We Are Augustines, Ace Hotel, CMJ, October 19, 2011

I'd actually never heard of them but was in the Ace Hotel getting a coffee at Stumptown.  I didn't get to see the whole set but enjoyed what I did.  They sounded great but almost as important, they looked like they were having a blast.  The smile on the lead singer's face was infectious.  I found out later he used to be in Pela, who I discovered just before they broke up and never got a chance to see.  Luckily I didn't miss out on We Are Augustines as well.

Exitmusic @ The Delancey, CMJ, October 18, 2011

Bands like Exitmusic are why I like SXSW and why I wanted to go to CMJ ... I'd discovered them a few months before (falling in love with their single 'The Sea') and knew that the chances of them playing Vancouver within the next 6 months or so were pretty slim.  I'm happy I got to see them in a pretty small venue before their album comes out and while it's all new and exciting for them.  I got to catch a band on the way up and based on the performance I saw,  I have every reason to believe they'll start to get alot more recognition and alot more fans.  I liked them alot.

ohnomoon @ The Delancey, CMJ, October 18, 2011

CMJ announced the full list of bands playing about a month or so before the festival, which didn't give much time to check them out and discover some new ones.  It's also incredibly frustrating going through a list of bands and trying to find a sample of them music.  You can only be so patient and so I definitely didn't give bands alot of time to impress me, but the one band that did after I'd gone through about 40 bands one night was ohnomoon.  I found out about a week later that their bassist, Raymond, had recently died but fortunately they'd decided to carry on as a band.  I was very impressed with their set.  They've only been a band for 10 months and their bassist on the night had only had a couple of practices but I couldn't tell ... they sounded great and I hope big things are on the horizon for them.

Moonface @ Waldorf Hotel, Vancouver, October 14, 2011

 

When Wolf Parade announced their hiatus earlier this year, I was hoping that would mean a new Sunset Rubdown album.  So far it hasn't but Spencer Krug is clearly not a man to sit back and relax and instead he released an album under the Moonface moniker.  He's always superb live so when the Vancouver show was announced, I jumped at the chance to go.  Playing as a duo with Krug on keyboards and his bandmember on percussions, there were moments of brilliance.  Not a bad way to spend a Friday night in Vancouver.

Veronica Falls @ Venue, Vancouver, October 11, 2011

Band releases single.  Single is good.  Band goes on the radar to keep an eye out for.  Band releases an album.  Album is good, second test is passed.  Band announces date in Vancouver ... we're at a crossroads now, do they live up to expectations?  Actually yes, Veronica Falls really do.  They are very very good.

EMA @ Biltmore Cabaret, Vancouver, October 8, 2011

I was at a show at SXSW waiting for the band to come on when I noticed a blonde woman standing nearby.  She stood out because she had a very chunky (and ugly) EMA necklace.  I found out a few days later that she was an artist and had just released an album.  Her single hit Pitchfork and she started to get a fair bit of blog love.  She pretends to shoot a gun in the video and in some of her promo shots which is just ... dumb.  Fast forward a few months and she was announced as support for Wild Beasts, which is quite a bizarre pairing.  There were moments in the set which I quite enjoyed, but overall I wasn't sold.  Not sure what it was ... she's on my radar but I'm not a fan yet.

The Antlers @ Venue, Vancouver, September 8, 2011

I first saw The Antlers at Monolith when they were touring Hospice.  The album is lovely but incredibly depressing.  Their set was terrific though and I was disappointed to miss their first Vancouver appearance as I was out of town.  Fortunately they finally made it back to Vancouver on their tour for Burst Apart.  Their set was fantastic.  I always find it amazing how different (and sometimes better) songs can sound live compared to on the album.  It's definitely a sign of a great band if they are able to do that and its why I love going to shows.