[...music...]

2011-04-13

oh wow, i just realized that i am really behind on my blogging.

at the end of last month, i went to the devotchka show with rox.

the opening band was b.e.t.a.l.o.v.e.r.s. their music was kind of folk/americana with a hint of jazz, so i initially thought they were american. when the singer started talking, i realized they were a local band.

this was my first time seeing devotchka play a full set. i hadn't listened to the new album yet, so i was glad they decided to play quite a few old song, including my favourites: "how it ends", "the clockwise witness", "the enemy guns". it was a nice evening.

no aerial silk performer this time. but they had a dancer with an umbrella perform during "100 other lovers", as show in this video i found on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKa_GTSq96s
from the angle, i think this was filmed by the girl standing next to us.

they ended up playing a 2.5+ hour show.

we were standing next to the stage, so after the show, rox was able to grab a copy of the setlist.

setlist:
the alley
head honcho
queen of the surface streets
poland (?)
the clockwise witness
the man from san sebastian
how it ends
all the sand in all the sea
we're leaving
vengo! vengo!
basso profundo
exhaustible
contrabanda
i cried like a silly boy
100 other lovers
the enemy guns

encore:
only love can break your heart (neil young cover)
undone
ranchero (?)

~~~

Labels: betalovers, devotchka, le national, shows

2009-07-26

vnv nation @ le national

ah, i almost forgot to blog about this: the vnv nation show at le national, on wednesday, july 15. i drove to donwtown right after work, meeting with rox and her friend alex.

the first act was ayria, from toronto. i had checked out some of her music when i saw her name in the lineup for kinetik festival, and liked her most recent album. live, she was accompanied by two other musicians. the music sounded pretty much the same as on the studio release. she tried hard to work the crowd, but i felt the stage was a bit too large for her act, and the venue was a bit empty during her set.

the second openers were war tapes. meh. not sure how they fit with the rest of the lineup, since they were more of a rock band. a couple of their songs reminded me of, um, the bravery, which is not such a good thing. i do applaud the singer for his energy, as he shoved his face into the audiences' and shouted his lyrics.

(it turns out war tapes had some gear stolen right after the show that night. seems like the n-th time i hear about gear theft in montreal. wtf?)

i would not call myself a vnv nation fan, since i've only heard their albums once. but i do like the kind of electro/lite-industrial music they produce. it's kind of happy, and nice to dance to. i was surprised at how humourous the singer is, as he cracked jokes in between songs. good stage banter.

i am not familiar enough with their material to recognize any songs. i took a picture of the setlist; here's what they played:

pro victoria
joy
sentinel
epicentre
in defiance
further
tomorrow never comes
chrome
illusion
standing
darkangel
solitary
nemesis

encore:
the great divide
fearless

encore 2:
beloved
perpetual

~~~

cd purchases: i got ayria's most recent album "hearts for bullets", in the deluxe version, which includes a bonnus disc, a sticker, a postcard, a mini-poster, and a cheap plastic bracelet. i also got vnv nation's most recent "of faith, power and glory".

~~~

Labels: ayria, cd purchase, le national, shows, vnv nation, war tapes

2008-01-04

the dresden dolls @ le national

last night, i went to my first show of the year, with roxanne. it was fun!

throughout the evening, amanda of the dresden dolls came on stage to introduce each opening act.

first was die mannequin. wikipedia describes them as 'sleaze rock', which is very appropriate. but the venue was not the best for this type of band; they would have been more fun playing in some small crowded club without a stage, i think. still, the singer did all the requisite rock n roll moves: she spat, drank/spilt a lot of beer, fell off the stage, played in the crowd, pulled two members of the audience to sing backup with her on stage, etc.

next, it was the first time i see an acrobatic act at a concert. a guy with a big ring, doing a lot of spinning/rolling around.

unfortunately, when amanda introduced the final opening act, i did not catch the name. she said she heard their songs on myspace two weeks ago, and was impresssed. when she found out they were from montreal, she invited them to play a song last night.

edit: hurray for internet forums! i asked on stillepost, and it turns out the final opening act was dorian hatchet. the song they played was 'fast runner'.

finally, the dresden dolls came on stage, wearing masks and jackets. thanks to roxanne for taking some pictures.

at first, i thought amanda sounded funny when she sang; it turned out that she had a cold. still, they gave a really good show, very energetic. they started with a pink floyd cover. afterwards, they took off the masks, revealing their usual doll faces. they went through a few of their hit songs. they even did a cover of a french song. at one point, they ditched their usual instruments, and played a couple of songs in the middle of the stage; this was the most fun and entertaining part of the show. they also did one song from amanda's solo album; i guess this was a preview of what it'll sound like, whenever it comes out.

for their proper set, they saved 'half-jack' for last. already, this is my favourite song from their catalogue, and they made it even better. they lead into the song with a long instrumental intro. it got a little post-rock at times, with the contrasting high/low loud/quiet sounds. i loved it! i wish i had a recording of it...

setlist: (thanks to roxanne for some songs i was missing)

in the flesh (pink floyd cover)
girl anachronism
mrs. o
sex changes
coin-operated boy
glass slipper
bad habit
sympathique (pink martini cover)
a night at the roses
mein herr
mandy goes to med school
astronaut (from amanda solo)
half-jack

encore:
amsterdam (jacques brel cover)

~~~

Labels: die mannequin, le national, shows, the dresden dolls

2007-12-01

stars @ le national

i went to the show last night with roxanne. while waiting for the show to start, we met a couple of high school girls; one of them is ten years younger than me. looking around, i realized that we were surrounded by fifteen-year-olds. it was the first time i felt so old at a show...!

pony up were the openers. typical indie pop-rock. nothing too special; it was an alright performance.

stars were next. they had a nicely decorated set: some framed drawings, and lots of flowers that they occasionally threw into the audience. the band themselves were well dressed; amy millan wore some bitchin' four-inch heels, and managed to rock out gracefully.

the music was good, not straying far from their sound on disc. they played all my favourite songs, namely "what i'm trying to say" and "take me to the riot", as well as "personal". on a particular song that i do not like as much, "the ghost of genova heights", they kept things interesting by turning off the lights, and torquil campbell emerged wearing a jacket full of lights; pretty.

roxanne got a copy of the setlist:
- take me to the riot
- set yourself on fire
- elevator love letter
- the ghost of genova heights
- bitches in tokyo
- one more night
- personal
- look up
- midnight coward
- window bird
- soft revolution
- sleep tonight
- reunion
- your ex-lover is dead
- ageless beauty
- in our bedroom after the war

encore:
- the night starts here
- my favourite book
- what i'm trying to say
- calendar girl
- on peak hill

~~~

cd purchases: i got the stars cds that i was missing: "nightsongs" and "do you trust your friends?". i also got a memphis cd "a little place in the wilderness".

~~~

Labels: cd purchase, le national, pony up, shows, stars

2007-11-04

múm @ le national

i went to the show with roxanne.

first opener was tom brosseau. it was his birthday!

second opening act was hauschka. one man on a piano, with some additional sounds. it was nice.

múm's music was lovely, an assortment of sounds. i did not recognise any of the songs, but i still had a good time, enjoying the pretty music.

~~~

cd purchases: i got múm's most recent "go go smear the poison ivy" that i had not heard yet. i also liked hauschka's set enough to get his "the prepared piano".

~~~

Labels: cd purchase, hauschka, le national, múm, shows, tom brosseau

2007-11-03

the weakerthans @ le national

jenn grant was the opening act. mostly folksy-type stuff, mixed with other things. it was alright, but not what i usually listen to.

i must admit, i don't find the weakerthans particularly amazing live. in fact, i find their live set a bit predictable, in the sense that they play the songs almost exactly like on disc. but i love their songs so much. their music is pretty straightforward, with no surprises. i guess that's what i like about them; there's no pretension, they are not trying to be anything more than they are. and the lyrics are so witty and clever; every song is a mini-story.

although they are not the best live band, i still try to see their show whenever they come to montreal.

my memory gets worst... i think they played these songs, grouped by album.

from "left and leaving":
- aside (my favourite song of theirs)
- left and leaving

from "reconstruction site":
- the reasons
- reconstruction site
- our retired explorer
- time's arrow

from "reunion tour":
- civil twilight
- relative surplus value
- tournament of hearts
- sun in an empty room
- night windows

they ended their proper set with "plea from a cat named virtute", with kind of a messy noise at the outro.

the singer came back for an encore, starting with a solo performance of "one great city!" and "my favourite chords", which was predictable; i think they did the same the last time i saw them, some years ago. then, the full band returned for the remaining songs. "confessions of a futon-revolutionist", that i did not recognize at the time, but found out after going through the "fallow" album at home just now. then, there was "pamphleteer" and "virtute the cat explains her departure" (i love that the cat returns on the new album).

the second encore began with a cover song. it sounded familiar, but i didn't know what it was. (some googling tells me it was replacements' "swinging party"). then, they played "watermark" (another favourite of mine).

i think this is the first time i see this; they came back for a third encore. but they kept it short: just one song, "everything must go!". it was a great way to end the night.

~~~

Labels: jenn grant, le national, shows, the weakerthans

2007-03-29

amiina @ le national

i knew nothing about amiina, except that they opened for sigur rós during one of their tours. then, rox sent me some song samples, and asked if i would go to the show tonight, and i just said okay. when we entered the venue this evening, we knew that this would be a quiet comfortable intimate show, as rows of seats were set up, and the balcony was off-access.

the opener was tom brosseau, a somewhat strange, peculiar, soft-sopken funny guy; alone with his acoustic guitar. it was folk-ish and bare. it would not have been a memorable performance, except that he stopped in the middle of his set to chat. he expressed how nervous he felt, and how that made him talk. he said a few words in french ("ouvrez la porte. fermez la porte."). he asked if the audience had any questions. when no one asked, he mentioned the article in the hour, and explained the part about the red river in his blood. during one of his songs, he even busted out a harmonica. he ended his set with a murder ballad, during which he played one verse before putting away his guitar, and just sang the rest of the song, then quietly exited the stage.

next was amiina. four lovely ladies producing lovely music. it was mostly stringed instruments, with a laptop for sample and sound effects. the band members moved around on stage, switching among a variety of instruments. there were the standard: violin, cello, keyboard, guitar. there were some lesser-seen: a mini-harp. there were some non-instruments: saw, wine glass. then, there were some that i had no clue about.

the music was very nice: delicate, gentle, calm. what i loved most were the stringed instruments. my favourite part was when the four sat together and just played violins and cello, with nothing else. it was beautiful.

most of the set was dark, with a few soft spotlights on the band members. it made for an intimate show. during one of the songs, the sample sounded like the craking of fire; the stage lights flickered and glowed an orange-red hue.

they even played one song that is so new, it's not on the album. apparently, it was their first time playing it live. that's nice.

they ended their set with an all-saw encore:

saw action!

~~~

cd purchase: i got their self-released debut album "kurr" and an earlier ep "animamina", which two band members sold themselves, at their merch table. i got the album signed. they are so nice!

hearing damage: none at all, of course.

~~~

Labels: amiina, cd purchase, le national, shows, tom brosseau

2007-03-25

explosions in the sky @ le national

friday night, rox and i went to a show, the first since november, so we were both a little starved to see some live acts.

the first opener was eluvium, a one-guy band. during the set, my view was obscured, so i had no idea what he was doing; i think he was playing keyboards. anyway, he ended up making some stunningly beautiful music. most of his songs were the same few notes played over and over again; but at each repetition, there is a subtle change; the songs builds and builds and builds until... release. i spent most of time with my eyes closed, my head rested on my arms, letting the music sink in.

after eluvium's achingly beautiful music, i wondered how the next openers, the paper chase, could even match that. i got my answer as soon as their bass player hit the first note, a very loud sound that took me by total surprise. the paper chase killed. there were amazing live, infinitely better than their sound on disc. i only really recognised one song, "what i'd be without me", from the album "god bless your black heart".

they gave a very energetic performance. the singer was hyperactive, jumping everywhere all over the place; i couldn't get a still photo of him. he stared and pointed intensely at audience members; he mimed out certain lyrics, stabbing his heart, slitting his throat; he wiped his face with a hankerchief (how quaint). the singing sounded tortured, and he looked like he felt it. the music was loud; strong drumming, discordant wailing guitars, mixed in with some gentle notes from a keyboard. it sounded like a lovely musical box, breaking apart as it tumbles down a long flight of stairs; in a good way, of course. i was just a little disappointed that they did not play my favourite song "said the spider to the fly"; it would have been awesome to see performed live.

a fact unknown to me: it was the paper chase's first time in canada. well, i hope they will come again. they put on such a great show, i was really impressed.

finally, explosions in the sky came on stage. before starting, they said some words, and in french. he must have practiced, because he said quite a few sentences, and it was pretty good too. it's so nice when non-franco bands come to montreal, and try to say things in french.

well, i am not good with words, and so it would be pointless for me to try to comment on their performance, since i cannot find a way to fully describe how truly awesome it was. one has to really experience an explosions in the sky show to know what it is like. those guys give everything, and really exhaust themselves. i left the show feeling all giddy inside.

in short, this was one of the best shows i've been too, where i enjoyed the opening acts as much as the main performance. and there was a bit of everything to. eluvium was music to cuddle to. the paper chase was perfect for moments when you want to slit your wrist with a jagged piece of glass. and explosions in the sky is just music to feel content about; that's all.

~~~

cd purchases:
-- eluvium "copia". i had heard "prelude for time feelers" and it is stunning.
-- explosions in the sky "all of a sudden i miss everyone". yes, i bought this again, just because it is the limited edition, with the extra disc of remixes.
-- the paper chase "young bodies heal quickly, you know" and "hide the kitchen knives" and "now you are one of us". i went to the show just wanting to get the most recent album. but i was so impressed by their live performance that i got a couple of their older material too.

hearing damage: i expected my ears to get blasted during explosions, but i was pre-deafened by the paperchase's very loud set. it did not help that i had a slight headache during the show.

~~~

Labels: cd purchase, eluvium, explosions in the sky, le national, shows, the paper chase

2006-10-09

regina spektor @ le national

it is that time of the year: popmontreal festival. i only went to one show, and it was tonight.

only son was the opener. a simple set, just the guy and his acoustic guitar. typical indie pop-rock. at the end of his set, he remembered to plug his myspace page. it was funny.

finally, after some waiting around, regina spektor came on stage. she wore such a cute outfit: a sparkly starfish hair barrette to clip her curls, a silver sequined bolero over a black tanktop, a red skirt, and killer red boots with kitten heels.

her first song was just vocals.

the first part of her set was solo. she mostly played on the keyboards.

for one song, she played guitar.

later on, she had a band to back her up.

since i do not know her entire catalogue, i only recognised some songs, such as "poor little rich boy" (where she did the percussions herself by hitting a chair with a stick), "carbon monoxide", "sailor song", "your honor", "the ghost of corporate future", "samson", "après moi", "that time", "edit". and of course, she played her most recent hit "fidelity", which is one of my favourite songs. she played my other favourite song "us" during the encore.

she finished her set with an upbeat track, with her band. too bad i don't know what song it was.

i really enjoyed this show. it was my first time at that venue, and the place is lovely. i loved how intimate the show felt, because it was so quiet. and the way she sings is so quirky and beautiful.

~~~

cd purchases: i got regina spektor's "songs", which is a collection of her early work. i also got her most recent, the limited edition of "begin to hope", that comes with an extra disc, yay!

hearing damage: absolutely none.

~~~

Labels: cd purchase, eal, le national, only son, popmontreal, regina spektor, shows