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.