Concerts August 31-September 8

Friday August 31
Immaculate Machine, Rance Mulnix, The Paper Cranes
Logan's Pub
10pm, doors 9pm
This show is big enough that I do not have to say anything about it. But I guess I will... Immaculate Machine, besides being worthy of a listen/ look-see because the band makes pretty tight, catchy pop songs, also deserves props (yes I said it!) for calling in to G&L when I was sounding particularly lonely. Rance Mulnix plays hip hop I think. And he's from Montreal. Weird. The Paper Cranes are underrated I think. Then again I know I've seen them but don't remember anything? I am saddened that I will not be able to go to this show. There is just too much fun happening tonight.

Tuesday September 4
Cheers in the Belfry, Slow Down, Molasses, Cobras Cobras Cobras
Lucky Bar
9pm
I have never heard Cheers in the Belfry, but a lot of people seem to like them. Or maybe they just have a lot of friends. Cobras Cobras Cobras is on the Old Life comp, like whoah.

Thursday September 6
Wolf Parade, Holy Fuck
Sugar
9pm
SOLD OUT piglets. Unless you have a friend like me who still has an extra ticket. Holy Fuck is going to be so fun. Poo Teens! Get there early to avoid missing them.

Friday September 7
Greatest Explorers In The World, Listening Party, Colourbook
Logan's Pub
10:30pm, doors 9pm
The Explorers' last show. Oh man. (Colourbook!!111!)

The Paper Cranes, Jon And Roy, fury and the mouse
Steamers Pub
10 - 2am
Sort of a strange lineup, because the mood kind of droops in the middle, however, if for some reason you missed the Cranes at their last show... Well. This is where they'll be. As for Fury and the Mouse, well, I feel like they have a lot of potential. I don't much dig the female vocals, but I think they sound pretty fun and actually pretty abrasive despite being also a little gimmicky. Again, if you miss them, they're playing another show at Lucky Bar on September 25th, so, like, don't fret or anything.

Yeah oK. Go listen to Jay-Jay Johanson.

1+1=heartbreak

I have a severe crush on Julian Nation. I should maybe move to Australia to marry him. We could talk about unicorns and pursue careers as lucksmiths and writers.

(As an aside, please listen to Chris Bathgate's A Cork Tale Wake. In some ways, I am not sure why this record got to me as much as it did, because I am not usually not so attracted to folky stuff. If you like M. Ward, Sufjan Stevens, and, oddly (?), Death Cab, you will probably like Cork Tale Wake too.)

Muzak

I think you'll like this one.

So I work at a grocery store. All summer, the background noise has been a set playlist of last year's top-forty and oldies hits playing three to four times repeatedly during the day. Certain songs I hated, and certain songs I tried to tune out so that I would not grow to dislike them (Bee Gees, Springsteen...). Three weeks ago, though, something changed. Someone (god knows who) tweaked the playlist so that it now incorporates three to four newer songs.

PB & J: I like the sandwich (toasted, please); the band is pretty catchy. Apparently some more elderly customers in our store think agree with the latter, because now that "Young Folks" is on the regular rotation, older gentlemen in my lineup amusingly whistle along every time it plays.

Sufjan Stevens also has a song on this revamped playlist.

Come buy your green beans (#4066), sui choy (#4552), toilet paper, bread, rice (golden phoenix 20 lb., #154), eggs, and soy milk from me and listen for yourself.

Concerts August 18-26

Tuesday, August 21
Victoria Fringe Festival Kickoff Party
Mother Mother, Vince Vaccaro, Meatdraw
Centennial Square
7-10pm
Let's not lose sight of the festival this show is promoting. Fringe is crazy and fun, from all I've read and heard. Somehow I always manage to be really busy/ out of town when it happens, which is sad, because I actually really enjoy theatre. I always tell you a little about the bands, though, so here I go... Mother Mother is from Vancouver. Maybe you'll like them if you like country-tinged Tegan and Sara or something. I just listened to them and I can't decide if I dislike them or am just indifferent. I feel like Vince Vaccaro has been playing a lot of shows around Victoria lately. He's a singer-songwriter who isn't my taste. Sample lyrics: "In the city I get so jaded you know it's only time before you learn (run run run...) In the city I get so faded... I wanna get loooost tonight, jump into your caaaar and drive" etc. Meatdraw is a lot crazier than the other two bands on the bill seem to be, and they are the reason why I actually mention this show. I don't know how the audience will react to their "carnival exorcism dance" music, or how they'll react to the audience. I am pretty sure there will be theatrics of some sort. Oh, and admission is free.

There is also the Covers for a Cause series. Colourbook and others are participating. Look at the poster here.

No word yet on the September 26 Doers/ Special Noise concert. (Or Jens, for that matter...)

oK, so this post is kind of depressing. See you at the Elephant Island/ Himalayan Bear show on Friday. (Right Cody, RIGHT?)

Jumping the Gun

Premature concert announcement, but I had to break it before Livevictoria.com does.

Sunday, August 26
The Doers, Special Noise
Dunno where!
Dunno when!

Ahhhhh the doers are awesome crazy noise pop sort of stuff. Pop noise? If you like shouty stuff that is high energy and super super fun, you will love them. From Vancouver. Special Noise is from my favourite Canadian city away from home, Halifax. Ohhhh shit. They come recommended from a whole slew of people from thereabouts. Same sort of deal, noisey pop stuff, and a lot of sweaty fun and, like, handclaps. Yeah!

Concerts August 7-17

Saturday, August 11
theset, Kincaide, Where Infinity Ends, T.A.W.G.~Two Asians and a White Guy, conversation, Farewell to Freeway
Centennial Square
Doors 5pm
I only mention this show because I think, in theory at very least, that TAWG is hilarious and fun. Their demo cd is called Songs To Get Your Girlfriend In Bed, their singer competed on Canadian Idol, and they describe their genre as "mainstream pop punk." I've never seen them live, but if you are looking for something to take your 13-year-old cousin to, this would be a fairly awesome place to go.

Wax Mannequin, beasts and superbeasts
Lucky Bar
Doors 8pm
An early show with some pretty music, followed by that Longshanks fellow who deejays the coolest dance night in town. Wax Mannequin's music is a lot more driven than beasts and superbeasts; less tentative, more rocking out, but with this deep, gruff, almost-country voice. He's recently released a record on Infinite Heat, his own record label. He played here not too long ago, but if you're like me you missed him last time.

Friday, August 10
Aaargh! presents:
Chet, Ladyhawk, Away, Ri'o!, Colourbook, The Cape May
Metro Studio
7:30 - 11:30, doors 7pm
Iconic Victorians Chet headline this show presented by their record label, Aaargh, and are joined by label-mates Away, Ri'o! I have realized that these two bands could hardly be from anywhere except Victoria; they just sound like they are from an island. Although the Cape May are not from the island (Actually from Calgary... like Azeda Booth. What tha heck is going on there?), they have in common with Chet and Away, Ri'o that slow, alcoholic, dark-nights-spent-in-contemplation sound. (I really should not have received that A in my last English class.) Ladyhawk and Colourbook are a little different. They can do the droney thing a bit, but are also capable of being a little more catchy than Chet, Away, Ri'o, and the Cape May. I missed Ladyhawk when they were here opening for the Constantines/ John-rae and the River thanks to a bottle of wine in a churchyard. (Story of my life?) Anyhow, Ladyhawk are Kelowna-kind transplanted in Vancouver who have signed to Jagjaguwar. And Colourbook... I mention them last, but do not mean to snub them because I actually quite like them. Yesssss Old Life famille. An early show; don't miss out by arriving late. Even better, get your tickets ahead of time at Ditch. All ages, bar with ID.

Friday, August 17
Elephant Island, the himalayan bear
Hermann's Jazz Club
8:30pm, doors 7pm
Two quiet, brooding, summer nights kind of bands play at one of my favourite venues in town. Elephant Island has released two recordings on local label Aloha Media. They have an accordion in most songs, and are really into DIY from what I can tell. Himalayan Bear (Ryan Beattie of Chet) plays loungey folky stuff that keeps to the Hawaiian theme. If you want to dance, this probably isn't the show for you, but otherwise... Hey, yeah! Hermann's has cheesecake!

Favourites

On Friday I received my "Friday Night at the Drive-in Bingo" Jens Lekman single. I will be playing it and the b-side (probably) on the show tomorrow night.

Here are Lekman's tour dates:
10/23/07 Bloomington, IN - Jake's
10/25/07 Washington, DC - Black Cat
10/26/07 Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church
10/27/07 New York, NY - Webster Hall
10/29/07 Boston, MA - Paradise
11/01/07 Cleveland, OH - Beachland Ballroom
11/02/07 Chicago, IL - Logan Square Auditorium
11/03/07 Minneapolis, MN - Triple Rock Social Club
11/06/07 Seattle, WA - Nectar
11/07/07 Portland, OR - Someday Lounge
11/09/07 San Francisco, CA - Bimbo's 365 Club
11/10/07 West Hollywood, CA - Troubadour

I boldfaced the date closest to Victoria for you (for me). Viktor Sjöberg will be closing each night with a dj set or some of his own material. I am going at all costs, not taking chances and hoping he comes even closer to Victoria on his follow-up solo tour to places too expensive to play with his whole band. (Although, can you tell? I'm still hoping...) Apparently the issue is acquiring a work visa for Canada; always the problem in these situations. I am told that otherwise, playing Victoria "sounds like it would be perfect." If anyone has advice...?

This tour will follow the release of his latest record, Night Falls over Kortedala (5 September in Scandinavia, 9 October everywhere else.)

Here is the tracklisting:
1. And I Remember Every Kiss
2. Sipping On The Sweet Nectar
3. The Opposite Of Hallelujah
4. A Postcard To Nina
5. Into Eternity
6. I'm Leaving You Because I Don't Love You
7. If I Could Cry (It Would Feel Like This)
8. Your Arms Around Me
9. Shirin
10. It Was A Strange Time In My Life
11. Kanske Är Jag Kär I Dig
12. Friday Night At The Drive-In Bingo

Seven out of the twelve songs are completely new to my ears! And only three songs on Night Falls... have ever been released before.

* * *

I find it hard to believe that I have waited years to see both Jens and the Lucksmiths, and now, if I can work everything out, I will be seeing both of them within a season.

Here are the Lucksmiths' tour dates, as announced on their news page:
Fri Sept 21 — Los Angeles, CA
Sat Sept 22 — Santa Barbara, CA
Sun Sept 23 — San Francisco, CA
Mon Sept 24 — Seattle, WA
Tues Sept 25— Portland, OR
Wed Sept 26 — Chicago, IL
Thurs Sept 27 — Cambridge, MA
Fri Sept 28 — New York, NY
Sat Sept 29 — Brooklyn, NY
Sun Sept 30 — Washington, DC
Mon Oct 1 — Durham, NC
Tues Oct 2 — Athens, GA
Wed Oct 3 — New Orleans, LA
Thurs Oct 4 — Austin, TX

Go to their gig page for more information. (There is some discrepancy between dates on these two pages, but I am sure it will all be cleared up soon.) The Lucksmiths will be touring with their September release, Spring a Leak, a 45-song double-disc collection "gathering 7-inch tracks, b-sides, compilation songs, live tracks, unreleased rarities, and cover versions," which alone is very exciting.

* * *

Local gig listings in a couple of days, once I get this paper out of the way.

Indiepop Chart Releases at CFUV!

I'd just like to acknowledge the fact that CFUV has recently received oodles of indiepop releases. You should call in and request them because there are some great songs to be heard, and it would be pretty neat to chart some of these recordings (remember that legendary week in 2005 when the Smittens had A Little Revolution at number one?):

The Tough Alliance/ New Waves
The Gore Gore Girls/ Get the Gore
The Crabs/ Jackpot
The Ladybug Transistor/ Can't Wait Another Day
Pelle Carlberg/ In a Nutshell
The Clientele/ God Save the Clientele
Boat/ Let's Drag Our Feet
Chris Bathgate/ A Cork Tale Wake
Laura Peek and the Winning Hearts/ From the Photographs
Bears/ Shortest Day of the Year
Karl Blau/ Dance Positive
Immaculate Machine/ Fables
PDX Pop Now! 2007 compilation

...and that's just what I've played in the last couple of weeks. I know there's more.

NB. Public apology to Cody for saying your name wrong. I am dumb.

Also apology to anyone off campus who tried to tune into the show tonight via fm signal--the transmitter gave out earlier in the evening. (Don't worry; it'll be fixed tomorrow morning.)