PHOTOS: Jody Glenham, Kylie V, JP Maurice at Car Free Day on Main Street - September 15, 2024
Jody Glenham, Kylie V, JP Maurice
Car Free Day - Main Street
September 15, 2024
Kylie V @ The Pearl -- January 19, 2024
Fun story about Kylie V: about 6 years ago I went to a friend’s wedding, where she introduced me to her nibling who was just starting in music. We had a brief chat about local bands, and later in the night they went on to sing with the wedding band. Soon after, Kylie V broke into the Vancouver scene, and I’ve managed to catch them at a couple outdoor shows and as an opening act, but this was the first time I had seen them headlining. And not only that, it was also the first time making it to The Pearl, since the club had been rebranded from Venue!
Sadly I missed most of the opening bands, la lune and Dawson Gool (a little awkward when Kylie at one point joked they didn’t trust anyone that missed them), arriving just as the latter was wrapping up their final song.
Thanks to it being an early show, there was a very quick turnaround before Kylie V hit the stage, first accompanied by Nolan Fae for a brand new song, and then the rest of their band as they went into “On My Mind” from their first full length, Big Blue.
From there the set was a mix of older -- their soft voice floating through the room on title track, “Big Blue”, and the soaring, emotional “Runaway” -- as well as teasing some new material like “Crash Test Plane” and “Year of the Rabbit”, mentioning they were working on a new album.
Between songs, Kylie chatted, joked, and told the back stories of songs; from the funny (“Natural” inspired by a little too much Benadryl) to the more serious (the gorgeous song “Catherine” being written for one of their best friends).
After a cover of one of their favourites, “Is There Something in the Movies?” by Samia, and without bothering with the encore fakeout, Kylie wrapped u the set with another new song, “Lucky Streak”, which started chill before cranking up the enrgy, and was one of my faves of the set.
Even putting aside meeting them those years ago, Kylie V has genuinely become one of my favourite newer acts in Vancouver, and I am very excited to hear what they have cooking in the new year.
setlist
[New song]
On My Mind
Big Blue
Runaway
Crash Test Plane
Natural
Catherine
Anomaly
Year of the Rabbit
Is There Something in the Movies? [Samia cover]
Lucky Streak
Jody Glenham with Kylie V @ China Cloud -- June 29, 2023
It's been a minute since I last saw Jody Glenham perform live, definitely before the release of her 2020 album Mood Rock, so I was happy to head down to the charming China Cloud. Especially since she was supported by Kylie V, who I have caught a couple times at outdoor festival-type shows, but never in a proper venue.
Kylie V took the stage, joined by their backing band, and started the night with the “On My Mind”, followed by the haunting title track off their latest EP, Runaway. The intimate show had a very attentive crowd -- Kylie joking almost too attentive -- rapt during their heartfelt songs, voice lilting through the room.
As well as familiar favourites like the gorgeous “Catherine”, Kylie also slipped in a cover of the Samia song, “Is There Something in the Movies?”, and teased a new album with the song “Anomaly”. Near the end of the set, the band took leave for Kylie to play alone for the last couple songs; another new one “Untitled in Open D”, and finally capping off the end of the set with another cover; “Taken” by MUNA.
After a quick turnaround (which is always appreciated!) Jody Glenham took the stage with her shiny, self-described ‘party pants’, kicking off with an older song, the dreamy “Between You and Me”.
Joined by Michael Brown, Adam Fink, and Jay Arner as her backing band, Jody ran through songs from her catalogue, including the incredibly catchy “Talking Out Loud”, the hazy, chilled out “Friday Night Lights”, and my favourite from Mood Rock, “War On This World”, a simmering slow burn to an intense finish.
Glenham also teased a new song, I believe called “Love Deficiency Syndrome”, before another favourite of the set, “Ill Wind”, which burst into a smooth groove, that lead to the set’s finish, just ending and not bothering with a sham encore (also appreciated!).
Jody Glenham has been a mainstay in the Vancouver music scene for over a decade now — the first time I saw her play was a little over 11 years ago now — and it’s always a pleasure to see her dream-pop live. Add on that Kylie V is one of my favourite newcomers on the Vancouver scene, and that China Cloud is a great, & much needed, venue, and you have an excellent night of Vancouver music.