The Sweatshop, June 22nd
I walked into the dimly-lit Sweatshop to catch the tail end of System Shit’s wonderfully sloppy set. Who would have thought that a punk gig would start at 7pm? Fear of Tomorrow hit the stage and began to sonica...
There aren’t a lot of modern rock bands running around spouting an ethos of love, harmony and goodwill toward one other. In a market where the gloomy, aggressive or just plain aloof is king, you wouldn't think these kinds of happy cuddly ...
The Pack AD / Cadaver Dogs / The TVees / Valerie Graham
ANZA Club
June 20th, 2008
Dave Bertrand
So we swagger in with our free stamps and I'm feelin' good – old friends in the house, old friends at the bar, fist of beer; I enjoy the...
Dick's On Dicks, Wed.June.18th
With the 2008 Vancouver International Jazz Fest getting under way, the illustrious Commodore Ballroom is pretty well taken for a month or so solid at this time every year. As such, I was not so much surpris...
Pub 340 - June 5th, 2008
MUSIC WASTE 2008:
The B-Lines / Dead Ghosts / Get Well Bomb / The TVees
Pub 340 - June 5th, 2008
Dave Bertrand
For the first time in many moons, I really made the effort to make it out on time for the openi...
Friday June 6, 2008 @ the Railway Club
Expectations were running high for this CD release. Swank’s epic new CD/Karaoke DVD release Campfire Psalms has been greeted with banner press all around. Punters filled the Rail early, imbibing...
Music Waste 2008
Jesus fucking CHRIST!!! This city is a veritable loot-bag of musical talent, and it becomes more apparent to me every time I get my ass out to see some live music that there's much more going on under my nose than I thou...
ANZA Club - Sat.May.24th
I was in a bit of a funk as I made my way down to the ANZA club, already half-cut and looking to have my shit saved by some good ‘ol rock and roll. And with tonight’s amazing lineup, I was sure to have the ...
The Glim Project / Incura / Stand Down / Hezzakya
Stand Down C.D. Release Party
The Penthouse, Fri. May 9th
Edward Dinsley
I hate being the reviewer who turns up late to a show and all but misses the opening act. Unfortunately, I was...
BLACK MOUNTAIN
In The Future
Jagjaguwar
When I hear Stephen McBean’s slowly-picked A-minor guitar intro for “Stormy High,” I’m almost tricked into thinking it’s a cover of “Hell’s Bells,” but then the swing-time Black...
As I Lay Dying / Misery Signals / August Burns Red / Evergreen Terrace
Croatian Cultural Centre, Tuesday April 29th
Until this impeccably brutal show, I believed the Croatian Cultural Centre was to be avoided at all costs, but the na...
I'm a white rocker, born of Abbotsford. All through high school I associated rap music with delinquents farting bass out of Honda Civics and punching people. But time passed, and at SXSW in Austin this past March, I stumble upon the Canadia...
Royal Unicorn Cabaret
April 25th, 2008
A pointless evening, overall; I came for Black Betty – Black Betty did not come! Ana was sick. They were replaced by the comparable, admirable Hezzakya, with huge double-stacks of amps-amps-amps ...
These gals...crazy. Vancouver to Toronto for a single gig. Fly home. Immediately pack the tour van. Cross the border at night. Drive 15 hours to a poorly attended Monday night show in Denver. Who does that? The Pack A.D., mofo, that's who....