PHOTOS: JP Maurice, Leisure Club, Small Town Artillery, Year of the Wolf @ Rickshaw Theatre - January 12, 2018
JP Maurice, Leisure Club, Small Town Artillery, and Year of the Wolf
Rickshaw Theatre
January 12, 2018
Christine McAvoy Photography
The Rural Alberta Advantage w/ Yukon Blonde @ Commodore -- 11/24/17
I feel like there have been a lot of good double-bills happening this year, and this past Friday at the Commodore was right up with the rest of them. The Rural Alberta Advantage is touring their new album called The Wild, and have brought with them none other than BC's own Yukon Blonde.
Not counting that one time I saw them this summer on an outdoor energy drink sponsored truck that turns into a stage, it's been a year and a half since I've seen a proper show from Yukon Blonde. And in that time they've been working on some brand new music which they shared with the Commodore. Playing pretty much a full set, they started with a host of brand new songs, including "Emotional Blackmail", a sultry song that bassist James Younger took lead vocals on, and a slow jam from Brandon Scott. The new songs sounded great, and was everything you love about Yukon Blonde, like their killer harmonies, just cranked up a notch.
Almost exactly halfway through the set, they played the new single (and total earworm) "Crazy", and transitioned into old favourites for the rest of the set, starting with "My Girl" which had the packed floor singing along. Jeff Innes was also in fine form, literally rolling up his sleeves to rock out, as they brought the set to a close with the ridiculously fun & upbeat "Favourite People".
It was nice to hear the tease of the new stuff from the band, and makes me that much more excited for the upcoming album.
I mentioned it being a while since I saw Yukon Blonde, but it's been twice as long since the last time I saw The Rural Alberta Advantage perform live. Guitarist & vocalist Nils Edenloff and drummer Paul Banwatt were joined by new member Robin Hatch on keyboards, bass, & also vocals, for a set that spanned their four albums, going all the way back to the moody "Don't Haunt This Place" up to "Beacon Hill", a song written the recent wildfires in Fort McMurray.
Throughout the night, Nils' distinct vocals rang through the room, as well as Paul's frantically superhuman drumming and Robin doing, well, all the things at once. Highlights included older hits like "Barnes' Yard", "Vulcan, AB" (one of many Alberta themed songs) and the explosive "Stamp", dedicated to Gord, and new ones from the album like the darker "Alright" and the building energy "White Lights" (which, I was a little disappointed featured mostly blue stage lights, but whatever).
After wrapping up the main set with the simmering intensity of the aptly named "Terrified", they were back for a few more, Nils responding to the chants of "One more song" by joking that their songs are pretty short, so they'd do a few more, as they launched into "The Build". And finally, they finished off the night with one of my favourites of theirs -- as well as a lot of others, judging by the stomping, clapping, dancing, and singing along -- one last Albertan-inspired tune, "The Dethbridge In Lethbridge".
You know how sometimes you have those bands where you pick up their albums, and you like them, but it isn't until you see them live that you remember just how good they are? The RAA is one of those bands for me, and it's not until you feel the raw power of the trio that you remember.
setlist
Our Love...
Muscle Relaxants
Don't Haunt This Place
Bad Luck Again
Tornado
On the Rocks
Rush Apart
Brother
Barnes' Yard
Alright
Beacon Hill (fort Mac)
Runners in the Night
Vulcan, AB
Stamp
Edmonton
Frank, AB
Wide Grin
White Lights
Terrified
(encore)
The Build
Drain the Blood
The Dethbridge in Lethbridge
Broken Social Scene w/ Belle Game @ Commodore -- 10/20/17
It's been half a dozen years years since we last heard from Toronto collective Broken Social Scene, but this year they gathered all the members from accross the globe and from different bands to make the brand new album, Hug of Thunder. And while the tour didn't feature everyone on the album (at this point in their respective careers, that would pretty much be impossible to pull off) it did feature the core members, for two nights at the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver.
With them they brought Vancouver's own Belle Game, who they had befriended on a writing retreat a few years back. The foursome of Andrea Lo, Katrina Jones, Adam Nanji, and Alex Andrew hit the stage with an instrumental intro, before going into "Up Again" from the new album, Fear/Nothing. They played almost exclusively from that, with the intense song "The River" being the only exception, as Andrea Lo's powerful voice filled the Commodore. No matter how many times I've seen them live (and it's been a few) her voice never fails to leave me in awe. Stand-out off the new album, "Spirit" was another highlight as they wrapped up their all-too-short set with the intense "I Want Nothing". No doubt it won't be long before they're back at the Commodore for a show of their own in the near future.
Not long after that, the the eight(!) members of Broken Social Scene filled the stage, roll call including Andrew Whiteman, Charles Spearin, Sam Goldberg, Ariel Engle, and of course, Justin Peroff, Brendan Canning and Kevin Drew. Just about every member was on double- (or triple-) duty as well, switching off instruments throughout the set, and all sharing vocals.
They started with a couple throwbacks, "KC Accidental" and the upbeat "7/4 Shoreline" before Drew dedicated the set to Gord, and going into "Halfway Home" from the new album.
Other highlights from the new album included "Protest Song", which Engle stepped in for on vocals; in fact, it was just after someone from the crowd shouted for Emily Haines, but Kevin Drew was quick to shift the spotlight to Ariel Engle. And if you've ever seen AroarA you know how much of a vocal powerhouse she is. A little later she did joke that they really did need a few more women on stage, and invited both Andrea and Katrina from Belle Game to sing on a song each; "Stay Happy" and "Hug of Thunder" respectively.
Along with the new material, they went through some old favourites as well, Whiteman taking lead vocals on "Fire Eye'd Boy", the fast version of "Major Label Debut" getting the crowd jumping on the bouncy floor, and Drew getting right up to the crowd for "Texaco Bitches".
The set came to a close with one of my personal favourites, the epic "It's All Gonna Break" as they wove through the bombastic highs and simmering lows of the song, building to the anthemic ending, with each member standing at the front of the stage, raising their guitars to the sky for the triumphant ending.
At that point most of the band took off, but Drew & Canning stayed, Kevin stating this was the encore break, but they didn't want to leave the stage, they wanted to be with the crowd. And as everyone else returned (and played a spontaneous funky groove, at Canning's request) Kevin was true to his word and got into the crowd for a singalong to "Lover's Spit" as he hugged and high fived his way through the dance floor. Eventually he made his way back on stage for one last song, once more inviting both Andrea and Katrina back on stage for another one of my absolute favourites (along with the rest of the sold out venue, by the reaction) "Anthems For A Seventeen Year Old Girl" as they lulled the crowd to a perfect ending to the show.
Photos: Christine McAvoy
setlist
KC Accidental
7/4 Shoreline
Halfway Home
Protest Song
Fire Eye'd Boy
Texico Bitches
Stars & Sons
World Sick
Stay Happy
Hug of Thunder
Sweetest Kill
Skyline
Almost Crimes
Major Label Debut (Fast)
It's All Gonna Break
(encore)
Lover's Spit
Anthems for a Seventeen Year Old Girl
PHOTOS: The Belle Game, Broken Social Scene @ Commodore Ballroom - October 20, 2017
Broken Social Scene, with The Belle Game @ Commodore Ballroom
October 20, 2017
Photos by Christine McAvoy
Whitehorse @ Vogue Theatre -- 10/19/17
It's been six years since married couple Luke Doucet and Melissa McClelland merged their respective solo careers to form Whitehorse, and it's been one heck of a ride. Last month they released their fourth full length album Panther in the Dollhouse, and finished off their tour in Vancouver for a show at the Vogue Theatre.
As a rocked-out version of the Pink Panther theme played, Whitehorse took the stage. Each time I had seen them before, it was just Luke Doucet and Melissa McClelland looping everything live, but this time they were joined by a full band.
Standing in front of a backdrop that looked like a starry sky, lights twinkling, they got right into it with "Baby What's Wrong" and rocked through a few songs before thanking everyone for being there, and talking about the new album. As you would expect, the couple has amazing on-stage chemistry, playing off each other, and at a few points in the set sharing a single mic for tunes like "Epitaph In Tongues" as the band took a rest.
The set ranging from high energy songs like the vitriolic "Boys Like You" (dedicated to a certain Mr. Weinstein in the news lately), the badass "Devil's Got A Gun", and "Pink Kimono" to moodier songs, like "Achilles' Desire", the gorgeous "Mismatched Eyes", and "Die Alone" which showcased Melissa's amazing vocals.
Aside from the starry background, the stage had giant lights beaming from behind them, sometimes spotlighting individuals playing, other times fitting the mood, like when the stage was bathed in green for "Emerald Isle". Great lighting can really make a show pop, and I think it helped make it that much more memorable.
After over an hour, they drew to a close with the anthemic "Downtown" including individual solos as they introduced the band (thanking their tour crew as well) before coming back out for a well-deserved encore, finishing with a cover of "Ohio" by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, which they recently played in front of Neil Young himself at a hall of fame ceremony.
I've said it before on the blog, I absolutely love watching the spontaneous energy of loopers performing live, and I was momentarily disappointed when I saw a full band come out... but that didn't last long, as the show was incredibly tight, and they had just about the entire crowd rapt for the entire time.
setlist
Baby What's Wrong
Nighthawks
Sweet Disaster
Emerald Isle
Achilles' Desire
Manitoba Death Star
Boys Like You
Epitaph In Tongues
Mismatched Eyes (Boat Song)
Die Alone
Devil's Got A Gun
Evangelina
Nadine [Chuck Berry cover]
Kicking Down Your Door
Pink Kimono
Downtown
(encore)
Tame as the Wild Ones
Ohio [Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young cover]