening Wednesday night) I got there part way through Wintermitts set, catching just the last couple songs. The bi-lingual band had a grandiose, orchestral-pop sound, with a stage packed full of instruments; keys, accordion, horns, and more. I caught just enough to know that I definitely want to see them again, hopefully seeing an entire set.

Next up was Ryan Guldemond doing a solo set. Taking the stage alone, he sounded a lot like you'd expect from the frontman of Mother Mother, just a little more on the bluesy and jazz side, with his distinctive voice over some catchy and cleverly written songs. A few he introduced as new, but I'm not sure if they will be eventual Mother Mother songs, or for his own repertoire, and while I didn't catch the name of any of the songs, there were a few I am hoping are released in some form.

And finally, Rococode hit the stage, starting off with the slow build up of title track to their debut album, Guns, Sex & Glory before launching into "Weapon". Seeing a band at the end of a tour can go two ways, either the band is firing on all cylinders having played together so often, or being completely road-weary, and the four members of Rococode were definitely the former; their harmonies were airtight and the insanely catchy power-pop spot on.
They played nearly the entire album, with a few new songs thrown in, highlights being the haunting "Dreams", the definite earworm "Empire", and the closer of the night, the cacophonous "Blood".
I've been able to see Rococode several times in the last year and a half, and they never fail to impress live; continually getting better and putting on great live shows.

setlist
Guns, Sex & Glory; Death of a Payphone; Run Run Run Run Run (Run); EJ; Concentrate On Me; Empire; Dreams; Concentrate On You; The Riot; Ghost I & II; Blood.

The Matinée @ Commodore -- 04/04/12

With festival season fast approaching, we're starting to get a glimpse of what is going on and who will be where. The other day Live at Squamish had a big party at the Commodore with The Matinée and Current Swell to unveil who will be joining them on August 24th through 26th up at the Logger Sports Grounds and Hendrickson Fields.

The Matinée was up first, drawing everyone into in immediately by getting the growing crowd to stop and clap along to "L'Absinthe", building up an energy that would just build throughout the set. As well as older favourites like the interminably catchy "Let Her Go" and the great sing along "Sweetwater", they teased a new album with some new songs, including my favourite "ScooterFruit" (thankfully a working title) that explodes into massive ending, with the band rocking out and some great shredding from Matt Rose & intense drums from Pete Lemon. The other stand-out new track was called "Young and Lazy", that instantly grabs you, with a classic roots-rock feel that will no doubt be a huge song for them. I'm calling it now: if it's released as a single in time, it'll be the song of the summer.
They ended off, as they do, with "The Road", including the great breakdown which had every member pounding away on the drums, and the entire room stomping along. As usual, it was a great, high energy show from the band, and I already can't wait to see them on the big stage in Squamish.

Unfortunately, I had to skip out on Current Swell, and the lineup unveiling, due to another show (seriously, it seemed like everything was happening Wednesday night), but the lineup looks like it is coming along nicely; Tragically Hip and City and Colour are the big headliners, which I think is a good pair (even if I'm not that big a fan of City & Colour) and it's got a pretty solid lineup all around. Some bands I am definitely looking forward to include Plants & Animals, The Rural Alberta Advantage, Kathleen Edwards, Mother Mother, and local favourites like Rococode, Maurice, Wake! Owl and The Matinée. They've also got The Sheepdogs, Lights, Chromeo, The Airbourne Toxic Event, and more rounding out the lineup, promising that there will be at least one or two bands for everyone.
It's a pretty good lineup overall, but I think they need at least one more bigger "name" as a draw. But don't get me wrong, I will definitely be heading up there for the weekend, as the last two years up there have been an absolute blast.

John K Samson @ Biltmore -- 03/31/12

I honestly don't know why I am not a bigger fan of The Weakerthans. I do really like them -- I don't think there's a song written by John K Samson that I haven't liked -- but I've always seemed to be a bit more of a "passive fan" to the band. So when I heard John K Samson was coming through town for his solo tour, I knew I both shouldn't and couldn't miss it.

Opening the show was Shotgun Jimmie, who was a veritable one man band. It was just him and his guitar on stage, and not only was he using a suitcase as a kickdrum, but had a second kick drum going as well. At one point he was effectively playing two drums, the guitar and a shaker all simultaneously.
Admittedly I haven't heard too much of Jimmie's music, but I was definitely won over within only a couple songs. With a sound that reminded me of a cross between Joel Plaskett and Chad VanGaalen, and an effortless stage presence, he charmed his way through a collection of songs old and new; my favourite being one I didn't catch the name of that he introduced as about love and outer space.
After a solid set, he brought out a couple guests, including John K Samson, joking that their band was named "Welcome Wireless Internet Restaurant" and ending the set with a high energy, rocking song.

It wasn't long after that John K Samson hit the stage; at first coming out alone and leading the sold out crowd in sing along to "One Great City", before being joined by The Provincial Band, which included Shotgun Jimmie on guitar. The set consisted of not only his own solo material from his recent album Provincial, but a fair amount of Weakerthans songs, too. Ranging from the soft and beautiful "The Last And", to the more upbeat and rocking "When I Write My Master's Thesis", Samson had the crowd in the palm of his hand from the moment he hit the stage. With many sing alongs, and people shouting out random Manitoban references, John did a great job of engaging the crowd, even down to little things like leading a salute during the spoken word "Elegy for Gump Worsley" and asked people to support the petition his get Reggie Leach into the Hockey Hall of Fame, with a song whose title is also a link to the petition, "www.ipetitions.com/petition/rivertonrifle/". Other highlights of the set included older favourites "Pamphleteer" and "Tournament of Hearts" and his own "Longitudinal Centre" and "Cruise Night".
After "ending" the set with "Left and Leaving", he was back out for the encore with "Plea From A Cat Named Virtute", strapped on the bass for a Propagandhi song, "Gifts", and ended the night with yet another sing along, this time to "Virtute The Cat Explains Her Departure" and John completely unplugged and standing at the very edge of the stage, guitar and voice unamplified.

And not only was Samson a great performer, but he was also looking out for his fans; during "Tournament of Hearts", he paused in the middle of the song when he noticed a girl had passed out, and made sure people gave her room, that she was okay, and even offered her some of his water and a spot to sit.

It was pretty fantastic set from one of Canada's finest songwriters and I am already looking forward to whatever is next from Samson and/or The Weakerthans.

setlist
One Great City, Heart of the Continent, Cruise Night, When I Write My Master's Thesis, Letter In Icelandic From The Ninette San, Tournament of Hearts, Night Windows, Elegy for Gump Worsley, Pamphleteer, www.ipetitions.com/petition/rivertonrifle/, Longitudinal Centre, The Boat Dreams From The Hill [Jawbreaker cover], The Last And, Highway 1 West, Left & Leaving.
(encore) Plea From A Cat Named Virtute, Gifts [Propagandhi cover], Reconstruction Site, Virtute The Cat Explains Her Departure.

Bahamas @ Biltmore -- 03/27/12

Afie Jurvanen has been around the Canadian music scene for a while, playing with the likes of Feist, Jason Collett, and Zeus, but he's also got his own project, Bahamas. From the first time I saw him on stage I was won over, and since I missed him the last time he was through town, there was no way I wasn't going to be at a sold out Biltmore to catch his this time around.

Opening the night was Vancouver's own Wake Owl, who I had heard good things about, and was intrigued to see. The trio -- as opposed to a five piece they said to have been playing as recently -- took the stage armed with guitars, keys, ukulele and violin for a stripped down, yet still lush folk sound. With nice harmonies and well written songs, they drew the attention of the growing crowd, and definitely seemed to make some new fans. The soaring "Seaside" and driving, set-ending "Gold" that got people clapping along by the end were the two songs that caught my attention most, and I will definitely be on the lookout for the next time they play.

Not long after it was time for Bahamas, Afie was joined by Jason Tait on drums and backed by the immaculate voices of Carleigh Aikins & Felicity Williams. They kicked off the set with the first couple tracks from the new album Barchords, "Lost in the Light" which had all the ladies (and even a few guys) swooning over him right off the bat, and then the incendiary "Caught Me Thinkin'". The set contained a good range of songs, off both the new album and the previous Pink Strat, that were beautiful and tragic and heartbreaking -- sometimes all at once -- and perfectly performed; among the highlights were the upbeat, break-up song "Okay Alright I'm Alive" the strangely romantic "Hockey Teeth". And aside from the excellent musicianship, Afie has an amazing stage presence, so incredibly smooth and an effortless confidence, as well as funny and engaging in his banter between songs.
After they finished off the set with "Never Again", they were out for the encore, an amazing cover of Tom Petty's "You Don't Know How It Feels", getting the sold out crowd involved in a giant sing along, before capping off the night with the soft and beautiful "Snow Plow"

The only thing to mar the otherwise great night had nothing to do with what was happening on stage, but rather the crowd. I am not sure if it was because both bands were more on the quiet side, but there was a conversational din throughout the entire night that was frustrating and maddening. I do not now and will never understand people that pay money to get in a venue, only to talk through, and over, an entire set; especially the headliner. If you're raising your voice over the band to be heard, you're doing something wrong.

But I digress. Bahamas always delivers live, and Wake Owl was a nice treat that I am intrigued to check out again. All in all, a pretty fantastic show.

setlist
Lost In The Light, Caught Me Thinkin', Already Yours, For Good Reason, I Got You Babe, Hockey Teeth, Lonely Loves, Southern Drawl, Sunshine Blues, Overjoyed, Okay Alright I'm Alive, Be My Witness, Your Sweet Touch, Never Again.
(encore) You Don't Know How It Feels [Tom Petty cover], Snow Plow.