PHOTOS: TITUS BANK, Bedouin Soundclash @ VCBW - July 09, 2022
TITUS BANK, Bedouin Soundclash
at Vancouver Craft Beer Week
July 09, 2022
photos by Christine McAvoy Photography
PHOTOS: Khatsahlano 2022 ft. dwi, Jody Glenham, Brandon Wolfe Scott, Dan Moxon
Khatsahlano 2022
July 09, 2022
dwi, Jody Glenham, Brandon Wolfe Scott, Dan Moxon
PHOTOS: Arkells @ Bill Reid Millennium Amphitheatre - July 1, 2022
Arkells
Bill Reid Millennium Amphitheatre
July 1, 2022
Christine McAvoy Photography
Neko Case @ Vogue Theatre -- June 15, 2022
Hot off the heels of releasing Wild Creatures, a career spanning retrospective, Neko Case returned to the Vogue Theatre (where I had seen her about six months prior alongside The New Pornographers).
To kick off her set, Neko Case (and her signature skeleton pants) took the stage with only a couple band members for the stripped down "A Widow's Toast" before being joined by the rest of the band, which consisted of some familiar faces and long-time collaborators, including Paul Rigby, Carl Newman, Joe Seiders, and Nora O'Connell, who all provided some incredible harmonies throughout the night.
Case joked around and interjected a few times between songs -- expressing how much she loves playing in Canada -- but for the most part let the music speak for itself as she played a night that spanned her career, with songs about love, animals, loving animals -- and animals maybe not quite loving us, judging by the vicious "People Got A Lotta Nerve".
Classics like the soaring "Hold On, Hold On" and "Margaret vs Pauline" joined newer favourites like the haunting "Last Lion of Albion", and other highlights including a rollicking version of "Man", the tempestuous "This Tornado Loves You", and "The Pharaohs", which Case joked was about her first boyfriend... who never knew he was her boyfriend (and, to this day, somehow still doesn't).
After just over an hour, she capped off the main set beautifully with "Maybe Sparrow", before only Case and Rigby returned, for what was maybe the night's best highlight of Neko's incredible voice, "Vengeance is Sleeping". After another "Hex", she finished everything off with "Halls of Sarah", a the heartbreaking song that’s one of my favourites off her most recent album, Hell-On.
The last time I saw Case perform live (aside from the aforementioned New Pornos shows) was back in 2018 at the Vancouver Folk Fest, so I was happy to see her to return, especially to a venue like the Vogue. Her voice is still unparalleled — especially live — and she always puts on a great show.
setlist
A Widow's Toast
People Got a Lotta Nerve
This Tornado Loves You
Hell-On
Man
I'm an Animal
Last Lion of Albion
Hold On, Hold On
Calling Cards
Margaret vs Pauline
Never Turn Your Back On Mother Earth
The Devil's Eye [The Go‐Betweens cover]
Lady Pilot
Favorite
Oracle of the Maritimes
Outro With Bees
The Pharaohs
Oh, Shadowless
Maybe Sparrow
(encore)
Vengeance is Sleeping
Hex
Halls of Sarah
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'