Vancouver Attractions

Today in Vancouver: Deerhunter

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 10:34:46 -0500

[CDATA[Deerhunter plays Thursday at Richard's on Richards. If there's any band that has benefited most from the intense influence of Pitchfork Media, it's Deerhunter. Every time Bradford Cox farts, Pitchfork gives it a 9.2. And that's saying a lot; between Deerhunter, side projects, and his solo career (Atlas Sound), Bradford Cox has released approximately 323 albums in the last year. Despite their ambient and post-punk influences, a Deerhunter show is usually energetic, noisy, and uber-theatrical. It's also polarizing, so get on your best pair of ironic non-prescription glasses and go with an open mind. ]]

Today in Vancouver: Yeasayer Parties Like It's 2046

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 10:29:38 -0500

[CDATA[Straight from Brooklyn, NYC comes a much needed new genre experiment to revamp the stale infiltration of bland indie rock. Yeasayer plays heartfelt gospel showtunes with deep bass to get you feeling like you're back in church on Sunday Morning except, since this is a concert, you'll probably be drunk and/or stoned. If you follow music, blogs, or music blogs, there are good odds (somewhere in the vicinity of 2 to 1) that you've heard at least one Yeasayer track. Around the time of its release, the song "2046" took over the internet. Seriously, it was everywhere. Put a few faces to the song at this show tomorrow at Richard's on Richards and get ready for a trippy fun good time. ]]

Today in Vancouver: O'Death Bring Americana to a Canadian Audience

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 10:58:18 -0500

[CDATA[If you're a fan of alt-country, alt-folk, or any other sort of alt-, then you can't miss the Southwestern sounds of O'Death tonight at Media Club. Brooklyn's latest in the line of hip indie acts, these guys blend country, folk, bluegrass, indie rock, and punk in a way that is hard to describe but easy to enjoy. It's hard to explain why Canada has such a musical love affair with Americana (for evidence, see Neil Young or The Band), but there's a good chance that if you're Canadian and you like music, you'll like O'Death. ]]

Today in Vancouver: Nearly Famous Music Festival Gives Struggling Artists a Chance for Success

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 11:05:36 -0500

[CDATA[The Nearly Famous Music Festival runs from today until Sunday. The title explains the concept pretty well: these are bands that haven't hit it big yet, but are on their way. If they've never slept in their car because they can't afford a hotel room, chances are they're playing at the festival. 10 venues, including big ones like the Railway Club and Richard's on Richards, will offer 30 minutes to an hour of stage time for each act. Everything from punk to alt-country is represented at the festival. You can buy a wristband and hop around, but since you probably won't know any of the bands anyways, your best bet is to pick one and stay put. You never know, you might see the next Feist. ]]

Today in Vancouver: Lucinda Williams Brings Her Boozy Alt-Country to Vancouver

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 11:10:01 -0500

[CDATA[Like a frat boy during pledge week, Lucinda Williams forces people to drink. Her brilliantly boozy alt-country ballads and haunting voice drive hordes to the bottle, in a good way. That may be a bit tough for a Wednesday, but regardless it will be a great show when the country goddess performs tonight at Vogue Theatre. Lucinda Williams is one of the many examples of innovative, original, and well crafted country music that never manages to catch the mainstream. If modern country stations played her rather than Toby Keith and Big and Rich, maybe country would be more popular with the youth. ]]

Today in Vancouver: Circle Craft Christmas Market Preview Gives You a Head Start on Your Shopping

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 10:55:14 -0500

[CDATA[Today until Sunday at Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre there is an event called Circle Craft Christmas Market Preview. If you are someone who usually waits until the last minute to do your Christmas shopping and is always stuck in the crowded, disgusting mall on Christmas Eve trying to grab whatever is left on the shelf, then you probably will not want to avoid this at all costs. But you shouldn't; you're the number one person who should be there. 263 artists will be there hocking everything from toys to home décor, handmade candles and soaps, glasswork, fine art, trinkets, and designer clothes and jewellery. Imagine how relieved you'll when if you can finish your Christmas shopping and focus on your Christmas drinking. And family and togetherness, I guess. ]]

Guns 'N Roses to Release Chinese Democracy

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 13:42:21 -0500

[CDATA[Before Kurt et al emerged from the Northwest with plaid and Pixies references, a shiny, solo-filled, epic epoch in rock reigned over popular charts. At the centre of the mid-'80s/early '90s MOR/dirt/hair metal world were a cabal of Los Angeles transplants with rough-edged names, winding tattoos, and a surfeit of bravado. Guns 'N Roses exploded into international consciousness with the release of 1987's seminal Appetite for Destruction. They followed it with the incongruent G 'N R Lies and the grandiose double hit Use Your Illusion I and II. A collection of oddities, The Spaghetti Incident came on the latter's heels and thensilence. ]]

Today in Vancouver: Gang Gang Dance Try to Live Up to the Hype

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 10:54:15 -0500

[CDATA[If you're constantly looking for the "next big indie band", here's a show you can't miss. Gang Gang Dance play Tuesday at the Biltmore Cabaret. These experimental rockers from (where else?) Brooklyn excel in the obscure kitchen sink sound of found objects, guttural wails, blips, exoticism, and intrusive beats all fused together and occasionally cohesive. They've already built up a halo of buzz from their impressive CMJ festival performances and in the opening slot for Of Montreal on what should probably be billed one of the weirdest double bills ever. Pitchfork gave them an 8.5, so that should tell you something. Gang Gang Dance will be a name you'll definitely hear again. ]]

Today in Vancouver: Ray Lamontagne Shows Why He's Making a Name in the Folk Community

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 13:15:48 -0500

[CDATA[I remember it was not that long ago my little Ray Lamontagne was belting out tunes to a thinned out crowd trying to make a name for himself. Now, he's on all the late night shows, he's winning awards here and there, he has three CD's out already and he is a household name. People cry at his shows. He cries at his shows. Thats how respected and powerful his folk songs are. Not bad for a 35 year old shoe salesman from Maine, don't you think? Go see what all the fuss is about Saturday at the Vogue Theatre. ]]

Today in Vancouver: King Khan Brings Back the 60s

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 10:41:39 -0500

[CDATA[King Khan, a former resident of Montreal and current resident of Berlin, puts on one hell of a live show. Think the Rolling Stones in their prime, but fronted by a man of Iggy Pop's maniacal potential. Now add about a bucket of sweat and you've got King Khan. For some, this might sound disgusting, but I, for one, prefer some excitement in live music. From jumping into the audience and singing in the face of confused patrons, to taking off his shirt and exposing his pregnant man-belly, King Khan brings the excitement. Plus, he's known to badmouth Toronto to audiences full of Torontonians. Vancouver hates Toronto! Now you've got to go. King Khan plays Friday at Biltmore Cabaret. ]]