Stop # 1 : The Media Club for Jessica Beach’s sound check.
Okay, so I actually had to go there to bring down the trusty Cord Magazine Banner. The Media Club would be hosting our good friends Cazart! Records’ showcase, co-sponsored by Cord, so before hopping off to start my other shows for the evening, I wandered down amid late-for-the-event Harlem Globetrotters’ fans en route to GM Place. I listened in on a couple fun and jazzy songs by Jessica Beach and then helped her stick her merch up on the wall. My hurriedness was kind of unwarranted though as I sped out of there and back up to Granville Street and…

Stop #2 : The Stone Temple for O + V.





This show is running something like 20 minutes late. I’d never been to the Stone Temple before. I know my sister used to hang out there years ago. I imagine it’s changed a bit since then. What an odd, small, dark place. Some members of the Flairs are standing around out front looking through photos in a portfolio. Inside, it smells like an auto shop. Greasy. A woman walks by and hands me a Rockstar energy drink. Well, I’d been thirsty and was going to go to the bar and snag a glass of water, but someone comes by and hands me a chilled berry beverage… so I cracked it open. Blah! I can’t say it was terribly tasty, but before too long, I could feel the buzz. I definitely need this today.

Anyhow, O+V - formerly (still…?) Orchards + Vines, they have ditched the cellos and gothishitude for a more straight forward rock approach. A much different project from last time I saw them, everything has improved by a number of steps. I still maintain that the only thing that holds this band back is a mild awkwardness and flatness in Cindy Tomlinson’s voice - but again, hugely improved from the last set of theirs I saw. As the set goes on though, she seems to warm up a bit and relax. The small dark stage though doesn’t allow for much in the way of visibility or movement.

Stop # 3:The Roxy for Fully Loaded.











I think I should shave back my schedule a bit because it seems like everything is congruently running late. Dammit all though these guys are fun to watch. Rock n roll everyman drummer David Swart is backing this band, and he’s just plain entertaining. The whole band seems boisterous and happy and casual. No weird posing or pretentions, they’re just up there having a good time. They sound really good too. Still not totally my top genre pick, but within the genre, very solid musicians.

Stop #4 : The Cellar for the Seven Year Old Poets.









I’m hitting my stride early today! This band is also fucking fun! And frigging adorable. These guys are uppity and lively, poppy and filled with bouncy and infectious danceaholica. Hot damn! Suddenly I’m happy! Is it from guzzling the Rockstar drink, or just because the music so far is solid? Who knows! I need a rocket pack to get around tonight though. Marty Zylstra from Sweetheart says I need a transporter instead. But the energy drink may have filled that role.

Stop # 5 : The Stone Temple for The Flairs.









Yep, still running late. Cindy Tomlinson finds me and brings me to a crate of Rockstar drinks. I take another for the road and wait for the Flairs to start up. There seems to be some sort of technical issue with singer Dawn Mandarino’s microphone. Perhaps her Steven Tyler-esque purple leopard print scarves tied to it got tangled up in something. Anyhow, it’s okay that this show is running late because everything else is too. It’s getting crowded and hot in the bar. By the time the Flairs actually start, I’m only interested in hanging out for one song. They are a bit dull tonight, but that’s largely because of the small dark stage again. And the sound is awful! Hardly and vocals and everything sounds scratchy and off. Bleh!

Stop # 6 : The Plaza for Storyboard.









Impossibly enough, this set is more impressive than the one at Richards. Maybe it’s just the vastness of the room, and the way the sound reverberates around it. The music is literally cascading out into the street as I arrive at the room, and even there it sounds fantastic. I really love this band, but it’s a brief stop - I must move on to the next venue.

Stop # 7 : The Roxy for Starewell.







Hmm, these guys are a bit boring as well. I can see the drummer is trying to sing but he’s got no sound issuing from his mic. The band looks really bored to be on stage, which is never good. Just more generic heavy rock.

Stop # 8 : The Cellar for First Coat.



I’m finding this a bit dull as well. It’s two guys sitting under a red light playing really slumbery acoustic songs. Maybe in a different, more around-the-campfire type of environment I’d enjoy this set more. The music is decent enough in its own right, but tonight is not the night for folk!

Stop # 9 : The Buffalo Club for The Turn.







I don’t recognize a single person in the room and for some reason that freaks me out. The only people who seem really into this show are the guitar tech and a couple drunk girls with balloons dancing at stagefront. Everyone else is just standing around watching politely but no one seems energized to be there, even though the room is really full. Weird - what an odd phenomenon.

Stop # 10 : The Plaza for Au4.





























Holy smokes, Rob and I’s little Portugese friend from the Brian Jonestown Massacre show is here! Anyhow, once more I must point out that Au4 played Cord’s launch party exactly two years (as the band pointed out) to the day that they performed at the Plaza here. What an impressive and high maintenance stage set up. They delayed a bit as they perfected everything. Smoke, lights, two massive video screens, crazy digital stuff, interesting pieces of drum kit. I get the feeling this is going to be dark. Look at them! Stylish. The suit jackets. As they start - well the room is full. It’s amazing - they generated a buzz based on pure mystery. This show is huge and perfect. The lights and visuals and soaring music are blended fantastically. I’m completely in awe how different it is from before. How wonderfully they morphed their live show into a complete event. It’s beautiful. The running feet video during the tail of “A Mile From Here” is just perfect! I don’t know how they do it, but I’m filled with this crazy emotion. It feels great to have been a part of it, even in a small small way. It’s physically painful to leave this show, but I must move on…

Stop # 11 : The Cellar for Astoria.





Whoa, where did the crowd go? Well this is another band that my main issue has always been with the vocals, but live they’re a trillion times better than on the CD! Note to Astoria : your songs are awesome - mix the vocals on recordings the way you do live and it’ll be absolutely perfect!

Stop #12 : The Penthouse for Octoberman.





Ah the White Whale showcase! I love White Whale bands. Ah shoegazerdom. Ah Canadian nerditude. What a wonderful thing. As I stand there looking over my list, label head Ryder (also from Mohawk Lodge - you’ve seen him on Cord before!) comes by to muse about it over my shoulder. Octoberman is having some mild technical difficulties but they are great regardless. They’re friendly and cute and scarfy and keeping the tone light even while they’re fixing the stage. Someone from off to the side ( I think it was someone from out-of-towners Poorfolk) told one of the guys on stage to take off his scarf cuz he looked hot. I was thinking he meant ‘hot’ as in ‘mega-attractive’ at first like he was ribbing the guy. As in, how dare you look like such a smoking’ babe on stage, you’re showing us up! But then it dawned on me, no, it’s just a zillion degrees in the ol’ strip club. A scarf is certainly overkill, but stylish overkill. The White Whale showcase is going to be a great night.

Stop # 13 : The Buffalo Club for Ten Ways From Sunday.





I don’t ever remember liking this band, but the song I walk in for here isn’t too shabby! It’s a bit of a ballad, kind of bluesy. The dancing girls are still here but the audience has hung back a bit. The band looks into the groove. Right on, maybe there’s something to these guys after all.

Stop #14 : Back to the Stone Temple.
I’m no longer sure how far behind schedule they are so I don’t know who’s setting up right now, but it looks like the change over just began so I don’t really have time any more to stick around and wait for whatever it’s going to be.

Stop #15 : The Penthouse for Precious Fathers.











Well, I guess I could have waited around a little bit more at the Stone Temple because the Precious Fathers are still setting up when I get back there. I take the brief break to crack open the hoarded Rock Star drink. I down half of it in a couple gulps and idly read the nutritional information on the can. “Take 1 daily as needed.” Oops. Did I exceed my dosage? Christ, I hope I don’t die. While I’m hanging out in front of the stage, I notice Jaret Penner, who I went through design college with, has gotten married! Congrats, Jaret (though for all I know, that could have happened 5 years ago). He notices me standing there and very .. Timidly it seems? … waves hello. I think that was one of those moments where you aren’t quite sure if the person you’ve noticed has noticed you yet - are they looking at you or past you? - so you don’t want to be overly enthusiastic and end up looking like a freak waving to totally no one. Finally, they start up - I like their sound live a lot. Not the most outrageous stage presence by any means, but they have a great fun foot-tapping energy. The sound chimes away, binking enjoyably. The live show has far more sonic energy than the album I find - richer and more complex. And it’s ambient, so who needs jumpy stage presence anyhow? That would detract from the sounds!

Stop # 16 : The Media Club for the Blue Alarm.



Now the buzz from those energy drinks is coming in handy! I book it to the Media Club finally and catch a bit of the Blue Alarm. Actually, it appears to just be Fraser MacKenzie by himself. Him and his beautiful voice and a guitar alone on stage, with a mile of empty space in front of him. Why is everyone crammed at the back of the room? Come on up and soak in this guy’s astounding voice! I can’t get over that intensity. Whee!

Stop # 17 : The Lamplighter for Ninjaspy.







Anticipating a group of companions finally, I have attempted and succeeded in making it way the hell down to the Lamplighter mid-evening for Ninjaspy. This was on recommendation from someone, and while I listened to and got somewhat scared by the samples I’d heard that afternoon, I decided to check it out anyhow. I made it there with that stop at the Media Club in about fifteen minutes. I head into the grossly smelly Lamplighter and discover Ninjaspy is really not my type of music - less so than some of the stuff I’d seen at the Roxy - but they bloody well are entertaining. All dreadlocks and fricking samurai swords, giant pants and flying limbs. Not a speck of the stage was left untouched by this band’s chaotic feet. My crew did not arrive in that time frame though, so off I went to head back across town.

Stop # 18 : CFOX Party Bus!
What good timing! The party bus was unloading outside the Lamplighter right as I’m leaving! CFOX reps were standing outside herding people on and off the bus and announcing over the loudspeakers what bands were playing at the venue. I jump on and head upstairs after running into an old friend. Off we go to the Penthouse, during which time I get a call and find out the delay - the crew that was supposed to go to the Lamplighter forgot media passes for the festival! Lucky for me the CFOX folks were passing out not just plain wristbands, but VIP Buzz passes to anyone with the guts to ask for one, so problem solved. The Party bus was pretty empty on this jaunt but it was still filled with friendly CFOX reps who were amazed by our scheduling for the night!

Stop #19 : The Penthouse for Poorfolk.





We get dumped off whooping a block down from the Penthouse. In we go discussing Ten Ways From Sunday and their days back in Coquitlam Rec Centres as The Salad Kings. I can’t believe I didn’t know that before - I used to watch The Salad Kings play those hilarious $5 Friday night things I used to go to and dance at when I was in grade 6 or whatever. Flip a coin to see if you get to dance close or far from the boys! Hahaha. Anyhow, Poorfolk was another band I was looking forward to quite a bit. Hailing from Ottawa, I was curious to hear them live after having a taste online earlier in the day. I loved it! Uptempo, stunning sounds and trippy-ass guitar work. Just a thrilling and flowing band. Impressive! I hope they come back here again soon.

Stop # 20 : The Media Club for Motion Soundtrack.







Yeah that’s right I’m on my way back across town again. The Media Club is packed now for Motion Soundtrack, who are just finishing setting up. I figure I’ll shoot a song and take off but I’m accosted by Chris Brandt, the Cazart! Label head, and oh shucks darn FORCED to drink a beer and made to promise to stick around for at least three songs because there are new songs I need to hear. Okay okay fine, I’ll have a free beer! Tough life, huh? Anyhow, Motion Soundtrack’s new song is really cool. I definitely liked it. More swimmy tunes, but energetic. They played a couple classic tunes then and were as joyful and cutting as usual. And they broke a string like a song in.

Stop # 21 : The Lamplighter for TV Heart Attack.











What the fuck? Where’d Jason Corbett’s band go? How come I wasn’t informed of this? There’s two new people on stage. As I’m standing in the crowd after finishing shooting (the crew has finally arrived!), TV Heart Attack’s usual bass player, Jeff Powell, suddenly appears behind me. I’m so confused! Looks like just a matter of too many projects - everyone has to multi-task between bands these days it seems. Anyhow, TVHA is good. They always have been and I am certain they always will be. Straight-up, no bullshit, fiery rock and roll. Style, flair, panache, asskicks. It’s great. It’s dancey. But the Lamplighter is not the place for them.

Stop # 22 : The Lamplighter for Transit Radio.











I just stuck around really. I mean, I’m here, I’m curious, and they look like scrawny emo punks so there’s a good chance this will be all right if not downright awesome. Well, understatement of the year. Holy emotastic. The bassist is fucking insane, flyyying around the stage. I can’t hear any vocals unfortunately. I hate the Lamplighter and it really stinks in here. The band is fun to a point - I imagine more fun to watch live than to listen to on CD. Only two songs in and we’re out the door.

Stop # 23 : A Mercedes.
Nothing like being crammed into a small car to navigate the one-way streets of Saturday-night Vancouver! And ABBA is on the tape deck. Hot damn!

Stop # 24 : The Media Club for Silversun Pickups.





Yeeha! What a way to end the official festivities! These guys are from LA, and they are loud and awesome. Squalling vocals, a girl who is contrastingly so meek alongside the lead singer. It’s music you can dance, mosh, or fuck to. Is it angry or euphoric? Who can tell!?The drummer has one cymbal that’s almost taller than me. At some point, the lead guy’s guitar ‘died’ - so he commanded a vocal guy in the audience to “come on up here and tell these people the things that have been on your mind all night while I get a new guitar.” The guy basically ‘woo’d a couple times, referred to himself as a redneck and yelled at the crowd to ‘get ‘er done!!!!’ Hilarious. On goes the show. What a fucking outro. Just huge, long, loud and filled with screaming and jumping and sheer insanity. Thank goodness!

Stop # 25 : Back into the Mercedes
for a quick trek by The Penthouse to see if there’s a chance of catching the tail end of the Castle Project, but the amount of people spilled onto the front sidewalk seem to indicate we’re a bit too late.

Stop # 26 : Some apartment on Beach.
Less party, more gathering. The rest of the night is spent talking about economics, video games, and trying to avoid cigarette smoke. I don’t know who most of these people are but they’re all drunk and personable. Nice people even though for some reason the chosen music was again Nickelback. Why have they come up SO MUCH this week? Creepy! They are all-encompassing - you can’t avoid them even when you want to. What a wind-down.

Stop #27 : My apartment.
My bed. The warmest and most delightful part of my weekend. I think it was well-deserved tonight! *snnnnooorrrre*

Day 5 Band Count : 21, if you include the Jessica Beach sound check. I’m reaching, I know.

On To Day 6!

Elsewhere

By Andy Scheffler
Photos : Andy Scheffler
Published : May, 2006.