Saturday, August 28, 2010

Lower Dens @ Media Club, Vancouver, August 27, 2010


That the Media Club is not big (about 150 people) and is about a 10 minute walk from my house make it one of my favourite venues in Vancouver.   I've seen some great bands play there in the past few years (Frightened Rabbit, Delta Spirit, Fanfarlo and The Joy Formidable).  Of my favourite shows there, I'd definitely add Lower Dens.  I think there were about 10 people when I arrived and and the crowd was only 50 or 60 people by the time Lower Dens came on stage (maybe everyone who would have gone were watching Vampire Weekend at Malkin Bowl).  It's a shame because they were fantastic.  I hadn't spent much time with 'Twin Hand Movement' before the show but hearing the songs brought to life made me realise how great it is.  On the surface, the band is pretty simple - two guitars, bass and drums.  No keyboards.  No violins.  Nothing too fancy.  But wow, what wonderful music they make together.  Sometimes there's a beauty in simplicity and when 4 great musicians are all playing together, it's a privilege to be able to witness it.

Monday, August 16, 2010

The Joy Formidable @ Media Club, Vancouver, August 15, 2010

Yet another Woxy find.  Their EP 'A Balloon Called Moaning' was one of my favourite albums of 2009.  I scheduled a work trip to Toronto in May around seeing Frightened Rabbit and when The Joy Formidable announced a show on the same day, it was not an easy decision to stick with the Frightened Rabbit show (they were awesome though).  So when the Media Club show was announced as part of a short Western set of dates for the band, I started counting down the days.  And damn, they were really, really good.  I spoke with Ritzy, the lead singer, before the show and she was lovely.  I'm pretty sure they'll play Vancouver again but it'll be at one of the bigger venues in town.  This is definitely a band on the rise and they absolutely deserve it.