Saturday, January 30, 2010

Phoenix

January 22nd, 2010.

Marked the first day of the Cultural Olympiad in celebration of the 2010 Olympics in vancouver.
This day also marked Phoenix's first show in Vancouver.
The Orpheum Theatre held a sold out show to the European musicians.
My body was vibrating with excitement palpable immediately once they took to the stage.
I was in the balcony and saw everything from a birds eye view. Amazing.

You Say Party! We Say Die! opened for them with a 45 minute set filled with hooky melodies and catchy chorus'. I've been a frequent listener of theirs and was excited to finally see them in a concert setting.

Phoenix came on stage to eardrum-erupting of applause. The concert was such a rush I find it hard to summarize the events.

Maybe this video of the onstage rush of excitable yet respectable concertgoers in their encore would show you exactly what you missed if you hadn't attended.

Phoenix - (ENCORE) If I Ever Feel Better & 1901

Friday, January 29, 2010

Have One On Me - Joanna Newsom


In case you live in a bubble where the deprivation of beautiful music is rampant.
This musician by the name of Joanna Newsom is a necessary addition to your music collection.
Place her album at the top of your building stack of records.

Joanna Newsom - '81

For everything Joanna Newsom
Her new record entitled, Have One On Me is said to be released on February 23rd. Mark your calendars (I know I will be).
I remember the first time I first heard her harp, quirky vocals and lyrics. Peach, Plum, Pear left me speechless. Sometimes music can do that. This doesn't happen often and when it does, for me at least i know that it means that the music not only is meant to be heard, but listened to, analyzed, memorized and learned.
Like the prints on your fingertips. You need to know this music

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Fight Your Consciousness

I decided to take a nap in the afternoon.
This was right after I had read article after article about the devastation in Haiti.
Because as a human who relates things back to myself.
I thought about how sad and lost I would feel if something horrible were to happen to my family and the people I knew.
I went to sleep with terrible images of destruction encircling life on Earth, and the world around me coming to an end...
Basically an Armageddon type situation.
---------------------------------------------------------
I quickly realised that my brain and consciousness is powerful enough to trap me inside my twisted thoughts of fear and hopelessnes.
I dreamed that I had woken up and the my windows were opened wide. My curtains torn. Like the wind had forced them open.
The SPICE GIRLS were playing on my laptop. It was so loud, that I found it hard to think. Something about the lighting in my room seemed off. I forced my windows shut and walked outside to see that the walls were brightly lit and there was a collage of blurred images on the walls. My brothers room wasn't there.
I then realized that I had in fact NOT woken. I am still in my trapped consciousness.
My dream self promptly then just back into bed
====================================================================

I then went on to fight with myself to WAKE UP.
My mind and brain wouldn't let me. My muscles seemed frozen and when I forced myself to move, I moved in spasms.
I feared that I may wake up paralyzed.
My eyes were open enough so that I could see that my lights were on. I just couldn't wake up.
I spent what seemed like 10 minutes fighting my consciousness to wake up.
And in the dream I was watching myself. Like a hovering ghost above my sleeping, fighting, body I watched myself fight to wake up.
I finally eventually did wake up and ran to make sure my brother was alive.

I realized that destruction that people face around this world can effect us all. And that our minds are a lot stronger that we may think so.
I just had a fight with my consciousness to will myself to wake up. That is a scary thought.
... No more afternoon naps for me. Ever.

Oh yes. HAITI. Donate what you can here: 1 877 514 2484 (HAITI)

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Is It In Your Bones?

Tiesto ft. Tegan and Sara - Feel It In My Bones


Have you seen this yet?
My eyes are trying to adjust to the bright lights and techno beats.
This video makes me think of the potential for a future Tegan and Sara dance record.
In the works, I'm sure.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Lazy Eyes

Silversun Pickups - Lazy Eye


"I've been waiting,
I've been waiting all my life
But it's not quite right."


The first time I saw this video in 2007, I loved it immediately. It became my favourite to watch and to listen to. This band was new to me and they had just began to surface as a band with prominent music videos on rotation on "The Wedge." The only music show I watched on TV, aside from Going Coastal... whatever happened to that show? It was the only channel that featured artists and musicians I listened to. Religiously I would watch the Wedge, and Going Coastal. I loved them.

Their 2007 release "Swoon" was filled with remedies for love. Fantastic. Their 2009 release "Carnavas" revealed a more aggressive, perhaps forward and bold sound. Reflecting in their lyrics and guitars and drums.
Panic Switch
is a favourite off of Carnavas.
"Lazy Eye", the dark lights in this video brought a hue of bold, warm reds and dark innuendos. Blurs of bodies of teens dancing to a song about longing. It reminded me of night time. Specifically when the sun was just setting. The song itself to me screamed "LISTEN TO ME!" yet it was subtle and shy.
The video features a cute young girl in a leather jacket with a boys haircut. She is enjoying the music, all the while glancing behind her at the door in search of someone. It turns out she had been waiting for a boy with shoulder length golden locks. Handsome. They dance at a distance and make quick and shy eyes at each other through the dancing adolescent bodies between them. (hence, "lazy eye").
I LOVE this video.
It makes me feel nostalgic and relaxed.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Tegan and Sara x2

(c) jennifer picard photography www.jenniferpicard.com

I was lucky enough to have attended both of the Tegan and Sara concerts in Vancouver. January 5th and 6th have been reserved for this occasion for quite some time. Having been an avid fan of their music since So Jealous, I was anticipating great music, banter and laughter. Tegan and Sara along with Ted Gowans, Shaun Huberts and Johnny Andrews filled the beautiful Orpheum Theatre in Vancouver with almost 2 hours worth of music, banter and laughter.

Opening for them at 7:30 to a rousing clutter of applause was Astronautilis, a rapper and experimental musician. I had frequented his Myspace page a few weeks before the concert and thought his music was definitely Different. I thought he was particular and interesting. I gave him a chance and thought he had great interaction and energy. Although the Tegan and Sara fans can appear a little standoffish to new and different opening acts. I sat in my seat the first night nodding along to Andy's raps and beats. He was entertaining and seemed to suffer an intense epileptic seizure throughout his songs. I saw this as adding to his stage presence and energy. Overall I give his an A for his efforts and no lack for a better word, confidence in our unfiltered claps.

An Horse then appeared seamlessly after Andy at 8:00. I saw them first at The Rifflandia Music Festival in Victoria. They opened for Tegan and Sara at the Alix Goolden Hall, I've been an avid/casual listener of their music for a while and was happily singing along to their songs in their 40 minute set. I think their music involves great melodies and heart-wrenching lyrics. They played Listen one of my favourite tracks, the melodica made the song for me. They closed the set with a guitar-ripping, drum-intense extended version of Shoes Watch. Loved it.

Tegan and Sara then appeared at 9:00 to an Orpheum FULL of anticipating fans. APPLAUSE. I had goosebumps throughout their entire set. This happens sometimes when I feel like something special is happening. They opened with their opening track, appropriately enough. Arrow easily one of the most memorable songs exploded on stage. The synths, emphasized vocals and Feel It In My Bones-esque rhythms made me want to scream with excitement. I mostly sat in awe and felt the bass vibrating in my chest. My hair shaking on ends. This then followed my a flawless live version of Don't Rush. Sara's vocals in the bridge were the highlight for me.

Favourite moments of the concert included their verbal exchange about Candygrams, and family members.
They played Sainthood in its entirety and brought along the classics as well. So Jealous and Knife Going In were favourites.

The encore made my night: Back in Your Head, an acoustic rendition of Feel it in My Bones stunned the crowd. My jawed was unhinged and heavy. Goosebumps. Call it off was interrupted with a classic mess-up of vocal harmonies which lead to banter about a German translator describing them as "partners" and TV movie moments. Also this lead to the audience standing up and attempting to sing Call it Off along with them. Being polite Canadians we couldn't sing loud enough for us to hear our own voices. Mostly whispers.
Still amazing though. Living Room --> nostalgic.

All in all, it was a fantastic concert filled with Tegan and Sara remedies and music.

Saturday, January 2, 2010

Spinner

SPINNER.CA <-- Interface

I frequent this bi-weekly.
Favoirites include:
Gossip
Tegan and Sara
Regina Spektor