Royal Canoe @ Fox Cabaret -- June 07, 2022

This is a show that was supposed to happen back in April, but, well, sometimes global pandemics have other plans. Luckily, I was able to still make the rescheduled show, and see one of my favourite live acts, Royal Canoe at the Fox Cabaret.

I caught the tail end of Vancouver's Parlour Panther opening the evening. Their dark pop featured harmonies from the duo of Lee Newman and Steph Hodgins, who were also backed by Jen Foster on drums. From what I heard, they were a good pick to open the show, complimenting Royal Canoe's sound nicely.

With large, flowery light fixtures around the stage -- that was absolutely packed with instruments and other gear -- the Winnipeg quintet Royal Canoe launched into the jaunty "Surrender" off their latest studio album Sidelining.

The set spanned not just their albums, but also their range of sound, from the funky groove of "Button Fumbla", to the simmering intensity of "Summer Stay", to the mellow and contemplative "Exodus of the Year". The band's intricate and complex sound coming together perfectly on stage, as each member played off each other — and even the crowd, at times.

Other highlights included "Butterfalls" with its soaring chorus telling us "it's time to watch it burn"'; "April Time" a quirky b-side from their recent collection Vault; and the perennial favourite "Bathtubs", the explosive number getting the crowd singing and clapping along.

After just over an hour, the band closed out the main set with "Living a Lie", building to a swirling, chaotic ending. But they were only gone for a moment before returning for one last song, the dark and creepy "Nightcrawlin'" to finish off the night.

I feel like I say something this every time I see the band live, but I've always been in awe of the effortless way they seamlessly blends their influences for a unique sounds, and each time I see them perform, they just seem to be getting better and better.

setlist
Surrender
Walk out on the Water
Button Fumbla
Butterfalls
Peep This
Hal
Bathtubs
What's Left in the River
Get It
Exodus of the Year
Summer Stay
April Time
Living a Lie
(encore)
Nightcrawlin'

PHOTOS: Begonia, Royal Canoe @ Fox Cabaret - September 18, 2018

Begonia, Royal Canoe
Fox Cabaret
September 18, 2018

>READ KIRK’S REVIEW HERE<

Christine McAvoy Photography

Royal Canoe w/ Begonia @ Fox Cabaret -- 9/18/18

A few months ahead of the release of their brand new album, Royal Canoe hit the road, with the first Canadian stop of the tour happening in Vancouver, at the Fox Cabaret.

Opening the night was fellow Winnipegger Begonia, who instantly captivated the room with her stellar vocals. She ranged from the soft and heartfelt “Hot Dog Stand” to the intense power on “Fear”, the title track for her upcoming album, and my favourite of the set.
Between songs, she was funny, charming, and a little self deprecating while chatting with the crowd, telling stories about the songs and how they came to be (especially before the aforementioned “Hot Dog Stand”). Other highlights included the infectious bass groove of “Juniper” and the soaring “Out Of My Head”, which ended the set.
If the crowd reaction was any indication, just about every single person in that room that did not know her before was an instant fan -- I overheard more than a few people around me as soon as it was over.

Not long after, the members of Royal Canoe took the stage one at a time to kick off with the distorted vocals and slow groove of "Nightcrawlin’”, for a set featuring old favourites and a preview of new tunes. “Rayz” -- the lead single from the upcoming album Waver – spotlighted the groups stellar harmonies, and another new one, “What’s Left In The River” built to an insane and chaotic ending.
They snuck a little bit of Nirvana’s “Lithium” into “Love You Like That”, and most of the packed theatre was singing along to the contemplative “Exodus of the Year” and the bombastic “Bathtubs”.
The set came to an end with “Lies”, another song that built to a swirling cacophonous finale. But they weren’t gone for long before returning, inviting Begonia back on stage for the song they released together last year, the funky dance-jam “Fussin’” to cap off the night.

I’ve said before (repeatedly) how Royal Canoe is one of my favourite bands to watch live, and even with the loss of one of their two drummers, they haven’t missed a beat. Their interesting and unique blend of influences create a sonic force that is unmatched.

setlist
Nightcrawlin’,
Walk Out On The Water,
Spin Cycle,
Love You Like That (w/ Lithium [Nirvana cover]),
Peep This,
I Am Collapsing So Slowly,
What’s Left In The River,
Button Fumbla,
Rayz,
Exodus Of The Year,
77:76,
Bathtubs,
Living A Lie.
(encore)
Fussin’.

Royal Canoe @ Imperial -- 09/30/16

Usually when a band claims the venue they're playing in is their favourite venue in the country, you take it with a grain of salt. It's a nice thing to say, but you know most of the time it's just pandering; especially if it's not a hometown band. But for some reason, when Royal Canoe claims the Imperial is their favourite, I believe them. They've played the venue a couple times in the last few years, either co-headlining or opening for someone, but this time not only were they the sole headliner, but they managed to sell out the venue. 

When I got there, Close Talker was nearly done their opening set. The Saskatoon trio filled the room with their melodic and lofty indie-rock, and wrapped up their set with atmospheric "Burnstick". 

The stage was then set for Royal Canoe, in front of a large backdrop of abstract shapes, with a few orbs on stage among their instruments. Turns out -- as we found out part way through the set -- the orbs were not just for decoration, but each time a band member would tap or hit one, they would light up and play one of a few sampled sounds that the band controlled. It was a really cool added audio/visual element to the show, especially paired with the moody lighting throughout the set. 
As for the music, the Winnipeg six-piece played from their latest two albums, focusing on the just-released Something Got Lost Between Here and the Orbit. They started off with the playful and funky album opener "Somersault" followed by older favourite, "Hold On To The Metal", some members of the audience clapping along before even being prompted. Other highlights included "Holidays" which made great use of the light up orbs, the slow grooving "Love You Like That", and "Button Fumbla"with its intense ending. 
They drew the main set to a close with the staggering and bombastic "Bathtubs" followed by perhaps my favourite off the new album so far, "Living a Lie", starting with an R&B feel before building to a brain melting wall of sound finale. 
But of course, they were out for one more, as Matt Peters put his distortion effect to good use to create the "demon voice" for another crowd favourite, "Nightcrawlin'" to cap off the show. 

Royal Canoe has always been one of my favourite live bands to watch, seamlessly putting together a unique blend of influences for an unmatched sound, and they appeared to be on top of their game last night. Everything they did just seemed absolutely effortless. 
Part way through the set, during a quiet moment between songs, a voice from the crowd cried out "How are you not the biggest band in Canada?!". And you know what, Random Guy? I couldn't agree more. 

setlist
Somersault
Hold On To The Metal
Bicycle
Holidays
I Am Collapsing So Slowly
Exodus Of The Year
Walk Out On The Water
Button Fumbla
Love You Like That
Checkmate
How Long Is Your Life
Bathtubs
Living A Lie
(encore)
Nightcrawlin'

Plants & Animals w/ Royal Canoe @ Imperial -- 06/16/16

It's been a few years since Plants and Animals last played a show in Vancouver, but with a new album under their belts, the Montreal trio hit the road with a stop at the Imperial. And I was doubly excited, because not only was Plants and Animals back, but they brought with them another favourite of mine, Winnipeg's Royal Canoe. 

It's always nice to see Royal Canoe play on a stage that can actually fit all six members and their mountains of gear, and they spread out nicely on the Imperial stage. With a new album coming out this fall, the band played a split of new and old. There was some singing along to the introspective "Exodus of the Year" and the bombastic "Bathtubs", which is one of my favourites. The new tunes they played sounded like a natural extension of their sound, a dense sonic wall of their unique electronic indie pop. One of the new songs culminated with a brain-melting instrumental, and another, which closed out their set, was a slow, simmering R&B jam that erupted into a swirl of synth and keys. It was perhaps my favourite of the set, and made me eagerly anticipate the new material. 

During their set, Royal Canoe mentioned that Plants & Animals had a rough time getting to Vancouver, which the band themselves later elaborated on, admitting they almost didn't make it after having to abandon their van in Kelowna. Which may have been part of the reason there seemed to be a bit of a delay in the start of their set. 
But they got everything together and launched right into "No Worries Gonna Find Us", perhaps a little cathartically. From there, the set mostly featured songs from Waltzed In From The Rumbling, and while I think it took them a song or two to kind of get in the groove, the set was highlighted by songs like the slightly darker and moody "All The Time" and "Flowers", which had the crowd singing along in hushed tones as the song came to rest. 
There were only a few older songs sprinkled the set; the soaring "Lightshow", the sprawling (and aptly named) "Faerie Dance", and "Bye Bye Bye", which got a huge reaction, and saw Nicolas Basque rock out on the autoharp like few can. 
They ended the set with one of my favourites off the new album "Stay", and newest addition to the touring band Adele Trottier-Rivard joining Warren Spicer on vocals. And of course, they were back out for a couple more. First the raucous "Feedback in the Field" and finishing off the night with "Je voulais te dire", a gorgeous seven minute songs full of musical twists and turns.

Both of these bands I would count among my favourites, especially to see live, and the pairing did not let me down. It was a great show, highlighting some of the most interesting musicians the country has to offer. 

setlist
No Worries Gonna Find Us,  
We Were One, 
Lola Who? 
All of the Time, 
Flowers,
Faerie Dance,
So Many Nights,
Lightshow,
Good Friend,
Bye Bye Bye,
Stay.
(encore)
Feedback in the Field,
Je voulais te dire.