Lights, Dance, Music - Sufjan Style

(Check out the Amazing outfit! Photo from Here From his show in Vancouver 2006)

Sufjan Stevens
Orpheum Theatre
October 26, 2010

I've been a casual Sufjan listener. I can't recite his tracklist off by heart. I can recognize songs, and its hooks. And that's about as much Sufjan knowledge I have.
To say the least I had no idea what to expect from the concert.

The show began at 8:30 - the opener played 4 songs. It was a lovely 25 minute musical interlude of vocals, guitars, claps, and snaps all looped into a massive sound. I though it was a little disorienting and found myself thinking of hallucinogenic dances around camp fires.... I don't know where this association came from. To say the least, the audience really responded to this opener and clapped, cheered for him between songs.

Just after 9:00 Sufjan Stevens came on stage. The applause was deafening.
During the entire show brilliant projections of Sufjan , his dancers, animated shorts were shown on the backdrop. I really enjoyed the visuals, it added a different dimension to the show.
The music was mixed perfectly, the 2 drumsets. 2 backup singers/dancer, 2 trombones, 1 pianist, 1 keys/sound effects man, 1 bass, 1 electric guitar and Sufjan and his multiple instruments all blended together, without one overpowering the other.

His voice --- His VOICE was on point.
In short, the show consisted of choreographed dance moves, impeccable vocals, projected visuals, great live band = one of the most visually and musically interesting shows I have ever been to. It was a pleasant surprise, for sure.

Check out this review of the show from The Georgia Straight

Sufjan Stevens - Chicago (He loves us all very much)

Dance in the Rain

I have never danced in the rain.
I'm a bit of a hypochondriac, I always think I might end up with pneumonia.
Today I danced in the rain, and I loved it.

Scissor Sisters
Malkin Bowl
Outdoors
September 16, 2010
Lights and music and dance and sounds

The moment I walked into the venue with a friend we found shelter underneath the trees away from the rain. We recoiled from it, like it was a bad, bad smell. We worried about our clothes and especially our hair. We just could Not, get our hair wet. Why? Because when wet it impairs us... Let me elaborate, we both wear rimmed glasses... not only are we visually impaired enough, add a lot of blurry rain drops and now it looks like we're looking through a blurry spyglass, we see shapes and lights blurred together... sounds trippy doesn't it? Not when we're trying to catch glimpses of the members of SCISSOR SISTERS.
Jake Shears, Ana Matronic, Babydaddy and Del Marquis. They were all fabulous.

When Scissor Sisters took the stage at around 8:30 after their two openers, Sammy Jo and Casey Spooner, I quickly became soaking wet and was consistently blinded and impaired by both my hair and my misted glasses. Nonetheless I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I shuffled my feet, moved my body and kind of - danced.
I had an amazing time dancing to their songs off of their newest album Night Work, Ta Dah and their Self-Titled.
The setlist included (In no particular order) Night Work, Any Which Way, Skin Tight, Fire With Fire, Something Like This, Skin This Cat, Nightlife, Invisible Light (all from Night Work) I Don't Feel Like Dancing, She's My Man, Kiss You Off (From Ta-Dah) Take Your Mama Out, Comfortable Numb and Filthy/Gorgeous.

The sound at Malkin Bowl was amazing, the lights and lasers really added to the atmosphere of the show. Despite the rain I kept myself warm by dancing. Jake Shears and Ana Matronic worked the stage like no other, they are true performers and Jake braved the cold rain topless for a few songs before deciding that its better to be practical than fashionable and donned a black raincoat... this although did not hide his leather leotard-type outfit he had on. I was impressed by their live vocals and was smiling from ear to ear most of the time. I love their pop-disco-dance music and hearing their songs live really made me adore them even more!

One of the best moments of the night: When Ana Matronic took off her heels and put on her "running shoes" lower heels. Brilliant.
Another highlight also included: Ana Matronic announcing that the Malkin Bowl had a serious design flaw, (the stage not being covered from the rain). Hilarious.
Also: Filthy/Gorgeous deserves a mention. It was the first song I heard from the Scissor Sisters. I immediately became hooked. Their vocals are infectious and it was almost intoxicating. Confetti, glitter and lasers galore.

Until they return to Vancouver for an (Indoor) show, I will think back fondly of their show tonight. Walking home wet, cold and shivering was absolutely worth it.
My ears are still ringing.

Wow. Check out the photos from the show here. Amazing!

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.

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.