Got to Lose

New video from all-round-good-time-band, Hollerado.
This one's called Got to Lose. Click on the post title, and prepare your self for a wild ride, filled with pop-up-band-fellas, old-timey microphones and most importantly umbrellas. And plenty of em too!

Enjoy!

The Bottom Line

Let me give you the gist of the post: you should be listening to banjo as you read this. The main point of this entry is that the Collective West is a four-piece band from right here in Edmonton, and by clicking the link you can begin to enjoy some of their tunes. Ok I'll stop prolonging the real nitty-gritty; take a listen to this basement/living room jam of their song, The Bottom Line.

Oh, you were looking for a final conclusion ? Well how about finding one out for yourself, by dropping by Avenue Theatre (9030 - 118th ave) this Friday. April 29th to see the Collective West, along with Scenic Route to Alaska and Politic Live in support of Rock to Conquer Cancer!?
A worthy cause, a silent auction, some great performers and for only $10. It'd be amazing if you found yourself saying no.*

*Unless you're under 18, then I'm sorry lovely minors, you'll have to wait your turn to hear this band live.

Royalty/Ice Hotels

Interested to hear more from the band Dinosaur Bones? Besides trying to steal a copy of their new album "My Divider" from one of the cool kids, you can indulge in these links of my personal favs:

Ice Hotel
 ---I love the acoustic version slightly more...
Ice Hotel (acoustic) - the guitarist in the middle as since been replaced

Royalty


You're a new fan already, ain't ya.

"Quickly! Call the Tokyo Police Club!", Said the Whale, "We found Dinosaur Bones!"

I've never had the pleasure of being able to see a favourite band more than...well..once in the span of less than 6 months. However I can now eat my words since I've just had the chance to experience Tokyo Police Club for the 2nd time since January (3rd time total. Do you remember my luck catching them in Montreal?)!
This time instead of touring with Two Door Cinema Club, they were with another highly addictive band that I crave, Said the Whale.

This concert was completely sold-out over a month ago, so all bands decided to host another performance the following night. Since I already had tickets for the April 18th show, I stuck to my guns. Opening for the co-headlining tour on was the Torontonian band, Dinosaur Bones. Their set was great, however nothing to write home about. It kinda kills me to say that since the guys totally won me over in the end by their interaction with the audience, genuine personalities and that they actually talked to us for quite a while after the show. When they were actually on stage they played as I would expect from a band opening for two major Canadian indie bands. It was hard to make out the vocals for the majority of the set though, which was unfortunate since (after buying the album at the show), Ben Fox's lead vocals are so smooth and add the backbone to the songs. Now you must know, I don't just dish out my money for just any band. They were a solid band, but just need to tweak their live set slightly to allow it to speak properly for the album. As I said above, it was pretty nice that after the entire concert was over the whole Dinosaur Bones band came onto the floor and were just hanging out. They all chatted and the bassist, Branko Skekic, was even letting us in on the fact that, yes! Bands are regular people too! He was mentioning that he loves meeting fans, because when he's back in their hometown he loves going to shows, getting pictures and autographs from HIS favourite bands. Honestly, it was nice to actually hear a musician say it and (hopefully) mean it! It was their first time getting to perform in the West and let me tell you, they definitely enjoyed it! They raved about Calgary's crowd the night before, but were tempted to say Edmonton was even better! Most importantly they were stoked to play again the following night. It warms my heart to hear bands say this, meaning they'll hopefully reappear on the scene! (Bonus indie cred: Skekic and one of the guitarists, Joel Clifton, had done a bit of shopping at Value Village earlier in the day. I bring this up since Clifton hit gold when he found an Edmonton Oilers poncho. You read right, poncho.)


Said the Whale took to the stage around 10pm, and were as vocally great as a recording. However it seems like with a lot of bands you have to choose between a vocally great show, or a stage-personality-driven rock odyssey. Each member of the band played according to what seems like a formula. I of course still sang along to every word (I had been looking forward to seeing this band miles above the rest; Obviously I love TPC, but had just seen them 3 months ago), and it was a much more energetic show than I would've judged it to be beforehand. The energy that Dinosaur Bones injected into the crowd was kept high by the sounds of StW...but it was just not what I was expecting. Expectations aside, they DID play a great set. S My heart melted a little when one of the co-lead-vocalists brought out his ukulele for the songs Goodnight Moon, and Dear Elkhorn. kipping two of my favourite songs, Out on the Shield, and Gentleman, I walked away from it a little disappointed, but that's RE: Expectations. Even though they did play with all the might I never expected, I would've much rather watched them perform at a more relaxed "sit-down" venue, such as the Myer Horowitz. I've never really wished that from a band, but it's been a long long time since I've ever heard a band so lyrically, and melodically strong as Said the Whale. Oh, well, I suppose it gives me a reason to see them again! Hopefully headlining their very own tour next time...? (I must say, it hurt inside having to say a single harmful word about this band. Take a listen to their album "Islands Dissapear". I dare you not to be full of Canadian patriotism afterwards!)

Is there much more I can say about how much I love Dave Monks, and Tokyo Police Club? I think I may have gushed suffieciently during my ramble about their Montreal show, however this show was actually a very different atmosphere than the one I saw in January. In Montreal, at Club Soda, we sat on the second floor, balcony seats, almost disengaged from the actual concert...except for the sounds of course. But as most concert-goers realize, half or more than half of the concert experience includes being right in the sweaty (if thats the type of concert) thick of it. A TPC concert is best taken in high doses to get the complete rush of happiness, sing-a-longs, and strong bass/guitar instrumentals. I've listened to every song this band has put out, and been allowed to see them perform 3 times lives (a 4th to come in May, at Sasquatch in George, Washington). And ever since their beginnings, and my beginnings of fandom, in 2007, they've been a great band, both live, recorded, with energy, and the perfect blend of instruments and vocals. They've significantly improved on their stage presence as well, drawing the audience out of their shell, using their wit along both new and old songs.
I knew this band would be big one day, but I never knew the heights they were able to reach, and it's punch-in-the-face clear that they're no where near the peak of their journey yet. Though, while they do put on a great live show, otherwise I wouldn't keep going back, I feel like their strengths and clean-cut instrumentals are better put on display on recordings (but this downside happens with most bands at live events anyway).

I won't talk about the venue since we all know I've talked about the Starlite Room more times than I know, but I do need to mention the crowd. I was expecting the typical "indie kids", you know the type: skinny jeans, witty or retro shirts, sneakers/boat shoes/dress shoes, floral anything with sometimes a hint of fashion glasses, and a dash of condescension (Don't worry, I'm definitely not knocking the style, it's my style too. Just a description had to be made). And while waiting in line/the beginning of the show that's the exact crowd that turned up to dance. It was clear, about halfway through TPCs set though, that there were some hooligans among us. 6 foot somethinng guys intent on moshing. Not indie moshing either.  (consisting of jumping up and down, or dancing as awkwardly as possibl to the beat). This was elbows out, crash into anything in a 2 foot radius, security's literally going to take you out, kinda moshing. It really did wreck a lot of the shows potential. Some people say "If you don't wanna get hit, don't stand near the stage". And excuse my French, but BS. That is a lame excuse to injure the innocent. So for anyone at all reading this plea, next time you attend a concert, just dance. Don't hit, mosh, or unless ABSOLUTELY necessary , circle-dance. Lets just all enjoy the peace and sweet harmonies, and make new friends.

Back and Forth

A Foo Fighters movie?! Say what!
I was invited by my brother to this ONE NIGHT ONLY (I feel like it warranted capitals) movie, about the decade+ spanning alternative-rock band. Alright, so I'll admit that before the movie I wasn't the most diehard fan; yeah, I liked them, but in a I'll-listen-to-their-newest-single-on-the-radio way, meaning that I hadn't actively tried to listen to them. However, I figured since they'd be headlining Sasquatch in May I should find out a bit more about them.
I obviously knew they had something, since they've been around as long as I can remember, and when my brothers came home from the concert the first words out of their mouths were "We got sweat on by Dave Grohl!"...not typically a sentence that is preceded by anything than, "What the hell!?"

So it really takes the movie to get the full idea and history of this legendary band, but the gist I got was that it's essentially Dave's band. Not to say that each one of the band members (and there've been quite a few different ones over the years; technically only Grohl has been with the band throughout) doesn't contribute in leaps and bounds, but that the music really does have to get past Dave Grohl to even make it to the album. This means that even the instrumentals have to meet his criteria to a T (a quality that ended up with orginal drummer William Goldsmith leaving the band - after Grohl rerecorded all the tracks, with himself on drums instead of Goldsmith...). Of course this leads to a signature "Foo" sound. The film tells the bands story starting from their conception, the one-man-pseudonym Dave Grohl used to release songs, after the death of Kurt Cobain and split of Nirvana, Dave's former band.

There is no doubt in my mind to recommend this movie. Even though I ended going with a friend...and we got there barely in time...and had possibly the next to worst sears (front row, 3/4th from the left), the movie was still amazing (aside from sometimes seeing band members from a funny angle...). It not only show cased their musical talent, with clips from old concerts as well as the band playing their entire new album, Wasting Light, as the end of the movie, but it also showed the human side to a band that became a household name while all the while wondering "how the f--k they got there".

Speaking of Wasting Light...It was released the day before the movie release! Pick up a copy, and relish in new-Foo.

Cygnets, not Swans

A band that formed less than two years ago is making a splash on the Edmonton music scene. The Cygnets sound, made up of Logan Turner, Dan Snow and Chris Bruce immediately brings to mind the Brit-synth-pop of the 80's (think Depeche Mode). I try not to compare artists in my head, but this one brings that unique sound back to a new life.
As part of the deal with being Sonic's Band of the Month (I might as well start calling Sonic by what it is...), Cygnets not only gets to play a showcase at the Pawn Shop on Whyte Ave at the end of the month (April 29th), but also gets one of their songs featured on the radio station. This band's gem is of course Bleak Decades. On Sonic you might catch the voice of lead singer Logan Turner say that the band is "both modern and retro at the same time". I just about called BS on that until I actually listen to their CD. I had picked up their album last month from Blackbyrd Myoozik on Whyte Ave, and hadn't really listened to it or given much thought to it until I heard they would be BotM.  It was great to be able to bring home an album for absolutely no cost, and it being an LP (full length and then some, at 13 songs) not an EP made it that much sweeter. Being automatically and seriously excited for their show I decided to do a little research.

Their music video for Bleak Decades must have been filmed in a underground garage/parkade and looks like it was almost shot with a professional video camera (and more importantly, someone who knew how to work a great camera). The vid shows much of the Southside of Edmonton, with a few random shots of a city that I'm almost positive can't be Edmonton (I think I can judge after 20 years). That didn't sit well with me, when there are quite a few gorgeous places to shoot in the area, but the speed-up city shots interspersed with frames of the band playing, defintiely makes me think about a Brit-Pop-esque style once again, and forget that this band was even from Alberta.

Another music video, this one for Hey Alexandra! was done in 80's styles: bright colours, obscure posters lining the walls, closeups of keyboards and an almost foggy camera screen.
video fro sycophant girls is 100% black and white, and made up entirely of split screen and separate camera sequences.

Can I just add how impressed I am that the band even has so many videos already? For a local band I feel like this is a great feat, considering, for the most part, I only see 2-3 maximum.
- i hope they play their instruments as intensely as they tease with their videos

Don't forget to get a chance to experience the vocals, crisp guitar and flowing synth during their live show at the Pawn Shop on April 29th.
In the meantime, before you rush out to grab a copy of their CD, Bleak Anthems,  (not sure, but hoping it's still available free of charge for you lovely guys and gals), and take in the glory of the power of the keyboard take a snoop on youtube. Start with what I believe is their own page, and creep on from there! Or if you're looking for a chance to hear a taste of what you could have in store for you at the Pawn Shop look no further than their Band of the Month Sonic Session.

NB: More of a internet-based-bookworm? Get your read on right here:

• Cygnets to be unleashed on Edmonton - Edmonton Sun
• Edmonton musicians give away their music for free - Edmonton Journal

White Hot Lightning

Each month that same local radio station, Sonic, has something they call band-of-the-month. This is where they feature a local band's single on the radio for the entire month, ending with a show at a local bar at the end of the month.
Band of the month for Nov 2010, was White Lightning. Unfortunately I missed their performace, fortunately I have the best secret squirrels always looking out for my best concert-going interests.
On Thursday night I was told that WL would be playing at the Starlite Room with two other bands. A friend is friends with the bassist; being on the guest list? Check. Not having to pay for a membership, cover, or ticket? Check. Souvenir kazoo? You can definitely check that.

The Friday night show was actually in support of another local band, Tupelo Honey, and their CD realease. There were the two opening bands in additon to Tupelo Honey, WL and a 5 piece "dance" band from right here in the city as well. Except...well...this band, Flash Jam, is not ...well....there's just no words that suffice. To me they are 5 guys, who play their instruments decently and don't sound like dying cats when they sing. Their songs however are pop-ey messes, and their set was made up of a couple of original songs mixed with not so great covers of overheard songs (i.e. one by Michelle Branch). I have no problem with covers, and sometimes they can even outwit the original...These covers by Flash Jam, however, were the same as the original (except with the pizzaz of a male singer. OH, and a synthesizer of course). I've never been so happy for a band's set to be over.
And salt in the musical wound, was to find out that this band had actually beat White Lightning in a battle-of-the-bands style contest.

White Lightning played an intense show, complete with audience participation by the aforementioned kazoos. But before that let me quickly mention that the band is made of up three fellas who know their music (and the lead singers wife on back-up vocals). Their music is energetic and animated; the lead vocalist, Steve, makes some of the best faces I've seen on a performer.
They include cowbell (not enough on this night for my liking...) in basically every show, and the kazoos? Well during their last song they have a bucket (really, a bucket) full of kazoos that they hurl out into the audience. Oh, I forgot, beware of falling objects...sheild your eyes, most importantly.  I'm not totally sure that I was even "playing" it right, you just hum into it, but it definitely added a fun atmosphere to the set!
Unfortunately I had to leave early, so only got to hear one Tupelo Honey song...which was a Cher cover...I've heard they're really good, and have opened for quite a few major bands in the past few years. Hopefully there's always next time!

My daddy's got a gun, and Mother Mother has a Whale Tooth

It's been a while hasn't it! Too long, I'd say. Well I've been a bit selfish, and have been away on holidays for the past two weeks. But I hope I can make it up to you with a double feature of posts!
Technically I've had to post them backwards, so below this you'll find the review of the Mother Mother album, Eureka. It came out the day I left town, so I didn't have a chance to make it change your life before that. And the day after I came home, I was lucky enough to hear their beautiful music live at a sold out concert. So here you are, soak it in. Forgive me?

The doors opened at 7pm, which was pretty early, but all ages shows tend to have that trend (it was over by 11pm).
I wasn’t expecting much from the opening band, Whale Tooth. They weren't even on the ticket; usually it will say the bands playing, unless they aren't very well known, where the tickets will then say "with Guests". …I had never heard of them, and they were from Toronto. I know that’s being pretty judgmental, but to me Toronto has become where every “up and coming” band seems to come from. Also with the token female lead singer, complete with tight and short dress, cropped leather jacket, and knee-high, lace up converse shoes, I thought that we were in for some nice background music and nothing more. Man, did I ever get slapped in the face, and made to eat my words once their first song was over.

 The lead singer, Elise Legrow (also the only female in the group), had her microphone break at the base halfway through set, she noticed but played along, and went with it. She even made an odd, but spontaneous joke that now she could play air guitar along with the other members. It's typical to see this at smaller shoes like bars etc, but usually not at larger concert venues. The two guitarists, bassist and drummer didn’t have a whole lot of stage presence, but the lead singer made up for it by constantly dancing and being really energetic. The vocals were hard to make out, but could have (likely was) because of the venue, which is explained more down below.

They had a really tight sound, and although the vocals were difficult to make out, it was clear that they weren’t just a dance pop band who didn’t give a damn about the lyrics making the music what it is; there was a reason they were starting their leg of the tour with Mother Mother. If I hadn’t had one of the best spots in the house, I wouldn’t have been able to NOT dance to these Ontario natives. Lead singer, Legrow, has a background in jazz vocals, which adds an interesting and unique sound to a band that could otherwise be like so many “good, but not addicting” bands. I’ll definitely add that I left with their CD.



The set change between bands was very quick (always a great thing), and Mother Mother came out playing their first song “O My Heart”, one of their biggest hits. They ended up playing what I’m sure would be their entire new album, Eureka, along with most of their second album, O My Heart, and even some of their first album, Touch Up. Lead vocalist, Ryan Guldemond, sounds just the same as he does on the albums. It’s getting nicer and nicer to head bands that aren’t tuned one way for recordings, while their live voices sound nothing the same. Female vocalists Molly Guldemond (Ryan’s sister), and Jasmin Parkin definitely proved that they could hold their own on stage as well (despite Molly having been sick during the day; she was unable to attend a local radio station’s traditional intimate pre-concert acoustic set in the afternoon). Parkin even whipped out a megaphone during their latest single “The Stand”. She was also the member with the greatest presence while on stage. However, Molly WAS sick…and Ryan seemed to put in an effort (he did look pretty awkward for the most part). Bassist Jeremy Page impressed me by also playing clarinet and saxophone during the band’s set.

Merchandise being sold didn’t have as much selection as I would’ve thought; Mother Mother had two t-shirts, 2 vinyl EPs and 3 CDs for sale, while Whale Tooth had a CD and “Whale Wraps” for sale. Wondering what Whale Wraps are? Well you shouldn’t be embarrassed, not like I was when I asked the (very nice) merch girl what they were and found out they were rolling papers. Well really, how would I know that. And when did I get so old that it shocked me to see them being sold at a concert? (PS. I’ve just realized that the nice “merch girl” was the lead singer of Whale Tooth. She introduced herself as Elise, but I didn’t think much of it until I was just reading this article ….Well good to know shes so personable…!..Oops)

The rest of the post is about the venue Edmonton Event Centre. If you have no interest, read no further. Just quickly a word of advice: save yourself from EEC, unless absolutely necessary.

Now a little something-something (that's a lie, I have a lot to say) about Edmonton Event Centre where the concert was. The venue, in West Edmonton Mall, welcomes “all ages” shows, usually with licensed areas. Last year at the Vampire Weekend show, the licensed area was up against the stage and the bar seats near the back of the “main floor”. This time the licensed area continued on upstairs, as well as to the “third floor” (which is basically just a balcony). The 3^rd floor keeps you away from the crowds where you can sit and enjoy the music without being pushed around by the rowdier fans. It really depends on who you go with.

On the floor of Ed’s there are three pillars that are floor-to-roof, with no padding around the bottom or first few feet. BEWARE. These can cause either injury or serious discomfort, depending on the audience/enthusiasm of the mosh pit.

The line up to get in to Ed’s is outdoors, which is not a huge problem, since the Starlite Room is the same. However the security here is much tighter and in greater numbers. I’m sure it’s because it’s an all ages venue (we even saw a couple of girls trying to sneak in a bottle of non-alcoholic wine…), but the security staff here has been very rude the previous 3 times I’ve been here, and I don’t expect them to change any time soon. They’re intimidating, I’ll give them that (even the females who are my size – 5’2” – look pretty mean), but sometimes it seems like they like the “power” they get. And it’s only really at this location that I’ve noticed it. Let me lay out the process to get in the building: One out of two security staff check your i.d at the outside doors, if you are 18+. If you are you get a stamp. You then continue on to the next set of guards who have you line up (males, females in two separate lines) to get your bag searched, and possibly get patted down as well. After clearing the inspection, you move on to get your ticket torn and receive yet another stamp if you are over 18. Once you pass line up after line up, and just when you think you can enjoy the show you paid for, you find yourself in front of another guard who won’t let you pass if you have something that remotely looks like a jacket (mandatory coat check in effect. $4.00).
In short: I do not like EEC as a concert venue (which is all I've ever been there for). It's cramped, even though so much space is available, the staff is obnoxious and rude for the most part, and the size/design of the space makes for horrible acoustics. I cringe when I hear that a band I like plays there; only bands I really enjoy have played there, sacrifices must be made, and the artists have of course never let me down. But I can also tell that each night COULD have been better.

Eureka!

I have to say that when I listened to Mother Mother's newest album the first few times I wasn’t nearly as impressed as when I first heard their previous albums, but I misjudged the album.
These newer songs where so lyrically strong, as with all their other songs, mixed with a dance beat…as with all their other songs..but these were the type that grow on you.
No matter how hard I try it’s been impossible to get the song, Problems, out of my head. Getaway, and Oleander have haunting melodies, much like Ghosting from the second album; strong yet delicate vocals from Molly Guldemond and Jasmine Parkin make these songs a smart pull away from just the regular ol’ dance melodies. I'm not positive if Ryan Guldemond, the lead vocalist, was responsible for writing the songs (as he had for the previous albums), but you can definitely hear their sound evolving. Many bands try to change their sound, whether subtlely or drastically, by their 3rd album (as far as I've noticed)...But Mother Mother has taken their unique, dance-style of music and made it stronger while keeping it their own; most definitely matured, from the short-song style of their Touch Up album.