Louise Burns @ Fox Cabaret -- July 13, 2023

Hot of the release of the new album Element, Louise Burns celebrated with a hometown show in Vancouver at the Fox Cabaret. And not only was she commemorating the new album, but it was also her first venue-show in four years (second show, counting the past weekend's free outdoor Khatsahlano show)!

I missed the first opener of the night, Matías Roden, arriving to catch the last bit of Devours. Clad in his signature look (head-spikes, glimmering beard, and leather skirt with suspenders) he played “Mutant DIY homo pop”, as he describes it.
Alone on stage with just his equipment, he exuded a fun energy in songs that ranged from the relatively darker “10 Things I Crave About You” to the incredibly dancey “Jacuzzi My Stonewall”, which saw him wading into the crowd to cap off the set.

Not long after, Louise Burns hit the stage with her backing band in tow; regular guitarist Darcy Hancock, as well as Mike Noble and Cole George (on loan from Hotel Mira for the evening, on bass and drums respectively).

Louise started off with “Like A Dream”, as the screen behind her projected a loop of clips from recent music videos, scenery, and animals throughout the show. There was also a CRT TV perched at the front of the stage, with a live feed filmed from the back of the room, but that was probably hidden to all except the first few rows of people standing.

Burns’ warm voice rang through the cabaret as she hit songs off her new album, including the atmospheric “I Don’t Feel Like I Used To”, the upbeat “Bloom” and “Play Pretend”, which samples humpback whales(!)
She also delved into her back catalogue for favourites like “Ruby” and “Emeralds Shatter” off her album The Midnight Mass — which released ten years ago this week — as well as other highlights, “Just Walk Away” with its tropical-tinge, and the sinister “Who’s the Madman?”

After about an hour, the main set came to a close with the tempestuous “Storms”, before Burns returned for my two favourites off their respective albums. First “Let It Die” from the new album, and finally “Cry” from 2019’s, Portraits, which brought the set to a raucous end.

I think the last time I saw Louise Burns play was her previous album’s release show four years ago, so it was not only great to see her perform again, but celebrating a brand new album as well. Burns has long been a pinnacle of the Vancouver music scene — both in front of the mic and behind the scenes — and last night at the Fox Cabaret was an excellent showcase of that.

setlist
Like a Dream
I Don't Feel It Like I Used To
Who's the Madman?
Ruby
Kids
Just Walk Away
Element
Play Pretend
Hot Girls
Emeralds Shatter
Bloom
Storms
(encore)
Let It Die
Cry

PHOTOS: Khatsahlano 2023

Khatsahlano 2023
ft. Yukon Blonde, David Vertesi, Louise Burns, Tariq, Elliott C. Way, Riun Garner
July 08, 2023

Photos by Christine McAvoy

Jody Glenham with Kylie V @ China Cloud -- June 29, 2023

It's been a minute since I last saw Jody Glenham perform live, definitely before the release of her 2020 album Mood Rock, so I was happy to head down to the charming China Cloud. Especially since she was supported by Kylie V, who I have caught a couple times at outdoor festival-type shows, but never in a proper venue.

Kylie V took the stage, joined by their backing band, and started the night with the “On My Mind”, followed by the haunting title track off their latest EP, Runaway. The intimate show had a very attentive crowd -- Kylie joking almost too attentive -- rapt during their heartfelt songs, voice lilting through the room.

As well as familiar favourites like the gorgeous “Catherine”, Kylie also slipped in a cover of the Samia song, “Is There Something in the Movies?”, and teased a new album with the song “Anomaly”. Near the end of the set, the band took leave for Kylie to play alone for the last couple songs; another new one “Untitled in Open D”, and finally capping off the end of the set with another cover; “Taken” by MUNA.

After a quick turnaround (which is always appreciated!) Jody Glenham took the stage with her shiny, self-described ‘party pants’, kicking off with an older song, the dreamy “Between You and Me”.

Joined by Michael Brown, Adam Fink, and Jay Arner as her backing band, Jody ran through songs from her catalogue, including the incredibly catchy “Talking Out Loud”, the hazy, chilled out “Friday Night Lights”, and my favourite from Mood Rock, “War On This World”, a simmering slow burn to an intense finish.

Glenham also teased a new song, I believe called “Love Deficiency Syndrome”, before another favourite of the set, “Ill Wind”, which burst into a smooth groove, that lead to the set’s finish, just ending and not bothering with a sham encore (also appreciated!).

Jody Glenham has been a mainstay in the Vancouver music scene for over a decade now — the first time I saw her play was a little over 11 years ago now — and it’s always a pleasure to see her dream-pop live. Add on that Kylie V is one of my favourite newcomers on the Vancouver scene, and that China Cloud is a great, & much needed, venue, and you have an excellent night of Vancouver music.

Hotel Mira @ Hollywood Theatre -- June 24, 2023

On the tail end of their ‘Dancing With The Moonlight’ Tour, Hotel Mira returned home for a sold out evening at the Hollywood Theatre. It was an early show (even for usual ‘early show’ standards) and I missed opener Dust Cwaine, but luckily arrived just before the night’s host, the established Shanda Leer, introduced the band with a quick drag number to Celine Dion’s “That’s the Way It Is”.

Shortly after, “Never Tear Us Apart” by INXS blasted over the speakers as Hotel Mira hit the stage; Mike Noble on bass & synth, Clark Grieve on guitar, drummer Cole George, and singer Charlie Kerr. They launched immediately into one of their new singles “Everything Once” and then crowd favourite “Fever Pitch”, which was also a fitting description for the audience that night, as the sold out room sang, yelled, and screamed along, hanging on Kerr's every word (and thrust).

Always a frenetic ball of energy on stage, Charlie Kerr was no different this night as he danced, writhed, lost his shirt, and interacted with the crowd. He perched on the edge of the stage & reached his hand out for whoever wanted to hold it during “Speaking Off the Record”, and asking who had recently been dumped so everyone could give a cathartic “Fuck James!” before “Better On Your Own”. And the rest of the band matched his energy for the show, as Kerr introduced each throughout the night when they had their own solos.

Other highlights included my favourite from their Perfectionism album “Jungle”, showcasing the band’s harmonies; the manic and infectious newer song “Dancing With the Moonlight”; and “The Eyes On You”, which was fittingly introduced by a quick cover of Frankie Valli’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You”.

The main set ended off with the another older favourite “Southern Comforting”, before Charlie & Clark were quickly back for “A Song for Daisy”, lighters held aloft for the softer tune. They were then re-joined by Mike & Cole, to cap off the night with an old favourite, the chaotic “Oh My God”, Charlie wading into the audience to cap off the evening.

As the band took a bow there were chants for a genuine encore. But while the foursome seemed to consider it, the looming curfew probably put a stop to it. I’m not sure if it was the vibes in the room, the hometown show, or the end of their tour — or all of the above — but the band was on top of their game last night, possibly the best I’ve seen them perform.

setlist
Everything Once
Fever Pitch
Eventually
Circulation
Silver Lake
Better On Your Own
Ginger Ale
Jungle
The Eyes On You
Dancing With the Moonlight
This Could Be It For Me
Speaking Off the Record
Southern Comforting
(encore)
A Song for Daisy
Son-in-Law
Oh My God

PHOTOS: Rich Aucoin @ Fox Cabaret - June 01, 2023

Rich Aucoin, with Petra Glynt
at Fox Cabaret
June 01, 2023

Photos by Christine McAvoy