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Colourful World with the Turning Point Ensemble (guest review by @rsaloust)

Raul — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:10:21 +0000

On Sunday, January 29th, I spent my evening doing exactly what I wanted to do. I sat for two hours listening to music with my Mom. I was fortunate enough to win Hummingbird604’s contest and attended Turning Point Ensemble’s Colourful World. I was drawn to the contest due to my love of Claude Debussy, but found I enjoyed other pieces presented, as well.

The night began with a performance of Morton Feldman’s A Very Short Trumpet Piece. Sitting in the third row, I viewed a stage devoid of performers and heard the trumpet play somewhere in the darkness behind me. In those four minutes, I felt somewhat disconcerted, but enthralled by the haunting melody. The stage was lit and filled with performers for Rain Coming by Toru Takemitsu, but it was Debussy’s Cello Sonata that truly illuminated the room. Accompanied by the piano, the piece is challenging for the performers, but incredibly engaging for the listeners. Cellist Ariel Barnes certainly rose to the challenge and played the piece magnificently. The first half of the evening concluded with Rodney Sharman’s Chamber Symphony. Unfortunately, for me, I found the piece impenetrable. It was like looking at a blue dot on a white canvas that you know should have a hidden meaning, but you conclude it is too well hidden for you to find. By contrast, my mother seemed to discover it and found a great deal to interest her in the symphony.

The second half of the concert began with another Takemitsu composition, Archipelago S. I enjoyed this considerably more than Rain Coming. According to the program, “the title describes an imaginary archipelago made up of five real islands, widely separate in the natural world, each island’s name beginning with an ‘S’.” The ensemble was grouped into sections, including two clarinets played on either side of the theatre, above the main stage. I really felt as if the islands were having a dialogue with one another across the windy ocean and that was incredibly powerful. Finally, the performance ended with Debussy’s Jeux. I enjoyed the playfulness of the piece and the constant changes in tempo. It was a nice, light ending to a truly enjoyable evening.

I’d like to thank Raul for the opportunity to attend the concert and write this review.

Disclosure:Rebecca Saloustros was the winner of my tickets’ giveaway for Turning Point Ensemble’s concert Colourful World. She kindly agreed to write a guest review for my site. You can read her bio below:

Rebecca Saloustros is a writer and has recently co-authored and edited a series of textbooks. She loves classical music and jazz and studied singing, piano, and music theory. You can check out her blog at How Lucky and follow her on Twitter @rsaloust.

Freedom 90 (Back to Reality Mix) by George Michael

Raul — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 09:29:28 +0000

I remember when I was doing my MBA, I listened to this cover of the song Freedom 90 by George Michael alongside two of the hottest people on this planet (long story). We were at Bar None (again, don’t ask – that’s where my MBA friends used to go! In addition to, of course, Bimini’s on 4th Avenue). At any rate, I fell in love with this damn song, and I’m so glad I found it on video format, so that YOU can appreciate it. For your listening pleasure, one of the most popular songs of George Michael, Freedom 90 in Back to Reality Mix (yes, you may recognize Neneh Cherry’s Buffalo Stance in the mix).

Owner of a Lonely Heart (Yes)

Raul — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 16:00:12 +0000

This song defined my childhood. Yes is and has always been to me, one of the best progressive rock groups. For your listening pleasure, Owner of a Lonely Heart. Related posts: Club Lonely (Lonely People) by Craig Jensen feat. Gina Foster Break Your Heart by Natalie Merchant and N’dea Davenport Music review – You’ll be [...] Related posts:

Need You Now by Lady Antebellum

Raul — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 05:55:42 +0000

I’m not one to be a country music fan, but this song totally gets to me. Need You Now by Lady Antebellum is one of those tunes that completely reminds me of why I moved to Canada: to get a different perspective on the world. I would have never listened to country music had I never met JT or my good friend Nathan Tippe. To both of them, thanks for getting me to appreciate the value of country music. Hope you enjoy “Need You Now” as much as I do. Beautiful song.

AND

I just realized that Adele covered this song with Darius Rucker – amazing, as anything that Adele does.

AND I just realized that this song (and the album in which it was recorded) won the Grammys 2011 for Best Album and Best Song. Amazing. No wonder I like this song so much.

Hard Day by George Michael #MusicMonday

Raul — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 01:15:29 +0000

I don’t there is an artist I love more than George Michael. His music is amazing, he was a visionary and definitely one of my favorite singers of all times. This song makes me want to dance in my seat, and I hope it has the same effect on you. Hard Day by George Michael (this one, live in concert).

Rock Your Body (Paul Oakenfold Remix) by Justin Timberlake

Raul — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 17:00:26 +0000

Best remix, ever. For your Music Monday listening pleasure. Related posts: Music review – In This Life by Kaskade (Justin Micheal Remix) So Down by Yuksek featuring Chromeo (Bruno Neto Remix) Kilometer (Sebastian Telllier) [A-Trak Remix] Related posts:

Last Friday Night by Katy Perry #MusicMonday

Raul — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 17:00:54 +0000

I wouldn’t call myself a trend-follower. In fact, as far as music goes, I’m probably the one who knows who sings what the last. But I’m always keen to find out who sings the songs that I love, and this one is definitely one of my absolute favorites. Last Friday Night, by Katy Perry (who I’m sure has more good songs), is one of those fantastic tunes that wants you to put it on repeat. I listened to it by accident on Groovershark. And now here’s the funniest video ever, for your listening and viewing pleasure.

Warner Bros. presents Bugs Bunny At The Symphony (with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra)

Raul — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 18:13:13 +0000

Similar to the dozens of young kids who were accompanied by their parents to the wonderful Warner Brothers presents Bugs Bunny At The Symphony, with the always mesmerizing Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, my parents took great care to infuse an appreciation for the art (especially classical music) from a very young age. JT invited me last night to this great concert and I couldn’t help but write about it, even if that violates my own self-imposed hiatus.

I actually did shed tears a few times throughout the performance, and even tweeted “I want to thank my parents for giving me the opportunities they did to appreciate art in all its forms“. You’ll see, when I was a child, I went to anywhere from 2 to 6 concerts a week (mine and my own brothers’ included, of course). I grew up with Vivaldi, Beethoven, Brahms. I play classical piano (not as well as my brothers do since they are concert-level pianists), and I learned my dance moves to the sounds of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker, Ravel’s Bolero, Strauss’ Blue Danube and many more. Classical music is in my very veins and in my blood.

Listening to the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra is ALWAYS a treat, but being part of a very smart strategic move to popularize classical music and imbue in our children and youth an appreciation for the timeless works of Liszt, Rossini, Beethoven, etc. was just priceless. Bugs Bunny playing Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 made my mind wander all the way to Mexico, and think about my parents and about my brothers who live in the US and Mexico. We all learned the Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 and it reminds me so much of piano lessons at home (in my case, I still play a simplified version).

I had a wonderful chat with a couple of young men who were sitting behind JT and myself (they must have been what, 20-24?) and they were there with their Mom. They mentioned “I grew up with this stuff”. I also coincidentally (and fortunately) sat right besides Kevin Shoesmith, who brought along his two children to enjoy this magical performance. And the ticket prices are extremely affordable.

A spectacular new fusion of classic Warner Bros. Looney Tunes projected on the big screen, with their exhilarating original scores played live! Celebrating 20 years of Bugs Bunny on the concert stage, this brand new production features special guests Tom and Jerry in The Hollywood Bowl and The Flintstones and Scooby-Doo! Don’t miss these, plus old favourites like What’s Opera, Doc? And The Rabbit of Seville in this world premiere season and anniversary concert!

Maestro George Daugherty is not only an extremely talented conductor but an amazingly funny guy. He walked us through many of the tunes in a language that was accessible to even those who hadn’t grown up with Musical Appreciation lessons. His creation in 1989 (he said 1989, though the write-up says 1990) of the Bugs Bunny at the Symphony has been acclaimed worldwide and he was just recently in Mexico with the production (I haven’t asked my parents if they had a chance to go see it yet).

Thanks also to Best Buy for being a corporate sponsor. I recently had the pleasure of attending Ballet BC’s at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre and I realized that Fasken Martineau had sponsored that concert. Really smart move by big corporate sponsors to fund the arts in this city. That’s the only way they are going to thrive and survive.

I strongly urge you to take in one of the two last performances of Bugs Bunny At The Symphony (buy tickets to the 2pm and to the 7:30pm). Bear in mind that the latter show (7:30pm) may be a little bit tiring for the young ones. But it’s totally worth it. This is one concert you don’t want to miss.

A small extract from one of the pieces shown last night (that I found on YouTube). Timeless, classic and beautiful. Thank you to the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra for bringing this caliber of talent and music to our Vancouver.

Disclosure: JT paid for both of our tickets on his own dime.

Head Above Water by Elements of Soul featuring Mia Taylor #MusicMonday

Raul — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 23:15:12 +0000

I’ve heard this song in various formats, but the one I absolutely love is this one, Elements of Soul featuring Mia Taylor: Head Above Water. I used to love it when I first heard it, and coincidentally I first listened to it as I was completing my PhD. November has a way of bringing back memories (particularly as it is the month when I was first heartbroken). But I survived, and I’m all the stronger for it.

West End Girls by Pet Shop Boys (1984 original version) #MusicMonday

Raul — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 20:37:17 +0000

Had you ever listened to the Pet Shop Boys‘ original version of West End Girls? It really sounds… so different. For your listening pleasure for Music Monday

The Blower’s Daughter (Damien Rice)

Raul — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 17:00:41 +0000

This song makes me shed tears all the time. It must be just the sheer beauty of the song, or it may be the fact that it reminds me of the movie Closer, a movie about cheating (obviously, a topic that I’m quite sensitive to). Damien Rice’s voice in The Blower’s Daughter is haunting and silky, the chorus is stunningly beautiful and the music is simply delightful. For your listening pleasure.

Pining by The Hush Now #MusicMonday

Raul — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 15:00:06 +0000

I have followed the Boston-based band “The Hush Now” for a long while now, both on Twitter and on Facebook (and yes, they are on MySpace too). Their music is somewhat between folk, ballad and alternative, and I first came upon them once someone posted one of their songs (Pining) on Blip.fm. This song reminds me SO MUCH of my ex-fiancé. Not because I am pining for our lost relationship, but just because the beautiful music makes me cry without much effort.

I have previously written about The Hush Now (including an exclusive interview) and will always have a special place in my heart for this band. I am keeping my fingers crossed that they will come to Vancouver soon (did you know that one of their songs, Vancouver, is actually inspired by our fair city?)

For your listening pleasure, Pining by The Hush Now.

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD) in Vancouver at the Commodore Ballroom

Raul — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 16:10:58 +0000

Who has two thumbs and got a chance to see Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD) in Vancouver last night at the Commodore Ballroom? THIS GUY! (*points thumbs to himself*)

Raul!? Did you attend the OMD concert? Why yes, yes I did

Last night I was one of the lucky attendees of the Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (also well known for their acronym OMD) at the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver (huge shout out to the girls at the coat check who saved my night, literally – these girls totally rock, you have no idea). I had never seen OMD live in concert but since my last live concert (also at The Commodore, Chromeo), I have become a bit of an addict to live concerts. And last night was again a good reminder that it was a great idea to decide to cover more live concerts. OMD provided a packed Commodore Ballroom with one of their best experiences.

OMD sounded just as amazing as they probably did 30 years ago (I’ve seen some of their videos from that era). Several of my friends were sending me tweets “OMG you’re at OMD” which I found quite cute. I bumped into a couple of friends there (Simone Abt from Elettra Communications and Leigh Christie from eatART), and I knew others were there too as I followed the Twitter stream hashtag. A bit of information on OMD from Wikipedia:

OMD are a synthpop group whose founding members are originally from the Wirral Peninsula, England. OMD were originally assimilated in the greater new wave batch of synthesiser-based acts of the later 1970s–early 1980s. The group was founded in 1978 by Andy McCluskey and Paul Humphreys who remained, and were perceived as, the core members. Adding sidemen Malcolm Holmes and Martin Cooper by the end of 1980, this quartet (with occasional line-up fluctuations) was the live concert line-up until 1989, when Humphreys, Cooper and Holmes all left OMD to found The Listening Pool. McCluskey then retained the OMD name and continued to record and tour as OMD with new line-ups through 1996. Although McCluskey essentially retired the OMD name in 1996, shortly thereafter Humphreys began playing live shows as OMD with other musicians on an as-needed basis, but without McCluskey. Then in late December 2005, OMD’s official website announced a forthcoming reformation of the “classic” 1980′s line-up Humpheys/McCluskey/Cooper/Holmes), both for live performances and for a new studio album. This reformed quartet began touring in 2007, and further successful sold-out tours took place in 2008 and 2009. OMD’s most recent studio album History of Modern was released on 20 September 2010.

While I’m not 100% sure of the set list because I didn’t know ALL of their songs, I recognized a few, like “If You Leave” which was one of my favorite songs as I was growing up.

Andy McCluskey totally played out for the crowd. From where I was standing (very, very close to front row) he came close to sing to the crowd, and touch/high-five a few people too (a gesture of approachability that put everyone in a fantastic mood). Also, Andy danced his heart away (even though, well, his dancing as he admitted, wasn’t precisely the best!) and he made us jump, dance and sing along.

The show was completely sold out, and the crowd was (completely uncharacteristic from my previous experiences at live concerts in Vancouver) totally rocking out to the music. The age spectrum I found was pretty impressive, from very young kids who could be Andy’s children to people about his age. And everyone loved each song. I was pretty delighted with Dreaming.

Dreaming is one of those songs you can never get enough of. I always found OMD’s music extremely heart-warming and quite “clean” if you get what I mean (e.g. nothing of explicit or vulgar lyrics, etc.) One of those amazing groups you HAVE to see live, I would strongly encourage you to attend their concert (they’re on a North American tour right now) if they are passing by your city.

I attended the Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark on media tickets to review the concert. I’m neither paid for nor compensated in any other way for this review. I retain editorial control on anything that is published on my site.

Hello Again (The Cars)

Raul — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 19:00:38 +0000

I love the music of The Cars. It’s one of those amazing groups that stand the test of time. I love the song “Hello Again” and it’s a song that just makes me excited and want to dance. For your listening pleasure.

Broken Social Scene at the Malkin Bowl (review)

Anabelle — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 14:00:54 +0000

Photo provided by Live Nation West and used with permission

A few weeks ago we ran a giveaway for Broken Social Scene. I (Anabelle) used to listen to Broken Social Scene quite a bit as an undergrad, but I hadn’t heard them for a while, so I was happy to attend their concert at the Malkin Bowl on September 24th.

I got there just in time for the main act. The Malkin Bowl was about half-full at this point, so I found myself a cozy spot on the hill where I could see both stage and crowd.

The crowd was certainly happy when the band showed up on stage; the first five songs were lively and dance-y. I was happy to hear old favourites like “Shoreline” and “Fire-Eye’d Boy” and even a cover of a Modest Mouse song. I don’t know their more recent stuff but the crowd certainly did!

The best thing about the concert was the instrumentation. The music was complex and used a wide variety of instruments that added depth and interest. Lisa Songstein’s voice was a welcome addition to the main singer’s and listening to “Shoreline” brought me back to when I was working as a librarian in Concordia. Good memories there!

However, after the first half of the show, Broken Social Scene went through their more mellow songs and I felt the crowd’s energy drop. While at first there was a lot of hand waving and picture-taking and screaming, the crowd became more quiet and stopped moving. Energy came back up a bit by the end but I personally felt like I’d lost a bit of interest.

The entire set lasted about one hour and fifteen minutes, 15 minutes more than usual. It was their last Canadian concert and they gave it their all (considering they were in Victoria on Friday, too, it’s a lot of moving around!). Our giveaway winner certainly seemed to have a lot a fun, according to her Twitter feed!

Disclaimer: Anabelle attended the concert on a reviewer pass provided to Hummingbird604.com. We were not otherwise paid for the review. Raul maintains editorial control at all times.

Bang Bang by Melanie Fiona

Raul — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 16:00:33 +0000

So I love Melanie Fiona, my latest discovery. Her music has a very similar sound to Jully Black, whom I saw in concert at the Surrey Fusion Festival a few years ago. The one thing I love the most is that Melanie Fiona is also Canadian (and that this tune was played at the premiere of Charlie’s Angels (the new TV show). Clearly I’m not the only one who loves her as somebody else wrote a Wikipedia entry on the song itself.

Que le mot soit Perle by Les Nubians featuring Henri Salvador

Raul — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 17:00:48 +0000

If you’ve read my blog for long enough you’ll probably realize how much I love Paris. Even though my French is not precisely perfect (and in spite of the fact that both of my interns have French background, Jessica being of French heritage and Anabelle being a Montrealer), I still struggle with fluency on the language. Thus, I make a concerted effort to listen to music in the French language. One of the French duets I love the most (and I owe it to The One Whose Name Shall Not Be Written to know about them) is Les Nubians.

Que le mot soit Perle is a song I often have on repeat on my iPod because it’s sophisticated and danceable, and makes my body sway (I’m pretty sure I could mount a contemporary dance choreography with Que le mot soit Perle as musical background). While I own the song with only The Nubiens, when searching for the song on YouTube I came across their piece featuring Henri Salvador, who unfortunately passed away in 2008.

I think Salvador provides an extremely sweet richness to Les Nubians’ wonderful vocal chords. For your listening pleasure.

Alone (Bee Gees)

Raul — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 18:30:10 +0000

This song is one of those oldies I can’t get enough of. Alone by the Bee Gees is part of the repertoire of songs of the Bee Gees that doesn’t bring me down even though the theme is actually quite sad. I think it has to do with the fact that, as per the Wikipedia entry, the Bee Gees actually had a good time creating it.

I was a midnight rider on a cloud of smoke
I could make a woman hang on every single stroke
I was an iron man
I had a master plan
But I was alone

I could hear you breathing
With a sigh of the wind
I remember how your body started trembling
Oh, what’s a night it’s been
And for the state I’m in
I’m still alone

And all the wonders made for the Earth
And all the hearts in all creation
Somehow I always end up alone
Always end up alone

So I play, I’ll wait
‘Cause you know that love takes time
We came so far
Just the beat of a lonely heart
And it’s mine
I don’t want to be alone

Well, since I got no message on your answer phone
And since you’re busy every minute.
I just stay at home
I make believe you care
I feel you everywhere
But I’m still alone

I’m on a wheel of fortune with a twist of fate
‘Cause I know it isn’t heaven, is it love or hate
Am I the subject of the pain
Am I the stranger in the rain
I am alone

And if there glory there to behold
Maybe it’s my imagination
Another story there to be told

Chorus :
So I play, I’ll wait
And I pray it’s not too late
We came so far
Just a beat of a lonely heart
And it’s mine
I don’t want to be alone

And all the wonders made for the Earth
And all the hearts in all creation
Another story there to be told

[Chorus]

Gone, but not out of sight
I’m caught in the rain and there’s no one home
Face the heat of the night
The one that you love’s got a heart that’s made of stone

Shine and search for the light
And sooner or later you’ll be cruising on your ocean

And clean out of sight
I’m caught in the rain and there’s no one home

No related posts.

Who Wants To Be Alone (Tiësto feat. Nelly Furtado)

Raul — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 21:00:24 +0000

One of my favorite DJ’s is Tiësto, a Dutch DJ and musician who also happens to create some of the best music I have heard, ever. I can’t exactly remember where I heard this song (Who Wants To Be Alone by Tiësto and featuring Nelly Furtado). But that’s the kind of music that I like. And every time I heard dance-able music I am reminded of how much I miss dancing. Not dancing as a recreational activity, but dancing in competition. Crazy, eh? The YouTube below for your listening pleasure.

Blue Jean by David Bowie #MusicMonday

Raul — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 04:43:10 +0000

I had to “SoundHound” this song to find out the name, even though I’ve been addicted to it for a really long time. Yes, David Bowie is substantially older than me and he is definitely not of my generation but I grew up with his music and I absolutely love this song. This is an extended dance remix of the traditional Blue Jean, but I love it just as much as I do the original song. For your listening pleasure.

Raquy & The Cavemen with special guests Luciterra Fusion Belly-Dance Troupe (giveaway)

Anabelle — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 04:45:50 +0000

Back in July, Anabelle attended a fusion music show at the Waldorf and enjoyed it very much. So now it’s Hummingbird604.com’s chance to give you a pair of tickets for another Eastern fusion music show featuring Raquy & The Cavemen and the amazing Luciterra Fusion Belly-Dance troupe. If only for the belly-dancing, this show will be worth it!

Raquy and the Cavemen of Brooklyn, NY, bring traditional Middle Eastern music and modern drumming to a heady peak. Raquy has travelled to many distant countries including those in the Middle East, Egypt, Turkey and India, where she has experienced and absorbed vast amounts of musical culture. She uses all this knowledge to bring an amazing act to the stage. Raquy Danzinger performs with the Dumbek (Arabic hand drum) and the Kamanche (Iranian spike-fiddle).

Photo credit: Chris Yetter. Used with permission.

Raquy’s musical partner is Israeli percussionist and guitarist Liron Peled’s, performing on his unique dumbek-drumset, influenced by his hard rock drumming background, and his recent exploration of Tuvan throat-singing. The name Cavemen is appropriate due to the rawness of the beats, and there is also a timeless element to the music that raises the listener to an uplifted state of trance. Their sound is a deep stare into the eyes and soul of the Middle Eastern culture that lives inside the music. The love that each band member has for their instrument is especially evident when they are all on stage. They move fluidly through their masterful enchanted drumming and mystical kemenche and Tuvan throat-singing. Find one of their shows and be enriched, encouraged and energized.

We have a pair of tickets for their September 8th show at Wise Hall. To enter the giveaway, mention something you enjoy about Middle Eastern culture in the comments. For an extra entry, tweet the following:

Told @hummingbird604 about Mid Eastern culture http://is.gd/NlnKGR to enter to win tickets to Raquy and The Cavemen. You should enter too!

There will be an after-show dance party led by DJ Lizard of Oz, so it should be an awesome night. Remember to use a valid email for the comment so we can reach you, and check your inbox and tweets on September 6th after 2PM to know if you won.

Photo credit: Pixie Vision Productions. Used with permission.

What: Raquy & The Cavemen and Luciterra Fusion Belly-Dance
Where: Wise Hall, 1882 Adanac Street
When: September 8th, 8PM
More info: Facebook event page
Videos: Raquy & The Cavemen, Luciterra Fusion Belly-Dance

Roy Forbes with First Impressions Theatre in Deep Cove (North Vancouver)

jessica — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 18:45:10 +0000

A recent collaboration between First Impressions Theatre and Roy Forbes has created a unique opportunity to see a small, live, intimate performance, celebrate Forbes’ 40 years of making music, and to raise funds for the theatre company as well. The event is running for two nights only, on September 9 and 10th out of the Shaw Theatre.

Roy Forbes kicked off his singer, songwriter, and guitar-player career in Vancouver in 1971, so it is only fitting that he comes back fourth years later to celebrate his music and BC roots. With his huge amount of experience: starting from Folk Festivals, Canadian and American touring, to writing music for film and TV, close work with CBC and more, his live shows are nothing less than impressive skillful performances. The fundraiser is no less of a worthy cause to attend the event. First Impressions Theatre was set up in order to facilitate aspiring actors and performers as a stepping-stone or launch pad.

Since 1983 this company has attracted audiences with it’s high quality productions and exposure of strong, promising local talent. The setting in Deep Cove’s 130 seat Shaw Theatre is the just right to have a strong connection between the audience and stage, and of course is set in such a gorgeous area.

First Impressions Theatre is located in the Deep Cove Shaw Theatre, 4360 Gallant Avenue, North Vancouver. You can get tickets for the concert here (limited engagement Sep 9th and 10th). You can listen to a classic by Roy Forbes here:

Lazy Eye by Silversun Pickups

Raul — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 18:00:08 +0000

I’ve got really weird tastes in music. This song currently has me a bit addicted. Not sure who does it sound like. Clearly I’m not the only one who likes it because as you can see, it even has its own Wikipedia entry. It sounds to me a little bit like a combo

LIVE at Squamish: Day 2

jessica — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 18:45:13 +0000

Live at Squamish: Day 2

After a long and lovely first day, most people couldn’t wait to come back for more. I spent the night of the 20th exploring Squamish’s night life, and then sat at the Howe Sound Brew Pub and chat the evening away with other festival goers and Squamish locals.

The next morning was spent blogging, drinking coffee, shopping – and it was nice and overcast compared to the blistering previous day. All in all, I think Squamish has many merits aside from this festival. Anyways… here is my breakdown of the day in terms of music:

Photo credit for all photos on this post: Jessica Brodeur for Hummingbird604.com

Brasstronaut – I wandered through the thin crowd at the main stage while Brasstronaut played their set. Not that they weren’t great – they were – but 3:00PM seems a lot earlier than normal on day 2 of a music festival. The mood seemed very hungover, but at least Brasstronaut’s great sound was able to get a few people up and dancing.

The Belle Game – I had seen TBG once before and wasn’t convinced that I liked them, but this show definitely changed my mind. The large band, including Andrew Lee on trumpet, attracted a small but excited crowd of local music lovers. The band seemed very well rehearsed and put together, with an extra drum on stage fora couple of instrumental breaks in their set that got the crowd really dancing.

The Zolas – This band, just like Brasstroonaut, seemed like the perfect background music for the day. Just good, accessible music with a solid beat and a few over-excited dancers in the crowd.

Shane Koyczan – This guy is unreal. I have seen him once before in the spring, but most people recognize him because of his part in the 2010 winter Olympics. Although it seems unfitting to have a poet at a rock music festival, Shane really knocked everyone off their feet. I heard Spencer from Said the Whale / Panda Watch mention that he never wanted to write lyrics again after hearing Shane, because he had stolen all of the beautiful and emotional words from everyone’s mouths. If you can endure the passionate speeches of love, broken hearts, didactic messages, or just humour, then you should definitely try to catch Shane’s moving performances.

Panda Watch – This band either was just another unknown indie band with a weird name to some, but to others who paid close attention to their Twitter feeds, it was a Said the Whale ruse waiting to be exposed. The band walked up in panda masks, started their set instrumentally, then whipped them off to show the faces of Said the Whale! They played a set of entirely new music, which sounded great and created a huge response from the crowd. This was one of my favourite sets, and probably the most memorable of the entire festival. I sheepishly came up to the band afterwards and asked them to sign my notes for the festival, which they were happy to do.

The Dudes – This was the third band in a row that I saw on the main stage that really just played chill rock music. Having just flown in from their hometown of Calgary, the Dudes were a little more interactive up on the stage, and did shotgun a few beers for the audience, but again it was just great background music to which my friends and I played cards on our picnic blanket and swayed a little bit.

Black Mountain – Even though this band is much heavier than the other acts of the festival, I really enjoy them. There is sort of a retro-rock feel, and the heavy guitar and bass did sound very epic given the surrounding mountains and the Chief. They were certainly the loudest act so far in the day, but I think the crowd responded really positively.

METRIC – Metric definitely put on an amazing show. Pretty much the entire attendance of the festival was piled around the stage as Emily hopped, skipped, and sang her way across it. Everyone was up and dancing and singing along, and all of her hits were played. She even got a little emotional as she thanked the crowd for making the event such a success. Metric’s style of simple bass lines and loud, repetitive verses basically gave everyone a chance to join in, and they describe themselves as “Harmonic Rock” on their website, which describes their set perfectly.

Weezer – It seems to me like the main reason why Weezer still plays music is to reminisce about their “glory days”. The entire feel of the crowd changed from happy and enjoyable during Metric’s set to a lot of yelling and chaos. A bunch of older crowd members appeared seemingly out of nowhere, which was a bit funny when Weezer covered Foster the People’s Pumped Up Kicks, a song that few of them could sing along to. I would recommend skipping out on a Weezer concert if you don’t enjoy getting mooned by several guys, or watching leader singer Rivers Cuomo be carried back to the stage by security and a large man in a cowboy hat after wandering through the crowd.

Green Couch Sessions – For the fans who were ultra dedicated to local music, GCS had a small acoustic stage where bands could come play 4 song sets. I did manage to see quite a few including Redgy Blackout, Rococode, and The Boom Booms feat. Ponderosas.

EDITOR’S NOTE AND DISCLOSURE: Jessica covered Live At Squamish 2011 with media accreditation for Hummingbird604.com. This review of the festival is neither paid for nor expected by the organizers, but I believe it’s important to share coverage of the festival as it looks like it was a great event. I retain editorial control at all times of what is published on my site.

LIVE at Squamish: Day 1

jessica — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 05:05:15 +0000

It seems like over the past week, everyone has been buzzing about LIVE at Squamish. Are you going? Where are you staying? Who are you most excited to see? The build up around this event has been incredible in comparison to even just last year, when I didn’t even hear about it.

I am thrilled with how well the first day went. Although a few glitches did occur, such as one stage falling extremely behind in time and throwing off another stage, but overall the festival was pretty well organized. Of course, despite the friendly volunteers and staff, food trucks, artisan village, and other cool add-ons, the music was by far the biggest and best attraction.

Photo credit: Jessica Brodeur for Hummingbird604.com

Here are a few highlights from my first day in Squamish:

Proper Villians – This Surrey band won their way into LIVE at Squaish through the METRO presents contest. Many people I talked to said they sounded like the Black Eyed Peas. Their radio hit Your Heart sounded great, but it was the only song I recognized.

Hey Ocean! – I was looking forward to HO! and very luckily got to meet them before they hit the stage. The music was cute and beachy, as always. Ashleigh Ball was great at adding in some crowd participation, including a blow-up shark: Sharky. They played a good mix of new music, old music, and really old music from a variety of their albums and soon-to-be-released-highly-anticipated album.

Emily Haines + James Shaw – This event, although it was on the smaller of the two stages, was a huge addition to the lineup that featured an acoustic set by two of Metric’s members. A good mix of popular and rare songs were played, and Emily seemed incredibly into her piano playing. The crowd was probably more packed than any other band at the Garibaldi stag.

Kyprios – Kyprios is a Vancouver rapper who won the Peak Performance Project 2010, and has been riding an incredible wave of fame and good fortune for the past year or so. He got on stage and talked up “real” music: the kind that involves hard work and talent, and praised LAS for being full of it. He really did live up to his talk, because his hip hop style and technique were incredible. He had a big band to back him up: guitar, bass, saxophone, trumpet, keyboard, two backup singers, and a DJ. He gave each of his artists a chance to show off their skills in little solo bits, and he seemed so grounded and thankful to play the festival, and the crowd loved him.

Photo credit: Jessica Brodeur for Hummingbird604.com

Stars – Stars sounded exactly like their record. There was dancing, but the energy from the band seemed a bit more sloppy and blasting loudness than it did enjoyable music. I wasn’t a huge fan.

Shad – Shad is a BC transplant from Ontario, and I really love all of his songs. He invited Ashleigh Ball up on stage, just as Hey Ocean! had invited him on stage during their set. The two makes a great duet, and Shad’s huge energy and love for the crowd and music were inspirational. Although the audience was small, everyone was having a great time and Shad seemed to be having a ton of fun on stage.

John Butler Trio – JBT are an Australian trio that play a variety of music ranging from funk to bluegrass to rock to almost jazz-like. The amazing 12-string guitar talent, up-right bass playing at the same time as Didgeridoo, and massive dance party in the crowd made the set extremely fun and enjoyable. The big screens were mesmerizing as John Butler’s hands moved quickly across the frets and strings to produce the sound of 5 instruments out of one guitar. Many people I talked to said that this was the best show of the weekend and possibly that they had ever even seen.

Girl Talk – Gregg Gillis has been mixing and sampling for almost 10 years now. He is so into his music that he makes DJ-ing off of his laptop into a full-body experience. Instead of dancers or musicians on stage, he had invited about 50 people from the crowd + other artists to rush the stage and have a party up on it. Unfortunately that made a bunch of girls in the crowd feel a bit left out and try to rush the stage as well, which caused a huge mess with security and photographers trying to slip out, but the chaos was all part of the experience. The samples were basically like listening to the top 50 best songs of the past decade all in one set. If you like high energy dance parties, you’ll enjoy GT, especially live.

Nabob Coffee House + Virgin Mobile Cafe – I appreciated the computer stations, picnic tables, and live acoustic performances from Green Couch Sessions. This was the most relaxed corner of the entire festival, where people came to sit and refuel. The complimentary coffee was all part of the efforts from Nabob to rebrand themselves as enjoyable coffee, not instant crap. It did taste good!

Artisan Village – As is becoming popular with festivals, local artisans came to sell their products. Imports, hand-made soaps, jewelry, and custom artwork (including custom painted Tom’s) could be purchased here.

Photo credit: Jessica Brodeur for Hummingbird604.com

Belmont Barber Shop – Anyone in search of a funky hipster haircut or a sharp hair style could come to the Belmont Barber Shop’s drop-in. Right next to the acoustic Green Couch stage, customers enjoyed the music while getting a chop in the middle of the forested area under a tent. This would certainly be a great hair-related memory for anyone who was willing to sit still for 30 minutes during the festival. Junior and Master stylists Rich Hope and Dustin Fishbook respectively kept their seats constantly full for the entire time I spent in that corner.

Re*Gen / Virgin Unite – This was Virgin’s charity that proceeds from the event were donated to. The beneficiary is Canadian homeless youth, and the festival gave constant reminders and played clips on the big screen to spread awareness and concern for the cause.

Photo credit: Jessica Brodeur for Hummingbird604.com

Burnaby Blues and Roots Festival 2011

jessica — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 20:00:00 +0000

Burnaby Blues and Roots Festival 2011

Photo credit: Jessica Brodeur for Hummingbird604.com

What a beautiful day this past Saturday was for the Burnaby Blues and Roots Festival. This is the 11^th year running, and the festival was huge! The sea of people relaxing on lawn chairs and blankets was a great sight to see. It was a definite change from the usual crowd I see: a much older crowd, lots of families. Everyone seemed calm and ready to bask in the sun for as long as possible.

Photo credit: Jessica Brodeur for Hummingbird604.com

Somehow the festival has expanded beyond music, and also included an artisan market of local goods. Clothes, jewellery, instruments, household items and even a few exotic imports were being sold at little shaded tables. It was a very interesting mix and I loved the sanctuary from the sun that the tent provided.

I managed to catch 3 acts while I was there. As I hiked up from the lower parking lot, I heard the amazing guitar talent of Canadian Matt Anderson. This is someone I definitely would recommend fighting your way to the front for, or watching him on the big screens provided at the side of the stage. His technical skill produced the most amazing and challenging music. Next up, the Secret Sisters from Alabama came on to the side stage. They set the perfect tone for the crowd: cute, fun, light, and easy listening. Their country music inspiration was as “rooted” as it could be for a Southern duo. They also charmed the crowd with their sisterly banter and stories about the importance of every song to them. As the festival’s website, they sing “good, old fashioned music.”

Imelda May is a woman that I cannot talk-up enough. This was my first time seeing her live, and everything about her just screamed posh, sexy, and powerful. Her voice carried beautifully over the massive crowd both lying on the grass from afar, and up-close dancing away the day. She did mention (in her very thick Dubliner accent) in between songs that she was “up to my eyeballs in painkillers” as she had tried to climb the fence to get a good look of the lake earlier that day, and fallen. As any showgirl and diva would do, she insisted that the show must go on, and got up on stage for her set. Her big band supported her wonderfully, as only would be fitting. Her dress, hair, and makeup all completed the performance. The mix of blues, smokey jazz, soul, disco, and modern style make for a distinct style in Mayhem, her newest album, which I will be getting my hands on!

Disclosure: Jessica covered the Burnaby Blues and Roots Festival 2011 for Hummingbird604.com thanks to media accreditation from the BB+R organizers. This review is neither paid for nor expected, but it was such a great festival that we wanted to report on it. You can read more of Jessica’s writing at her blog. As always I retain editorial control on anything I publish on my blog.

Broken Social Scene at the Malkin Bowl in Stanley Park (Concerts in the Park)

Raul — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 06:00:55 +0000

Who loves Broken Social Scene, even though they don’t follow me on Twitter? ME, OF COURSE! (I know, I’ve always joked with my good friend Jay Catalan, cofounder of The Network Hub, that Canadian indie band Broken Social Scene, one of my absolute favorites, follows Jay on Twitter). At any rate, I’m sure I’m not alone in being an absolute lover of Broken Social Scene. “Forced To Love” is one of the songs I walk with and exercise along.

Lucky for a reader of mine, I have a pair of tickets to give away to the upcoming (September 24th, 2011) concert presented by Live Nation West and co-produced by Sealed With A Kiss, presented by 100.5 The Peak and The Georgia Straight, with special guests Ra Ra Riot. The concert will take place on Saturday September 24th, 2011 at the Malkin Bowl in Stanley Park. Doors open at 5:30pm, and the concert begins at 7:00pm.

You can get tickets through Charge by Phone 1-855-985-5000. Tickets also available at Zulu, Red Cat Records, Highlife, all Ticketmaster Outlets and Rogers Wireless Box Office. Tickets (incl. HST) $35.00 (Plus FMF & Service charges). And through TicketMaster of course. This concert is for general admission lawn and for all ages.

Some more information about the wonderful Broken Social Scene:

In the time that elapsed between the release of Broken Social Scene’s 2005′s self-titled opus and the 2010 release of Forgiveness Rock Record, fans were more than tided over by the 2007 release of founding member Kevin Drew’s solo album, Spirit If…, followed a few months later by co-founder Brendan Canning’s own solo set, Something for All of Us… both of which were released under the “Broken Social Scene Presents” banner, both of which were supported by tours that featured career spanning set lists, and both of which featured pretty much the same group of players you hear on Forgiveness Rock Record. In hindsight, Broken Social Scene’s period of supposed inactivity was arguably their most productive stretch yet – yet another contradiction that makes up the byzantine BSS myth.

Some 10 plus years after Drew and Canning first started laying down ambient instrumentals in a Toronto basement for their debut BSS release Feel Good Lost, the ever evolving group are returning to Vancouver to perform at Malkin Bowl in Stanley Park on Saturday, September 24th.

I love Malkin Bowl and I’m sure it will be an extraordinary concert. And to enter my giveaway all you need to do is post the name of your favorite Broken Social Scene song. If you want to gain an additional entry, you can tweet the following:

Posted my favorite @bssmusic tune on @hummingbird604 http://is.gd/2CjWff 2 enter 2 win tix @livenationwest concert at Malkin Bowl. Yours?

I will draw a random winner on September 3rd, 2011 at 2pm. I will count a comment AND a tweet as 2 entries, and comment/tweet separately as one entry each for a maximum of 2 entries.

All photos on this post used with permission as provided by Live Nation West

Burnaby Blues and Roots Festival 2011 (Preview and Giveaway)

jessica — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 17:00:40 +0000

Summer festivals are such a great way to experience different parts of a city and a community. This Saturday, August 13th, Burnaby presents the 12th edition of the Blues and Roots Festival. This one-day-only event is happening at Deer Lake Park in Burnaby, BC. Gates open at 1PM for family events (childrens activities run 3:30 – 7:30), food, and especially music. By 8:45, when k.d. lang gets on the Lake Stage, (main stage) the outdoor crowd will be packed with people dancing, lounging or sitting on the grass, and enjoying the last of this sadly short festival.

Yukon Blonde at the Burnaby Blues and Roots Festival 2010. Photo credit: Emme Rogers

Although k.d. lang is a huge attraction, the variety found within blues and roots itself has a lot to offer to the general masses. Current Swell of Victoria count themselves as “new roots” which may sound contradictory, but actually opens up the genre to a young audience. At almost the entire opposite end of the spectrum, Ireland’s Imelda May pumps out well-known rock and blues tunes.

The lineup includes k. d. lang, John Mayall, Imelda May, Luke Doucet and The White Falcon, Matt Andersen, The Secret Sisters, Current Swell, Ben Rogers and the Black Cats.

You can check out for yourselves the festival program: http://burnabybluesfestival.com/pdfs/Blues2011pullout.pdf. And you can get tickets here. You can also follow the Burnaby Blues and Roots Festival on Twitter and Facebook.

EDITOR’S NOTE:
As a matter of fact, my good friends Emme Rogers and Rob Jones attended the Burnaby Blues and Roots Festival last year (I wasn’t able to), and they loved it.

GIVEAWAY:
I have 2 sets of 2 tickets to give away (package valued at $280) for a pair of lucky readers. All you need to do is let me know which act you would like to see the most. I’ll admit, I’m really looking forward to k.d. lang but I’ve seen other great musicians in the lineup. To ensure that I have enough time to draw the winner and contact them, I’ll draw a winner on Thursday August 11th at 11 am.

An additional entry via Twitter can be earned as follows:

I entered to win @BurnabyBlues tickets from @hummingbird604 http://is.gd/7CqgYt Read about the musicians I want to check out!

Chromeo at The Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver (concert review)

Raul — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 03:58:42 +0000

That I love Chromeois a commonly known fact by anyone who either reads my blog or follows me on Twitter. I’ve blogged about their songs, Blip.fm’d them on my Twitter account, downloaded both of their albums on iTunes and practically told everyone who listens to me how awesome Chromeo is. Now, let me add “I’ve attended a live concert of Chromeo” to the list of items on my bucket list that I have crossed.

Photo credit: Jessica Brodeur for Hummingbird604.com

This past Tuesday August 2nd, I attended Chromeo’s performance at The Commodore Ballroom. As you may know, Jessica (who also writes the blog Vancouver Music Review) is doing an internship with me and she mentioned she would be coming to the show too, so I decided to make this a “Hummingbird604.com Operation Universe Domination Team” affair. Since we all had media accreditation, we agreed to meet there. Good times. It was also great to meet Char, the other half of the VMR project. And Jessica thankfully took a few photos for me to use on this post.

It was great to hang out with Anabelle, Jessica and Char on many levels. One of them that was pretty much a new experience to me was attending a live concert where the doors open at 8pm, but the main act doesn’t come on stage until 10:45pm. When you go to sleep at 9:30pm so you can wake up at 4:45am the next morning, you rarely are out on a school night after 10pm. I was a bit shocked. Clearly, I need more live concerts under my belt. I also now realize why you need a photographer’s pass and how valuable it would be to have backstage access. Good tips for the future.

Photo credit: Jessica Brodeur

On to the show. How can I write about Chromeo without sounding gushy? I think the one thing that completely and absolutely struck me was how close to the original recording they sound live on stage. The concert lasted about an hour, and it rocked each and every song they performed. The Commodore was pretty packed (which is amazing for a Tuesday night concert), with an audience that clearly knew how awesome these folks are. “Don’t Turn The Lights On”, “Call Me Up”, and some of their recent material including “Hot Mess” and “When The Night Falls” were all performed to a pretty packed house. It was an experience in and of itself.

I think Chromeo are some of the most underrated performers of this decade, and I hope they get a lot more exposure for creating amazing music.

Disclosure: I received media accreditation to attend the show. I am neither obligated nor required to post a review. However, I really enjoyed it and wanted to share my experience with my readers. All photos on this post were taken by Jessica Brodeur for Hummingbird604.com. As always, I retain full editorial control over what’s published on my site.

It Feels So Good by Steven Tyler

Raul — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 14:45:34 +0000

It’s amazing to think that Steven Tyler is the father of such a beauty as is Liv Tyler. But it’s true. While I find Tyler Sr. not attractive in the least, his music (and that of Aerosmith) is still very much part of my absolute favorites. It Feels So Good is one of those songs that you need to have on repeat on your iPod. For your listening pleasure.

Live at Squamish 2011

jessica — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 19:45:40 +0000

The Decemberists playing at Live At Squamish 2010. Photo credit: Visions of Domino on Flickr

I find that music festivals are one of the best ways to enjoy some of my favourite artists. Something about laying down a picnic blanket and relaxing with a few friends and snacks seems like the way some music was meant to be enjoyed. Throw in BC’s natural beauty as a backdrop and I’ve got my perfect weekend in mind.

Live At Squamish 2011 is on my weekend plans. This relatively new music festival to hit the west-coast summer festival scene has grown up pretty fast. For it’s second year running, it’s already attracted a massive lineup for the weekend of August 20^th and 21^st. From classic Canadian indie band Metric, to the dance-until-you-drop mixes of Girltalk, to local hip hop talent Kyprios of Sweatshop Union, over to insane guitarists in the John Butler Trio, and many more. With only two stages, it should be easy to coordinate and run back and forth to catch as many acts as possible.

Presented up at the Logger’s Sports Grounds in Squamish, BC, this is pretty much the ideal place to drop a large crowd of young fans and leave them for two days. The surrounding forest is expansive and pristine: perfect for muting the late night reverberation of bass lines, the camping is world-class, and the boundary lines are guarded by bears to prevent any escapees or people sneaking in. Just kidding about the bears… kind of.

More than just the music… this festival will also have a variety of food and drinks. Water stations will be available to bring your own waterbottle… and more details to know are here.

Other events than live shows, such as a Silent Disco, have also been announced. What is that, you may ask? A DJ will be playing a full dance set, but each attendee will be given a pair of headphones and will only be able to hear the music through them. To the dancers, it’s just another night out on the town (or in Squamish… not exactly the same thing) but to onlookers it just looks ridiculous. For those of you who are equally as curious as I… I’ll see you there!

Just Announced (Aug 2^nd): The schedule has been adjusted to fit in two Metric sets: one full performance, and one acoustic. For anyone who admires Emily Haine’s amazing talent, this is great news!

Full Lineup: Metric, Girl Talk, Shad, John Butler Trio, Tommie Sunshine, Stars, Kyprios, Hey Ocean!, Kim Churchill, Sweet Thing, She Stole My beer, Shane Koyczan, Weezer, Black Mountain, The Dudes, The Zolas, Bend Sinister, Brasstronaut, Major Lazer feat. Diplo, Doc Martin, Dubtribe Sound System, Luke Mckeehan, Guilty About Girls

Follow @LIVEatSquamish on Twitter here.

This preview of Live at Squamish 2011 was written by Jessica. Jessica will be providing you with exclusive coverage of Live At Squamish 2011 on Hummingbird604.com.

EDITOR’S NOTE:

I have a pair of passes for Live At Squamish 2011 for a lucky reader to win. To enter my giveaway you can drop a comment on this post telling me which band you’re most keen to check out. I’m sure you all want to see Metric. At least, I do!

To earn a second entry, you can post the following on your Twitter stream:

Told @hummingbird604 which band I want to check out to enter to win tickets to @LIVEAtSquamish http://is.gd/BJ1uHL – what’s your fave?

I will draw a winner from all entries until August 16th at 2pm.

I’m sure you all are keen to check Live At Squamish 2011, as it promises to be a fantastic weekend. I might or might not be able to attend as I’m finishing a book, but Jessica will definitely be there and will be able to provide you with excellent coverage. — Raul

MusicFest 2011 in Vancouver (win tickets)

Raul — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 20:45:08 +0000

I was raised as a classical piano player, even though I sort-of abandoned piano as I moved to contemporary dance and theatre. But I still love classical music, and I totally adore jazz. So I’m always thrilled to promote events such as MusicFest 2011 in Vancouver. Next Friday, MusicFest Vancouver‘s 11th season kicks off for their 10 days of celebration, with the jazz portion kicking off two days later on Sunday. This event features local, Canadian, and even international artists particularly in the classical, world, and jazz veins. Performances and events are being held at 8 locations across the city.

Featured in the jazz portion is Lorraine Desmarais, a Montreal trio making a West Coast visit. Performing at the beautiful Norman Rothstein Theatre on Tuesday, August 9th this is part of the Jazz at the Rothstein Series presented by Marsh/Mercer. Lorraine’s voice is paired with drum and bass: a simple jazz trio. The trio is also playing the Jazz in the Cellar series, an intimate experience of Jazz in a restaurant setting, the day before on August 8th. You can read more about them on the MusicFest website.

You can check bit of a performance of Lorraine Desmarais here.

Another featured jazz performer is Regina Carter and the Reverse Thread Project. Regina’s voice and violin will presented by the BMO Main Stage Series at the art-deco Vogue theatre on August 8th. Her inspiration is diverse, ranging from R&B to African folk to create an original style. The worldly beats are fun and enjoyable and her band includes familiar and strange instruments including a traditional African Kora – a percussion instrument. Read more about Regina Carter from the MusicFest website.

For a complete list of concerts, series, and events you can check the MusicFest website. I’m lucky enough to be able to give 2 lucky readers an opportunity to check out these concerts. I have a pair of tickets for Lorraine Desmarais and one pair for Regina Carter (I’ll draw them and assign randomly from all entries).

All you need to do is check out the list of concerts and events on the MusicFest 2011 Vancouver website and come back to this post and let me know which concert or event you would like to check out. I’ll draw a random winner on August 7th at 2pm. I will make sure to have tickets at Will Call for my contest winner (remember, I notify my winners and wait 24 hours and then if I don’t get a winner I’ll re-draw). You can also earn an additional Twitter entry by posting the text below.

Told @hummingbird604 my favorite @mfestvan event to enter & win concert tickets http://is.gd/9g7pXT Have you entered his contest?

* Tickets for the Regina Carter and the Reverse Thread Project are for Monday August 8th.
* Tickets for Lorraine Desmarais are for Tuesday August 9th.

Ghost by Fefe Dobson

Raul — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 18:30:07 +0000

One of these songs that sound a bit like an artist that you really like (like April Lavigne) and then you discover that they’re not sung by said artist but by someone you had never heard (Fefe Dobson in this case), Ghost is a contagious, catchy tune. I always feel inclined to dance to Ghost, and the lyrics are somewhat funny to be quite honest. The video portrays Fefe Dobson as she discovers her (perhaps former?) boyfriend making out with someone else and being discovered (thus “acting like he just saw a ghost”). For your listening pleasure, Ghost by Fefe Dobson (this is the original video. Strange that the music company allowed embedding!)

Just like a go-go-go-ghost
Watch me go-go-go-ghost

Now I’m gone in your photograph
I bet you wish you could get me back
Now I’m stuck in your memory
A mistaken identity

What’s her name?
What’s she like?
Does she know that you’ll never treat her right?

What’s her name?
What’s she like?
Do you leave her in the middle of the night?

You act like you just saw a ghost
I watch you getting way too close
Now I know why you’re never there
Now I know so it’s my turn to disappear
You act like you just saw a ghost
I caught you (Caught you)
Now I know
Now I know why you’re never there
Now it’s my turn, watch me disappear
Just like a go-go-go-ghost
Watch me go-go-go-ghost

The only gift that you ever gave
Was that you let me just get away
I hope I haunt you in every dream
And you feel a little misery

What’s her name?
What’s she like?
I should warn her that you’ll never do her right

All your games
All your lies
I need to tell her maybe I can change her mind

You act like you just saw a ghost
I watch you getting way too close
Now I know why you’re never there
Now I know so it’s my turn to disappear
You act like you just saw a ghost
I caught you (Caught you)
Now I know
Now I know why you’re never there (Never there)
Now it’s my turn, watch me disappear
Just like a go-go-go-ghost
Watch me go-go-go-ghost

Just like a go-go-go-ghost
Watch me go-go-go-ghost

Now you see me
Now you don’t
You must’ve thought I’d never go
Thanks to you I’m taking back my soul

You act like you just saw a ghost
I watch you getting way too close
Now I know why you’re never there (Never there)
Now I know so it’s my turn to disappear (Disappear)
You act like you just saw a ghost
I caught you (Caught you)
Now I know
Now I know why you’re never there (Never there)
Now it’s my turn, watch me disappear
Just like a go-go-go-ghost
Watch me go-go-go-ghost

Just like a go-go-go-ghost
Watch me go-go-go-ghost
Just like a go-go-go-ghost
Watch me go-go-go-ghost
Just like a go-go-go-ghost
Watch me go-go-go-ghost

Duck Soldier (music band)

Raul — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 18:15:43 +0000

I am always amazed at young kids who play in a music band, particularly because I grew up alongside with my brothers with classical piano musical training. We performed in public and gave concerts, but I never really felt that we were a rock band because we didn’t perform all together (each one played a piece or two at each concert). That’s why I love music bands, particularly those that are really young. And Duck Soldier won my heart this weekend at Fraser Fest 2011 in New Westminster.

Duck Soldier is a band composed of several youngsters (all of them look in their teens) and mostly a R&B/Soul/Funk band. We rocked and danced at Aretha Franklin’s Respect, Would I Lie To You (Annie Lennox) and several others. My video may not capture the quality of their music, but I really liked them. And more importantly, the effort that they paid to entertain the audience was really what made the evening.

From their Facebook bio:

The most soulful funk band in town! Dropping the beautiful funky vibes all over New West and beyond, this 15-piece juggernaut will knock you out with their fantastic renditions of classic soul music. They also are doing what they can to save the planet, preaching racial and spiritual harmony, and an all-out war against environmental degradation!!

Break Your Heart by Natalie Merchant and N’dea Davenport

Raul — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 14:45:37 +0000

This used to be my theme song. From the times when I was dating The Ex, one of the most beautiful songs I’ve ever heard, Natalie Merchant (of 10,000 Maniacs’ fame) sang Break Your Heart, and as I was researching YouTube videos I found a duet with N’dea Davenport. Natalie’s voice is absolutely beautiful, but Ndea’s compliments the song extremely well. For your listening pleasure, Break Your Heart with Natalie Merchant and Ndea Davenport.

Weekend Players – 21st Century (Transfer Club Mix)

Raul — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 14:45:00 +0000

For someone who loves deep house, it’s kind of bizarre that I haven’t made more of an effort to grab tunes from Weekend Players (an electronica/deep house duo). I loved their tune 21st Century but in Francois K. Mix. Couldn’t find it, so you (and me) are stuck with the Transfer Club Mix. Hope you enjoy it. It’s a good, nice listen though.

Physics & Jay-J – Don’t Deny Me Love (Jay-J Moulton Studio Vocal Mix)

Raul — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 19:00:13 +0000

I love the music that Physics produces. One of my absolute favorite workout songs is Physics’ Blue Flame Dub. Related posts: Love On Your Side (Thompson Twins) Call My Name by Charlotte Church (music) And now for a cheesy tune: All Dressed Up in Love (Jennifer Hudson) Related posts:

Sea Sick by Bonnie Dune

Raul — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 17:00:25 +0000

I had the chance to listen to Sea Sick by Bonnie Dune (Cory Monteith‘s band) at the Pinkberry Canada launch yesterday, and loved the tune. So here’s for your listening pleasure.

[below is a clip that I got on my own camera - you'll have to wait and download the song once it's available on iTunes]

Bonnie Dune is composed of:
Justin Wilczynski – Vocs/Guitar
Seth Roberts – Guitar/Vocs
Cory Monteith – Drums/Vocs
Joshua Kerr – Bass
Jason Massey – Producer/Co-writer

Some nice air kept me up all night in bed
My eyes are closed but I can see it
Something nicer that shook the ground where I’m standing
All the rights words that she said, she said

Sea sick this better be ocean
Stay close come this far
Sea sick this better be ocean
Stay close

Nicer for many things all start running
Facing my own fears one more time
Some nicer made me feel humor with me
All the hours that she said, she say

Sea sick this better be ocean
Stay close come this far

Sea sick this better be ocean
Stay close
Sea sick, oh, hold your breath
Hold your breath
Sea sick this better be ocean
Stay close come this far
Sea sick this better be ocean
Stay close
Sea sick this better be ocean
Stay close come this far

Sea sick this better be ocean
Stay close come this far
Sea sick this better be ocean
Stay close come this far
Sea sick this better be ocean
Stay close.

And below you can see a short video that I shot from their performance at the Pinkberry Canada launch.

Tables Turning by Modern English

Raul — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 17:15:57 +0000

I had never heard of Modern English ever in my life. But when I was searching for the video of Turning Tables by Adele (which I featured on my blog recently). For your listening pleasure.

So Down by Yuksek featuring Chromeo (Bruno Neto Remix)

Raul — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 15:00:52 +0000

It’s usually when I eat out that I listen to great tunes, and this time wasn’t the exception. When Mom and I had dinner at Cactus Club Cafe in Victoria the other night I found “So Down” by Yuksek featuring Chromeo. While this isn’t the original tune, the Bruno Neto Remix is just as much fun. For your listening pleasure.