About halfway into the SSRIs’ CD release party last Friday I could not wait for the headliner to hit the stage and save the night for me. See, I’m realizing that my age and curmudgeonly ways are starting to catch up and relating to some of this “retro” synth nerd punk that’s all the rage is becoming an increasingly more difficult task. We live in the age of the awkward hipster and apparently there is no escaping it. That being said there were definitely praiseworthy moments when each of the three supporting acts shone brightly. Fine Mist especially were solid tight and Megan McDonald could belt it out. The other two bands, MT-40 and Bad Fate respectively were synthesizer rich pop that lacked in depth but had plenty of surge and danceable spunk, even though the time warp back to bad ’80s dance clubs and worse cocaine started to get tired and SSRIs became the only thing on my mind. Effortless restless abandon is what SSRIs play and they do it so damned well. Tonight the band was on fire, excitedly playing songs off the freshly released Effeminate Godzilla-Sized Wind Chimes along with a few treats from their past releases which got the biggest response from a packed crowd. The audience themselves were a little rough around the edges and prompted a request from the band for the rowdies to hop up and down and not side to side all arms akimbo because things were getting pretty rough, but this quickly smoothed out and in the end the band truly amazed. All in all, despite my reactions to some of this repackaged new-fangled awkward music on offer it was still an exciting show. As always SSRI’s were fantastic!
Monthly Archives: June 2010
Neil Hamburger
Coming to the Biltmore July 10
By Racan Souiedan
For any comedy fan accustomed to stand-up featuring a steady rise towards an inevitable punch line, watching Neil Hamburger perform ought to be nothing less than a revelation. America’s Funnyman, as he so proudly declares himself, certainly transcends and occasionally even shatters the boundaries of formulaic comedy, but to call his performances mere anti-humour is to do him a great disservice. Hamburger is genuinely hilarious in his own right, with jokes that draw from absurdity, shock appeal and often just plain silliness. Hamburger has recorded many comedy albums, appeared in films such as Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny, performed on television shows like Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and even released a country record for Drag City a couple of years back. Hamburger is also a tireless workhorse and tours ceaselessly. Do yourself a favour and see him on Saturday, July 10 at the Biltmore, a show which will also mark the triumphant return of Vancouver’s own comedy dynamo Hugh Phukovsky. For a mere $10 (advance tickets at Happy Bats, Red Cat, and Zulu), I can think of no better evening’s entertainment. I recently had the opportunity to catching up with Neil, who graciously took the time to respond to my email while on the road.
Discorder: You tour almost constantly. What’s the appeal of life on the road?
Neil Hamburger: There is no appeal. There is no choice!
D: Your jokes about fast food joints and other restaurants are certainly memorable. What are your favourite places to eat while on tour?
NH: I like to buy discounted canned goods from salvage warehouses, and heat them up in my motel room on a hot plate that was given to me by a concerned fan. Read More
Born Ruffians
with Young Rival, June 9 @ Biltmore Cabaret
Review By John Bartlett
It was still light out when people started to arrive at the Biltmore on this Wednesday evening. Both bands on the bill had recently returned to Canada after selling out shows in LA, San Francisco and Seattle on Born Ruffians’ album release tour. The early arrivals had time to enjoy a few pints before the curtains cleared and openers Young Rival took the stage.
The Hamilton trio of Aron D’Alesio, Noah Fralick and John Smith also released an album recently and were quick to show why it received so much good press. Young Rival’s laid-back, rock ‘n’ roll sound could just as easily accompany a lazy day at the beach as get bodies moving on a warm summer evening. They finished with “Authentic,” a recent iTunes Single of the Week and one of the catchier songs you’ll hear this year. Read More
Film Stripped
No Fun City: A documentary by Melissa James & Kate Kroll. Premier screening Monday, May 10, 2010 @ Pacific Cinematheque
Review By Brenda Grunau
Vancouver has been touted as the No Fun City, generally referring to the strict bylaws governing the operation of bars and venues in Vancouver. These rules, which govern liquor sales, closing times and other strange measurements of distance and decibels, prevent fun for those cultured few in Vancouver who prefer live music to jogging the seawall. This film explores the hardships of the hardcore (punk, metal and noise) venues and their collective rise and fall in the fabric of the city.
The documentary traces the paths of four venues and their respective owners/operators: Malice Liveit of the Sweatshop, Justin Gradin of the Emergency Room, David Duprey of the Rickshaw Theatre, and Wendy13 of the Cobalt. Of these venues, only the Rickshaw Theatre is still in operation (although 917 Main has reopened in the Cobalt’s location with new management). Lengthy interviews with the four characters comprised the bulk of the film, peppered with great quotes by Vancouver’s who’s who, including Joey Shithead, Japandroids, the Furies, Three Inches of Blood and Skinny Puppy. Read More
Bowl Your Own Waste
Twin Crystals, Apollo Ghosts, Cat Attack, Role Mach & Chris-a-Riffic, June 6 @ Grandview Bowling Lanes
Review By Katherine Boothroyd
Jarrett Evan Samson of Role Mach, photo by Tamara Lee
Chris-a-Riffic begun with a torrent of verbosity. Part sermon, part diary confessional, he was a one-man dictionary. Spewing forth an unstoppable monologue, he had the modest sized audience eating out of his hand. Even though he called everyone at Discorder “arseholes,” he was still awesome. [ed. No, he wasn't! He's a jerk! We hate him!] Read More
The Sadies
Darker Circles (Yep Roc)
Review By Nikaiya Tremblay
Listen to Another Year Again
What do you get when you mix elements of classic country, new artistic instrumentation and lyrics reminiscent of garage and folk rock? The answer to this question surfaces upon the very first listen to the Sadies’ latest offering, < > Darker Circles. Since their first major album release in 2005, the band has matured and developed their style to achieve a sonic formula that is quite unique.
The culmination of the band’s technical skill is the most striking feature, although it might not be for every person with country inclinations. With many catchy guitar riffs, and multiple instrumental solos throughout the album, it is sure to catch the ears of any guitar and bass enthusiast. Mike Belltsky also does a very good job keeping the beat driving the forward, making even the slowest songs seem like they are going somewhere. Read More
First Aid Kit
with Samantha Crain, June 6 @ Media Club
Review By Susanne Dewein
First Aid Kit, photo by Robert Fougere
The stage location allows for an intimacy between performer and audience, which was made use of by both acts that evening. A little less talk in between the sisters’ songs wouldn’t have been amiss, though it would have made their performance shorter than it already was.
Matmos
with So Percussion & Lexie Mountain Boys, June 19 @ Biltmore Cabaret
Review By Justin Langille
Matmos, photo by Steve Louie
Baltimore, Maryland duo Matmos brought pro collaborators and an arsenal of instruments/objects to town, making good on their reputation as conceptual innovators, proficient in bringing the fringes of avant-garde electronica to the fore of pop music. When Martin Schmidt of Matmos got the crowd to rearrange the seating to the very middle of the room so the audience could improve it’s positioning within the band’s quadraphonic sound setup (read: surround sound), it became apparent that maximizing sonic expression was the priority for the evening. Read More »