We Are The City @ The RIP Store -- 01/31/20

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Earlier this month, We Are The City opened the doors to The RIP Store. In promotion for their new album, the space was meant to be a free work space open to the public, with tables, wifi, coffee, etc. But the space was also being used for not only their upcoming tour rehearsal, but also a few shows curated by the band. Local favourites like Hannah Epperson, Said the Whale, The Zolas, Brandon Wolfe Scott, and even Dan Mangan (and loads more) all stopped in to play intimate shows for up to 60-some-odd people. Now that the month had come to a close, We Are The City closed down the store with a pair of their own shows, celebrating the new album, RIP.

As the small space filled up and packed with bodies (and body heat), a projection of an Instagram livestream lit up the back wall, following the band as they made their way through East Vancouver right up to the venue, entering through the back, and hitting the stage. The trio of Cayne Mackenzie, David Menzel, and Andrew Huculiak were below a row of tube lights — sections of which illuminating each member and flashing in time to the music — as they kicked off with the soaring "Baptism", playing a selection of songs spotlighting the new album, as well as some old favourites.
And not only was the crowd singing along to a lot of those old favourites, but the new ones as well, despite the album only being out a week. They lamented on what would happen tomorrow for the quirky and incredibly catchy "You're So Clean", and yelled along to the titular chorus of the chaotic "Killer B-Side Music", sending tingled up the spine. Other highlights included the haunting “Dark Horizon”, from RIP's companion album AT NIGHT, and more singing along to "Friends Hurt"

Between songs the band told stories, joked around, and testing out a new thing they wanted to try: playing clips of a song between each of theirs. While they tuned and got ready for the next song, or just for comedic effect, they would turn up snippets of “Lady In Red" by the inimitable Chris de Burgh.
This, along with the loose banter from the band just helped bolster the intimate nature of the show, already evident by the small space of a few dozen people (many of which already knew each other and/or the band).

This intimacy was also evident as Cayne introduced the final song of the night, telling the heartbreaking story behind the album's title track "RIP". Originally written about their waning closeness with longtime friend Kyle Tubbs (of Fields of Green), his untimely passing while working on other songs for the album with the band gave “RIP” an entirely new meaning.
Nothing I can say here can aptly describe what followed, as Cayne’s strained voice, cracking with raw emotion, filled the silent room. The only sounds other than the song being soft sobs and sniffles as there was not a dry eye in the house — including Cayne, David, and Andy — for one of the most emotionally impactful moments I’ve ever experienced in live music.

It’s been a little over ten years since I first saw the band, and I’m constantly amazed how they just keep managing to get better & better, but also more and more creative. Not just with their music, but with the feature films, this store, with everything they do. And even though the album just came out… I can’t wait to see/hear/experience what’s next.

setlist
Baptism
Night Guest
Kiss Me, Honey
Friends Hurt
Obviously
You're So Clean
Dark Horizon
Keep On Dancing
King David
Killer B-Side Music
RIP

Rich Aucoin @ Biltmore Cabaret -- 10/31/19

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Rich Aucoin has been on his "Death Tour" recently, promoting his latest album Release, and he finally brought it back to Vancouver, returning to the Biltmore Cabaret. But what could be better than a Rich Aucoin show? How about a Rich Aucoin show on Hallowe'en night? With loads of costumes both onstage and off, ranging from the lazy (mine) to the elaborate, it was the perfect night for a show about death.

Opening the night was Vancouver duo Tourist Company. Taylor Swindells and Brenon Parry took the stage in banana costumes, for their space-y alt-rock, kicking off with last year's "Spokane".
Swindells' ethereal vocals filled the room, as they played a collection of songs both from their previous album, the space-race-themed Apollo as well as some recently released songs. Highlights included the slower and incredibly emotional "'Til We Disappear", the frenetic "Conflicted/Restricted" and the driving (and infectious) "Fractured State".


After a brief break, Rich Aucoin introduced the show, dressed as an unmasked Spider-Man, joined only by Tony Dallas on drums (in a full Daft Punk outfit, helmet and all). He began, as he usually does, with a vocal warmup for the crowd: singing along to the 20th Century Fox fanfare. This lead directly into the "opening credits", clips from movies intercut with the names of people at the show, along with a fun/awesome "fact" about them.

After the intro, the set opened with the instrumental title track to the new album Release, Aucoin on synth and Dallas the backbone of the show — even when getting tangled in the decorative cobwebs, he literally didn't miss a beat. While the slow-burn spoken-word of "The Base" got the crowd hyped, the energy erupted into the next song, an old favourite singalong, "Undead".

With lyrics on the projection screen at the back of the stage, the audience screamed along for most of the night; in joy, in defiance, in catharsis, and Rich was right there with everyone. Sometimes literally as he would often hop off the stage and go into the crowd, illuminated only by a handheld bare lightbulb. Along with the lyrics, most of the new songs were accompanied by clips from Alice in Wonderland, as the new album was written to be synced up with the film, Dark Side Of The Rainbow style.

And of course, as is now the Rich Aucoin trademark, he brought out the parachute during "Are You Experiencing?", the rainbow canvas stretching back to fill the entire Biltmore dance floor, as people rushed under it to dance with Rich, or held on to the edges to wave it with the enthusiasm of a 3rd grade gym class. There are few concert experiences I've had that spark more joy (to borrow a phrase) than the parachute.

But as I've said before, no amount of "stage show" would be as fun if there weren't the songs to back it up, and Aucoin absolutely has that. From the unbridled exuberance of "Want To Believe" to the melancholic "The Time" and every emotion in between, the show included some of the most uplifting (and catchy) songs about death you will ever hear, including favourites off the new album like “The Middle” and “The Other”.

After a set that completely flew by, Rich brought the night to an end with one last giant singalong, as he started "It" by asking everyone to put their arm around their neighbour, and then wading into the middle of the crowd while urging the audience not to leave it all in their head.

I've joked to people that Rich Aucoin is one of only two musicians who I will voluntarily stand front-row for, and the ONLY one that will get me to actually dance, because the energy at one of his shows is utterly unparalleled. And not just coming from the stage -- he barely stands still even for a moment -- but in the crowd as well. Aucoin has a talent to bring everyone in the room together, not just as a collection of people standing in the same room watching the same show, but a true shared experience.

And don’t forget to check out Christine’s photos here!

setlist
Release
The Base
Undead
The Middle
The Change
The Self
Want To Believe
The Time
Are You Experiencing?
The Other
It

Dan Moxon @ WISE Hall -- 10/24/19

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Back when I was first getting into the "local scene", I went to see a well-known Canadian band who... well, I didn't much care for their set, but I did come away from that show with a new discovery: a band by the name of Bend Sinister. They were one of the first local bands I really got into, and have followed them for the last decade-plus. Flash forward to this month, where frontman Dan Moxon has released his debut solo album Lounge Singer, and hit the WISE Hall for an album release show.

First up though, was another band celebrating a new release, The Wild Romantics. Aleisha Kalina and Evan Miller took the stage alone, Evan armed with a guitar, and started off with "She Could Tell" from their previous release of the same name. From there they went through every song from the new EP Feel The Lightnin'. Their voices blended beautifully for the stripped down set, going from the soft and longing "Long Blue Highway" to the electric "Feel the Lightnin'" to the darker "Hungry Teeth".
Kalina and Miller have such amazing chemistry together & are always a joy to watch live, and this night was no different.

After a short break, Dan Moxon took the stage with his band, immediately launching into "Be Better" from the new album. Behind the keys, Dan was joined only by a rhythm section (who also backed him on vocals) and a saxamaphone, the lack of lead guitar being one of the driving things to set the album apart from Bend Sinister.

Moxon focused mostly on the new album, with songs like the contemplative "Where You Going To Sleep Tonight", the upbeat "Playing With Fire", and "Morning After" which built to a frantic ending. Other highlights included my favourites off the album; "Around the World", the most jaunty song I've ever heard about not leaving your home, and the 50s doo-wop tinged "You Left Me", a fun song about an 'I Saw You' or 'Missed Connections' newspaper ad.

Along with the new tunes, Dan also slipped in a few treats for longtime fans like the slow-burning Bend Sinister song "Don't Let Us Bring You Down", and a few covers from the likes of Bowie, Radiohead, and a really fun version of "Honky Cat" from Elton John, joking that he needed at least one cover from a lounge singer, based on the album title.

As a band, Bend Sinister always puts on huge and energetic live shows, and Moxon is a big part of that. But even while this was toned down (by its very nature) Dan was no less captivating as his fingers flew over the keys and powerful voice filled the hall. I would go to any lounge with Dan Moxon as the singer in it, in a heartbeat.

Wild Romantics setlist
She Could Tell
Long Blue Highway
Hungry Teeth
San Francisco
Cheyenne
Feel The Lightnin'

Dan Moxon setlist
Be Better
Afraid of the World
The Corner
Don't Let Us Bring You Down
The Blue
Everlasting Fear
Playing With Fire
Oh! You Pretty Things [David Bowie cover]
Where You Gonna Sleep Tonight
No Surprises [Radiohead cover]
You Left Me
Morning After
New Year's Day
Honky Cat [Elton John cover]
Live For Today