Alternate Plans

If I can't go to the Lucksmiths show on September 24, I might consider attending the Peter Bjorn and John/ Clientele show concert in Vancouver.

Friday, September 21
Peter Bjorn and John, The Clientele
Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver BC
doors 8pm
tickets: Ticketmaster, Zulu, Scratch

(The anticipatory slap in the face from not being able to attend the Lucksmiths concert is making me enraged enough that I am hoping like crazy I will not have to settle for PB&J and the Clientele, who, though probably reasonably enjoyable, are nowhere near the top of my list as the Lucksmiths are...)

Oh yeah, and Jens is announcing US tour dates soon.

Concerts (and a film opening?!) July 23-31

My grandma's ninetieth birthday was on Saturday, and I worked Sunday, so I've been a tad out of touch in terms of live events. Let's see what's coming up...

Wednesday, July 25
Azeda Booth, Beasts and Superbeasts, Balacade
Logan's Pub
10pm
*Also listen to Azeda Booth on CFUV from 4-5pm on Spark's Hydrogen Jukebox.

A bit of an arty show suited for gentle swaying and self-absorbed brooding in cinematic mental images. Yes, I just typed that.

Azeda Booth is from Calgary, a town to which I've traveled many too many times. (Believe it or not, I used to play water polo, and we'd go there every winter for 1-2 competitions. But I've also been there on a family road trip.) I wasn't under the impression that Calgary was very much more than an oil-rich settlement of American cowboys, although I do have friends from thereabouts. Anyhow, I have to wonder if Azeda Booth is just a group of renegade out of town kids going to (art?) school in Calgary, or if they are additionally an indicator of some hidden active music scene in the Stampede city. Earlier this summer, my Lethbridge-Okotoks-Claresholm friend Anne informed me of the Sled Island Festival, a sizable indie music fest in Calgary, which intrigued me enough that I'm going to assume the latter.

I've previously mentioned this show because both Beasts and Superbeasts and Balacade are playing it as well. They are friendly local people who have come to my attention via sincere recommendation from hard-to-please sources.

Intrigued? Go!

Friday, July 27
Film by Pål Gusdal Jomås
Ministry of Casual Living
opens 8pm; runs until August 3
[see invitation]

Pål Gusdal Jomås is a Norwegian artist currently working in Winnipeg. This past spring, he came to Victoria to make film about identity and self projection. I am a total Nordiphile with a violent case of cinema envy, so the fact that a friend of mine is in the film only adds incentive for me to go. (It also gives me a reasonable excuse to attend while I'm procrastinating from writing my term paper.) If you like art and have lived in Victoria for a year or more, I am willing to bet you will recognize if not know some people in the film.

Saturday, July 28
Book and CD Release Party - All Your Ears Can Hear Underground Music in Victoria 1978-84
The Slivers, Jerk Ward, House of Commons, Automatic Shock, and guests
Logan's Pub
10pm
[see poster]

I suspect that seeing who attends this show will be almost as interesting as the bands who come out of the woodwork to play. In some ways, this is a night for nostalgists. But it sounds pretty fun (and educational!) for those who were too young to be in the scene from 1978 to 1984 as well. I really respect AYECH for documenting something that was really important to them and which otherwise might be all but forgotten.

keep it simple, call it pop

Peter of Hivefives and Handshakes Records in Seattle is looking for contributions to his zine called keep it simple, call it pop. In case you aren't on the List, here's his email...

Hello Everyone!

I'm looking for quotes for a little zine I'm putting together called keep it simple, call it pop. Features include a show review(s), heck fest feature, and an article or two.

I'm not asking for much, but if anyone could prepare a quote about what pop is (to you) and how your musical taste, influence on music scene (band, label, style) reflects that.

Please email them to me with what qualifications and name you would like to be quoted as. I'm not planning on getting a huge response so everyone should be included. And of course, free zines to any contributors so include your mailing address.

My deadline is loose but I would like them by next week. Let me know if you are interested or just send me one off list.

I'm considering including a mini CDr with it as well if you have music you would like to put on it, copies will distributed for you as needed. Any art/pertinent small articles/album reviews would also be appreciated and compensated. Looking for stuff to be done in the next week or so, let me know!

Color cover?

-Peter
highfivesandhandshakes1 |at| gmail.com
Highfives and Handshakes Records
Seattle, WA

I think it sounds pretty exciting... and if I don't die under a pile of English textbooks, novels, and papers this week, I'll consider sending him something myself.

Labrador Summer Sampler 2007

Labrador is a fairly big indie label in Sweden, and many of its bands (Acid House Kings, The Radio Dept.) enjoy a significant level of popularity both within and outside of their home country. That being said, there are some comparatively undiscovered gems-of-bands releasing stuff on Labrador (Ronderlin, Afraid of Stairs) as well. In any case, the label is giving away a four part compilation to heighten your enjoyment of summertime.

Download it here.

Many of these songs will be familiar to anyone who is already a Labrador fan, but I think the compilation still serves a purpose in that it forces us to listen to every band on the Label, instead of picking a choosing what's been recommended over and over again. Who knows, we might discover a new favourite.

Toronto Popfest 1997?!

Reading communications between nostalgists on the Indiepop List, I discovered that ten years ago the Toronto Popfest took place. Who knew that such a thing had happened?

Concerts July 13-20, and looking ahead...

Saturday, July 14
Johnny and the Moon, Listening Party, Meatdraw
Logan's Pub
10:30, doors 9pm

This concert is of note if you like keeping track of local celebrities, such as Dante DeCaro, who has skillfully maintained his edge by ditching Steve Bays et al., instead investing his talent in Wolf Parade and Swan Lake. DeCaro, from what I hear, spends a lot of his time up-island, from where he operates Kill Devil Hills Records. Listening Party are, like DeCaro, from the Cowichan Lake area. I feel like this band is some sort of big secret because my friend has family-status inside-track with one of the band members, and she didn't even know of its existence. Meatdraw, featured on the Old Life Compilation (see link at right), is opening.

Friday, July 20
Meatdraw
The Project Artspace (614 1/2 Fisgard)
10pm
Well, don't take my word for it. Check out Meatdraw's myspace.

* * *

As you may already be well aware of, there are a number of fairly exciting concerts coming up waaay further down the line as well.

Thurday, September 6
Wolf Parade, Holy Fuck
Sugar (Tickets at Ditch)
Doors 9pm
Just when you thought Wolf Parade had broken up... Get there early/ on time because Holy Fuck should equate total crazy dance party extreme fun, although that's up to you. Ryan loves HF.

Saturday, September 8
Spoon
Sugar (Tickets at Lyle's Place)
Doors 9pm
There might not be very much to say about this.

Monday, September 24
The Lucksmiths, Math and Physics Club
The Crocodile Cafe (Seattle), 21+
*The Lucksmiths are in my top 3 favourite bands. The only thing that could make me more excited about this show would be Tullycraft (likely) and Jens Lekman (unlikely) appearing on the bill as well. I am saddened because, being of a young and tender age, I cannot get into this show. Any other country in the world... Grrrr USA.

Sunday, October 21
Final Fantasy, Basia Bulat
Alix Goolden Hall (Tickets at Lyle's Place, Ditch)
7:30pm
Final Fantasy is simply fantastic live, even if I have not yet felt a particular urge to listen to He Poos Clouds in entirety (does that brand me with incorrect taste?). Basia Bulat is probably bigger across the Atlantic than she is here. Think European folk melded with chamber pop. My vote for best concert of this Autumn (in Victoria, at least...).

Friday, October 26
Sunset Rubdown
Logan's
10:30, as per usual?
We're seeing lots of Spencer Krug and the JRC this summer/ fall. Whoahseethemplaytogether. And with the talented Camilla Wynne Ingr and Michael Doerksen, of course. Let's speculate over who will open... Magic Weapon? I hope so.

Wednesday, October 31
Caribou, Born Ruffians
Sugar (Tickets at Lyle's Place)
Doors 9pm
Start planning your Hallowe'en costumes.

New Time Slot

Until further notice, Gumdrops and Lollipops will now be airing Tuesdays from 10:30pm-12midnight.

G&L 07/07/08; Red Pony Clock in Need of Drummer

I will not be on air tomorrow because I have to work. I'm thinking of switching time slots, at least for the summer. I will keep you posted.

Also, Red Pony Clock needs a drummer for their upcoming tour (really, REALLY short notice, but...)

http://www.myspace.com/redponyclock
From Gabe:

Well, the trip is only 17 days away. But if anyone's interested, we'd still love to have a drummer on our 6 week tour. Those of you who said, "I could ask my friend, but I'm sure they'll find someone." We haven't, so please go ahead and ask your friend.

It's amazing how many people have thought it was okay to string us along forever, going so far as learning a set, only to back out and leave us high and dry. The darkness of the human soul just blows my mind.

We are fun people going on a fun trip around the funnest country in the world!! We will fly someone in, if they're willing to do some work at home beforehand. We don't need you to be the greatest drummer in the world. Just keep the beat and have fun.

Is there really noone out there that can do this?

Gabe

For Sale: One Van

The following letter is from who may be Canada's hardest-touring one-man band/ filmmaker, Bob Wiseman.

dear friend/ enemy (other)

my 1993 extended ford clubwagon has got to go.
i'm making a raffle $100 tickets.
30 of them.

i would like other people who cannot afford a good used van to have
that possibility possibled (a new word i just invented). yes
possibled through
this here raffle.

it has a gazzilion kilometers but those are highway kilometers for i
have used
it just for touring

all 8 cylinders work very well fear no mountain in this van

a little rust around the wheel well but essentially under control, i
have faithfully
done the undercoating each year

cruise control
power windows
power steering

a cabinet in the back with which one can lock up their equipment and not
fear loss due to break ins,

a double futon on top of the cabinet - sleeps two

i will show the van between now and the draw, probably september
1rst, to interested
people.

carpe diem
bob
rockbobster [at] sympatico [dot] ca

(He totally talks just like that!)

Concerts July 4-11

Thursday, July 5
Forest City Lovers, Himalayan Bear, Beasts and Superbeasts
Logan's Pub
10:30, doors 9pm

Scanning Livevictoria.com, this is the only concert in the upcoming week that I'm excited enough about to attend. If you're like me and you missed Ohbijou on Monday, the Forest City Lovers give you another chance to see/ hear some head-nodding, toe-tapping, vaguely folky, female-fronted music. Kat Burns and her band are from Toronto (or Southern Ontario, at least). Here is their myspace in case you want to listen to them. Himalayan Bear is, of course, Ryan Beattie of Chet. Assuming you live in Victoria, you've probably already seen at least one of Beattie's projects, so you know what they're all about. If you're looking for indiepop a la Gumdrops and Lollipops' preferred content, they are not your speed, but they can be nice. Himalayan Bear is particularly good in summertime because their music makes me feel like I'm sucking back numerous fruity drinks in a timeless lounge in Hawaii.

oK, so Forest City Lovers and Himalayan Bear should be enough to get you out to Logan's for this show, but I have to admit that Beasts and Superbeasts are the real reason why I'm going. A while back I approached Michael to open for a couple bands from Olympia who I was trying to bring to town (the show never happened), and although he couldn't play the show, he was really friendly and we had a good chat.

"So, I'm curious, and I have to ask, how did you hear about us?"
"Well," I'm stalling, embarassed. "I haven't actually ever seen you play."
Michael laughs.
"But some friends recommended that I approach you, and I do sort of know who you are--from the Smallhorse days?"
Michael really laughs.

Smallhorse was a fairly well-known local band who I must have seen at least four or five times. They played a lot of shows during the brief time they existed, around three years ago. As their Livevictoria profile reads, "It only takes one shot from a raygun to kill a smallhorse." A couple members of Smallhorse (including Michael of Beasts and Superbeasts) began playing in the Raygun, and Smallhorse broke up. I never saw the Raygun live, although Casey, formerly my cohost on My First Balloon, regularly played them on our radio show. The Raygun themselves broke up almost two years ago when Xavier left town (I think that's what happened... although it was probably more complicated than that). Anyhow, Beasts and Superbeasts resulted. It seems to me that Michael played alone for awhile, but he now also has a band which comprises the former members of the Raygun, sans Xavier. The Raygun had a minor local hit for a time called "Rock'n'roll is the only way out" or something like that. I think you know how it sounded from the title. It was arty, dancey sort of stuff, very cool. Beasts and Superbeasts is not as cool. They are quieter, unassuming, honest, and, so Emily and Steph tell me, very good.

Go!

(Or see them play with Balacade and Azeda Booth, again at Logan's, on July 25th...)

The "New Blog" Post

Gumdrops and Lollipops is now not only available in radio format, but also as a blog for your visual pleasure.

(You asked for an update, Ryan...)