Manic Street Preachers- September 22, 2009 in Vancouver at the Commodore Ballroom

James Dean Bradfield

I think I've finally figured out why I like Twitter. It's like a search engine for everything you actually want to find. I like taking photos, but I don't particularly like writing reviews of the shows I go to. Mostly, you could say that at best, I write commentary. With that in mind, I am going to direct you readers to a review I found on Twitter. It's from an amazing website called Guttersnipe, and I urge you to check it out.

The review is HERE and I pretty much have nothing to add to it, except for a bit of personal commentary.

I saw the Manic Street Preachers when they came to Vancouver ten years ago. I don't remember that much about it except that every interview mentioned the disappearance of Richie Edwards. It's only now with the release of Journal For Plague Lovers, which features lyrics left behind by Edwards, that I can appreciate his contribution to the band.

My final commentary is that this show felt like the Goldilocks show. It had been a busy week with the Hold Steady, Arctic Monkeys, and Manic Street Preachers. If you read my thoughts on the other shows, then you'll understand why I felt this show was just right. Great music, amazing energy and genuine engagement with the crowd.
Nicky WIre

Arctic Monkeys - September 20, 2009 at the Malkin Bowl

Alex Turner

I've never actually seen a rock show at the Malkin Bowl. In fact I'd pretty much forgotten it was there at all, but that was where the Arctic Monkeys played. It's a gorgeous setting and it was a beautiful evening. When the band took the stage the crowd was ecstatic.

All that potential for something magical was not matched by the band on stage. I'd missed seeing the Arctic Monkeys once before at SXSW when their scheduled set was hours late and we just had to leave. I was really looking forward to finally seeing them as I loved the debut album, Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not. What was missing from Sunday's show was any expression of personality by anyone on the stage.

Alex Turner has a lot of charisma and looks the part of brooding indie rocker and musically, they sounded great, but they just appeared to be bored or at the very least, introspective. Three albums in, I just think a band should be more engaging with the audience. More flattering and detailed reviews can be found HERE.

The Hold Steady - September 19, 2009 Vancouver at the Vogue Theatre

Craig Finn

Craig Finn shouldn't be cool. Receding hairline, late thirties, dance moves that consist of hyper speed hand claps and flailing arms. It all adds up to something strange, but from Craig Finn, it's most certainly cool. I was unable to find a single YouTube clip that captured that manic energy, but try, Stuck Between Stations for a great song.

The Hold Steady are a band that makes music that tell stories like Bruce Springsteen, but Craig Finn spits out those lyrics with a punk rock vibe more like Art Bergmann.

It seemed like the crowd sang along to every song, intoxicated by the energy of Craig Finn. This is despite the fact that the show was held at the Vogue Theatre, with reserved seating (which we had abandoned for our post at the stage. Hardly the best location for a show where you should be jumping around.

Check them out live if you get the chance. It should be a problem as they seem to tour continually.
Tad Kubler

Bumbershoot 2009- Monday Night, September 7, 2009

Monday Night.I'll go backwards this time because the highlight for me was Metric. Canadian band that is amazing. Check out Gimme Sympathy. Emily Haines is a dynamo with charisma to spare. See them if you get a chance.
Emily Haines

Joshua Winstead
Lenka. Adorable to behold with a captivating voice that really has you singing along. My favourite song is Trouble Is A Friend.
Lenka

Franz Ferdinand. My favourite band to play on "Rock Band" This isn't my favourite song but I do love this video for Ulysses.
Alex Kapranos

Paul Thomson

Bumbershoot 2009- Monday Day September 7, 2009

It rained. It poured. But for our troubles we made the front page of the Seattle Weekly's coverage!

First up was my most anticipated show, Visqueen. I love them so much. Check out their video for Crush On The Radio, although my favourite song is actually Vaxxine. It came as a huge disappointment to me when they played their new album in it's entirety with neither of songs I wanted to hear.
Rachel Flotard

Cristina Bautista

Tom Cummings

We went for one of our endless free Starbucks coffee's and still managed to catch The Minus 5. I'd seem them before when R.E.M. played a secret show with them. Peter Buck still plays with the band, which was cool to see. I'm going to link to a live performance of Lies Of The Living Dead because the song is a cool as the title.
Scott McCaughey

Peter Buck

Delhi 2 Dublin was an unexpected stop. As we were passing through the grounds, we were seduced by the sounds of Bangra music and had to stop. This is a truly a multicultural group with world wide influences, and you need to check this video out to see what I'm talking about.
Sanjay Seran

Delhi 2 Dublin

Ravi Binning

Next it was the Black Eyed Peas. This was for Sonia, so I braved life and limb to get up close.
Fergie

will.i.am

Taboo

Last for the day was Akron/Family. I was really looking forward to them and expected a dozen people on stage, but was surprized to see just two guys. Check out Ed Is A Portal.
Seth Olinsky

Bumbershoot 2009- Sunday, September 6, 2009

Started with The Black Whales. As in all my Bumbershoot, the song choice will be linked to a video. My choice for the Black Whales is Young Blood.

I have a pet peeve in watching bands, and singer Alex Robert was a big offender. He kept his eyes closed during the entire performance. You can not connect with an audience when you have your eyes closed. The performance is internal, and you lose us. For this reason, here is my photo of Alex tuning his guitar because nothing else is compelling.
Alex Robert

Davey Brozowski

Then it was off to the main stage for our first main stage show. I HATE the main stage because they have no video screens at all. It's ridiculous because you can't see anything unless you get up really close and you are basically taking your life into your own hands at that point. Bumbershoot, GET SOME GIANT VIDEO SCREENS!
Anyways, off to see the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, who I adore. My favourite song is Zero which you can watch here.
Karen O

What's not to love. They were amazing. A highlight for sure. Also more giant confetti cannons which seem to be the new thing right now.

After an awesome Happy Hour at Twist (love the pomegranate ribs) it was off to Michael Franti and Spearhead. Say Hey is supposedly a hit although I don't know anyone else who knows it. I love it to death, but Sonia and Glen were not too impressed.

Michael Franti

Michael Franti and Jason Mraz

Last stop of the day was to see The Helio Sequence. My favourite song is Keep Your Eyes Ahead.

Brandon Summers with Benjamin Weikel

Bumbershoot 2009- Saturday Night, September 6, 2009

So after nice Mexican dinner complete with beer flavoured water, we began our evening. As before, I've added a link to the videos wherever possible.

I've loved World Party forever, so Glen was pretty surprized when I said I could take them or leave them. On our way to the EMP Sky church, we happened by the Fisher Stage where World Party was beginning my favourite song, Message In A Box. Needless to say. I got all excited, and ran to the front of the stage.
Karl Wallinger

He was simply accompanied by another guitarist and a fiddler

David Duffy and John Turnbull

We still managed to catch Kay Kay And His Weathered Underground. Check out Momma here. The EMP/SFM Sky Church is probably my favourite venue at Bumbershoot. The gorgeous lighting compliments the great sound that the space has

Kirk Huffman

Kay Kay And His Weathered Underground

We still managed to catch about half of The Long Winters set. Watch Fire Island, AK here.

John Roderick

Bumbershoot 2009- Saturday Day September 5, 2009

Another busy Bumbershoot. Lots to see and do. Songs will be linked to a video when possible.

We started our weekend with Natalie Portman's Shaved Head. A crazy, fun Seattle band. Best song? Check out Sophisticated Side Ponytail.
Luke Smith

Claire England

Shaun Libman

Amazing live. So much energy. Great fun songs. Great start to the weekend.

Second up. Low vs Diamond. Best song? Don't Forget Sister.
Lucas Field

Anthony Polcino

They were good enough, but who I was really waiting for was Matt and Kim.
Best video? Lesson's Learned which features them stripping down in New York's Time Square. Best SONG however, has to go to the incredibly catchy Yea Yeah which I couldn't stop singing all weekend.
Matt Johnson & Kim Schifino

Matt and Kim

Another really fun energetic set which featured lots of glitter explosions and crowd surfing including a go by Kim.