Sunday, October 31, 2004
As If I'm Not Seeing Enough Music in November...
New Music West is back! The annual Vancouver music festival/conference/extravaganza usually happens in May, but for whatever reason, it got delayed until November this year. For 20 bucks, you get virtually unlimited access to shows at various venues over 5 days. Bands that I'll be seeing this year include The Flairs, Paper Moon, In Media Res, Kristy Thirsk, Cherrybomb, Hinterland, and Adrienne Pierce. And apparently, the Stars show on Nov. 13th is part of the fest too, which means I won't have to pay extra to see them. Cool.
NP: Joseph Arthur - In the Sun
posted by Hanson |
11:10 PM
Saturday, October 30, 2004
Ashlee Vanilli
After the BMP social tonight, I came home and caught up on some TV. I finally saw "Ashlee-gate," which I might've found more amusing had I not heard about it ad nauseum for the past week. Serious dude -- what's the big deal? So she lip-synchs; big fucking deal! It's not like it's a big shock or something. I mean, singers like her have been doing that for ages. That she was caught with her hand in the cookie jar doesn't merit it being blown out of proportions.
Now, if we found out that, say, she had murdered a couple of four year-olds for kicks when she was a sophomore in high school, that would've been different. This though, puh-leeze. Those who like her music will continue to listen, and those who like her videos will continue to watch. Lets move on to something more important -- like Ben Gibbard's benign cyst.
NP: The Arcade Fire - Neighbour #3 (Power Out)
posted by Hanson |
12:30 AM
Wednesday, October 27, 2004
Shorts in 5 Degree Weather
Congrats to the Boston Red Sox. It just goes to show the old baseball adage that it's pitching that wins championships. Next year, it's the Cubbies!
I've always preferred brunettes. Case in point: Evangeline Lilly. She makes Lost even better.
That being said, I'm finding Elisabeth Rohm hotter and hotter every time she flatly delivers a line on Law & Order.
I haven't seen a movie for weeks. I need to see a movie soon.
Snow Patrol: another band I really got into right after they came to town.
Album of the moment: The Arcade Fire's "Funeral"
NP: (Daily Show)
posted by Hanson |
11:24 PM
Tuesday, October 26, 2004
Lightning Blogging
Quick! Lets see if I can do this in under ten minutes!
Saturday. Took a late morning ferry over to Victoria, but was still too early for my liking. The Egypt exhibit was cool. Plenty of old rocks, statues, and parts of buildings. Fell asleep in the IMAX movie, Omar Sharif notwithstanding. Ran into some UBC quiz bowl people. Who'da thunkit! After two pitchers at the White Spot, went over to Sugar, only to find that doors were not for another hour. Went back to the hotel and watched the end of the Red Sox game. Got to the show later, only to have Dan get in before Carlos and me even though he didn't have a ticket! Metric blew my mind as always. I even got to touch Emily's fingertips. Too cool. Death from Above, appropriately, got the kids pushing and shoving. That's what screamo does, I suppose, so that's so not my thing. The first band was surprisingly good, though I didn't catch their name.
Sunday. Came back on the ferry at noon, and then had some great ramen downtown at a place called Kintaro. Probably the best I've had outside Japan, the noodles firm even at the very end. And the soup base. Mmmmmm. At night, skipped curling to see Ben Lee and Pony Up. Gaw, Pony Up is so my new favourite new band of the moment. I'm weak against female-fronted, multi-vocalist pop bands a la All Girl Summer Fun Band and Tilly and the Wall. And now Pony Up. So good. And so cute. Plus playful. I'll see them any time they're in town. And Ben Lee always kicks ass. Every time I see him, I enjoy him more than I thought I would, and yet I continue to underestimate him. Armed with my camera, I got a video of him covering "Float On." And his keyboardist Lara is so hot, sorta Angie Hart-ish, Aussie and all. Got pics of her too. Yeeeah. Oh. And Ben Lee brings all the hot chicks out. Not just the cute show chicks, but the clubs-rather-than-shows hot chicks too. I counted 3 ponchos, and the room only fits about 100 people! Certainly a different crowd than Metric the night before.
Oh, and speaking of Metric, there was not a SINGLE Asian at the Metric show in Victoria. Well, other than me. It was so weird, coming from Vancouver and not seeing another Asian there. I guess it's a totally different town. And so many old people.
Dang. That took 15 minutes.
NP: Pony Up - Creamy jeans (for Matthew Modine)
posted by Hanson |
12:33 AM
Saturday, October 23, 2004
Fungasm!
The next few days are going to be ace. Fun stuff like Metric, Eternal Egypt, plus Ben Lee and Pony Up! Can't wait. Just can't wait.
Also, there's a online contest from the Georgia Straight to win tickets to a private show with Sarah Slean. Please enter and promise to take me if you win! And hurry! The contest ends on Sunday :-)
NP: Pony Up - Heard You Got Action
posted by Hanson |
12:52 AM
Friday, October 22, 2004
A Year After
A year ago today yesterday, we lost one of the greatest songwriters of our generation. Elliott: like Nick Drake and Jeff Buckley, may you achieve immortality through your music. Lets hope "From a Basement on the Hill" sits atop many "Best Of" lists at the end of the year, the fuckers at Pitchfork notwithstanding.
NP: Elliott Smith - Fond Farewell
posted by Hanson |
12:26 AM
Wednesday, October 20, 2004
The Monsters of Folk, folk, folk....
Conor Oberst (aka Bright Eyes), Jim James (of My Morning Jacket), M. Ward (of, uhm, M. Ward), and Mike Mogis (producer extraordinaire of Rilo Kiley's More Adventurous) comprise the Monsters of Folk, which wrapped up their tour here in Vancouver last night. Loosely, the show was divided into 4 uninterrupted sets: first M. Ward's stuff, solo or with the other monsters; second, Jim James' stuff, mostly solo in the dark, with the monsters guesting on a few song; third, Conor's stuff, mostly new songs backed by Mike Mogis on pedal steel or guitar; and fourth, a jam of a bunch of cover songs I don't know with all four on stage. And yes, no breaks. From 9:15 to 12:30, they just played, save for a brief pause between the main show and the encore.
Despite being severely fatigued by 11 hours of work, I enjoyed myself quite a bit, really digging Conor's new stuff, and was absolutely astounded by how well My Morning Jacket's songs translated to an acoustic setting. Fuck man. Dude really impressed me and then some! Conor played mostly new songs, which was both good and bad. I mean, the new songs were (mostly) great, but I would've liked to have heard some older stuff, stuff that I can sing lip-synch to.
But yeah, I paid for it in the morning. Five hours of sleep just isn't enough, and although I got by with tonnes of tea, I really felt it at my midterm tonight. Even now, as I'm typing, I feel like passing out -- which is what I'm going to do in about five minutes.
Oh. Tickets have been bought and booked for my Victoria trip of Egypt and Metric on Saturday. Carlos is coming along, as is my appropriately-named brother, Victor. Hehe. There will be so many Stargate/Goa'uld jokes at the museum. And Emily!! YEEEEEEE!!!
NP: (Bo-Sox doing the impossible)
posted by Hanson |
11:40 PM
Sunday, October 17, 2004
She Was Here (Again!)
Every time I come back from seeing Sarah Harmer, I write a glowing review. The difference this time is that I'm going to spare you the hyperbole and just say that she was -- again -- amazing. In addition to songs from her two solo records, she did the unreleased numbers "Oleander," "The Ring," and "I'm a Mountain," that last one during the first encore (she came back after the first encore and did "Coffee Stain" acoustically). And as a special treat, she took a request and pulled out a Weeping Tile oldie, "Dogs and Thunder." I shouted for "Good Fortune" like I do every time, but to no avail. Josh Ritter opened the show with some folky-rock-by-way-of-Idaho, thoroughly enjoyable and very appropriate before a Sarah Harmer set. I would've picked up his record, but they weren't selling merch.
The only unpleasantness of the evening came when the usher at the Centre caught me taking pictures and made me delete them all. Beeyatch. I wasn't even using flash! I knew I had to delete all that I've taken because the dude was a Asian guy, and you just can't fool an Asian guy when it comes to gadgets.
After the show, Dan and I met up with Carlos at the Atlantic Trap and Gill to grab some food and drinks. Swearing he wasn't drunk, Dan grabbed my arm and flung it towards this chick's ass who was standing really close to me. Denying that it was the pitcher of cider that made him go wacky, he swore to repeat the feat at curling tonight. Riiiiight.
On a different note, those of you who wanted to see awesometastic Death Cab/Pretty Girls Make Graves/Stars show, you'd better have your tickets already. I caught wind that it might be sold out already, which surprised me since they (Death Cab) couldn't even fill up the Vogue, an all-ages venue, the last time they were here. Ticket sales were so poor, in fact, they had to switch the show to Richard's the night of, screwing kids that already bought tickets but weren't 19. I guess this is what a little mainstream exposure (O.C., Six Feet Under, Bell commercial, etc.) can do for a band, especially in a poser-filled place like Vancouver. Luckily, I have my ticket; for the rest of you, they always release a few tickets the night of the show ;-)
NP: Stars - Set Yourself on Fire
posted by Hanson |
11:12 AM
Wednesday, October 13, 2004
Woah!!!
Mere moments after declaring my wanting Stars to tour, I find out they're opening the Death Cab/Pretty Girls Make Graves show here on Nov. 12th! Holy FREAKIN' Shit!! Three bands that I absolutely adore on the same bill! How cool is that? Not only that, Torq, Amy, and company will have their own headlining show at the new Buffalo Room the night after. The coolness of this simply cannot be measured!
NP: Stars - One More Night
posted by Hanson |
11:04 PM
Free Show!
I've got an extra ticket to the Sarah Harmer show this Saturday at the Centre for caller #9. Anyone who wants it, let me know through whatever method you deem fit. Yes, even holla.
BTW, I'm thoroughly enjoying the new Stars album, Set Yourself on Fire. I can't wait 'til they tour the mofo!
NP: Stars - Ageless Beauty
posted by Hanson |
10:46 PM
Quick Post Before Bed
Gilmore Girls referenced and played Rilo Kiley ("Pictures of Success", IIRC). I'm over the moon!
NP: B'ehl - Geography
posted by Hanson |
12:20 AM
Monday, October 11, 2004
etcetera
Other things that happened over the Thanksgiving weekend besides the Danny Michel show:
- Bought America: the Book and Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs. I'm expecting to enjoy both of them immensely.
- Won 40 bucks at Poker. That was after curling, when we suffered another close L.
- Got my pictures take for Ming Pao. It'll be on the front page of section D on Wednesday's edition.
- Caught up on my readings. Finally.
Yup. Good weekend.
NP: Memphis - Second Summer
posted by Hanson |
10:35 PM
Jumped the Gun
Tickets for Sarah Slean (w/ Ron Sexsmith) are 2-for-1 on Tuesday from 10am to 10pm! Of course, this dosen't do me any good since I've got my ticket already, but for those of you sitting on the fence about this show, now's your chance! Well, tomorrow's your chance, anyway.
NP: Danny Michel - Ashes to Ashes
posted by Hanson |
6:05 PM
Sunday, October 10, 2004
I Played Cowbell with Danny Michel!
That's right! Tonight, the Ho was banging the cowbell on stage with Danny Michel, Luke Doucet, and Melissa McClelland (!). Now for some background:
I dropped by Richards tonight to see a double bill of Canadian singer-songwriters: Danny Michel and Luke Doucet. Danny is probably my favourite Canadian male singer-songwriter right now, so I'm definitely not missing him when he rolls into town. Tonight, he opened the show with a 45-minute solo acoustic set. His songs, when stripped down to vocals and guitar only, are folky gems. Stories unravel with each lyric, all told/sung in that raspy voice of his. As much as I love his records, his songs really sound the best at their barest.
After his set, I went over to the merch table to pick up his new album of Bowie covers. There, I saw both him and Melissa McClelland, who is currently dating Luke Doucet, working the merch. I had no idea she'd be here, so it was a nice surprise. I chatted with both of them briefly, complementing Melissa on her excellent album, and left with the CD stuffed into my back pocket.
When Luke and his band took the stage, I noticed Melissa getting up there as well! Apparently, she was in his band, playing guitar, shaker, cowbell, as well as (prominently) singing back up. She even did co-lead vocals with Luke on "Gun St. Girl," a Tom Waits cover, a song she also did (with Luke as a special guest, in fact) when she played here a few months ago. While Danny's country-folky-rock songs sound just like that, Luke's sometimes take a bluesy turn, showcasing his ample guitar skills. Before one of his songs, Luke introduced it as a bitter and mean number about an ex, who is also a songwriter. That ex, of course, is Sarah Slean. Hehe. I thought about wearing my "Sarah Slean loves me" t-shirt to the show; now I'm glad I didn't.
When his hour and change set was done, Luke, along with Danny, Melissa, and the rest of his band, came back on stage for an encore. During the last song, Danny started pulling people up on the stage to play the various instruments! Since I was at the very front and shouted "more cowbell!" when he was playing it (to which he replied, appropriately, with "I've got a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell!"), Danny pulled me on stage and handed me the cowbell and a drumstick.
So there I was, with a handful of other common folk, jamming on stage with a bunch of kick ass musicians, playing along to a song I didn't know, watching the crowd lapping it up, bright light blinding our eyes. Yes, it was as cool as it sounds. Singing "Dead Disco" for Emily in the crowd at the Metric show was one thing, but being on stage and playing an instrument is quite another. I don't know if they did it at every show; all I know was that it made my night even better than it already was.
NP: (SNL)
posted by Hanson |
1:09 AM
Saturday, October 09, 2004
Incoherence
- Just saw Rilo Kiley's performance on Conan (taped on Thursday night). They played "Portions for Foxes," which I thought would've been their best choice for a lead single off More Adventurous. And Jenny was so un-fucking-believably hot, I nearly pissed my pants (but what's new).
- United State of Electronica is pure party, even if you're listening to them while modifying generic .NET web controls.
- Speaking of which, free booze at work get a big thumbs up from me.
- When you put a bunch of dessert choices in front of me, I always go for something brown.
- I'm really digging Snow Patrol's "Run" right now. Something about it. So Scottish, so good.
NP: Snow Patrol - Run
posted by Hanson |
12:38 AM
Friday, October 08, 2004
Talk to the Ho
Ugh. It's never good when you have to work the next morning, yet you're still posting at 2:00 am the night before. At least I can say that I'm only doing this while my assignment is being faxed to the school.
So, I'm being interviewed tomorrow by a report from Ming Pao, one of Van City's Chinese daily papers, about quiz bowl. Hehe. We got a whole whack of publicity when we started a few years ago. The Sun, local papers, and various SFU publications all did pieces about us, but now, we'll be known in the Chinese community as well. Ten bucks says this is all due to Ken Jennings, who I'm sure inspired this Washington Post front page article too.
NP: The Dismemberment Plan - The City
posted by Hanson |
2:06 AM
Wednesday, October 06, 2004
Skipping Jesus
So, I didn't end up going to either the movie or the show. I stayed at work until 7:15, but instead of staying longer and waiting for the movie (which was at 9:45), I decided to head home. For some reason, I felt drained, much more than usual. I didn't want to nod off during the movie like I was doing during Iron Pussy on Saturday, so I decided to skip it. It was probably a good move anyway, as it gave me time to watch Gilmore Girls *and* work on my essay, which is basically done. Speaking of GG, the Ho gives thumbs up to Luke and Lorelai, and thumbs down to Rory and Dean.
NP: A.C. Newman - Miracle Drug
posted by Hanson |
12:05 AM
Tuesday, October 05, 2004
Time Is Ticking
Tickets for *tonight's* Badly Drawn Boy show is 2-for-1 (i.e. $27.50 + ticketbastard charges for two tickets). If some one else wants to go, I might be willing to skip my movie tonight (Searching for the Wrong-Eyed Jesus). Call or email me at hwho (at) sfu (dot) ca if that floats your boat.
NP: (nothing)
posted by Hanson |
8:59 AM
Monday, October 04, 2004
Third Metric Post in a Row
That's it. I've decided. I'm going over to Victoria on Oct. 23rd to see Metric headline a show. I've been meaning to go over there to see the Eternal Egypt exhibit at the Royal BC Museum anyway, so this gives me an excuse to go. Two birds with one stone. Sweet. Anyone want to come? High and low culture, both in one trip! I just hope I won't get taken over by a Goa'uld though...
NP: The Postal Service - Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)
posted by Hanson |
12:54 AM
Damn YOU!
Speaking of bitterness, I just found out that tickets for Metric opening for Billy Talent(less) have sold out! Both nights!! FACK! That'll learn me to not buy the instant they went on sale...
NP: U.S.E. - Emerald City
posted by Hanson |
12:41 AM
Hot Metric
I don't have time right now to write about my weekend of bitterness and elation, so I'll just leave you with the news that Emily Haines has been named the Sexiest Woman in Canadian Music by Chart Magazine. It's hard to disagree with that choice, but I'd say that Tara MacLean can give Emily a run for her money. Now I have to pick up the latest issue of Chart just to get the article!
NP: United States of Electonrica - It Is On
posted by Hanson |
12:32 AM
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