The Skinny Magazine in Vancouver: LIVE

LIVE NOTES

LIFE AGAINST DEATH - RICKSHAW THEATRE DECEMBER 2014

HELLO FOLKS, well, actually, the volatile front woman here is probably the sweetest person you will ever meet! A moment with Twitch from Life Against Death giving it all. So it goes!

As we finish off 2014, we are busy updating behind the scenes to bring you new albums and formats! We are adding in some extra release reviews as well, focusing on some locals that might get overlooked as everyone flocks to the top ten list.

The 2014 live reviews and photosets are going through a rebuild to accommodate for functionality changes and elements that are no longer supported within our parent host, the old and new. Yes, that is technology for you. Since, advertising dollars does not drive us, things are built in a DIY manner on a volunteer basis. Do bear with us as we swap content around and find a better solution. Some of 2014, 13, 12 live reports are back online as to not leave an empty space. 2014 hopes to finish off with year-end round up as soon as the pieces come together.

RED FANG, WE HUNT BUFFALO, BLACK MASTIFF

The Venue - October 8th 2014

Vancouverites seem to have a fond liking for Portland and lately everything that has been popping out of its crispy, sweet, music filled city. Red Fang is no exception and people flocked to see them perform at The Venue on a Wednesday night.

We Hunt Buffalo started off the evening right with some awesome rocking tunes. This Vancouver based stoner rock threesome cover their riffs with enough fuzz to make your ears turn into peaches. No complaining here.

THE SONICS - RICKSHAW THEATRE - tiina liimu photo

The Rickshaw Theatre - October 2, 2014

It can be a gamble when you go to see a band play and the youngest member was a full-grown man before you were born and it’s been 50 years since the first single was recorded.

Showing up to the packed Rickshaw, you could see the anticipation in the faces of silver-haired record nerds, young hipsters and aging punk rockers alike.

NIK TURNER'S HAWKWIND - VENUE - tiina liimu photo

The Venue - September 26, 2014

Space Ritualized:

Much to the chagrin of fellow original member, Dave Brock, there have been a few sects of Hawkwind. One of which is Nik Turner’s Hawkwind, not to be confused with "the" Hawkwind (which is fronted by Brock), who played to an eager audience of gamblers. A risktaking crowd, not sure what to expect.

Hawkwind’s backing band starting off the evening aka Oakland California’s, Hedersleben, who were no slouches in the psyche, ambient, space rock realm. When Nik joined these three guys and two girls, magic filled the Venue. Hit after hit from the early Hawkwind albums were assailed onto the startled audience. From classics like “Brain Storm,” to “Time That We Left The World Today,” which sounded bang on, considering Mr. Turner is a 74-year man.

ART BERGMANN - Commodore Ballroom - tiina liimu photo

Commodore Ballroom - September 6, 2014

After a lengthy “retirement” Canada's punk rock poet laureate Art Bergmann seems to have reclaimed his muse. Driven by his own anger, passion, exile, and bitterness, Bergmann is packing enough vitriol and vengeance to lay waste to pretty much any current artist who dare cross his path. On the heels of a killer batch of new tunes featured on his 2014 EP release Songs for the Underclass, his recent Commodore Ballroom performance found Bergmann fronting a crack band featuring guitarists Steven Drake & Alex Varty, bassist Kevin Lucks, drummer Jon Card and - for my money the evening's secret weapon – Paul Rigby on “Sleepy Pete Kleinow” steel guitar and occasional mandolin.

WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM - VENUE - tiina liimu photo

The Venue - July 13, 2014

Wolves in the Throne Room (WITTR), a Washington black metal duo, released Celestite, an experimental synthesizer album on July 8th and followed with a North American tour. Nommo Ogo, a California psychedelic electronic band and Vancouver's own Neck of the Woods (NOTW) were also on the bill.

SEPTICFLESH - Rickshaw Theatre - tiina liimu photo

The Rickshaw Theatre - July 4, 2014

Conquerors of the World Tour arrived at the Rickshaw lead by Septicflesh from Greece and Fleshgod Apocalypse from Italy.

Black Crown Initiate, a progressive metal band from Reading, Pennsylvania, and Necronomicon, a blackened death metal band from Montreal started the night.“Stench of the Iron Age,” a track from Black Crown Initiate’s first EP, was being played when I found my way to the stage. It began slowly with a beautiful guitar riff and clean vocals but surged into death growls and fast drums. This band knows how to create a balance and the crowd dug it.

The Vogue Theatre - December 4, 2013

If you consider yourself a punk, metal head or skater, then why the fuck weren’t you at the Slam City Tour? Too cold outside? That didn’t stop piles of these scary-looking fuckers from cramming into the Vogue on December 4th to witness the best show of 2013 and a band that has been credited as the fathers of crossover thrash, Suicidal Tendencies.

Sacramento’s Trash Talk started the festivities and warmed up the growing crowd with their chaotic style of hardcore punk meshed with grindcore. By the time Terror took to the stage, the place was packed.

Fairview Pub, Vancouver, November 15 2013

PunkRockaRolla101 - Showin' The Kids How It's Done - Gloriously Reckless

I hate to be an asshole and show up late to a show – especially when the kickassery meter is as high as an Liquor Kings and IBraineater/Jimmy Cummins double side kick in the balls opening one-two - but I was a late ass crotchety old man on this particular evening. I freakin’ missed two of the city's best live acts – cuz I had to take a nap. Yes, I am old...everyone involved in this show was old, and you know what – we kicked your Main Street hipster iconic beardo asses very nicely on this night. It was real, it was sweaty, it was high on the vibe-o-meter and... shit, it was punkrockarolla101. I kid you not.

The Rickshaw Theater - Sept 21 2013

This energetic night of camaraderie proved to be an international representation of symphonic metal and superb musicianship. Starkill, the Century Media newcomers break the ice to a receptive audience of metal fans.

Headliners, Wintersun, hailing from the land of ice and snow were warmly welcomed with a much-anticipated reception. From Finland: Jari Maenpaa is on lead vocals and guitar, Kai Hahto on drums, Jukka Koskinen on bass and Teemu Mantysaari is on guitar, all demonstrating brilliant arrangements of progressive, melodic, symphonic metal.
Clever compositions keep the audience spellbound by their performance. The passionate, set included “Beyond the Dark Sun”, “Battle Against Time”, “Sleeping Stars”, “Beautiful Death”, “Death And Healing” followed by the grand finale of “Winter Madness.”

Biltmore Cabaret - July 09 2013

In the Biltmore's dimly lit den of electronic playlist worship, Bob Log somehow plays four ipods at once. Instead of searching menus, pirating music, and spinning knobs, Log found himself stomping three foot pedals, asking us for drinks and furiously plucking his Silvertone “Growler” guitar.

Tasked with opening for this spectacle were Vancouver's “the Beladeans,” a talented five piece with two outstanding records and a flair for classic bar blues anthems. They barreled through their set with bravado and charisma, ending on a high note with a rousing cover of "I ain't drunk, I'm just drinking" well before midnight. Immediately following this was the noisiest sound check imaginable, as Log sat testing his works with the sound techs testing for his newly expanded electronic performance.

Chinese Cultural Centre - July 20, 2013

Black Flag's reunion of the Jealous Again era beckoned diversity. It was a who’s who of Vancouver's older punk scene, metal heads and, surprisingly, a healthy crew of ener-getic minors. First up: an excellent female three-piece Vancouver band called Lié. Splendid angular punk riffs and captivating call and answer vocal trade-offs.

Electric Owl - July 16, 2013

Excellent to see Electric Owl hosting some heavy hitting metal bands and with Hoopsnake on the opening slot you knew there was gonna be some weight.

I arrived just in time to see Vancouver’s own Bison BC tuning up and gearing down. This crews' namesake is very appropriate. They are like a herd of bison galloping along the plains. When they play, the ground shakes, you can hear the rumble from miles away, and they destroy everything in their path. They were an obscene mass of sweat, hair and bovine riffage. If you have not had a chance to see Bison BC live, really go and do yourself a favour. They are hands down, the best live metal band this city has to offer. They even enticed us with a new tune that foreshadowed what will sure to be a pummeling new release in the near future.

Skeletonwitch - Biltmore Cabaret - June 10, 2013

It was a Monday night that Skeletonwitch’s headlining tour touched ground at the Biltmore. It was well put by singer Chance Garnette when he yelled into the crowd that it “feels like a fucking Friday!!” And I’d say that judging by the mosh pit’s reaction that the crowd was putting their best Friday foot forward.

The Strugglers, A.W.T., Karen Foster - WISE HALL - June 21 2013

The Wise Hall was to be the venue for the long awaited video release of local punk rockers The Strugglers, who are sort of a spinoff of the now defunct Little Guitar Army. The Strugglers may just be the ugliest band in rock and roll. “G Tone” the burly bass player looks like he might live in a van down by the river. They have two guitarists, one with the first name “Dirty” and the other is a tall spectacled lankyfreaky looking guy with very horny hands called “Prickish.” The drummer “Jamieson,” just happens to be named after a whiskey. And “Bertman” the singer isn’t afraid to take it off and roll around with the best of them. Sort of a PG Allin, if you will. It’s a good thing that rock and roll isn’t a beauty contest. And on this night, The Strugglers failed to live up to their name by pulling off a flawless energetic set full of primitive rock fury. Their set was performed just the way garage punk should be performed. They let it all hang out and laid it down in a sweaty distorted heap of rowdiness.

Man or Astroman? photo by tiina liimu 2013

Biltmore Cabaret - Wednesday May 13, 2013

In 1993, four alien visitors with an insatiable hunger for the music of the Ventures, shockingly bad sci fi flicks and Spam touched down in Auburn, Alabama to begin their quest to conquer Earth with their space-surf sounds. In 2013, twenty years has taught them a lot: Tesla coils make for amazing “international incidents” at major metropolitan airports, sending clones to tour for you allows for more hang time with the relatives and the town of Visalia, California is undoubtedly in the minds of MOAM? the WORST possible place anyone can visit in the world and they spent THREE DAYS THERE.

Electric Owl – May 17, 2013

Anything but Main Street and the “one of a kind” garage punk marriage of Fred and Toody Cole is all about momentum and the enduring game of Rock n Roll. Pierced Arrows drew a full house at The Electric Owl. The beauty here is an unspoken code. Energy begets get energy. This vitality is translated through their DIY ethic and playing by their own deck. The devoted audience and local RNR favourites, the Jolts, understand this too. Without further ado, they charge up the stage for the Portland guests. Hats off to Slow Learners for planting the seed that evening.

Black Angels - Bev Davies photo

Commodore Ballroom - May 14, 2013

Sometimes a show is like a direct electromagnetic shock, but in the best way possible and this was the kind that induced a blurred sense of time.

The summoning drone of the 2008, “Vikings” drew the crowd into the front, while the prismatic “I Hear Colors” expanded the experience. The tone was set with vibrant and chromatic projections filling the stage. A fitting introduction to their new album Indigo Meadow. Fresh from the Austin Pysch Fest, the Black Angels make their way through North America dispensing their hypnotic form of wisdom.

photo: detail from album artwork

April 19 - Rickshaw Theatre

With a billowing smoke machine working overtime, a retro styled RNR evening is on hand at the Rickshaw Theatre.

The hall is filling up for the arrival of La Chinga! Carl Spackler on throbbing bass, a booming Jason Solyom is at the kit and Ben Yardley is set to stun on guitar and theremin. These three gents proceed to lay waste to the seventies rock gods with definitely some funk thrown into the mix.

The Commodore Ballroom - May 21 2013

Seeing three death metal bands that have been playing for about twenty-five years, all together, in one evening, was quite a treat. One would expect utter ear hole annihilation and one would be right about that!

THE SKINNY