Barenaked Ladies Christmas Show - December 16, 2005, The Orpheum

I went and saw the Barenaked Ladies Chrismtas show tonight. I remember seeing them at the Thunderbird Stadium for the UBC Arts County Fair many years ago, and they are still lots of fun.

Sarah McLaughlin made a couple of special guest appearances.

The show opened with a children's choir which was really adorable. They even joined the band for a couple of songs and almost stole the show.

Love the stand up Bass.

What I've Been Up To Lately

They may not be famous (yet) but here are a few bands that I've seen lately and that I like. Check them out!

Misty
First up are the Yoko Casionos. I love them, and I don't know them at all, so you know I'm not lying.
Check them out at MySpace

Patrick Brealey of Patrick Brealey & the Knives.
Patrick used to play with one of my favourite Vancouver bands, The Salteens. When he ran off he didn't join the circus like so many others.
Check him out at MySpace and be his friend.

Jeen O'Brien is from Toronto and came through town on a cross Canada promotional tour with Chapters. She's got an amazing voice and great songs.
Check her out at MySpace

Ben Sigston
I've talked about him before, but I finally got a chance to check out the full band last night. They have this amazing guitarist who plays his guitar upside down, which I'm told is like learning something left handed. It sure looks cool. I don't have any pictures of him, so you'll just have to check them out yourself.

Joel Myers
Check out Ben Sigston at MySpace

Lastly, my beloved Canucks. Hey, this post is called What I've been up to lately so I can pretty much post anything. The Canucks play the seemingly unbeatable Ottawa Senators tomorrow night. I took this photo at the game where the Canucks beat Colorado by a score or 5 to 2. That was game 6 or 8 with the Av's for those you keeping track of this weird schedule.

Ben Sigston
Todd Bertuzzi
Patrick Brealey
Yoko Casionos

The Dandy Warhols - November 15, 2005 The Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver

Courtney Taylor and the Art Of the Immaculate Putdown

AKA The Dandy Warhols come to Town

Review by Nick at Feed Your Habit

Hat perched insouciantly on his head, floppy fringe falling directly down over his eyes and reaching the bridge of his nose, pouty lips and louche look in his eyes, Courtney Taylor is the consummate dandy rock star. His angular physique and languid rock star pose while singing into his 2 microphones set up, all scream look at me. “I’m a Rock Star”. Frankly it works and I’m not a horny 19-year-old girl like the one behind me emitting piercing shrieks of “Anton” uh-wrong band hope it works out for you though.


Courtney Taylor-Taylor.
DiG! Casts a long shadow over the Dandy Warhols, every preview mentioned it and the band must surely be sick of answering questions about it yet preconceived notions of artists personalities can and probably do affect ones level of enjoyment of the art on a purely visceral level. Let the mystery be I say.

So I came to the show not having seen DiG! but having read a lot about it and furthermore have yet to pick up the last 2 releases. Indeed my first introduction to their live show was a long gone Web cast where the band finished with a 10 min maelstrom wall of guitar sound. Yet what do I find but a pop band with a martial bent? (Sadly the Dandy’s Trumpeter was left at the border due to custom issues). No stodgy amateur marching band but a band with spring in their steps “Knees up Mother Brown” a “sproingy” sound most evident in “Bohemian Like You” which at the 60 min mark when the show finally took off came bouncing out of the speakers trampoline style. It’s their most readily accessible and identifiable tune but the groundwork was laid for the shows energetic up-tick by “Boys Better” which features those rapid chord changes which propel this song (and others in their repertoire) along in a finely tuned synchromesh fashion. No surprise then that they cover “Hells Bells” by the masters of riff based rock AC/DC.

Peter Holstrom
“Boys Better” also highlights another of the bands strengths. I’m no musician myself but I couldn’t help thinking how tight they were. Drummer Brent De Boer who surely has the best rock star hairdo around, stick your fingers in the electric socket afro style was spot on throughout the show and contributed a lot of melodic harmonizing vocals especially as Courtney’s voice sounded somewhat hoarse and broken. Zia who finished the show off with “Daisy on My Toe” is personality personified (and sexy as all heck) on keyboards and sundry weird sounds and guitarist Peter Holmstron understated but an integral part of the team.

Oh and if you want to heckle a rock star then be prepared for a slow turn in your direction, eyes slowly seeking the source, mouth forming words to reply but rather a lazily raised eyebrow with top left lip curling in derision. Ah the art of the immaculate putdown.

Zia Macabe
Dandy Warhols

Detroit Cobras - November 8, 2005 Chop Suey, Seattle Washington

Anyone, everyone, who knows me, knows how much I love the Detroit Cobras. If I had only one desert island band, they would have to be it. Sadly, circumstances prevent them from touring in Canada, but it was a fabulous excuse for a road trip!!

Racehl Nagy
Chop Suey is a weird little club. It's sort of got this asian theme with red chinese lanterns around, and the smallest stage I've ever seen for a band. The stage is about two feet off the ground, so you feel really close and personal with the band.

I have a total girl crush on Rachel Nagy.

Maribel Restrepo
Maribel Restrepo is a tiny spitfire. She suffered an asthma attack, and guitar strap problems and still the show went on.

I got to meet Rachel after the show. She was totally great! Yes, I have a picture with her, and if you know me, you can check out my other blog.

For More Photos, Click Here
Detroit Cobras