My love for Julie Doiron started at an early age, around 16. My boss at the mall clothing store I worked at passed me a cd, “Shotgun + Jaybird plus Julie Randoms” Scribbled across the front with girlish hearts and doodles occupying the rest of the space. We would listen to it quietly, unplugging the company controlled radio and coughing loudly when Julie would yell cuss words. I still have that cd, and although I own almost all Shotgun and Jaybird/Julie albums, there are still quite a few songs only that cd can provide. Before this Biltmore show I had never seen Julie and I must I admit I had high expectations, not in a critical way, in a loving way. I felt like I was watching a good friend preform and had an almost giddy feeling when Julie walked past in the bar.  Surprisingly an early 8:00pm show on Saturday night was still sold out and the line to buy tickets was down the street. When the curtain finally lifted to expose the pig-tailed and messy Julie, black Les-Paul in hand and amp cranked to 10, I noticed another familiar face. The keyboardist for the Constantines is now Julies backing band, god damn what a treat that was. Hightlights included Snow In November, Borrowed Mini-Vans, a cover of Ladyhawks “Teenage Love Song”, and Consolation Prize. Not to mention a treat from her newest project Daniel, Fred and Julie featuring Fred of Shotgun and Jaybird, and Daniel of Attack In Black.  And then it was over, the crowed briefly parted only to gather around tighter this time for Bowerbirds who took to the stage quite quickly. The mood was soft and Bowerbirds preformed perfectly, accordion and light acoustic guitar bouncing off one another while all four members sang in lovely harmonies.  Highlights of this set included Silverclouds, Chimes, a rowdy anti-olympic cheer, a drunken fellow double fisting PBR constantly leaning into me for support and the crowd pleaser of the night, an energetic version of the song Crooked Lust which I loved. And that was it, we where ushered out of the venue to make room for the gang of people lined up the block to see Attack In Black who where scheudled to preform only 45 minutes afterwards. I give this  show 4 PBR’s out of 5.

Julie Doiron – Spill Yr Lungs (live)

Bowerbirds – Crooked Lust

-lionsteeth

Just this past Monday I had the great fortune of seeing these two wonderful bands play at the Biltmore.  I arrived, much to my dismay, in the middle of the Ruby Suns set. The song “Oh, Mojave” was being played, but it sounded different. It was a more stripped down, much more electronic version of the song. And something was wrong onstage. “There is mischief afoot!”, I thought to myself. After listening to the Ruby Suns studio album, “sea Lion”, I was positive that there had to be at least 6 or 7 people in the band. But up on stage there were only 3. Did my eyes deceive me? Where were the others hiding? Turns out the three onstage had  tiny versions of themselves hidden in sampling machines and keyboards, so they could double their beautiful music out put. The result was an amazing show. It definately had a more stripped down feel compared to the record, with a bigger emphasis on the electronic aspects of the songs. This worked out well though, at some points making me feel as if I were listening for the first time. Varying from soft lullabies to dancy upbeat pop music that had all three members (Ryan McPhun, Amee Robinson, Bevan Smith) doing multiple things onstage at once, the performance was just as engaging to watch as it was to listen to.

Oh, Mojave – Ruby Suns

Adventure Tour – Ruby Suns

Next up were the Dodos.  

They played a wonderful set full of danceable pop and catchy melodies. Lead singer/ guitar player Meric Long displayed a masterful talent with loop machines, looping both his vocals and guitar riffs, sometimes simultaneously, and adding loads of depth usually unheard of for a three piece pop act. Add to this the absolutely fan-fucking-tastic drumming of Logan Kroeber, beautiful rolls on the floor tom with plenty of rim shots and booming beats with sharp snare hits that had me dancing involuntarily, and you’ve got yourself one hell of a great band. But wait, there’s more. A third member, Keaton Snyder, was playing a giant vibraphone and another floor tom! Infusing yet more depth into the songs. Especially during the slower breakdowns. At one point both Long and Snyder were playing the vibraphone with bows from a cello. The result was a haunting, yet very pretty, humming melody. It was something that I have never seen before, so for that reason and so much more, I suggest that you go check out the Dodos. It’s for your own good. And go see them next time they are in town, you won’t be disapointed.

Paint the Rust – The Dodos

The Season – The Dodos

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