Friday, November 30, 2012

Gossip - I Wanna Be Your Dog

Gossip - I Wanna Be Your Dog

                       
                       
                       
                       
GOSSIP : I wanna be your dog - MYTARATATA.COM
TARATATA N°329 (Tour. le 10/09/09 / Diff. France 4 le 18/11/09 & France 2 le 20/11/09)

This Iggy Pop cover by Gossip is an amazing burst of punk rock energy and uninhibited actions.
Love this so much.

Cat Power @ Vogue Theatre

Cat Power
Vogue Theatre
Guests: Entrance
November 2nd, 2012

The crowd was buzzing with excitement.
Incense, candles, tarot cards and flowers littered the stage around Chan Marshall's microphone. It set the stage for the memorable night.

As smoke began to fill the stage, Cat Power finally set foot into the historic Vogue Theatre around 10:45pm and everyone showed their excitement. I couldn't believe that she was standing right there in front of me. This beautiful talented musician that I had always admired. I was fearful that she would cancel the tour after she had stated that she was dealing with health issues and was almost bankrupt!
I wanted to support her with all my might.

Cat Power was accompanied by 3 female musicians and a male multi- instrumentalist. The female musicians exuded an energy that grounded the audience. They were all clad in black and this set the stark contrast between stage lights and performers. They shredded on guitar, kept rhythm on percussion and added depth of sound with bass/keys and vocals.

From the moment Chan set foot on stage a smile crept onto my face and stayed there for the entire show. I had, unbeknownst to me, become really emotional. I had never cried at a show before but I was close to it. If an artist can garner that type of reaction from me, her music of course has been very influential in my life. This reaction to seeing her was strange, for me at least its uncommon to be this emotional. I suppose my body reacts to what the mind delays. Relief. Happiness. Maybe even disbelief. 

Chan Marshall had a bleached blond androgynous hair cut. I missed her gorgeous straight bangs and long hair but this new look really allowed her to transform. She squirmed and twisted her body while she sang strained lyrics into her microphone. She was sick that night and would cough away from the microphone and wouldn't miss a lyric. Dedication.

She pulled awkwardly at her black jeans and stood near the edge of the stage while performing. Making her way from one side of the stage to the other she claimed her space and it spoke to us, she spoke to us. She made sure that her eyes locked with each and every one of us. Pulling us in closer and engaging us-- we were all accountable -- we were not just shadows in the crowd. We were part of the show.

One of my favourite moments was during her song "Bully" the stage lights dimmed and the spotlight focused on her. Her band-mates were in shadows and she poured her hurt all over us.
This performance was chill and goose-bump inducing. I remember closing my eyes and rolling my head back. It made sense to pause and just listen.

Not all moments can be perfect though, during this intimate moment two people in the front row decided to bicker, this caught Chan's attention and her quick words of"It's terribly rude to talk [during the song]" shut them up. Good thing too, because not long afterwards an audience member fainted and had to be carried out, but not before Chan handed her a water bottle and called for security help.

I appreciated this-- as a fan of music you hope that the musicians that you admire are people with a conscious and have heart. Chan Marshal has all of this and more.

She played several songs from her new album 'Sun' and some classics. She re-worked most of her older songs and you had to really listen to recognize them. She opened with a re-worked version of "The Greatest" and followed with an incredible set list. One of the songs that received the loudest cheers were "Cherokee"as well as when she ended with 'Ruin', notably her strongest song off of her new record. She threw flowers into the audience at the end and we all reached our eager hands up to grasp some essence of her.
Cat Power didn't give an encore although most of us stayed after the lights came up and continued to clap. We were hoping that maybe they would indulge us with one more song. They understandably, didn't.

I left the show loving her more than I would have thought. She found time between songs to sign albums and posters from audience members. She graciously accepted gifts from the audience: gloves, letters and flowers. Giving away set lists and blowing kisses. I haven't seen many artists sign albums during the show before and seeing this warmed my heart.
I'm not sure why... maybe because it means that we in some small way matter to her and she needs us just as much as we need her.

Set list:
The Greatest
Cherokee
Silent Machine
Manhattan
Human Being
Kings Ride By
Sun
Bully
Angelitos Negros (Pedro Infante Cover)
Always On My Own
Back In the Days
3, 6, 9
Nothing But Time
I Don't Blame You
Peace and Love
Ruin

Cherokee - Cat Power

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Laura Marling

Laura Marling
Commodore Ballroom
June 27th, 2012
Doors 8 / Willy Mason 9:30 / Laura Marling 10:30

In the hours leading up to Laura Marlings' show, I tried to eat a proper meal but didn't have any appetite; I was too excited to finally see her headline a show. The Commodore Ballroom is a suitable venue for her droning and melodic folk tunes and acoustic songs.
I arrived just past 9pm and noticed that the floor was nearly empty. I walked straight to the front of the stage and planted my feet just a couple feet from where Laura would shortly be. I met a few fans who came down from Yellowknife and the Island just to see the show. That shows dedication, and well they respectively deserved their positions at the front of the stage.
Laura Marling looked lovely in her vintage red and white floral dress and white sneakers. She perched herself on her stool and launched into her first song. The audience was rowdy with excitement but was quickly hushed to a pin-drop silence with Laura Marling's mesmerizing voice. She admitted to being bad at banter and well we of course helped her out. The audience was rowdy and "lively, for a Laura Marling concert." She was delightfully and surprisingly awkward and coy for such a talented artist with a gift for storytelling through songwriting.
She was accompanied by four other musicians, a multi-instrumentalist / percussionist, a pianist and guitarist, a celloist and upright bassist filled out the stage.

Midway though the set everyone left the stage and Laura played several songs unaccompanied. These were my favourite moments of the entire show. It shows her talent and blatant skill in songwriting. Just brilliant.

Favourite moments include Laura Marling introducing her band mates and stating that each one had prepared an interesting fact that they would share to make up for their lack of banter, it was hilarious.
A memorable moment for me was her performance of "What He Wrote" from her 2010 release 'I Speak Because I Can.' Her music has always been something that has been able to turn my stomach into knots and at the same time, lull me to sleep.

Laura Marling - Hope In The Air at The Commodore Ballroom

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Tearz For Animals.

Antony Hegarty’s voice has the ability to quieten any room it touches. This collaboration with eclectic sister act CocoRosie works so well in its majestic, yet ethereal quality.



"Do you have love for humankind?"

Monday, May 7, 2012

We Are On Fire

CocoRosie - We Are On Fire


I don't know how I feel about this song just yet.
It has to grow on me and who knows, it might end up being a favourite.

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Laura Marling.

Andrew Bird with Laura Marling
Vogue Theatre
April 10, 2012

I bought a ticket to this show specifically because I saw that Laura Marling was opening for Andrew Bird. I don't particularly love Andrew Bird's music, although I do appreciate it.

Laura Marling's 30 minute set made the whole show worth the while.
Standing centre stage with her acoustic guitar, she graced us with her awkward stage banter; but delighted us with her incredibly soulful and haunting songs.
I had been waiting a long time to see her live.
She played a personal favourite "Rambling Man" off of her 2010 release "I Speak Because I Can" after an enthusiastic fan requested it. 

This is another one of my favourites. "Hope In The Air"


Andrew Bird was nothing short of entertaining.
I wasn't familiar with his work and I saw why many would be drawn to his sound.
I wasn't particularly invested in this show... I suppose you could say Laura Marling stole the show.
For me anyway.


Monday, February 27, 2012

Alabama Shakes

Alabama Shakes + Quiet Life
Media Club
January 29th, 2012

Soul vocals, blues rock, amazing ambiance, receptive audience.
Did I mention soul vocals?

Rockabilly sounds that should be mandatory for everyone.
It's educative. It cleanses the soul.

I was blown away by their performance and the sold out crowd showed their appreciation for the blues band.