Saturday, May 28, 2011

Lykke Li + Grimes = Light Show + War Dance

Lykke Li
Guest: Grimes
The Vogue Theatre
May 27th, 2011
Grimes 9:30pm / Lykke Li 10:30pm

Where do I begin to try to describe the show I just witnessed?
It had been a few months since I'd seen a show at The Vogue and it was incredibly nostalgic walking in through the doors and into the heart of the venue. I arrived just past 9pm and walked into a packed theatre. There was an excitement in the air, it was almost palpable and electric. Concert-goers milled about with their drinks in hand waiting for the opener Grimes to begin her set.

At around 9:30 Grimes -- stage persona of Claire Boucher, a multi-instrumentalist who syncs and loops her bass, synth and electronic beats into her keys to which she sung to. Almost immediately I noticed her unique voice which carried itself distinctly through her experimental-pop/contemporary melodies. She blew me and I'm sure everyone away with her child-like voice and overall cosmic-ethereal weirdness. I found her to have adorable stage presence, I couldn't help but smile and dance throughout her set. She stood centre stage with two keyboards and sang her trip-hop/melodic word rhymes-- it really does take you someplace special.
She's a Montreal based, Vancouver artist and she has me hooked.
Her music is particular yet strangely beautiful, it is genre-bending and absolutely unique.
I regret not buying her album after the show -- it is now on my list of "must finds."

This song sounded so great live.
Grimes - Vanessa

Grimes - Vanessa from Arbutus Records on Vimeo.

(I think I love this song--- and it's only been a few hours since I first heard it)

After Grimes' set --
Lykke Li took to the stage at around 10:30. Might I add that Lykke Li strutted on stage in a black robe/cloak that revealed just enough to make you swoon. She looked like a ghostly dark phantom that emerged from the smoke and flashing lights to deafening applause and cheers. From what I remember she opened with Jerome ---- I think.
It really doesn't matter what songs she played, or in what order, all that really matters is that Lykke Li commanded the stage with her "war dance" amidst the seizure-inducing light show. It was an incredible visual, an experience that leaves you hollering with excitement, and wanting more.

Lykke Li was accompanied on stage by musicians clad in black. There were two percussionist and therefore drum-sets, a plethora of keyboards/synths, an accompanying singer and a bassist/guitarist who all encircled Lykke Li, who stood front and centre stage.
What sets this show apart form the many others I have seen is perhaps the brilliant stage design of long black drapes which tossed and danced in the "wind" around the musicians on stage. The music stands on its own, Lykke Li, a Swedish native absolutely embodies a distinctly powerful voice which carries itself across in anthemic songs like "I Follow Rivers" and yet can still deliver the sweet and delicate sentiments of "I Know Places." She played a cohesive mixture of songs from both her albums, Wounded Rhymes and Youth Novels. Bringing out audience favourites "Little Bit," "Dance Dance Dance" with a strong focus on her 2011 release.
She also played an unreleased track which she doesn't play often (?) ("Made Me Move/Made You Move?), she played this just after telling us that we were "the best audience so far" which is always a great thing. Brilliant

My favourite moment of the night:
Lykke Li's band left the stage and she proceeded to play "I Know Places" sans accompanying musicians. It was a beautiful moment, and the audience shushed up for those few moments..... until she launched into an upbeat song which prompt the audience to break the silence and cheer, dance and enjoy the music.

Lykke Li - I Know Places

(My favourite track off of Wounded Rhymes)

Monday, May 23, 2011

DIrty Radio

To celebrate the LP record release of Sallie Ford & The Sound Outside, here is their video for "Dirty Radio" ("I Swear"?) -- It's a throwback to the sounds of 50's rock and roll/blues.

Sallie Ford & the Sound Outside - I Swear from Matthew Ross on Vimeo.

Friday, May 20, 2011

Phantogram + Fine Mist

Phantogram
Guest: Fine Mist
Venue (Nightclub)
May 20, 2011
Time: 8- 8:30pm Fine Mist, 9-10pm Phantogram (The shortest show I think I've been to)
I met up with a couple friends, Grace and Dan, just after I checked my tickets at the Venue box office. One of the bouncers who stood just outside Venue turned out to be a former classmate of mine. We had second year English together, and well it's nice to know that even Bouncers, who's job is to intimidate and keep trouble out, also enjoys discussing about why the protagonist and antagonist can never have a love relationship that can last. After meeting/staying for "drinks" at Cafe Crepe across the street on the Granville strip, we (friends of friends of friends) made our way over to see the opening act.

Fine Mist who turns out to be a really well known local act who (according to my good friend Dan) opened for Hercules and Love Affair --- (I wanted to be at that show). They are comprised of a female vocalist and male multi-instrumentalist. I don't know anything about them other than the fact that I couldn't stop smiling while watching them perform. They have this overwhelmingly adorable stage presence, both charismatic and entertaining. The crowd swayed and shuffled in what I would call enjoyment, I suppose to the catchy and synth-driven songs. After their 30 minute set, the audience began to re-shuffle, re-arrange, re-assemble and re-claim the places that they hope to occupy during the headlining act. In this case it was Phantogram.

I first saw Phantogram open for Metric in June of 2010 at the Malkin Bowl. I had never heard of them, and didn't think much about their music. The band is made up of a female synth/vocalist and a male guitarist/vocalist. Their instrumental was catchy, smooth and melodic. I remember her vocals to be "airy" and captivating... It put me in a swaying trance.

Fast forward to their first headlining show in Vancouver, and I can happily say their their performance encouraged erratic dancing, head bobbing and body swaying. It was a dance party to sweet and melodic songs [remixed] with the hammering sounds of a live drummer. The percussive element adds an entirely different dimension to the sound of Phantogram. In a live music setting the songs transform and become much larger than I could have anticipated. As a fairly new listener I think I'm hooked to their transient and synth driven songs, especially with the drumming element.
As a side note: I have to say that the lighting of the show was brilliantly done. Coloured light flooded across the musicians on stage and well added to the elevtro-rock/pop energy.

Phantogram - When I'm Small


---------------------------------------
It was my first time at Venue, and I was pleasantly surprised at the small space that holds so many club nights and concerts. I wonder -- because Venue is known as a place to come to for remixed pop songs and the like that maybe a culture of sporadically taking semi-not-so-great photos of you and your friends in such an environment is something that might not be the best activity in a live concert setting.
I don't think hundreds of blurry photos will mean much when you can't even remember why you bought tickets to see a... oh yeah, a live music show. Listen to the music, and watch the performers, enjoy the songs and experience something you can't otherwise.
Think about it, when you're at a show.. you dance, scream, clap and cheer between songs. You can't really do this in any other environment... transit / classroom / work -- people might think you're a little insane.
If in all aspects of your life you are bound by some social / moral / societal construct -- feel the obligation/need to follow the guidelines of 'ordinary'. You can 'let loose' at a live show -- you can live a little and in many ways experience what these performers you came to see live through everyday. They sing, shout, dance and play loud instruments.... if they were ordinary would you take the time to see them?
I think you would only invest your time --- if you think these artists / musicians / dancers / performers are in some way extraordinary. So why not enjoy those moments, -- and instead of taking pictures from a point + shoot camera, enjoy the show.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

The Kills Causes High Blood Pressures.

The Kills
Guests: The Entrance Band / Cold Cave
The Commodore Ballroom
May 8, 2011

I am a late Kills listener. I had been slacking, and am now a fully revived The Kills listener. It took seeing them live to fully appreciate how great their music really is. Rock music at it's best. When there are so many bands out now in the indie scene, trying to fit in somehow. A band like The Kills really proves that authentic Rock music is still very much alive and thriving.

I missed The Entrance Band, but did catch the second half of Cold Cave's performance. Without knowing much about them, they put on a high-energy set that the audience seemed to enjoy.

The Kills comprised of Allison Mosshart and Jamie Hince walked onto stage clad in all black to a sold out crowd. I think, from what my memory recalls they kicked off their set with "No Wow" a sure crowd pleaser. What I found interesting in addition to the assured hardcore fans clad in leopard print, was that ONstage, there were two stage light operators manning the lights manually. I suppose sometimes when technology can't be depended on, it's always best to do things yourself. The spotlights of colour flooded over Allison's twisting, moving body as she sang, and danced around Jamie as he stood at the edge of the stage glaring at the crowd while playing his guitar riffs. Allison's continuous whipping of her hair, as if it, itself is an instrument added to the notion that yes, they are True Rockstars.

I also met possibly the nicest audience member who took it upon himself to act as a bodyguard for me and other short audience members. From what I recall, his name is Rory, and well, if I could have him at every show where everyone else towers over me, it would make my life a lot easier.

(Notice in the video below, the leopard patterned backdrop)
The Kills - Future Starts Slow


For a MUCH better review/thought/opinion piece on the show read here.

Friday, May 6, 2011

Thao and Mirah With the Most Of All

Thao and Mirah
Guests: Led to Sea / Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside
The Biltmore Caberet
May 5th, 2011

(BLOGGER DELETED THIS POST-- I'm too lazy to re-write it)

I caught the second half of Led to Sea, who also turns out to be the Violinist/Keys/Vocals for Thao and Mirah. She played exceptionally interesting looping violins with vocals. Great opener.

The second opener was Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside, the moment they began to play --- I began to dance. A lot of feet shuffling, head bobbing, body moving happened. They have that old bluesy - classic 50's rock sound to them. They sound unique, different, refreshing. I picked up their EP at the end of the night and am anticipating their full record release at the end of May (23rd - to be exact).
Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside - Not An Animal


When Thao and Mirah came onstage they opened with something rather mellow, clam, serene. I was an avid listener of Thao With the Get Down Stay Downs but had never made an attempt to familiarize myself with Mirah's work. It's safe to say that their set was played passionately by all musicians on stage. The stage - full of women musicians was refreshing. The sound was a little unbalanced at The Biltmore, the percussion was overpowering the acoustics and vocals. But because I positioned at the front of stage, seeing them play, no-matter how chaotic the sound sometimes was -- beautiful.
Favourites from their record include "Little Cup" and "Hallelujah"

Thao and Mirah - Little Cup

New, Improved, LIVE: Thao & Mirah - "Little Cup" from The Bay Bridged on Vimeo.