The only thing better than a band playing a release show in Vancouver on the eve of their new album dropping... is playing that show in a venue two blocks away from me! It’s always nice to stroll down the street for a show at The Lido, especially for someone like Miesha & the Spanks celebrating their new release, Unconditional Love In Hi-Fi, which is out today.

First up was a new Vancouver band, WAIT//LESS with a couple familiar faces (members of FRANKIIE and Little Destroyer). Starting hard & fast, their punk sound didn’t let up throughout the entire set, brimming with energy. Especially from the lead singer, who hardly stood still for a moment, dancing, swinging the mic, and even hopping off stage and wading through to the back of the crowd a couple times.
I was shocked to later find out it was only their second show together, and will definitely have to keep an ear out for them in the future.

Soon after, it was time for Calgary's Miesha & the Spanks, the duo of Miesha Louie on vocals & guitars, and drummer Sean Hamilton (no relation) who also chipped in on backing vocals.

They kept up the energy that started the evening, with Miesha shredding on guitar with her gritty vocals, while Hamilton wailed away on the drums. They kicked off the set with “Lost Boys” before going into some songs from the new album Unconditional Love In Hi-Fi. Highlights included “So Mad”, appropriately named for the song's vitriol; the incredible summer jam of “I Can't Wait”; and my early favourite from the album, “Bully”, biting back at online jerks.

The pair also threw in some older songs like the personal “Mixed Blood Girls” and the chaotic “First Love, First Blood” before wrapped up with the catchy “Mom Jeans // Mom Genes”, forgoing the encore cliché (not that there was much room for them to leave the stage at The Lido).

The evening was an excellent pairing of bands — my ears may still be ringing a little — and I am looking forward to seeing either again, hopefully sooner than later.

setlist
Lost Boy
Dig Me Out
Heart Is On Fire
I Can't Wait
So Mad
Bully
Mixed Blood Girls
It's My Year
First Love, First Blood
I Want Fire
Mom Jeans // Mom Genes