Kathryn Calder w/ The Burning Hell @ Biltmore Cabaret -- 06/25/16

About a year after releasing her latest album, Victoria's Kathryn Calder returned to Vancouver, bringing along with her The Burning Hell from Newfoundland, for a pretty solid Saturday night double bill. 

Playing their last in a string of 60 shows in 60 days was The Burning Hell, who hadn't been through Vancouver for about five years. Their indie-folk sound is full of story-driven songs that were more often that not humourous. Though I wouldn't classify them as a "comedy band", the humour came more through clever lines with Mathias Kom's witty, fast-paced delivery. Songs like "The Strangers" featuring a sordid love triangle involving ex-priests, and "Good Times" about rioting after sporting events, something we in Vancouver are familiar with. 
One of my favourites of the set was "Fuck The Government, I Love You" based on the story of Mathias meeting bandmate, saxophonist Ariel Sharratt at a party. She also told the story in duelling vocals, as they got a sing along with the chorus. 
They wrapped up their set with one of their oldest songs, and another favourite, "It Happens in Florida". The crowd once more joined in,  singing "Love" before the increasingly hilarious/outlandish metaphors for the subject ("Love, it’s like a newborn child: seems interesting when it’s young, gets pedestrian after a while"). They ended the song with a special ending dedicated to Calder & her band, launching into "La Bamba", with Calder sneaking on stage with a tambourine followed by the rest of her band, clearly having fun.

Due to the curfew, it wasn't long before Kathryn Calder was out with her band, launching immediately into the heartfelt "Song in Cm" from her recent self-titled album -- which was sadly accompanied by the guy in the back on the pinball machine, furiously mashing the flippers. 
Throughout the set, Calder switched back and forth between keys and guitar, as her voice soared over songs ranging from the simmering "Take A Little Time" and the building intensity of "Slip Away" from her first solo album Are You My Mother?, to more slowed down tunes like "Blue Skies". 
After what seemed like way too short of a set, Kathryn brought the evening to an end with a killer one-two combo, "When You See My Blood" erupting into an intense ending, and the straight ahead rocking "New Millennium". 
But of course, she was out for an encore of one more song, the hauntingly beautiful "So Easily", where she even slightly adjusted the lyrics, asking The Burning Hell how they could "so easily go... home after the tour". 

It's always cool seeing that kind of joking around between bands, especially as they just finished a run of shows together. They were clearly fans, as members of each band were front and centre in the crowd to watch the other, and that kind of relaxed attitude seemed into their performances. It is always entertaining to see Kathryn Calder perform, and it was nice to see The Burning Hell again after so long. 

setlist
Song In Cm, 
Slip Away, 
Beach, 
Take A Little Time, 
Turn A Light On, 
My Armour,
Blue Skies, 
When You See My Blood,
New Millennium.
(encore)
So Easily. 

Weekly Photo Roundup - June 22, 2016

Saturday night was a satisfying night of musical goodness at the Biltmore Cabaret. The stage was shared by Jenny Banai who quietly warmed up the room with her soft voice and simple, spiritual, Joni Mitchell-esque music accompanied by her guitar.

Next up, Alexandria Maillot played her official Vancouver album release party for Time (check out our interview with her here!) and got the full force of a band and backing vocals to layer up her music to bring it to it's full-bodied potential. Switching from keyboard to guitar, every instrument she touched bellowed beautiful sounds to an audience for the first time.

Lastly, Scenic Route to Alaska brought up the energy and drew in the crowd for the big hurrah of the night, changing up the atmosphere to that classic 3-piece indie rock band vibe that us Biltmore goers know and love.

Plants & Animals w/ Royal Canoe @ Imperial -- 06/16/16

It's been a few years since Plants and Animals last played a show in Vancouver, but with a new album under their belts, the Montreal trio hit the road with a stop at the Imperial. And I was doubly excited, because not only was Plants and Animals back, but they brought with them another favourite of mine, Winnipeg's Royal Canoe. 

It's always nice to see Royal Canoe play on a stage that can actually fit all six members and their mountains of gear, and they spread out nicely on the Imperial stage. With a new album coming out this fall, the band played a split of new and old. There was some singing along to the introspective "Exodus of the Year" and the bombastic "Bathtubs", which is one of my favourites. The new tunes they played sounded like a natural extension of their sound, a dense sonic wall of their unique electronic indie pop. One of the new songs culminated with a brain-melting instrumental, and another, which closed out their set, was a slow, simmering R&B jam that erupted into a swirl of synth and keys. It was perhaps my favourite of the set, and made me eagerly anticipate the new material. 

During their set, Royal Canoe mentioned that Plants & Animals had a rough time getting to Vancouver, which the band themselves later elaborated on, admitting they almost didn't make it after having to abandon their van in Kelowna. Which may have been part of the reason there seemed to be a bit of a delay in the start of their set. 
But they got everything together and launched right into "No Worries Gonna Find Us", perhaps a little cathartically. From there, the set mostly featured songs from Waltzed In From The Rumbling, and while I think it took them a song or two to kind of get in the groove, the set was highlighted by songs like the slightly darker and moody "All The Time" and "Flowers", which had the crowd singing along in hushed tones as the song came to rest. 
There were only a few older songs sprinkled the set; the soaring "Lightshow", the sprawling (and aptly named) "Faerie Dance", and "Bye Bye Bye", which got a huge reaction, and saw Nicolas Basque rock out on the autoharp like few can. 
They ended the set with one of my favourites off the new album "Stay", and newest addition to the touring band Adele Trottier-Rivard joining Warren Spicer on vocals. And of course, they were back out for a couple more. First the raucous "Feedback in the Field" and finishing off the night with "Je voulais te dire", a gorgeous seven minute songs full of musical twists and turns.

Both of these bands I would count among my favourites, especially to see live, and the pairing did not let me down. It was a great show, highlighting some of the most interesting musicians the country has to offer. 

setlist
No Worries Gonna Find Us,  
We Were One, 
Lola Who? 
All of the Time, 
Flowers,
Faerie Dance,
So Many Nights,
Lightshow,
Good Friend,
Bye Bye Bye,
Stay.
(encore)
Feedback in the Field,
Je voulais te dire.

Kaylee Johnston EP Release @ Biltmore Cabaret -- 06/03/16

This past Friday, Kaylee Johnston released her new, self-titled EP -- an album four years in the making, by her own admittance -- and celebrated with a show at the Biltmore. 

Unfortunately I missed most of the first act, Matthew V, but from what I heard he had a voice that wow'd the growing crowd. The second act of the night was Windmills (aka Cory Myraas), playing his first Vancouver show in a few months. He took the stage with his guitar, drum pad, and looping gear for his "swoon-pop". Opening the set was "Face to a Name" from his most recent album Measures, as Cory harmonizing with himself and worked his looping building the song to a sweeping crescendo.
He talked with the crowd a bit between songs, thanking everyone there -- and telling a couple of his infamous "dad jokes" -- before his heartfelt songs, like "All Things End" and my favourite from the album, "Shame", as he confessed "You're a mistake worth repeating" 
Aside from his own songs, he also had a few covers in the set, including "In Waves" by Fyfe, and his version of "Lilac Wine", citing both Jeff Buckley and Nina Simone's versions as inspiration. 
It was a strong set from the Kelowna singer, and I look forward to the next time he plays. 

It wasn't long after before Kaylee Johnston and her band took the stage. I had seen her not too long ago, opening for Radio Radio, and remember thinking she could have used a live drummer to fill out the sound. Well, not only did she do exactly that, but recruited one of the finest in the city in Johnny Andrews. 
Poised confidently in a sparkling dress, Johnston danced and stalked the stage, coming right up to the front at times, her powerful voice belting out infection pop songs like "Lonely", in which she vowed to "dance till I don't care", and the raw and eclectic "Are You The One". 
There was a slight misstep with "Kick Drum", causing her to start the song over, but she was able to get the energy back before before toning the set down for a couple songs, pulling out her acoustic guitar for the soaring "Try" and "Let's Pretend", which was dripping with heartbreak. 
Kaylee also slipped a cover into her set, doing a version of Wheatus' "Teenage Dirtbag" with Windmills providing the object of her affections (you know, the one with "two tickets to Iron Maiden") for a really fun cover. 
She played right up til curfew, capping the night off with her current single, a song that by all rights should be a smash pop hit, "Getting Over You", her voice once again filling the room and getting people dancing. 

I'll be the first to admit, I'm not always that into pop music, but Kaylee's sound has an edge to it, and a raw emotion that pours through. Plus, her voice in undeniable and the songs are ridiculously catchy. I would definitely recommend picking up her brand new EP, and catching her next time she's playing live. 

setlist
Lonely
Caught In The Thick
Are You The One
Kick Drum
Try
Let's Pretend
Teenage Dirtbag [Wheatus cover]
Gone
Getting Over You

Weekly Photo Roundup - June 01, 2016 ft. Leisure Club, Hawking, Van Damsel

Weekly Photo Roundup for the week preceding June 01, 2016

Another excellent show from Leisure Club (I've realized I have been to all of their Vancouver shows so far!), and it was so good to see Van Damsel in Vancouver again! They performed their singles and material from their new album, and as you see in the photos above, it got a little sweaty in the Media Club.

Come back soon boys!

Check out the concert calendar for what is coming up this week!

Photos by Christine McAvoy