Repeated Offences.

I just had to post this.
I know, consecutive posts about Kaki King is a bit much --- but this was one of my favourite moments of the gig.
Also, since I'm in this video for approximately 0.5 seconds.
This is worth the post.
I have to admit. Having someone record an entire gig is a great way to re-live it.

Storytelling In the Form of Music.

Kaki King
The Biltmore Cabaret
March 12th, 2011
Opener: Megan Washington

Megan Washington is an Australian musician who sat centre stage in the dimly lit room of The Biltmore in a blinding spotlight with a piano and microphone. She played pop tunes about "failed relationships" and the like. Her accent from The Land Down Under could be heard in her raspy vocals which reminded me of Cat Power -- with more punch. Washington definitely captivated the audience with her passionate piano playing and witty lyrics. Her humour was evident in her short and quirky banter with the audience, charming us with stories about wiki-ing cities she will play in and remarking on funny facts that are great ice-breakers in any conversation.
Her ease on stage was felt in her enticing story about her "bad vibe-rater" -- note: this sounded painfully similar to "vibrator" which I'm sure everyone in the audience including Kaki herself thought she was talking about. This unraveled into a hilarious story about her bar outings and mistaking a drunk guys obvious sexual advances for a common friendship-- Hence her bad "vibe-rater" of other people's vibes. (The end of this encounter ended up with her singing lullabies until he fell asleep -- how sweet, yet ironically hilarious).
This is the song that was inspired by that incident.


She'll be playing SXSW dates next -- catch them if you can, you are sure to do some feet shuffling and body moving.

Kaki King came on stage after 9pm and announced to the waiting audience that there is a problem and we can all fix it together. ----
I wonder if it was a sound issue, tech problem, drunk and rowdy behaviour? ---
No, it's because she'll have to sit for her performance and this will result in only the first lucky few to be able to see her. She urged all of us on hard wood floors to sit down, nice and comfortable beside our fellow music listeners. Shoulder to shoulder we sat with our legs cramps -- the perfectly unobstructed view of Kaki on stage with her one of eight guitars though -- made it all worth-the-while.

She opened the set with Bone Chaos In The Castle one of my favourite songs off of her 2008 release "Dreaming of Revenge". It was a short and energetic preview of what we will all be witness to that night -- Talent. After this was Doing the Wrong Thing -- one of the songs which attracted me to her percussive and melodic guitar-playing style. Her set-list included Magazine, Playing With Pink Noise, Life Being What It Is to and a cover of Fences My Girl The Horse just to name a few. A pleasant surprise was her performance of the twitter requested Neanderthal from her 2004 release "Legs to Make Us Longer" (I want to thank you the one who requested this brilliantly played song).

She was encircled by eight incredibly impressive looking guitars played in multiple tunings -- which she switched periodically between songs from acoustic to lap-steel to a terrifying-looking double-necked guitar. The sounds produced was articulate, melodic, crisp and resonant with just enough edge to keep you wanting more.
Photo: From here

Between songs her hilarious banter drew the audience in. She blatantly drew attention to Washington's "vibe-rater" story and had the audience chuckling along. Really though... who actually says that, "vibe-rater". One of my favourite anecdotes of hers was a story about having her heart broken -- the non-conventional way. That is to have a cute girl who had been making eyes at her come up and "angelically" say that she and her girlfriend "totally get in on to [her] songs." --- Her friends try to console her claiming that this is in many ways, a threesome --- just think about -- after some pondering out-loud, her song and them = not really the type of threesome to brag about, if at all. Yeah -- It's not that romantic. But makes for a great story to tell when surrounded by friends with empty bottles and time on your hands. Hilarious.
I would also like to add that she played the show while fighting off a cold -- really great to see that she didn't let it effect her performance.

This was undoubtedly one of my top shows of this year. It's refreshing to see a show where the talent is not clouded by light effects, glow-sticks and general rowdiness. Authenticity at its finest.
One of the things I've always loved about her music is that you can for yourself decide what each song can mean. That it is so open to interpretation is something that makes it desirable to listen to-- for me at least. Others may call this instrumental style boring, or unexciting -- I think it's incredibly inventive. To each their own, I suppose.

If you can, be sure to catch her on tour -- you won't regret the experience.

Kaki King - Bone Chaos In The Castle (Live)


Kaki King - Neanderthal (live)

This youtube account has several Kaki King shows... go nuts.

Covered With Steel Strings

I love Fences (Chris Mansfield) - I also really like Kaki King's experimental guitar style.
So that means this Fences song 'My Girl The Horse' covered by Kaki King is like gold to me.
It shimmers.
It's a completely original interpretation on a wonderfully heartbreaking song.
Brilliant



I'm excited to see Kaki King live at The Biltmore in Vancouver on the 12th of March.
Maybe she'll cover this song and add a few vocals.

What To Listen For in 2010

2010 will be full of great new concerts and shows. I'll be catching a few of them in the New Year!

Tegan and Sara w/ An Horse & Astronautilis - January 5th & 6th
@ The Orpheum Theatre






Phoenix w/ YSP!WSD! - January 22nd
@ The Orpheum Theatre





City and Colour w/ The Rural Alberta Advantage - February 15th
@ The Orpheum Theatre





And since February will be full of free outdoor shows for the 2010 Winter Olympics, I'm sure I'll catch a few shows:
Excited to see:

Coeur de Pirate - February 20th & 21st
@ Livecity Yaletown Stage
@ Maison Du Quebec

Malajube - February 12th
@ Performance Works: Granville Island

Wintersleep - February 27th
@ The Surrey Celebration Stage - Holland Park, Surrey

Alexisonfire - Sometime in February

Check Here for shows in Surrey
Check Here for shows in Vancouver & Also Here
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Also all of these bands have new albums coming out in 2010, so keep your ears out for them!

Arcade Fire
Spoon
MGMT
Vampire Weekend
Sufjan Stevens
Kaki King
Fences
Yeasayer
The National
Mgmt
Arcade Fire
Broken Social Scene
Cat power
Stars
The New Pornographers
Against Me!
Los Campesinos!
Uh Huh Her

Bone Chaos in the Castle

Kaki King

Think of a pretty girl, with an intimidating guitar. Add about 7 different pedals and a microphone.
Kaki King (Katherine Elizabeth King) a guitar player and singer-songwriter from Atlanta Georgia. She has an uncanny ability to make music in the subtle slaps and bars of the guitar. Her music is contrary to her small 5,2' stature, her music is grand, melodic and a mesh of sounds. Her instrumentals include lap steel, acoustic and electric guitars, drums, ad melodica.

Kaki King - Pull Me Out Alive
This video was shot from thousands of pictures taken mere milliseconds from another. I love the concept and think it is especially entertaining to watch and dissect.
Watch for guest appearances from Sara Quin and Hesta Prynn


Kaki King - They Loved It In Italy (LIVE)
If you wanted proof that she plays live just as well as she does on record, this live version is impressive