Strange Mercy

St. Vincent
Commodore Ballroom
October 12th, 2011
10:30pm

I spent the entire day attempting to study for my two midterms the following day. It was the usual hectic night before an exam for... I'd say most collegersity students.
You know, you feel like there aren't enough hours in a day for you to finish all the work you have to do. You wish that you could function through the night without sleep and still think rationally.
You also think ahead to the countless hours you will eventually spend with your eyes glued to your several textbooks that need to be read.

I decided at 10pm that studying would just have to resume after the St. Vincent show at the Commodore.
Having bought a ticket months before it seemed a waste if I didn't go to see this electrifying performer. I say electrifying because that is exactly what you would have felt if you had stood in the audience that night. Annie Clark and her electric guitar would ultimately lead to goose-bump inducing shredding.
It's a strange feeling walking in at 10:30 just minutes before she would take the stage and feel well at ease when you know that really it would end all too soon.

I'm a casual listener of St. Vincent -- I can't recall most of her songs by title, or sing along to her poetic and twisted lyrics. But I can through all this appreciate her unique approach to her songs, which are ultimately quirky, eclectic and particular.
I was blown away by her glamorous and classy stage presence.... It's odd to say that because Annie stood with an electric guitar and played it aggressively and intentionally. Shredding madness. I was taken aback by it, surprised--- I also was fully immersed into her performance. All of this juxtaposed with her soft and delicate vocals. A strange yet perfect mix of two contrasting sounds that when put together fit imperfectly and just right.

My favourite moment was when she performed "The Party" for the encore, stripped down with no electric guitar. Chilling.

This was the first song of St. Vincent that I remember listening to--
Actor out of Work:

COCOROSIE + AMOEBA

THIS IS THE COCOROSIE IN-STORE PERFORMANCE THAT I'VE BEEN WAITING TO SEE.
THEY PERFORMED ON JUNE 29TH, 2010.
THAT IS APPROXIMATELY 5 DAYS AFTER I SAW THEM PERFORM FOR THE FIRST TIME.
IT WAS LOVE (OBSESSION) AT FIRST.... LISTEN/SIGHT
GREAT WORK AMOEBA MUSIC!
IT ONLY TOOK YOU OVER A YEAR TO EDIT AND POST THIS VIDEO.
HONESTLY THOUGH, THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THIS VIDEO UP.
BECAUSE THIS VIDEO REMINDS ME WHY I ABSOLUTELY ADORE COCOROSIE, AND ALL OF THEIR QUIRKS.
So good.

I'm in a CSS (Cansei De Ser Sexy) phase.

This KCRW session has been on repeat all day.

KCRW CSS - MORNING BECOMES ECLECTIC 10.07.11

I Love You
Hits Me Like A Rock
Music is My Hot Hot Sex
City Grrrl
Interview
La Liberación
Red Alert
Let's Make Love and Listen to Death From Above
You Could Have It All
Move

I just saw MEN perform this weekend. They opened for CSS and well I remember standing in the audience and thinking, that it must be wonderful to play music, tour the world and meet new fans everyday.

I remember thinking that it must be a luxury to travel the world and be in a different city everyday.
I remember wishing that I could perhaps, do that one day.

I never gave much thought into what it actually might be like for those artists and musicians I admire so strongly.

JD Samson wrote this article, and well it made me think of all these things I had never considered.
It made me think that more people need to support live music, and the artists who make that music. Because... well it does matter.

Braid Braids Braided

Braids, a four-piece from Calgary/Montreal have received a lot of acclaim over the past few months. I remember hearing about them in mid 2010 and never paid them much mind. I really should have though, because this year they made it onto the 2011 Polaris Music Prize shortlist. They have my full undivided attention now.
And I have to say... Well, I'm impressed.

They create beautiful lush melodies that seamlessly weave together and the sound is one that can't really be described. I think it's chilling and purposefully aloof. (Does that make sense?)
Just have a listen and judge for yourself.
They are unique and that distinction is important when it comes to music.

CSS + MEN

CSS (Cansei De Ser Sexy)
Guest: MEN
Venue Nightclub
October 1st, 2011
Time: 7:30pm MEN, 8:45pm CSS
Curfew at 10pm!

I was missing my concert / dance buddy tonight--- he couldn't make it! (I tried to dance for both of us.)

This was the FIRST show of CSS' + MEN's North American Tour. (!!!)
I arrived at Venue at around 7:45 and MEN (comprised of JD Samson, Michael O'Neil and a drummer) had already started and was performing 'Credit Card Babies," glad I didn't miss it!
I saw them perform a while back at The Biltmore, I loved their songs then, and I still love them now. This time they performed with a live drummer and their sound exploded from the stage. They had four life-sized cardboard paintings of their friends, (Ginger Brooks Takahashi, Johanna Fatemen, Tammy Hart...... and another). Interesting props. They traditionally and happily ended their half-hour (ish) set with 'Who Am I To Feel So Free,' (my favourite track) -- it was exciting to watch them, because I love their sound and I love their expression. I just wished more concert-goers there could have loved them too.



CSS came out on stage at around 8:45 and I was shaking with excitment -- I'd been waiting to see them live for so long time, and finally they were there in front of me. They started their set with "I Love You," this opening track from their 2011 release La Liberación is infectious, catchy and dance-inducing. Adriano Cintra wasn't performing with them, and I want to know why! He is one of the personalities aside from Lovefoxxx that I absolutely need to see live, CSS isn't complete without him! (I miss his vocals) --- I kid. I just really admire his mustache. Have you seen it? It's impressive.
The stage, instruments and amps had red paper hearts taped on them. After all this was "The Fall In Love Tour," so it seemed to fit the theme.
I was immediately smitten by the band and developed a huge crush on Lovefoxxx and Ana Rezende (their guitar player), she has swag.
Lovefoxxx's energy and dancing was adorable and contagious, loved it! She squirms, and reaches out to the audience, strips off her cloths dramatically to reveal jean shorts and fishnet stockings. I had a smile on my face throughout the entire show and was pleasantly surprised to see that there at the show, a handful of true CSS fans came out. It always makes the live show even better when the energy the band is giving is received and given back. [Shuffle those feet, move that body, and 'feel' the music] you know... like you should at a CSS show.
They played a select few songs from their newest release and most of my favourites off of their other records. ('Alala, Art Bitch, Fuck Everything, Hit's Me Like A Rock, La Liberación, Music is my Hot Hot Sex,' were amongst the songs performed).
(During "Red Alert" Lovefoxxx donned a fox mask and a cape and announced that "Snoop Dog" was featured in the 'rap'.... funny --- Lovefoxxx never fails to put a goofy smile on my face.)

SO glad CSS played 'City Grrrl' live, it's one of my favourites off of their newest album.

Love this song.

Memorable moments: Lovefoxx crowd surfing + Dance madness.
At the merch table after the show I high-fived Lovefoxxx, thanked her for coming and told her she was amazing. (I couldn't help but be a dork.... it's Lovefoxxx!) And there I told Michael (MEN) that it was the second time I'd seen them and that their live drummer kicked ass. Also that I missed Tammy Hart, bassist/guitarist, only to be told that Tammy couldn't make it because she was getting married to her girlfriend back in New York (?). Congrats to her!!

Photos from the show here. CSS + MEN

Skinny LOVED.

Bon Iver
Guests: Other Lives
The Orpheum Theatre
September 25th, 2011

I attended the Bon Iver show with a friend of mine, she has this incredible blog and I think you should have a look and follow her!

Other Lives open the show with their experimental folk-rock blend. It's hard to describe their music because it sounds so grand. I thoroughly enjoyed their set.

Justin Vernon, the singer-songwriter and musical mind behind Bon Iver stood centre stage with eight accompanying musicians. Two drum-sets, various percussive instruments, several guitars, a bass guitar, and a baritone saxophone were among the various instruments being played. In the middle of Bon Iver's set, they began to play 'Bloodline,' the title track from their 2009 EP, and the song that drew me into Justin Vernon's ability to draw such emotion and nerve from such a simple song. I was hooked.

The last song they played before the encore was 'Skinny Love,' this was a crowd pleaser, for sure. Justin sat with a guitar surrounded by his band-mates who offered acapella vocals to the chorus. I sat up a little straighter in my seat, on edge. My ears were eager to hear the infamous chorus that I had hummed and mouthed along to earnestly so many months before. "I told you to be patient, I told you to be fine, I told you to be balanced, I told you to be kind..." As the song begins and the audience begins to be swayed, out of the corner of my eye I see a small flash of light. The man seated in front of me is proposing to his girlfriend during 'Skinny Love.' Cute. She said yes.

For the encore they played 'Wolves' from their 2007 release For Emma, Forever Ago. Its' infectious repetitive one line chorus, "What might have been lost" sung by the audience and Justin Vernon was left ringing in our ears.
We all sang along to a heart-wrenching yet beautiful song, my favourite moment of the night.

Killed It.

I attended The Kills show at The Commodore on Sept, 5th. It was the second time I had seen them in the same venue. Let's just say Allison Mosshart and Jamie Hince performed with the same rock swagger, stagger and class. Brilliant rock show.

Marina Abramović - Rhythm 0 (1974)

(Photos from moma.org)

After I had taken an Art History class at my College, I began to pay more detailed attention to the impact and meaning visual art can produce.

I had spent the past half-hour trying to put into word how I feel about a renowned performance artist by the name of Marina Abramović and her Rhythm 0, 1974 piece.
Listening to this description and an excerpt of her own experiences left me speechless, and dumfounded.
LISTEN HERE.

"To test the limits of the relationship between performer and audience, Abramović developed one of her most challenging (and best-known) performances. She assigned a passive role to herself, with the public being the force which would act on her.

Abramović had placed upon a table 72 objects that people were allowed to use (a sign informed them) in any way that they chose. Some of these were objects that could give pleasure, while others could be wielded to inflict pain, or to harm her. Among them were a rose, a feather, honey, a whip, scissors, a scalpel, a gun and a single bullet. For six hours the artist allowed the audience members to manipulate her body and actions.

Initially, members of the audience reacted with caution and modesty, but as time passed (and the artist remained impassive) people began to act more aggressively. As Abramović described it later:

“What I learned was that... if you leave it up to the audience, they can kill you.” ... “I felt really violated: they cut up my clothes, stuck rose thorns in my stomach, one person aimed the gun at my head, and another took it away. It created an aggressive atmosphere. After exactly 6 hours, as planned, I stood up and started walking toward the audience. Everyone ran away, to escape an actual confrontation."

What the average person would do to a stranger when they are given absolute power is chilling. It makes you wonder if by chance that you may become helpless, if people would lend a hand, or perhaps a gun instead.

This Hits Me Like A Rock

CSS - Hits Me Like A Rock


CSS are playing at VENUE in Vancouver this Saturday, and well I'm hoping to attempt these dance moves at the show. I am beyond excited for this show.

Adieu

Coeur de Pirate - Adieu


I'd been an avid listener of Beatrice Martin's project for over a year now, and I am anticipating the release of her second album this year! This is a video clip of her video 'Adieu' --- cute.