PHOTOS: Elliott Brood @ Commodore - September 28, 2017

Elliott Brood @ The Commodore Ballroom
September 28, 2017
Photos by Christine McAvoy
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Read Kirk's review HERE

Elliott BROOD @ Commodore -- 09/28/17

With their latest album, Ghost Gardens, recently released, Elliott BROOD set out stomp their way across Canada one more time, stopping at the legendary Commodore Ballroom here in Vancouver. 

First though, let's jump back to a post from six years ago where I said of a band:

I could see them opening up for Elliott BROOD no problem

That band was The Sumner Brothers, and guess who was opening this show? Brothers Bob & Brian traded off gritty vocals while the growing crowd gathering by the stage for their roots 'n' blues-tinged rock n roll. I hadn't seen them perform live in a while, but they were as solid and tight as ever, with songs like"Last Night I Got Drunk", the heartbreaking "I'm Not Ready", and the grim ferocity of "Giant Song", with Kenton Loewen's phenomenal drumming sprinkled throughout the set. They ended off with the dark and sprawling intensity of "Ant Song" which was definitely the highlight of their set. 

Not long after the Ontario trio of Mark Sasso, Casey Laforet and Stephen Pitkin took to the stage. Elliott BROOD started their set with slower, moodier songs like "Nothing Left" and "Jigsaw Heart", culminating with one of my early favourites from Ghost Gardens "The Fall". Another favourite from the new album was the perfect transitioning song, as the dark lyrics of "Dig A Little Hole" were masked by its upbeat, foot-stomping tempo, as they kept that energy going for the latter half of the set.
The bouncy floor of the commodore got a workout for older hits like "Without Again" and the raucous "Oh Alberta", and especially the great finish to the main set, "The Valley Town". But after the shortest bathroom break in the history of musicians (they were barely off stage for a minute before returning) Casey exclaimed "Of course we're gonna play a few more!" with a singalong for "Northern Air" and arguably their best live song, "Write It All Down For You" which had everyone bouncing and shouting "HeyHeyHey!!" along with the band. 
That would have been an excellent way to end the show, but they had more for us, by way of a nice pair of covers; first CCR's "Bad Moon Rising" and then "Just What I Needed" by The Cars, for a fun way to cap off the show. 

Similar to my love of albums that are well put together and have a great "flow", I really like it when live shows do the same, and BROOD did a great job of that. They started with a slow burn for the first half of the set before exploding into the latter half. Plus, I've said for a long time that bands should use the encore to do more than just "here are the songs we didn't play" like doing fun or cool covers, and they definitely hit the mark there. 

July Talk w/ The Zolas @ Malkin Bowl -- 09/17/17

I knew July Talk had exploded in popularity in the last couple years. Last year they sold out the Commodore and added a second show, but even still I was a little surprised when they announced a show at the Malkin Bowl. But, you know, good surprised. 
And of course, I wasn't going to miss a change to see them, let alone at a beautiful venue in the middle of Stanley Park (which I hadn't seen a show at in some time), let alone with the band they had opening for them.

And that band was Vancouver's own The Zolas, frontman Zach Gray stating at one point during the set he had seem some amazing shows in the bowl, and was hoping this would rank among them. Starting with the fiery "Molotov Girls", a good portion of the crowd was clearly there to see the hometown band, or even just quickly won over. Highlights from the shorter set included "Get Dark" as the sun was setting on the park, one of my favourites from the new album "Male Gaze", and the insanely danceable combo of "Invisible" and "Swooner" which finished off the set. It's always great to see them play, and I think Malkin Bowl is maybe the one (non-arena) venue I hadn't already seen them live in this city. 

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds' "Dig Lazarus Dig" filled the air as the five members of July Talk took the stage. Before they started, they did something that I'm not sure I've ever seen a band that isn't from Vancouver do; acknowledged they were playing on unceded First Nations territory, which got a respectful cheer from the sold out crowd. 
Launching into a raucous set full of their gritty blues-tinged rock n roll, they kicked off with "Picturing Love" off their latest album Touch, for an hour plus that pulled from both that and their self-titled. The entire band has a great presence, but all eyes were on Peter Dreimanis and Leah Fay. The two of them have an unparalleled chemistry, not just in the way their contrasting voices blend together, but how they play off each other. Fay especially is a dynamo, confidently moving around the stage, and even disappearing and (literally) popping up in the crowd. 
A crowd that they had in the palms of their collective hands, singing along to songs like the explosive "Guns + Ammunition" and "Paper Girl". Other highlights included the sexually charged "Lola + Joseph", the frenetic "Summer Dress", and "Push + Pull" which ended the main set. But of course, they were quickly back out for just two more before the hard curfew of the park, with the simmering intensity of "Touch" and then one last rager (after a tease of some ZZ Top) "The Garden" to leave everyone spent. 

Here's an interesting metric on how well the band connected with everyone: as people packed (and I mean barely-room-to-breathe packed) onto the only bus that leaves Stanley Park after the show, everyone was not only chattering about how much they loved the show, but also being very polite and cordial and cooperative to everyone for the next few stops. A bus trip like that could have led to spoiled moods or disgruntled riders, but the love that July Talk puts out through their music carried at least that busload of people home that night. 

July Talk setlist
Picturing Love
Summer Dress
Now I Know
Gentleman
So Sorry
Headsick
Lola + Joseph
Strange Habit
Guns + Ammunition
Jesus Said So
Paper Girl
I've Rationed Well
Blood + Honey
My Neck
Beck + Call
Push + Pull
(encore)
Touch
The Garden

The Zolas setlist
Molotov Girls
Get Dark
Fell in Love With New York
Ancient Mars
Ultramarine
Male Gaze
Frida On The Mountain
Invisible
Swooner

Dear Rouge @ Imperial for Westward Festival -- 09/15/17

For the last few years, I've thought that during the Rifflandia weekend in Victoria, enough bands pop over and do shows in Vancouver that we could probably just have our own festival the same weekend. Well, clearly someone had the same idea, because this weekend was the first ever Westward Festival, spanning 4 nights and several venues in the city. 
There were a few shows to choose on the Friday night, but I decided to go with Dear Rouge at the Imperial. 

I wanted to try and catch a bit of opener Little Destroyer, but the combination of arriving late and them playing a shorter set (I guess) led to me only catching just the tail end. But even just that one song was packed with so much energy that I instantly regretted not being able to show up sooner. 

Soon after that, it was time for Vancouver's own Dear Rouge to return home. I feel like, aside from various collaborative or cover nights, I hadn't seen them play a proper set in a long time, so I was looking forward to hearing what Danielle & Drew McTaggart have been up to.

Backlit by a giant LED board with fog swirling around them, they started off with some fan favourites, the title track from their latest album Black to Gold, and a crowd singalong for "Best Look". They focused mainly on that album, with other highlights being a slowed down, and almost trip hop flavoured version of "Nostalgia" and the simmering intensity of "Wanna Wanna". 
But along with the old favourites, they also teased some new stuff, including a sultry jam named "Motion" and a couple of my favourites of the set; a dark and slightly gritty tune "Live Through The Night", and a badass song that I believe was called "Boys and Blondes" which had to have been inspired by the likes of Peaches. Judging by the preview of the new stuff, I am really looking forward to a theoretical new album.

They had a great stage presence, Drew ripping on guitar and especially Danielle who danced and stalked around the stage, her voice soaring over the crowd as she effortlessly got everyone singing, clapping, or stomping along. I still remember the first time seeing them, thinking that had huge potential but were still a little raw (but, then again, they quickly went on to win the Peak Performance Project, so what do I know?) and literally every time I've seen them since, I've liked them more and more. 

setlist
Black to Gold
Live Through The Night
Best Look Lately
We Don't Fit
Kids Wanna Know
Motion
Little By Little
Wanna Wanna
Nostalgia
Stolen Days
Boys and Blondes
Tongues
(encore)
I Heard I Had

Photo Roundup - August 25 2017 ft. The Wild Romantics & The Matinee

Back on August 10th, The Matinee had their album release show (finally) in Vancouver at the Fox Cabaret. I hauled it over from softball in time to catch openers The Wild Romantics, and then it was party time with the band both celebrating the release and their 10th anniversary.

Check out Kirk's full review HERE.

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

Photos by Christine McAvoy