Buck 65 @ Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver, June 25, 2010

I get that describing music is a skill that I do not possess.  There's generally only two types of music for me - good and bad.  I also can't tell you why I like something and why I don't like something.  One thing I'm pretty confident about though, is that Buck 65 is not a jazz artist.  What the hell he was doing playing the Commodore as part of the Jazz Festival I have no idea.  I won't complain though, because Buck 65 is an absolute treat to watch live and one should never pass up the opportunity when it presents itself.  He played 'Blood of a Young Wolf' which is one of my favourite songs of all time.  The first time I saw him was when I was in Dublin for the weekend in October 2005.  It was my first non-smoking gig, so I remember it fondly.  Buck is also a big baseball fan so I'd like to think that under different circumstances we could be friends.  Yeah yeah, just humour me.  Thanks.

Coco Rosie @ The Vogue Theatre, Vancouver, June 24 2010

I'd never really heard of Coco Rosie until about 4 days before I saw them.  I heard 'Lemonade', loved it and saw that they were playing Vancouver.  stereogum.com posted an article on them at the same time, which I read and it made me a bit nervous about the show ... freak folk, gender politics, music industry bias, blah blah ... fortunately I'd already bought the ticket because it was one of the best shows I've ever been to.  A definite highlight of this year and I'd go see them again in a second.  It's why I like live music ... every once in a while, you get to witness something special.  And on that night in Vancouver, Coco Rosie made magic and it was wonderful.

Phantogram @ Malkin Bowl, Vancouver, June 13, 2010

Phantogram opened up for Metric for 2 nights at Malkin Bowl.  I saw Metric at the Vogue in December 2007 (with Tokyo Police Club, The Dears and Sebastian Granger), I think it was about 4C inside and I was frozen.  Emily Haines was wearing a silver dress - her standard stage costume (!) - and I felt sorry for her, I can't imagine how cold she must have been even with the heat from the lights.  I liked Metric then.  Fantasies is a pretty great album and so I also saw them at the Orpheum in November 2009 but it's a big jump from one night at the Orpheum to two nights at Malkin Bowl, but I guess that's what having a song on the Twilight soundtrack will do for your concert sales.  I wasn't too impressed with Metric on the night ... no emotion ... but I liked Phantogram.  Eyelid Movies is a great album.

Delta Spirit @ Venue, Vancouver, June 12, 2010

The first song I heard from Delta Spirit was 'Children' on Woxy.  I've seen them twice ... they played the Media Club on February 12, 2009 which was one of my favourite gigs of 2009.  They didn't disappoint at Venue, they're stunning live.  Neither of their albums have been reviewed on Pitchfork, it makes me like them more.

Sasquatch Music Festival @ The Gorge, Washington State, May 29 - 31, 2010

I saw Laura Marling, Mumford & Sons, The Middle East, Patrick Watson, Broken Social Scene, The National, Vampire Weekend, Caribou, Local Natives, The Tallest Man on Earth, Tegan and Sara, LCD Soundsystem, Phantogram, Telekinesis, Japandroids, Camera Obscura, MGMT and the New Pornographers.  I talked to Eric from Say Hi.  It didn't rain.  It wasn't too hot.  It wasn't too cold.  Premier Camping is definitely worth the money.  The Gorge is ... stunning.  A basically perfect way to spend a weekend.