Sunday night, after moviing into my new place, I decided to go to the 3rd Folkin Anniversary at Camas books. I decided to go partially because it was affiliated with the Victoria Anarchist bookfair, and I hadn't been able to go to it. Plus, who says no to a $5 concert? if its bad, its bad, who cares, it only cost $5, if its good, its a bargain (especially around here). When I got to the bookstore, there were a few people milling around outside, with their dogs, smoking, talking, hanging out, and some people inside. I went inside and found a seat, and slowly people began to wander in, and the store was full of dirty, grungy anarchist kids. they had to keep the doors closed because they had been busted for having shows before - the smell, and the temperature in the store were sort of...uncomfortable.
I can't tell you what the bands were called, partially because I have a feeling most of the bands that played were loosely organized groups of friends, but also because I can't remember. (each really only played for 10-15 minutes) What I do remember was this
- there was a woman who sang and played guitar, she hard blue hair and the most amazing voice. I asked the grungy looking kid next to me what she was called, I think he said Starla. I could be wrong though
- An older couple, the woman who played clarinet while the guy played guitar, both would sing. their songs were political folk, poking fun at government, pharmaceutical companies, and a host of other issues.
- Buffalo Buffalo - a four piece band, there was a fiddle, a guitar, and some other instruments I cant remember. they were pretty good.
I left after that, even though there was an hour or so left before it was finished. The cops were starting to drive around the block, and some (very) drunk people were starting trouble, spilling outside of the building, and making a racket.
I left then, because getting arrested was not high on my list of priorities, and I had class to go to in the morning.
I learnt something that night - Victoria does have a music scene, albiet a small one, and not even close to the size of the music scenes in Vancouver or Seattle. The scene here is also closed, for lack of a better word - its difficult to find out abotu things, to find what is worth seeing, unless you know artists, or people who are involved in the music scene.
Showing posts with label concert review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label concert review. Show all posts
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Hole. Not what I expected
On the festival guide for the Sunday night at the Mainstage, the listed bands were Rise against, (which I didn't see) Hole (which was amazing) and Weezer (which was good, despite stoping half an hour before their set was finished, taking a break, where it was unclear whether they were finished or not, and then starting again). Having Hole listed as playing Bumbershoot may have been a little bit misleading - Courtney Love is the only remaining member of the band, so it might have been more appropriately listed under Courtney-Love-and-a-backup-band-playing- Hole - songs.
I wasn't sure what to expect, since an article in The Stranger had said there were three possible Courtneys - Robo Courtney, Crazy Courtney, and Amazing Courtney.
I was pretty sure it was going to be a complete disaster, but surprisingly, it wasnt. It was really, really good. They nailed all the songs, and she put on a show.
I wasn't sure what to expect, since an article in The Stranger had said there were three possible Courtneys - Robo Courtney, Crazy Courtney, and Amazing Courtney.
I was pretty sure it was going to be a complete disaster, but surprisingly, it wasnt. It was really, really good. They nailed all the songs, and she put on a show.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Northwest Folklife - May 29th 2010
Started this afternoon at the K Records Showcase, called "This is Our Show" It featured bands from K Recs, The Hive Dwellers, Karl Blau, LAKE, and The Curious Mystery.
The Hive Dwellers are a band you either love or hate. Calvin Johnson is either a musician you love or can't stand, I think don't people "sort of" like him or "sort of" dislike him, so it makes sense that people wouldn't "sort of" like or dislike the band. The lyrics were more than slightly ridiculous, and the music wasn't particularly complex, however, the fact that it was Calvin Johnson - the man behind Beat Happening, as well as other bands that influenced the late 80s/early 90s music scene, and also the man who created K Recs, made it worth seeing. It would be like if the musicians from the 1960s your parents listened to were still alive, and they had the chance to see them. Seriously.
Karl Blau has a reputation of having played every festival in the Pacific Northwest at least once. I'm not sure if this is true - I've never seen him live before, and I dont remember him ever playing any Vancouver shows. He played newer songs, from the Zebra album. I found this a little disappointing, because I'm only familiar with the Nature's got a way album, and so I wasn't familiar with anything he played. It was still a good show though, and I'm glad I went.
LAKE was good, it helped that I'd wanted to see them for as long as I'd known of their existence - so, for like two years - and I'd given up on them ever playing a Vancouver or Victoria show. Unfortunately, most of what they played was off of their newest album, which I hadn't had a chance to listen to, but it didn't matter, because the concert was still good.
The next band I wanted to see was Acorn Project, a Funk/Rock/Ska band from Bellingham. I was a bit skeptical at first, because I hadn't heard of them before, but they were really good. They sound very similar to another one of my favorite Bellingham bands, Yogoman Burning Band - who, coincidentally enough, were also playing this festival, and I'll get to that in a minute. Back to Acorn Project. They had more or less everybody who had stayed to watch them dancing, the little kids in the front, the highschool students, the stoners, and the little old ladies - as well as everybody else.
They only played a half hour set, but the whole performance was energetic.
Yogoman Burning Band was next, they're another Bellingham based, rock/ska/punk/reggae band, and sound very similar to Acorn Project. I've reviewed them in this blog before, and I've seen them live before, again, their show was amazing.
I didn't know they were playing Folklife until last night, when I sat down an looked at the festival schedule. They played almost entirely new songs, that are not on either one of their two CDs, except at the end of the set - they finished with "Streetlights" and "Pass the O", two songs from their first CD, that came out in 2007. Again, they were able to get people dancing an singing along, and the show was just really energetic and fun.
The last band I saw was Panda Conspiracy, a multi - person band from Seattle, (seriously, I don't even know how many people were on stage)The show was entertaining from the very beginning - some of the band were wearing panda costumes, others were in bunny suits, beachballs were flying through the audience, and the music was upbeat and easy to dance to.The only downside to this band was that their songs were long, which meant that they couldnt play very much in a half hour set. However, what they played was really good.
One Last Thing About Folklife - one last thing, thats it, I swear. Its apparently the largest music festival of its kind in North America - a by donation, community/volunteer run folk festival. think about that for a minute. Its really important to support things like this, because they make it possible for almost anybody to enjoy music.
The Hive Dwellers are a band you either love or hate. Calvin Johnson is either a musician you love or can't stand, I think don't people "sort of" like him or "sort of" dislike him, so it makes sense that people wouldn't "sort of" like or dislike the band. The lyrics were more than slightly ridiculous, and the music wasn't particularly complex, however, the fact that it was Calvin Johnson - the man behind Beat Happening, as well as other bands that influenced the late 80s/early 90s music scene, and also the man who created K Recs, made it worth seeing. It would be like if the musicians from the 1960s your parents listened to were still alive, and they had the chance to see them. Seriously.
Karl Blau has a reputation of having played every festival in the Pacific Northwest at least once. I'm not sure if this is true - I've never seen him live before, and I dont remember him ever playing any Vancouver shows. He played newer songs, from the Zebra album. I found this a little disappointing, because I'm only familiar with the Nature's got a way album, and so I wasn't familiar with anything he played. It was still a good show though, and I'm glad I went.
LAKE was good, it helped that I'd wanted to see them for as long as I'd known of their existence - so, for like two years - and I'd given up on them ever playing a Vancouver or Victoria show. Unfortunately, most of what they played was off of their newest album, which I hadn't had a chance to listen to, but it didn't matter, because the concert was still good.
The next band I wanted to see was Acorn Project, a Funk/Rock/Ska band from Bellingham. I was a bit skeptical at first, because I hadn't heard of them before, but they were really good. They sound very similar to another one of my favorite Bellingham bands, Yogoman Burning Band - who, coincidentally enough, were also playing this festival, and I'll get to that in a minute. Back to Acorn Project. They had more or less everybody who had stayed to watch them dancing, the little kids in the front, the highschool students, the stoners, and the little old ladies - as well as everybody else.
They only played a half hour set, but the whole performance was energetic.
Yogoman Burning Band was next, they're another Bellingham based, rock/ska/punk/reggae band, and sound very similar to Acorn Project. I've reviewed them in this blog before, and I've seen them live before, again, their show was amazing.
I didn't know they were playing Folklife until last night, when I sat down an looked at the festival schedule. They played almost entirely new songs, that are not on either one of their two CDs, except at the end of the set - they finished with "Streetlights" and "Pass the O", two songs from their first CD, that came out in 2007. Again, they were able to get people dancing an singing along, and the show was just really energetic and fun.
The last band I saw was Panda Conspiracy, a multi - person band from Seattle, (seriously, I don't even know how many people were on stage)The show was entertaining from the very beginning - some of the band were wearing panda costumes, others were in bunny suits, beachballs were flying through the audience, and the music was upbeat and easy to dance to.The only downside to this band was that their songs were long, which meant that they couldnt play very much in a half hour set. However, what they played was really good.
One Last Thing About Folklife - one last thing, thats it, I swear. Its apparently the largest music festival of its kind in North America - a by donation, community/volunteer run folk festival. think about that for a minute. Its really important to support things like this, because they make it possible for almost anybody to enjoy music.
Northwest Folklife - Friday, May 28th 2010
Thankfully, the ferry ride from Victoria to Seattle was completely uneventful, and my anxiety about crossing the border - something I always get, although I don't know why, since I'm just your average, middle class, white female college student, were completely unfounded. Didn't get into Seattle until 3, an after I'd dropped off my stuff and gotten a snack, off to the festival it was!.
The first band I saw was shotty, they're a three piece pop punk band from Seattle, and I saw them for the first time at Folklife last year. There are two things that make this band worth seeing live, the first is that even though a majority of their songs seem to tell a familiar story about a girl, or a relationship, they are incredibly catchy, and are very easy to dance to (and even if you don't like dancing in public, you'll be tapping your feet and bobbing your head like everybody else). The stage prescence they have, and upbeat energy of the live performances is what makes this band entertaining, and a band worth seeing.
The second was another Seattle based band, NoRey, a reggae folk band. They sounded like a cross between reggae, ska, soul, and folk music, and at one point I'm fairly certain I counted six or seven people onstage.
The Third band I saw was Blood Red Dancers, another local band. The music was rough, raw, and unpolished, although it was clear that the edgey and unpolished sound of the music was not an accident, or due to a lack of practice, it was supposed to sound that way.
Lastly, other than the many bands performing at Folklife, there was also a wide assortment of buskers and and people playing instruments who were not on one of the stages, but who, in many cases, were just as accomplished as those who were.
The first band I saw was shotty, they're a three piece pop punk band from Seattle, and I saw them for the first time at Folklife last year. There are two things that make this band worth seeing live, the first is that even though a majority of their songs seem to tell a familiar story about a girl, or a relationship, they are incredibly catchy, and are very easy to dance to (and even if you don't like dancing in public, you'll be tapping your feet and bobbing your head like everybody else). The stage prescence they have, and upbeat energy of the live performances is what makes this band entertaining, and a band worth seeing.
The second was another Seattle based band, NoRey, a reggae folk band. They sounded like a cross between reggae, ska, soul, and folk music, and at one point I'm fairly certain I counted six or seven people onstage.
The Third band I saw was Blood Red Dancers, another local band. The music was rough, raw, and unpolished, although it was clear that the edgey and unpolished sound of the music was not an accident, or due to a lack of practice, it was supposed to sound that way.
Lastly, other than the many bands performing at Folklife, there was also a wide assortment of buskers and and people playing instruments who were not on one of the stages, but who, in many cases, were just as accomplished as those who were.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Natalie Portman's Shaved Head is awesome + Concert Review
One of my favorite bands at the moment is Natalie Portman's Shaved Head (NPSH). They're an electro-pop/punk band out of Seattle WA.
Their music has a hyper, poppy dance club feel to it, listening to it makes you want to dance like nobody's watching.
Recently, I was able to see Natalie Portman's Shaved Head play at Lucky Bar, here in Victoria. I was fortunate enough to get tickets, the concert had actually sold out in advance, and I was lined up with about 10 other people to get in. Even though we had to stand in line for about an hour, eventually everybody got into the venue, and it was definitely worth the wait. The opening band was OK, but when NPSH got on stage, everybody started dancing. There was glitter, there were balloons, streamers, it was more like a giant dance party thank a rock concert. And you didn't care if you looked like an idiot dancing.
Their music has a hyper, poppy dance club feel to it, listening to it makes you want to dance like nobody's watching.
Recently, I was able to see Natalie Portman's Shaved Head play at Lucky Bar, here in Victoria. I was fortunate enough to get tickets, the concert had actually sold out in advance, and I was lined up with about 10 other people to get in. Even though we had to stand in line for about an hour, eventually everybody got into the venue, and it was definitely worth the wait. The opening band was OK, but when NPSH got on stage, everybody started dancing. There was glitter, there were balloons, streamers, it was more like a giant dance party thank a rock concert. And you didn't care if you looked like an idiot dancing.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Yogoman Burning Band
It may be known as being city that gave us Death Cab for Cutie, but there is no shortage of Bellingham based indie bands. One of these bands is Yogoman Burning Band, a band who's music is a combination of reggae, ska, punk, dancehall, and a dash of folk thrown in for good measure. Their first CD, released in 2007, is an upbeat reggae album, and although some of the songs don't seem to be about anything in particular, the feel of the album just makes you want to dance.
Their second album "City of Subdued Excitement", released in 2009 is considerably different from the first album. Although the reggae influence is still noticeable in many songs, the album as a whole has a more folk/country feel to it, and some songs feel like they would be well suited to a smokey 1920s dancehall. But that doesn't take away from the fact that Yogoman Burning Band's second album is just as amazing as its first.
The other reason this band is amazing is because of their live shows. In 2008, I had the opportunity to see Yogoman Burning Band live, at WHAAM in Bellingham,
the energy of their performance was amazing, and the performance itself was very tight. Very quickly they had nearly everybody dancing, from the very young to the older audience members. If you get the chance to see this band, I suggest you take it, you will not be disappointed.
Their second album "City of Subdued Excitement", released in 2009 is considerably different from the first album. Although the reggae influence is still noticeable in many songs, the album as a whole has a more folk/country feel to it, and some songs feel like they would be well suited to a smokey 1920s dancehall. But that doesn't take away from the fact that Yogoman Burning Band's second album is just as amazing as its first.
The other reason this band is amazing is because of their live shows. In 2008, I had the opportunity to see Yogoman Burning Band live, at WHAAM in Bellingham,
the energy of their performance was amazing, and the performance itself was very tight. Very quickly they had nearly everybody dancing, from the very young to the older audience members. If you get the chance to see this band, I suggest you take it, you will not be disappointed.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)