The Business

Let's get down to business. First order of business is J Roddy Walston and The Business. They were the opening band for the sold out Deer Tick/Phosphorescent co-headlining bill at (my favourite venue in Vancouver for live music) The Biltmore Cabaret (check out their schedule here biltmore sched ) on Friday October 22, 2010. J Roddy Walston and The Business rocked so hard they arguably stole the show. Watch for these guys from Baltimore and go see them live. They sound like the kind of pure rock and roll I'd expect to hear at a roadhouse bar down south somewhere and they are seriously, amazeballs live. They have that raw sound that The Kings of Leon had on their first album and are easily as good.

J Roddy Walston rockin' out at the piano

 They forced Phosphorescent (who were up next) to bring their "A" game as well. They played all the songs I wanted to hear opening with the first track "It's Hard to be Humble (When You're From Alabama)" off their latest album Here's to Taking it Easy. Eventually slowing it down for a mind-blowing rendition of "Wolves.

 Finally it's time for Deer Tick and they are ready. The bearded, plaid shirted, and tuque lidded crowd had been in a PBR fuelled frenzy from the start and they weren't about to stop now. The very young (so young they probably play here so often just so they can all drink legally) Deer Tick shut the place down with  a set that was representative of all three of their alt. country albums. The sold out show was really a testament to Deer Tick, I only hope they don't outgrow this venue next time they're in town.

Above: Phosphorescent
Below: Deer Tick

I am still very disappointed that I missed the Deerhunter show last night with Real Estate at another great Vancouver venue The Rickshaw Cabaret. If any of you got to this show please tell all about it. I haven't stopped listening to Deerhunter's latest album Halcyon Digest since its release Sept. 27 of this year. Another of my favourite albums of the year is Real Estate's self-titled album released Jan. 19th. They were supposed to play at the legendary Commodore Ballroom but ended up having to move the show. 

Meanwhile, in the local scene, the SSRIs and I got rained out on our video shoot and will do our best to reschedule that soon. In the meantime check them out this Friday at Brandiz. If it's Halloween you're after Vancouver's own Like Animals Again is playing a cover set down at The Railway Club on Friday night as well. Like Animals Again share a drummer with another local band that I'm very excited about Aunts and Uncles. I hope to get some time with them in the near future but in the meantime check them out on myspace here auntsanduncles . 

Here's a list of upcoming shows I'm stoked about. 

Sufjan Stevens Orpheum Thursday October 28, 2010 plays new material.

Biltmore Fri Oct 29 Avi Buffalo with Fences (very cool)

Brandiz -SSRIs Friday Oct. 29

Best Coast at the Strathcona this Friday

Railway club Like animals again Friday

Dr Dog Vogue Sat. Oct. 30 (check it out)

Pvt Media Club Sunday Oct 31 (Aussie rockers)

Go out and support your local live music venues and buy tickets, buy albums or merchandise from the artists at the show or buy albums or tickets for shows at local record stores like Zulu, Scratch or, Redcat. 

A few songs to play me out

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

Yesterday & Tomorrow

Last night was the Morning Benders show at The Venue (if you haven't checked out a show here yet you really should). Unfortunately I just missed the first band of the night Cults who I really wanted to see. They are sort of a throw back 60's pop band. The song writing is mainly done by the two front persons Madeline Follin and Brian Oblivion but they are six on stage. Check out the Daytrotter session posted yesterday here daytrotter cults . Next up was Twin Sister also from New York. Touring their Color Your Life - EP (got to love the way they spell color here eh!). Then it was time for The Morning Benders. It's the second time I've seen them this year and the third time they've been to town in the last twelve months. They just keep getting better. Their album Big Echo is one of my favorites of 2010. They played almost all of it and their new single Go Grab a Stranger. They were very engaging with the crowd (especially with their final number Excuses where they had us all singing along (including a loud, drunken fan who just didn't want it to end)) and they hung out for a while after the show talking to the fans. Great show all, thank-you. For some music check the player at the bottom of this post.

Next up is Deer Tick w/ Phosphorescent tomorrow night at my new favorite place for live music in the city, The Biltmore Cabaret. I've seen Deer Tick once earlier this year and they played right around New Years as well I believe so they are no strangers to Vancouver. Deer Tick was a lot of fun last time they were here (I'm a huge fan) and they've been known to mingle (drink) with the audience after the show. Phosphorescent is touring their new awesome album Here's to Taking it Easy. Opening for them is J-Roddy Walston and the Business from Baltimore. I'm excited to check them out early as I've heard they can really rock. Hope to see some of you there. Go!

Finally, I'm stoked to announce that Tasty Ears will be filming a song or two with the SSRIs in an undisclosed location in Vancouver in the next couple of days so watch for that on the Tasty Ears YouTube channel soon. In the meantime here is their super cool DIY video.

SSRIs - Certain Set Configuration (Music Video) from The SSRIs on Vimeo.



Music Playlist at MixPod.com

"I Need Some New Music."

A mix tape for a lazy music lover who is still listening to the same old thing.

Song:                                    Artist:                                           Album:                                                

01 The Tallest Man on Earth -The Dreamer -Sometime the Blues is Just a Passing Bird EP
02 Free Energy                    -Bang Pop                                    -Stuck On Nothing
03 Gayngs                           -The Gaudy Side of Town           -Relayted
04 Titus Andronicus           -Theme From "Cheers"                 -The Monitor
05 Bear in Heaven              -Lovesick Teenagers                     - Beast Rest Forth Mouth
06 Beirut                             -Elephant Gun                               -Lon Gisland EP
07 Wavves                          -Convertible Balloon                     -King of the Beach
08 Cults                               -Go Outside                                  -Cults 7"
09 Shimmering Stars            -I'm Gonna Try                            - It's Just As Well
10 Sleigh Bells                     -Rill Rill                                       -Treats
11 Drums                             -Down by the Water                     -The Drums
12 The Black Keys              -Everlasting Light                         -Brothers
13 Edward Sharp and The Magnetic Zeros -Home                   -Self-titled
14 Phosphorescent                                -Wolves                        -Pride
15 The Roots (feat. Joanna Newsome) -Right On                     -How I got Over
16 The Very Best (feat. Ezra Koenig) -Warm Heart of Africa  -Warm Heart of Africa
17 William Elliott Whitmore               -Hell or High Water       -Animals in the Dark
18 Surfer Blood                                  -Take It Easy                  -Astrocoast
19 Deer Tick                                      - Houston, TX                -Born on Flag Day
20 Local Natives                                -Wide Eyes                    -Gorilla Manor
21 Matt & Kim                                  -Cameras                        -Sidewalks
22 SSRIs      -Certain Set Configuration        -Effeminate Godzilla-Sized Wind Chimes
23 The Morning Benders                  -Cold War                       -Big Echo
24 Cave Singers                                -Leap                              -Welcome Joy
25 Girls                                             -Lust for Life                  -Album

There. Now I'll leave you with a live recording from The Tallest Man on Earth's Vancouver show Sept 8, 2010 at The Rickshaw Theatre. The song is The Dreamer from his EP that was released a day earlier. This will get you started. Don't forget to check out the Tasty Ears Channel on YouTube or at the top of this page. See you at The Morning Benders show on Oct. 20th at The Venue (Cults are opening). Go!

Music Playlist at MixPod.com