The good thing about walking in 10 minutes before show time is avoiding people I went to high…read moreschool with who made fun of me for listening to White Lies. They're now pretending to be the coolest people in the room. The irony made my eyes roll but it also gave me a few moments to divert my attention and shoot the shit with some music fans. Anything to distract me from acknowledging that I'm seeing a great band in a shithole of a club. Like my high school memories, great music in the most undesirable of circumstances. The minute the band hit the stage opening with Don't Hold Back I felt like the emo kid in my bedroom writing my zine. The way everyone sang the chorus to Lose My Life, "Let's grow old together and die at the same time" felt as though we were making an indirect promise to each other while we turned and sang to the random stranger next to us. I have a small obsession with Joy Division, therefore, I appreciate the band's blue print in sound, music after my own dark heart. There were moments in which I ran my fingers through my hair as a subconscious movement in attempt to absorb more of the addicting sound and vocals of Harry McVeigh. It was a natural high. The band played selected cuts from their new album which flowed seamlessly in quality against the fan favourites (which was the body of the set list). The new material was well received. It's been a while since Gary Numan that an act actually sounded decent in that venue. It was heartwarming that the mix didn't allow the music to go in vein. The band were very energetic and tight in their sound. The songs were delivered as remembered and expected from the studio albums. Vocally Harry was very strong. The 90 minutes went by way too fast for me. I walked out of the show with the euphoric feeling that music is supposed to do.

I got lost in the dark park, however, the minute the intro music of the Gorillaz played I followed…read morethe sweet sound of Damon Albarn's voice. The band have been accused of being the most lack luster live band, the poster children for shoe gazer bands. The band I saw tonight were the exact opposite. They weren't overly energetic but not a band that warranted the performance accusation by Pitchfork. Then again it's not hard to be moved by your own beat. The audience were into it but their energy was compromised by a herbal substance which is a shame since the band had a lot to offer musically. There were selected moments in which the audience surrendered to their emotions. It was cool to see the crowd gently bobbing their heads like a tame sea with a glow reflected by the purple and blue lighting hues bouncing off the stage. There was no shortage of stage banter. It came across as bitter hostile rants similar to Morrissey but without the charm. He reminded me of half the people I can't stand who come into the record store. The actual music was really sharp and refined. Lots of horns. The band had very good musical performance chemistry even though they acted like strangers meeting for the first time. Set list was balanced between the slow and rock songs. Of course the hits were saved for the encore. Simple standard stage lighting. What I did gain from the show was hearing a few of my favourite underrated album tracks performed live. I also gained a different appreciation for their catalog. Modest Mouse have all the ingredients, more than most bands these days, however, after every Modest Mouse show I still feel empty. It always feels as though nothing was ale to stick after the euphoric feeling during the show. Modest Mouse have made permanent residence on my iPod as hipster lullabies. I felt drowsy out of relaxation. My mind escaped into my dreamy safe spot for a good 90 minutes. When I came to I almost forgot where I was.

There was no shortage of politics which have been their stick for decades. Unlike Bono's political…read morerants (whose eyes we roll at when he speaks about the world), we tend to take Midnight Oil more seriously. Garrett is well spoken, coherent and they're very well aware of what is going on in the world including Canada. So naturally when he speaks we listen. His mission wasn't to change the audience's mind on causes but to make them more aware of their surroundings as we should be. The political songs are borderline pop alternative with a message that appeals to both the music fan and the activist. Garrett is one of my favorite front men who at 60+ still moves like he's 20. In combination with the tight musicianship, Garrett's stage presence is part of the show. There wasn't any fancy lighting or set up. This was one of those shows in which the weight of the material, good playing and a charismatic lead singer filled in the gaps where others use to compensate. Garrett's vocals were in amazing shape. The sound mix was brilliantly done. They used their environment to their advantage and worked with it. In fact it worked a little too well. The set list is different each night but the audience still got the hits that they came for. The die hard music fans got a few deep cuts. The 2 hour set went by a little too quickly. I didn't bother writing notes or the review on my phone as the show progressed. The only time I brought out my phone was to take a selfie of the bestie and I to show off what a good sold out show at Malkin Bowl actually looks like. The show was originally booked for the Commodore Ballroom which sold out instantly thus moved up to Malkin Bowl. Based on the overwhelming response and the sell out I suspect that they will be back. My musical heart always has a reason to return to a Midnight Oil show.

Biologically it's easier for me to appreciate music during reasonable hours of day, therefore, the…read moreafternoon show already won automatic points with me. This show was a series of 5 sold out home town shows. It was an all ages show with an even demographic distribution inside. The majority of those under 18 weren't taking the moment for granted that they got to experience a Commodore show on the last day of Spring break. They were very well behaved and respectful of the venue and those around them. I just wish that every Commodore show audience exercised that behavior. There was a charm watching these kids hug the rail with that spark in their eyes. It was nice to actually see above the audience's head instead of fighting for a view. K. Flay opened the show. Her music reminds me of a mix between Lights, Lorde and Charlie XCX. It was a good mixture of indie, synth and rock. She had a presence and charisma on that was very addicting to watch. She had a healthy performance confidence. After K's set I took advantage of the daylight filtering inside the club and explored some of the structural details that are often missed by the darkness. It also gave me a better view of the children's snack menu at the bar (no alcohol was served). Mother Mother mostly sang to backing tracks, however, the band's stage presence made up for it. It was interesting to see how arena pop rock works in a club. It was too polished and perfect that there were moments that got lost. I felt as though I was listening to the CD and not a live band. In spite of the two dimensional feeling of the show, I did enjoy myself very much. It was nice to escape into another world and not have to think about anything, a complete brain shut off. I appreciate that they're aiming to be that arena rock band, however, they're missing some steps in-between that they need to achieve first before getting to that milestone. The few older singles that were performed felt like the Mother Mother I first fell in love with, however, these moments were very few. More work needs to be done on the stage banter. I could feel the lead singer's awkwardness with the obligatory banter. It was painful to hear. I'm not ready to put these guys on my must see live acts list just yet but there's still some value in it for me to attend future live shows.

Even though half the crowd were too distracted by reunited friendships to appreciate Robyn HItchock…read morethere was a good handful that opened their minds and became immediate fans. His song writing has always intimidated and inspired me. It's quirky with a melody that is carried by his voice. His sense humour is on the dark side which is a character after my own heart. Robyn strode quietly on stag without announcing his presence. He strapped on his guitar and proceeded to grace the stage light revealing the features of his former self. The music is timeless, a unique brand of folk singing that I haven't heard successfully replicated. Those who have tried have failed miserably. Robyn played for 40 minutes that went by way too fast for me. Normally I get annoyed when people talk in the background of an acoustic show, however, I was so captivated and lost in the weird poetry that it just felt as though it was only him and I in the room. Robyn was so nervous even though the room hadn't filled up that he invited his friend from Seattle on stage to help with the songs. Robyn also took of his glasses so that he didn't have to look at his audience. I've met Robyn twice now, both times he's refused a selfie. I wanted something digital to remember the moments of meeting my icon. The conversations both times are still etched in my memory. He met fans at the merch booth between sets, however, seemed a bit stressed since he was selling his own merch to a large demand of fans. The Psychedelic Furs have been one of those underrated 80's bands that has had real estate inside my heavily rented musical heart. This was 4th time seeing the Furs. Every show has been consistent in terms of energy, presentation and enjoyment. For Richard's age he's a very animated front man without subscribing to the front man ego disease. He was jumping, posing and getting into the crowd as if his physical age didn't matter. As much as the audience was trapped in the 80's for 75 minutes so were the band. The times I've seen Psychedelic Furs I've never once got the impression that it was a cash nostalgia tour. They genuinely loved playing their material, including their soundtrack hits that gave them a minor push into the mainstream. They weren't pretending which was very appreciated considering that legendary bands have been stopping by the city singing their hits as if they're punching in the time clock. The audience was very into the set. There was a very positive energy on the floor that started before the band hit the stage. The songs were executed as I have remembered them all these years. The club played 80's alternative hits that got everyone dancing. Hits from Talking Heads, Depeche Mode, Bowie, The Cure and New Order just to name a few. It felt like everyone was dancing to my regular iPod playlist. It was a good emotional warm up to a night with two strong acts. The Psychedelic Furs have always been a band that has thought outside the box when it comes to team up tours. Richard is a fan of good musicians regardless of genre and likes to expose their talent to a potentially new audience. Richard's voice was still traditionally raspy but not in a negative way. He was never a great singer, however, his signature style has worked with songs. It's this combination that has made the music timeless for decades and unpretentious/attainable to the common emo 80's youth. His voice has maintained the same character raspiness without any noticeable shortcomings. This was the first proper Vancouver show (non casino) show in 16 years, therefore, the excitement on both sides have been marinating in the slow cooker for a long time.

I came early to check out The Chain Gang of 1974, a band that's been on my radar for a few years…read more It was really awesome to finally get to see them. Due to the first openers Souvenir, who were unable to make it across the border, The Chain Gang of 1974 started a bit early which caused me to miss two songs. Kamtin had charisma and was the scene stealer. The rest of the guys were just as fantastic. Musically they were very tight. The music and the performance was exactly how I had pictured it to be. The set was so energetic that the random bits of confetti (from a different show) from the scaffolding loosened up and showered the audience. The sound mix was well balanced. It was easy to hear each instrument separated making it easier for first timers to get into their set. Of course there's always that guy who has to ruin it for everyone. Some asshole during the second to last song decided to throw a cup filled with water at Kamtin. Naturally he went from channeling his inner Trent Reznor to upset and annoyed. As he was singing I could tell that he was hunting the instigator as was the rest of the audience. Even when he called out the perpetrator the cowered didn't even have the balls to show himself. It just encouraged the audience to cheer stronger to show that we did in fact appreciate The Chain Gang of 1974. They debuted a new song which was just as addicting as the rest of their catalogue. I'm looking forward to this release later in the year. Between bands the audience was soothed by the sounds of Radiohead. I hope that the dude who threw the cup also had a chance to chill out to Radiohead. I made my mingling rounds and was disappointed at the low turn out considering that the last time AFI they sold out the Commodore. The positive side is that I got to be very up close with minimal physical violation. The audience that did show up compacted together. Their energy filled the room. It was a friendly mosh pit of with a lot of apologies after shoves but overall we were in it together. We all helped each other celebrate. No shortage of smiles. The opening music before AFI hit the stage was Duran Duran. Of course in total nerd fashion I danced like I was Hungry Like A Wolf in my New Kids On The Block shirt. I believe that I won up the goths. The band opened with their huge hit Girls Got Grey to get the crowd worked up from the gate. Not that it was needed as we were all excited to see AFI. The rest of their catalogue is just as strong and the show just got better with each passing minute. The sound mix was a little muddy and off, however, everything settle two songs in. The magic moments for me were the songs off Sing The Sorrow. Davey was super energetic and the band were tight. He danced around the stage as if it was his own personal playground. Vocally Davey was strong and held it together on 90% of the songs. The few moments in which he was short of breath was disguised well. The icing on the cupcake was when they performed Silver and Gold, a song that holds some personal sentiment. Head banging with everyone as the audience echoed the chorus was a moment that summed up the whole show in less than 3 minutes. I walked out of the venue with the other metal goths clutching my neck with the urgency to leave a message with my chiropractor before I got home. A sign that the show was enjoyed.

This is one of the few times that I'm glad that I arrived early to catch an opening act. Often…read moretimes I am underwhelmed by the opening band of most shows, however, Nonpoint just blew me away. I came in without prior knowledge of the band but came out feeling as though I've known their music for years. I've grown up with that specific metal sound of crunchy bass and guitars, the sound that became synonymous with 90's metal. Amongst the growls there was still a sense of melody without disconnecting themselves from the genre. The band were very addicting to watch, extremely energetic. Musically they were very tight and displayed good chemistry. The entire band were swinging their dreads and long hair as if they were weapons of mass distraction. The lead singer Elias was a very commanding front man. The majority of the audience had never seen Nonpoint before, however, by the end they had them by the fingers of their devil horns. The way the audience was responding you would've thought that they were veteran hard core fans, however, like myself they were blown away and just caved to the feeling. This is just a testament of how strong the metal community is in Vancouver. I would definitely see these guys again if they came back to do their own solo show. The shoulder to shoulder maze of metal fans in their best black shirts and girls dressed like Harley Quinn was a cultural sceptical. Many familiar faces but enough new ones to make friends with. Floor real estate was claimed early and virtually scarce 10 minutes before the band hit the stage, however, regardless of where you were situated everyone was fully into the show. The minute Disturbed hit the stage they took no prisoners and offered no forgiveness anywhere in their set. You were immediately locked and ready to go. I had a heart and chest condition, therefore, my physical agony limited my body from expressing itself. My heart which feeds off the joy of music made up for the short comings of my physical health. David sounded in prime shape. He hit all the notes with no struggle. The band were all business playing one hit after the other. It was a dream set list. The beautiful sentimental moment was during their short aggression break with a few gentle songs consisting of a great cover of Simon and Garfunkle's Sound of Silence and Inside The Fire. The band were extremely tight. The sound mix was one of the best for a metal show at the Commodore. It was easy to tell each instrument apart. The click tracking of the drums slightly bothered me. There was way too many pre recorded backing tracks that was one step away from being a pop production. This was very noticeable during The Light. The keyboard synth strings bothered me a bit. It made these songs sound too much like a Disney soundtrack. Curveball moment in the night was the pop melody of: Nine Inch Nails, U2, The Who and Rage Against The Machine. They weren't the best covers but they were fun. Everyone's inner Karaoke came out. The sold out sea of unison fist pumps and clapping like a metal army put a smirk on my face. An image I often miss since I am usually in thick roughness of the pit. The machine gun sound of the drum and bass felt as though I was being hit with bullets of musical metal love. The vibration of the low guitar riffs emulated a harmonizing earthquake. My body felt the entire message therapy which temporarily cured the down with the sickness. By the end of the show the entire audience smelt like a dirty gym sock.

On the way to the show I was humming The Bare Naked Ladies song about Brian Wilson. Aside from the…read moresong being as catchy as Brian Wilson's own material, it summed up everything about Brian in just a single sentence of a catchy chorus. Over the years I've been aware of Brian's questionable mental state, some of which was depicted in last year's bio pic Love & Mercy. Even if Brian himself was unaware of where he was during the show I still felt that I should at least be in the same room as the song writing legend, who has had more hits than McCartney, before he permanently lays in bed. The show started 10 minutes earlier than scheduled in true Brian Wilson fashion. He just walked on stage with the house lights still on and started playing piano without the band. The band rushed the stage a few bars in as people were frantically filing in. The lobby of the theatre was repeatedly and urgently warning people that the show had begun. He opened up with California Girls. I wondered during the show if this was Brian's way of quilting the audience for not filing in fast enough even though he took everyone off guard, including his own technical staff. He even semi scolded the audience by saying, "You can take your seats now anytime." It's hard for me to tell if he was joking or was having one of his signature senior moments. Either way it provided some unintentional entertainment. It wasn't the first of the evening. The 2.5 hours was divided into 3 segments: A few early hits, Pet Sounds in full (which this tour was celebrating) and a few other hits. Everyone came and got what they wanted to hear and more. The whole time I was actually tapping my feet like a metronome. It was also the first time in months that I watched an entire show without checking my phone. The bulk of the enjoyment of the show was more for the band than Brian. Most of the band members have touring history with the original and different incarnations of the Beach Boys including founding member Al Jardin who, along with the rest of the band, did all the heavy lifting. Brian sang 40% of the time, most of which was during the Pet Sounds portion. Brian was just an honorary ornament with an extraordinary band. The band played tight and made certain songs sound better than the original recordings. One of the best live touring bands that I've seen in decades with a long resume of who's who in music (that went under appreciated with most of the audience). One moment that put a smirk on my face was when Brian suddenly stopped playing the piano during Sail On, Sailor. He waddled off stage and went to the bathroom leaving his band behind in confusion. There was a forced extended guitar solo until the band were able to figure out what was going on. The intermission before the Pet Sounds portion was supposed to be 25 minutes, however, Brian wandered on stage 9 minutes into the intermission with no band, no lights and a sound delay as some of his technical crew were still in the bathroom. The band were ear shot away so they were able to get their shit together two bars in. Half the audience were still in the lobby getting drinks. Pretty much most of us missed the first two songs of Pet Sounds. Another memorable Brian Wilson moment. The majority of the audience were under 25 to whom Pet Sounds actually matters to, therefore, missing the first two songs was more of annoyance for them than the older crowd. At the time of the initial release Pet Sounds did very poorly and the label wanted to shelve it completely. Hard core Beach Boys fans still dismiss it all together. There's something charmingly ambitious about the album. It was fun audience watching to see how the material got lost on the older fans and embraced, in admiration for Brian, by the young hipster kids. Pet Sounds has sold more copies in the past 10 years by people under 30 than it did 50 years ago that it had to have two 180g vinyl re-issues. The album has influenced a lot of new bands like The Shins, Zola, The Flaming Lips and Tame Impala. If you're one of those music fans that shits on new music you can blame Brian Wilson for being ahead of his time influencing what is being played on iTunes today. During the Pet Sounds portion of the show I had to listen with my eyes closed to appreciate and understand some of the mathematical calculations and awkward time signatures. For the rest of the show it was beneficial that I had a balcony seat with a birds eye view so that I could see what the band were actually playing. I wanted to understand the technicalities of what made the blue print of his material. The sound mix was beyond amazing, the members played well that it proved that you really don't need backing tracks at any show if the band has their shit together. They did a technical band introduction to the audience which you rarely see bands acknowledge by name. It was well appreciated and earned. During the greatest hits portion everyone was on their feet. The crowning moment wa