Here's to 2010: the year I discovered the 90's

I was having a conversation with VanMusic's Oswaldo Perez Cabrera the other day about my favourite local bands of 2010. I was having a hard time coming up with results because more often than not, I'm often spending the year discovering older music, or music by bands outside of Vancouver. I mean, there were some gems, like Hannah Georgas and the pack a.d., but I honestly couldn't provide a credible list.

Looking back, 2010 was the year I discovered "new" music that I somehow bypassed in the nineties. Despite how music-obsessive I was in my teens; how many David Hawkes Modern Rock Circuses, Vans Warped Tours, and (cringe now) EdgeFest's I went to; despite how plugged into the radio I was or how many Nirvana albums I owned, I completely bypassed a whole genre of music when it was at its height.

I mean, how did I miss Guided by Voices and Superchunk? And while Pavement, Sebadoh, and Liz Phair were on my teenage radar, I was so deep in a U2 phase that anything I deemed less-than-serious wasn't worth exploring further by yours truly. At least, that was my music snob mentality back in the mid-90's. As one person said to me, "Somehow you got into industrial when you should have been listening to Husker Du and the Replacements, but oh well."

So here's to 2010 - the year I finally gave the nineties a chance.

The whole reason I mention this is that it's really interesting to see what I was actually listening to in 2010, thanks to my Last.FM account. I have no shame about my music geekdom, but part of the findings below should be able to be explained by the above.

My top 50 most-listened-to bands of 2010:

1.     Guided by Voices

2.     Deerhunter

3.     The Besnard Lakes

4.     Hannah Georgas

5.     Florence + the Machine

6.     Bear in Heaven

7.     Elvis Costello

8.     U2           

9.     White Rabbits

10. Bat for Lashes

11. French Kicks

12. Sound Team

13. Spirits

14. Anna Ternheim

15. Caribou

16. Elvis Costello & The Attractions

17. The Depreciation Guild

18. The Ruby Suns

19. UNKLE

20. Beach House

21. Pinback                       

22. Matthew Dear           

23. Massive Attack

24. National Skyline                       

25. TV on the Radio

26. High Places

27. Band of Skulls

28. Girls

29. Shearwater

30. Department of Eagles           

31. Pavement

32. Animal Collective

33. The Mountain Goats

34. Wye Oak

35. My Bloody Valentine

36. Yo La Tengo

37. Menomena

38. Boston Spaceships

39. The National

40. Local Natives

41. Pixies

42. Superchunk

43. A.C. Newman

44. Jenn Grant

45. Volcano Choir

46. Yeah Yeah Yeahs

47. The Reivers

48. Red Riders

49. Midnight Juggernauts

50. Young Galaxy

My top 50 most-listened-to songs of 2010:

1.     Elvis Costello – Beyond Belief                       

2.     Guided by Voices – Surgical Focus                       

3.     Deerhunter – Never Stops                       

4.     White Rabbits – Percussion Gun                       

5.     Florence + the Machine – Dog Days Are Over                       

6.     The Besnard Lakes – Glass Printer                       

7.     Deerhunter – VHS Dream                       

8.     White Rabbits – The Plot           

9.     French Kicks – Over The World           

10. Bear in Heaven – Lovesick Teenagers

11. UNKLE – Natural Selection (feat. The Black Angels)                       

12. The Besnard Lakes – Chicago Train

13. Deerhunter – Fluorescent Grey                       

14. Florence + the Machine – Cosmic Love                       

15. National Skyline – A Night at the Drug Store                       

16. Anna Ternheim – China Girl                       

17. Midnight Juggernauts – Shadows                       

18. The Depreciation Guild – Dream About Me                       

19. French Kicks – New Man                       

20. Spirits – Forbidden Flame                         

21. Caribou – Odessa                         

22. Sound Team – Your Eyes Are Liars                       

23. The Besnard Lakes – Albatross                         

24. My Bloody Valentine – Sometimes                       

25. The Reivers – Keep Me Guessing                       

26. Units – High Pressure Days                       

27. Anna Ternheim – Bridges                       

28. Bear in Heaven – Wholehearted Mess                         

29. Guided by Voices – Everybody Thinks I'm a Raincloud (When I'm Not Looking           

30. Deerhunter – Little Kids                       

31. Bear in Heaven – You do you                       

32. Florence + the Machine – Hurricane Drunk                         

33. Hannah Georgas – Chit Chat                       

34. Guided by Voices – I Am a Scientist                       

35. Guided by Voices – Tractor Rape Chain                       

36. Volcano Choir – Island, IS                       

37. The Besnard Lakes – And This Is What We Call Progress                         

38. The Ruby Suns – Closet Astrologer                       

39. Califone – Funeral Singers                         

40. Pinback – Loro                       

41. Guided by Voices – Hot Freaks                       

42. Autolux – Here Comes Everybody           

43. Elvis Costello & The Attractions – The Loved Ones                       

44. Hannah Georgas – All I Need

45. Balam Acab – See Birds                       

46. Department of Eagles – Sailing by Night           

47. Caribou – Melody Day           

48. Matthew Dear – Good to Be Alive           

49. Girls – Lust For Life                         

50. Cold Cave – Love Comes Close

Beyond Belief: Musical Mysteries on Main Street

Three weeks ago I was on Main Street browsing through independent clothing boutique Eugene Choo when my ears picked up this deliciously sly tune coming from the speakers.

You know she has no sins
For all your jealousy
In a sense she still smiles very sweetly

I immediately lost focus of the clothes and began a quest to identify the mystery song. The voice? So smooth, so familiar. I should know this, but I've never heard this before. I know I should know it, but I honestly can't place it.

Charged with insults and flattery
Her body moves with malice
Do you have to be so cruel to be callous

Okay, I really, really like this. What is this?

And now you find you fit this identikit completely
You say you have no secrets
And then leave discreetly

Who is this?!!

I shuffled around self-consciously, pretending to be interested in the clothing (and it was genuinely beautiful clothing, don't get me wrong) but I was so distracted by trying to figure out what the song was, I simply became lost in the song and mentally drifted into my own world of music geekdom.

Being Shazam-less, and well, iPhone-less in general, once I gave in to the fact that I probably wouldn't be able to solve this mystery on my own, I did what I should pretty much always do in these situations: I went up to an available employee and simply asked them.

He walked over to the cash, ducked under the table and grabbed the iPod. By that time a new song had started to play, which was a catchy little number, much more atmospheric and indie rock by nature.

"This is Sound Team", he said.

I had never heard of them.

"The song is called 'You've Never Lived A Day'."

I thanked him and made a mental note of Sound Team seeing how I was liking what I was hearing, but then said that I was actually curious about the previous song. He then interrupted the Sound Team song and switched back to play the song that was driving me crazy. The familiar tune returned to the store's speakers.

History repeats the old conceits
The glib replies, the same defeats
Keep your finger on important issues
With crocodile tears and a pocketful of tissues

"This is Elvis Costello", he said.

Elvis Costello?!

You're kidding me.

Really? Wow...

In a million years I would have never pegged that song to be Elvis Costello. It was too suave, too smooth, and too understated. It was even sexy.

Being only slightly familiar with Elvis Costello's older, more-established, more-jangly tunes, this was a side to Elvis Costello that was completely new to me. And I was very intrigued.

Happily satisfied, I ran into the change room and tried on a slinky shirt that I was eyeing while trying to solve the former mystery. I guess I wasn't entirely distracted from the merchandise. And despite being beyond my budget, I bought it. I mean, hey... you never know when you'll need a fancy, haute-coutureish top to wear. I digress.

Driving home, I realized I didn't get the name of the song. "That no matter!" I foolishly thought.

I spent the rest of the night listening to every 30 second clip of Elvis Costello's discography on last.fm. I must have spent two or three hours. No luck.

Defeated, I typed up an e-mail to Eugene Choo, explaining that it was a silly request, but that I was in the store earlier, and I was the person asking the staff about the music, and that I knew it was Elvis Costello, but I didn't recognize the song, so surely it must be a new track, and that it was driving me crazy, etc. etc. etc.

I received a lovely reply the following morning from owner Kildare Curtis:

not a silly request at all. Being a big music fan, I know how trying to track down a song can make one feel a little crazy. I believe it was "Beyond Belief" and is originally from the album Imperial Bedroom but can also be found on the The Best of Elvis Costello and The Attractions. Here's a link so you can confirm that this is it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NBqzWEOXkA

And here we are 3 weeks later and Beyond Belief (an old song, by the way) is one of my most played tracks. A musical obsession if there ever was one. I still can't get enough of it, and I don't know when this infatuation will end. I'm still surprised that I had never encountered the track before. But for a music geek, it does give me hope that there's still a whole lot of really fantastic undiscovered music out there by well-established musicians - songs that I really ought to know by now, but for mysterious reasons, I haven't.

Finally, to throw another Vancouver-related Elvis Costello anecdote out there... everyone knows Elvis Costello is married to BC born-and-raised jazz chanteuse Diana Krall. Everybody knows he's in and around Vancouver, schmoozing as rock stars do. But did you know that Elvis Costello's Vancouver connections go back much further than that?

The proof is in this video, where in 1979, Elvis Costello & the Attractions flaunt around Vancouver's beaches and Stanley Park while singing "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding".

It's not on YouTube, but it's online here:

http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMTUyNDIzNTQ0.html

When it comes to inane musical trivia connected to Vancouver, I am easily amused.

More free concerts during the Olympics

So here I am thinking that I'd be in Vancouver for the majority of the free Olympics concerts (which I wrote about last week here), but I just discovered that there's quite the impressive assortment of free concerts happening in Richmond for their Olympics cultural event, O Zone.

Since I work in Richmond, there's a good chance I'll just be sticking around after work to attend some of these shows. I'm particularly interested in seeing Jill Barber, the Bedouin Soundclash, The Stills, Kathleen Edwards, Five Alarm Funk, Tokyo Police Club, and Spirit of Uganda.

The following list was taken directly from the O-Zone website  (where you can read detailed descriptions of each band, here), however I've compiled the list into chronological order below.

Friday 12-Feb-10
3:45 pm Richmond 3,500 Children’s Choir
5:15 pm The Jardines
9:15 pm Abandon Paris Band
10:15 pm Venice Queen

Saturday 13-Feb-10
5:30 pm Voodoo Allstars
8:00 pm Hey Ocean
9:30 pm Bedouin Soundclash

Sunday 14-Feb-10
8:00 pm Lions Dance and Performance
9:30 pm F.I.R. (飛兒樂團)

Monday 15-Feb-10
3:30pm Richmond Honour Choir
4:15pm Payton Rector
5:00 pm Showstoppers
6:15 pm Youth Concert Band
8:30 pm Jenn Grant
9:45 pm Kathleen Edwards

Tuesday 16-Feb-10
4:00 pm Bring Your Own Drum Featuring Vigari
5:30 pm Nisga’a, Hugh Boyd & Tetsu Taiko Drummers with MacNeill Dancers
8:00 pm SFU Pipe Band
10:00 pm Spirit of Uganda

Wednesday 17-Feb-10
3:30 pm Jillian Lebeck
5:15 pm Dal Richards
8:00 pm Jill Barber
9:30 pm Hawksley Workman

Thursday 18-Feb-10
4:30 pm Ken McCoy
6:00 pm Whiskey Jane
8:30 pm Arkells
9:45 pm Our Lady Peace

Friday 19-Feb-10
5:15 pm Tiller's Folly
8:00 pm DRUM!

Saturday 20-Feb-10
3:15 pm Rallycar
8:00 pm Ultimate Power Duo
9:30 pm Mariana's Trench

Sunday 21-Feb-10
3:00 pm Mud Dog
4:00 pm Kelly Brock
7:15 pm Babe Gurr
8:15 pm Swank
9:30 pm Dustin Bentall

Monday 22-Feb-10
7:45pm Ugetsu
9:00 pm Alex Cuba
10:15 pm Orquesta Goma Dura

Tuesday 23-Feb-10
3:30 pm From Darkness to Light - Canada’s North
3:30 pm Shiamak Presents
7:45 pm New Native Music Review
9:00 pm George Leach
10:15 pm Donny Parenteau

Wednesday 24-Feb-10
8:00 pm Tigerstyle
9:00 pm Dal Hothi and the Headlines
10:15pm En Karma

Thursday 25-Feb-10
3:30 pm Brave Waves
8:00 pm Two Hours Traffic
9:30 pm Wintersleep

Friday 26-Feb-10
4:45 pm This Means Nothing in Mexico
8:30 pm Quinzy
9:45 pm Tokyo Police Club

Saturday 27-Feb-10
3:30 pm Wonderbolt Circus
5:15 pm Wonderbolt Circus
9:00 pm The Dudes
10:15 pm The Stills

Sunday 28-Feb-10
3:15 pm Cousin Harley
4:30 pm March Hare
9:30 pm Five Alarm Funk
10:30 pm DJ Alex Merrell

Free concerts during the Olympics

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David Lam Park, the beloved grassy field along Yaletown's False Creek waterfront (as seen above in happier days), has been turned into a collection of pavillions and tents. I've been watching them construct this for weeks. It's in preparation for LiveCityVancouver: a series of free concerts that will be happening during the Olympics.

The list of performers actually looks like something compiled right out of CBC Radio 3's playlists - a little CanCon, a little ethnic, a little folk, a little indie, and a little blues.

I'm interested in seeing a few shows: Blue Rodeo, Jill Barber, deadmau5, Wilco, Delhi2Dublin, Jim Byrnes, Malajube, and Matisyahu. Heck, the Olympics would probably be a good time to finally see Dal Richards. But there are also bands I'm really not interested in seeing whatsoever, like Default or Alexisonfire. Although even if I stay at home, I'm still right across the street so will be exposed to these shows whether I want to be or not!

What about you?

Any performers that stand out for you?

Any recommendations?

Here's the list of official performers so far for LiveCity Yaletown (aka: David Lam Park):

13-Feb-10
5:00pm - 6:00pm Bollywood Olympics with En Karma
6:15pm - 7:15pm Default
7:30pm - 8:30pm Califone!
9:00pm - 10:45pm Wilco

14-Feb-10
5:00pm - 5:30pm Lion Dancers
6:00pm - 7:30pm Silk Road
8:00pm - 9:00pm Mother Mother
9:30pm - 10:45pm Daniel Wesley

15-Feb-10
5:00pm - 6:00pm DJ Spooky and DBR
6:30pm - 7:30pm Grand Dérangement
8:00pm - 9:00pm Malajube
9:30pm - 10:45pm Matisyahu

16-Feb-10
5:00pm - 6:00pm TBC
6:30pm - 7:30pm Kevin Parent with Pornflakes
8:00pm - 9:00pm Vulgaires Machins
9:30pm - 10:45pm Alexisonfire

17-Feb-10
5:00pm - 6:30pm DRUM!
6:30pm - 7:30pm Alpha Yaya Diallo
8:00pm - 9:00pm Allez Ouest
9:30pm - 10:45pm Corb Lund

18-Feb-10
5:00pm - 6:00pm Radio Radio
6:30pm - 7:30pm Zuco 103
8:00pm - 9:00pm Keisha Chante
9:30pm - 10:45pm Marianas Trench

19-Feb-10
5:00pm - 6:00pm Andrée Watters
6:30pm - 7:30pm Lennie Gallant
8:00pm - 9:00pm Les Breastfeeders
9:30pm - 10:45pm Deadmau5

20-Feb-10
5:00pm - 6:00pm Vishten
6:30pm - 7:30pm The Arkells
8:00pm - 9:00pm Coeur de Pirate
9:30pm - 10:45pm Sam Roberts Band

21-Feb-10
5:00pm - 6:00pm DanceSport Snowball Classic
6:30pm - 7:30pm Dal Richards Band
8:00pm - 9:00pm Lazare Halk
9:30pm - 10:45pm Jully Black

22-Feb-10
5:00pm - 6:00pm Zapata Negro
6:30pm - 7:30pm Dustin Bentall with guest Barney Bentall
8:00pm - 9:00pm Jill Barber
9:30pm - 10:45pm Colin James

23-Feb-10
5:00pm - 6:00pm Tigerstyle
6:30pm - 7:30pm Bitterly Divine
8:00pm - 9:00pm Constantines
9:30pm - 10:45pm Wintersleep

24-Feb-10
5:00pm - 6:00pm Eagle and Hawk
6:30pm - 7:30pm Tambora Rasa
8:00pm - 9:00pm Chocolat
9:30pm - 10:45pm Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley

25-Feb-10
5:00pm - 6:00pm Ache Brasil
6:30pm - 7:30pm illScarlett
8:00pm - 9:00pm Crystal Shawanda
9:30pm - 10:45pm Johnny Reid

26-Feb-10
5:00pm - 6:00pm Polyjesters
6:30pm - 7:30pm Tracey Bone
8:00pm - 9:00pm TBC
9:30pm - 10:45pm TBC

27-Feb-10
5:00pm - 6:00pm Bollywood Olympics with Delhi2Dublin
6:30pm - 7:30pm Matt Mays
8:00pm - 9:00pm Chic Gamine
9:30pm - 10:45pm Blue Rodeo
11:00am - 12:15pm Jim Byrnes, Steve Dawson and The Sojourners

In addition to David Lam Park (aka: LiveCity Yaletown), there's also LiveCity Downtown at the corner of Georgia and Cambie which will have these following performers:

13-Feb-10
8:30pm - 9:30pm TBC
10:00pm - 11:30pm Jessie Farrell

14-Feb-10
8:00pm - 9:00pm TBC
9:30pm - 11:00pm Elliot Brood

15-Feb-10
8:00pm - 9:00pm TBC
9:30pm - 10:30pm Jets Overhead

16-Feb-10
7:30pm - 9:00pm TBC
9:30pm - 11:00pm Buck 65

17-Feb-10
8:00pm - 9:00pm Romy Mayes
9:30pm - 10:30pm TBC

18-Feb-10
8:00pm - 9:00pm House Of Doc
9:30pm - 11:00pm Rumba Calzada

19-Feb-10
9:30pm - 10:30pm Town Pants

20-Feb-10
8:00pm - 9:00pm Billy Joe Green
9:30pm - 10:30pm Sherman Downey

21-Feb-10
8:00pm - 9:00pm John Reischman and The Jaybirds
9:30pm -10:30pm In Flight Safety

22-Feb-10
8:00pm - 9:00pm TBC

22-Feb-10
9:30pm - 11:00pm Alpha Yaya Diallo

23-Feb-10
8:00pm - 9:00pm Julie Doiron

24-Feb-10
11:30pm - 12:30am Quinzy

25-Feb-10
11:30mpm - 12:30pm Inward Eye

26-Feb-10
11:00pm - 12:00am TBC

27-Feb-10
11:00pm - 12:30am Soulstream

3 Ways to Directly Support BC Arts

I typically stray from politics on my blog because there are countless other forums which are more engaging if you're seeking that kind of thing, and well, I won't even go into the politics that revolve around the 2010 Olympics - a can of worms unto itself.

But for the unaware, our provincial government, the BC Liberals (not to be mistaken for the federal Liberal party), have significantly cut arts funding in BC to the point where I don't think I've ever seen such a furious backlash before.

There are all kinds of graphs and articles which compare and contrast the amount of funding the Olympics are getting vs. the amount of funding cut from the arts this year.

But we won't go there.

Can of worms, remember? ;)

Instead, I'm putting my money where my mouth is, and I'm donating to the following 3 organizations:

My favourite Vancouver blog, Vancouver Is Awesome, describes itself as "a community-based non-profit organization dedicated to the study, promotion and preservation of Vancouver arts and culture, with a positive spin". I love it because it not only realistically showcases the diversity of what goes on in Vancouver, but it's inclusive to the entire community and their attitude is golden. It's really a breath of fresh air in the blogosphere.

Today is actually the last day of Vancouver is Awesome's Annual Donor Drive. I already donated, but it's not too late. If you donate, your name goes into a raffle where you can win some pretty impressive swag! Check it out!

Oh, BC Studies - how I love thee! BC Studies is an approachable scholarly journal showcasing the province's history, politics, and arts. I fell in love with BC Studies after discovering the collection in the Koerner Library during my years at UBC. It's really a one-stop shop for all things British Columbia and the content and contributors are pure quality. It's just a pleasure to read - even casually - and I do mean that. They really give justice to the depth and variety of BC culture.

Right now BC Studies is having its 6th Annual Online Auction where you can bid on a variety BC-related items: passes to local museums, the opera, Bard on the Beach, restaurants, dozens of BC-related books, and so on. Really, the items in their auction are as quality as the content they publish. Check it out! There are a few days left to bid. If you're looking for some early Christmas shopping deals, this is a great way to do it. I mean, there are $35 books currently bidding for $7! I'd love to be the recipient of any of these items. :) Check it out!

Ahh, CiTR. This is UBC's college radio station (101.9 CiTR). I used to be a member of CiTR during my days at UBC, and although I never had my own radio show, I used to volunteer as a concert photographer for their magazine Discorder.

I love CiTR for their diversity in programming (catering to all sorts of niche audiences musically or linguistically). They're also one of the few public radio stations in Vancouver.

Today's the second to last day to make a donation for their Annual Fundrive. Their goal is to raise $24,000 by tomorrow. Depending on how much you donate or when you call, you'll win some sweet prizes. And if you donate $101.09, they'll give you free airtime. Pretty sweet, no? Check it out!

U2 in Vancouver @ BC Place (October 28, 2009)

You know, I was going to write a proper review, only to discover that a review of what I'd essentially say has already been said, but more elloquently than how I'd phrase it: http://www.a-reminder.org/music/?p=1670 (thanks Sean O!) I shared his blog post with my sister who responded with, "wow, it's nice to hear the perspective from an Achtung Baby fan". So kudos to Sean from both of us.

I do admit, abstaining from U2 since March was probably the best thing I've ever done. It left me with absolutely no expectations for the show and allowed me to appreciate a U2 concert in ways I've never been able to before. In the past, I'd be lapping up all reviews, setlists, and whatnot - memorizing each song order and supposed ad-lib moments to the point of ridiculousless. But then again, I was a big U2 fan and this was considered normal behaviour amongst U2 die-hards.

I arrived on the floor in the GA section around 6:40pm with my significant other and our mutual friend. My sister, who arrived around 2pm, somehow - miraculously, even - found her way front and center of the main catwalk (and came home with a setlist). There was no way we'd be able to hook up with her, so we made due with our spot about 30-people thick from the catwalk. Our vantage point was alright, but the crowd got thicker as time plodded on - rude and rowdy at certain points, and this definitely altered my mood. If you're going to cut in and wedge ahead of me when there's no space, expect elbows in your lower back. Or hot breath down your neck. A breath that smells faintly of chicken schwarma and scotch. Har har!

But back to the U2 show. The concert was great. It had its high moments and its disappointments, but overall I enjoyed it a lot more than their Vertigo tour. Contrived or not, it had its genuine moments and I was actually impressed with the sound and Bono's voice.

Highlights included:

Magnificent - though three songs in already, this is the song that started the show for me. This is the only song where I could actually begin to see the band with my own eyes. That had a lot to do with it. It's the only song, in my opinion, off their new album which has genuine spirit. Maybe it's because it feels like an October-era outtake?

I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - Bono sang it in its original key and all of BC Place sang it back with him.

In A Little While - a pretty little tune off All That You Can't Leave Behind. I've always enjoyed this song - it's fun to play on guitar and even fun to sing along, but I never expected to hear U2 to perform it live again. The unaltered NASA imagery - rockets falling back to Earth, astronauts floating in the space station, etc. - suited the mood as well (despite the literal association with the lyrics).

Until the End of the World - I wasn't expecting to hear anything off of Achtung Baby, to be honest. This has always been a powerful song live and this was no exception. Nice to see Bono and Edge chase eachother around the stage as they've always done so to this tune.

Images of U2's bobbing heads during the remixed performance of one of my least favourite songs, I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight. I hadn't heard the remix, which was almost a throwback to their PopMart days. I almost expected Discotheque when their heads started to bop though.

The Unforgettable Fire was played in its entirety - the first time I've ever heard this one live. I mean, before the 360 tour, this song was performed live up until - oh, 1990. It's always been one of my favourite U2 tracks and I was beaming the entire time it was played, despite Bono's awkward ending. I can die a happy girl to have heard this live. Never expected this song resurrected (much like I didn't anticipate Zoo Station or An Cat Dubh or the Electric Co to be resurrected, like they were during the Vertigo tour).

Ultraviolet (Light My Way) during the last encore. This has been my all-time favourite U2 song (aside from Bad) since falling in love with Achtung Baby. I never expected to hear it live again because they stopped playing it in 1993 prior to this tour. This song has always stimulated my emotions in ways I cannot describe. It always marked the climax of U2 shows during their whole Zoo TV/Zooropa/Zoomerang tours (just watch U2 Live in Sydney for proof). And from a girl who once dressed herself up as Macphisto, to finally see U2 perform this live - with Bono singing into a glowing red microphone suspended from the rafters, wearing a jacket shooting red lazers, it really brought back those emotions from that period in my life. Once again, to have experienced that song live, (even if it was missing Bono's signature falsetto) I can now die a happy girl.

Most surreal moment of the night? Singing Happy Birthday to Bill Gates with 60,000 others. He was apparently there that night. I also found it amusing to hear that "Mr. and Mrs. Edge" (Edge's parents) were in the audience as well. Hearing Bono reference the Canada Line, Expo Line and Millenium line was funny, but not surprising. They've made local references in the past (ie: the Commodore Ballroom).

Disappointments?

I was more disappointed with where I was standing and the behaviour of the crowd than with U2. I once put U2 on a pedestal, but got so disappointed with them this decade that I simply stopped caring. That "stopped caring" technique appears to have worked. But the crowd? Oh man! You disappoint me people! It appears that concerts are no longer about seeing and experiencing the band, but about who can take the best crappy picture with the camera phones. It's great that you were there and all and that you can prove that you were there, but there's something seriously wrong when more than half of your experience of a concert is basically a collection of arms and cameras blocking any possible view of the stage. Take a picture once or twice, but not persistently through the whole show. It's rude and disruptive. Even when Bono or Edge or Adam walked around the catwalk, as soon as they walked close enough to see, everyones arms shot up with cameras in hand and blocked any possible view.

Next time?

Next time I'm getting proper seats. Or if I'm to get GA tickets once more, I'm waiting in lineup early (like I did during the Elevation tour, when I actually met Adam Clayton outside GM Place and was up against the catwalk and was so close to the band I could analyse the patterns in the sole of Bono's boots). It's so worth it if you have the luxury of time. Alas, not that night.

Overall? The concert was great. Better than Vertigo but not as exciting as Elevation or PopMart. But then again, I had low expectations and they did play Ultraviolet and the Unforgettable Fire, so I am a happy girl.

U2 in a few hours!!!

So apparently U2 have been partying at Bar None (on Monday) and Coast restaurant (on Tuesday). I think reality is setting in that I'll be seeing them in a few hours! Will post back tomorrow with a report!

U2 @ BC Place

So tomorrow U2 is playing Vancouver's BC Place.  I haven't missed a U2 concert in Vancouver since I became obsessed with them as a 12 year old girl during their Zoo TV/Zooropa era.

But I'm so disappointed about the venue. BC Place is possibly the world's worst venue for a concert. Initially built for Expo 86, the cavernous cement bunker's as far as an acoustic-friendly venue as it gets. For one thing, it has an inflatable roof which just sucks in all the sound. In fact, you'd probably have better sound quality listening to a band through an echo chamber or through a subway tunnel. Oh, and it's where the 2010 Winter Olympics opening and closing ceremonies will be held. That should be... amusing.

The good news is that they're planning to rid BC Place of its iconic white roof, replacing it with a very Euro-styled retractable one:




I've actually seen a lot of big shows at BC Place over the years. Some of my first concerts, in fact. Pink Floyd and the Rolling Stones back in 1994. U2's PopMart Tour in 97. Madonna last year. But the sound has consistently been horrible.

But tomorrow's show should be interesting, anyway. We have General Admission tickets, which is standing room. Doors open at 5pm. The Black Eyed Peas go on at 7pm and U2 go on probably around 9-ish. I haven't even looked into the potential playlist (which I've typically done before every U2 show). All I know is that they've resurrected some Unforgettable Fire tracks. If they play the title track live, I'll have died and gone to heaven! But it still hasn't hit me yet that I'm going to see U2 tomorrow. I guess when I find myself at BC Place in a sea of 60,000 people, reality will hit me soon enough.

Vancouver Folk Fest 2009 - Go!!

A glimpse of the crowds at the Vancouver Folk Fest at Jericho Park in 2005
Just a quick update! It's currently 28 degrees Celsius - a real scorcher of a July day - the epitome of a Vancouver summer.

While I'm heading out to a weekend-long wedding, if you're looking for something to do this weekend, I can highly, highly recommend that you head out to Jericho Beach for the 32nd annual Vancouver Folk Festival. It starts today, Friday, July 17th at 5pm and continues all day Saturday and Sunday, with over 60 artists from 14 countries on 7 stages located throughout Jericho Park. Needless to say, it's one of the most magical summer experiences that the city offers. World music, gorgeous scenery, a laid back west coast vibe, and glorious summer sunshine - what more could you want?

Even if you don't shell out the money to get in, it's even worth going just for the atmosphere along Jericho Beach during the festival - that quasi-hippy spirit; the Vancouver of yesteryear. As well, it's fun to explore the dozens of vendors selling all kinds of bohemian joy - always worth a peek!

I'm rather excited about tonight's line-up, specifically Arrested Development (of Mr. Wendall fame) and my personal favourites, Iron & Wine (see the video below if you're not already familiar). If it wasn't for this wedding, I'd be there in heartbeat! It's just too picture perfect not to go.

For prices, lineup, and schedules, check out their website: http://thefestival.bc.ca/. It will not disappoint!

Radiohead does Vancouver

Back in August of 2003, REM and Radiohead headlined one show each at UBC's Thunderbird Stadium on consecutive nights.

REM had played the first night with Wilco and the Dandy Warhols opening. REM had just completed recording an album in Vancouver at the time, so they had a particular fondness for the city. Michael Stipe would dedicate each song out to different neighbourhoods. "And this goes out to the people of the Opus Hotel. This song goes out to North Vancouver. This song goes out to Burnaby. This song is for that newly wed couple I met earlier tonight." And they'd go right into Nightswimming. And so on. But what really surprised the audience was when Thom Yorke hopped on stage during REM's encore and to share vocals on It's The End of the World As We Know It.

The following night Stephen Malkmus and the Jigs opened for Radiohead. Radiohead had just released Hail To The Thief, and everyone was in such a frenzy for the band, the entire show had this intense energy. But it wasn't just the band, it was the atmosphere as well. Thunderbird Stadium on a clear, warm, August night can't be beat. Here we were - a venue in the trees with a pink sunset. And as if on cue, a flock of Canada geese flew over the stage right behind Radiohead, much to the audience's delight. All the while Mars - the closest it would be to Earth in our lifetime - shone as a beautiful red beacon in the sky. And to cap it off, Michael Stipe joined the band on stage during Radiohead's encore to share vocals on Karma Police. So you can imagine, it was one of those epically magical moments.

So while I didn't find any Youtube video of the magic Radiohead and REM shows, I did find this, which I actually find more entertaining! It's Radiohead doing Vancouver as your typical tourists - visiting English Bay, taking the gondola up to Grouse, lounging in the Museum of Anthropology, etc. It may not be magical, but I find it amusing (in a music geek kind of way).