We arrive at the Rio around 7:30 with low expectations. Last time I saw Chad Vangaalen was at the Commadore opening for Hawksley Workman at Vancouvers weird attempt to rock up the Can-Con.

It was February, and when Chad took the stage, he announced “we’re feeling pretty bad, ate some bad sushi last night.” He was right, it was bad. No feeling in the songs, struggling with his own vocal delivery and a crowd anxious to be rocked by Hawksley. Long story short, I was not impressed.

Sitting third row this time however, the venue packed with laid back hipsters, not beer swilling 99.3 CFOX-Bro’s, I have to admit I was quite excited. Lazy indie hits flowed from the loud speakers as everyone seemed to scramble for a seat within the first 4 rows. After a long wait, Castle Music took the stage.  In  Jennifer Castles hand, a tiny guitar and that’s it. The first song was a bit of a let down, which proved to be the case for most of the set. Her open tuned guitar sounding tiny and weak over her well amplified voice. Her fingers couldn’t seem to find the strings they where intended for 50% of the time and a few songs where just damn ridiculous, one in particular sung entirely in a Capella about a sea captain and his wife. Jennifer Castle did however have a few good moments, when she could hit everything well, it sounded great, her voice filling the room with many hums and misty harmonies.

and then she told a story about Chad Vangaalen becoming a Witch in Victoria, I laughed… picturing it in my head.

And then about 25 minutes later I witnessed it. The entire band, including a long black wig clad Chad Vangaalen enters the stage. Every member in some sort of strange hat, Chad in his wig, looking more like a Gothic Kim Mitchell than a witch. Opening with a strange mythical folk jam, including Chad on a lute and all other members fiddling with some sort of string instrument, or Julie playing her Elementary School recorder, very well, it was quite the spectacle. When the mood of Nordic viking song ended, Chad announced it was his friend Toms birthday and asked said Tom for a request. Which was: ‘Pump Up The Jam’. Fuck, it was awesome. This concert really proved to me what had been dwelling in the back of my mind the whole show. Chad Vangaalen is the new Canadian Indie Rock icon! There I said it. Move aside Kevin Drew, pack your bags Emily Haines. There is absolutely something for everyone in Vangaalen’s music. Be it his haunting falsetto, the rhythm based guitar lines or the electronic filled noise jams, you can really find yourself in his music. At this point in the concert most people had left their comfortable movie theater seats and gathered at the foot of the stage, worshiping at the altar of Vangaalen, and he delivered.

Every song was executed with perfection, his voice never faltering, never missing a note. clever stage banter everyone laughed along with and finally, playing a set of every song I wanted to hear (save TMNT mask). As well as a ton of new material. Finally an encore of  ‘Willow Tree’ and the set was over. Chad Vangaalen you have restored my faith in you, and I am once again worshiping at the altar of Vangaalen along side everyone that witnessed him last night.

Chad Vangaalen – I was I was a Dog

Chad Vangaalen – Microscopic World

-lionsteeth

Tags: chad vangaalen, lionsteeth, Show Review