Party for the Planet: Hey Ocean! and Lights

On April 27th, 2013, Hey Ocean! and Lights helped Surrey celebrate Earth Day with Party for the Planet, a family-friendly event with free concerts.

Hey Ocean! is a local indie pop rock band whom we've had the pleasure of seeing many times, but they always seem to surprise us with a little something extra. Ashleigh Ball (vocals and innumerable other instruments), David Beckingham (vocals and guitar) and David Vertesi (vocals and bass) were joined on stage by Dan Klenner who was playing the guitar instead of the drums. The second guitar was a pleasant addition, filling out their sound and tipping them a little closer to rock than pop, but still allowing them to pump out compelling dance-inducing beats. I know it has been said many times, but you really need to see Hey Ocean! perform live!

For more information about Hey Ocean! check out their website: loveheyocean.com

Your next chance to see Hey Ocean! in Vancouver is on July 12th when they open with Jimmy Eat World for City and Colour at the PNE Amphitheatre. Tickets are available at ticketleader.ca

Lights is a Canadian electro pop rock musician who has catchy toe-tapping beats and an exciting stage presence. Despite having a huge following, she is very humble and appreciates her fans. We actually accidentally ran into her hanging out with her fans after the hour-long show! 

For more information about Lights check out her website: iamlights.com

Lights played a sold-out acoustic show at the Rio Theatre in Vancouver yesterday and will be playing another set tonight!

More photos of Hey Ocean! and Lights after the break!

Serena Ryder with Danielle Duval

On April 24th, Serena Ryder played a high energy and very fun show at the Commodore Ballroom. This sold out show attracted a crowd young and old.

Danielle Duval at the Commodore Ballroom

The opener, Danielle Duval was mesmerizing. This Montreal born rocker brings a lot of oomph to the stage. She played acoustic versions of her songs on the bass, guitar and piano. Her song "You can't come any closer" was very intimate and moving. For someone who is only 5ft 4 (and a ¼) she definitely has a big strong voice and a lot of presence. Her rendition of Grease got everyone singing along and hyped up for the show. Her final song " Ambulance" got the crowd cheering and wanting more from her. Duval is definitely a talent to follow.   

For more information about Danielle Duval and a free song download, check out her website: ofthevalley.com

Serena Ryder at the Commodore Ballroom

For Ryder herself, playing at the Commodore Ballroom was a dream come true. She told the crowd about how she was first acquainted to the Commodore when she opened for an act at the age of 19 or 20. Now here she is playing as the headliner of a sold out show, promoting her latest album Harmony. Her energy was contagious, you could really feel that she was having a lot of fun on stage and it got everyone in the crowd singing and dancing along. On a side note, we had the privilege to be standing next to Ryder’s mom, whom Ryder made a lot of shout outs to and often visited on stage right with shouts of “Hi mom!” mid-song. Ryder invited a fan on stage, Jeremiah, to sing and harmonize with her on “Please Baby Please.” She brought the crowd to a culminating halt and enthusiasm with her song “Stompa” and “Circle of the Sun” leaving the crowd in disbelief that the concert was over. Ryder then came back on stage twice to do encores, finally finishing with a slightly more mellow “Weak in the Knees.” She is currently on tour with her latest album Harmony.

For more information about Serena Ryder, check out her website: serenaryder.com

More photos after the break!

Like A Storm

On April 13th at the Backstage Lounge, New Zealand rockers Like A Storm gave fans an intimate last show before relocating to Toronto. The acoustic set emphasized the group's vocal and instrumental strengths, and was interspersed with personal stories about the band's beginnings and highlights of their career. Combined with their relaxed attitude and close proximity with the crowd, the night became an emotional goodbye to fans, showing the members' gratitude and connection with fans and with each other.

Check out their upcoming tour dates at www.likeastorm.com

More photos after the break!

The Oh Wells

On September 11, 2012, The Oh Wells, a Vancouver based folk, indie, pop band, played a lively free show at UBC with CiTR. They had previously won the CiTR Shindig competition though Sarah is the only original member still in the band since the competition. The band is now made up of Sarah Jickling (vocals and keys), Kirby Bobyk (guitar, tambourine and drums), Chris King (bass) and Zach (drums).

More photos after the break!

The Fray with Scars on 45

On February 26th, 2012, The Fray came to Vancouver with Scars on 45. It was nice to see fans of all ages at the Orpheum Theatre to see these two amazing and entertaining bands perform! 

Check out some photos from the show after the break!

Simple Plan with Marianas Trench, All Time Low and These Kids Wear Crowns!

On February 11th, 2012, Simple Plan came to Vancouver with special guests Marianas Trench, All Time Low and These Kids Wear Crowns. The concert at Pacific Coliseum was a big hit, with fans of all four bands lining up well before the doors opened at 7pm.

Photos and more info about the bands after the break!

An Evening With Jill Barber

MUSIC In Vancouver had the privilege to attend Jill Barber's performance at the Centennial Theatre on December 2nd!

I was expecting to sit in the theatre and listen to some jazz music. But Barber gave us so much more than that! I quickly came to realize that the night wasn't just about the music, but Jill's performance included laughter, heartfelt confessions, and fashion. From the audience and from Jill herself, we caught a glimpse of beautiful dresses and hairdos that served as instant reminders of earlier days of jazz. From the first moment Jill took the stage, the crowd's attention was captivated by the singer and her band, and we stayed enthralled until after she received her third standing ovation (yes, third!). And throughout the show Jill entertained us with personal stories, both compelling and, often, hilarious. As Jill once joked, she may be a "mix between Stuart McLean and Celine Dion", but her voice is absolutely amazing, and she seems so effortlessly comfortable in front of a crowd. She sang a collection of her songs that reflected her entire body of work, from frantic, toe-tapping tunes, to sweet and slow lullabies. Through her beautiful voice and music, we all followed Jill on an emotional journey.

More photos from the show after the break!

Jill Barber

This week MUSIC In Vancouver had the opportunity to talk with the stunning and talented Jill Barber!

Credit: Ivan Otis

With her newest release, Mischievous Moon, Canadian musician Jill Barber feels that she's "carved out a space for [her]self," and evolved into her "own unique sound." After releasing several albums and performing for fans all over North America, it's hard to imagine Jill as a young teenager writing songs alone in her bedroom. But even now, Jill tells us, she "need[s] to be alone," in a "relaxed, self-reflective mode" when writing a new song. Inspired by artists like Ella Fitzgerald and Leonard Cohen, her jazz music reflects a style rarely seen today. And behind every song shines a strong emotional message, which, according to Jill, is exactly what music should have. She tells us that a song should be able to "become [a] soundtrack to whatever [you're] feeling," even if it differs from the artist's own feelings behind the song. But Jill tries to share her perspective through her music videos. Videos such as  "Oh My My" illustrate this emotional connection, as well as her affinity for creativity, or as she puts it, her videos are a "true collaboration [where] I bring the music and the director brings the vision." But even with all of her success Jill feels a strong bond with her fans. Recently undertaking the project of learning French, Jill made "a vow to [her] audience" that she would do so to "honour [them]." And she held true to her word with her singles "Tell Me" and "Dis-Moi," which were released simultaneously and appear on her new album. She's hoping to write more French songs too. Her Mischievous Moon tour is ending this weekend here in B.C. and Jill says she's looking forward to "hunkering down and getting back to writing." Fans can look forward to another album within the next year or two.

Click here to read the entire interview transcript!

And for more information about Jill Barber visit her website or follow her on Twitter.

Written by: Elysia Stutt

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes at the Grey Cup Festival

A few hours before the 99th Grey Cup Championship between the B.C. Lions and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes played a free concert in Vancouver for the Grey Cup Festival! Earlier this year, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes made it to the top 3 of of FOX Vancouver Seeds! To find out more about them and to see more photos, check out our past post on the FOX Vancouver Seeds.

Kyle Otsuji playing the bass

More photos from the show after the break!

BLINK 182 & MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE with Rancid and Against Me!

On August 31st, 2011, Blink 182 and My Chemical Romance co-headlined a show at Rogers Arena with opening bands Rancid and Against Me! Technically, this show isn't part of the Honda Civic Tour, but it doesn't really matter because all the bands played anyway :)

Against Me!:

Against Me! is a punk rock band from Florida, made up of Tom Gabel (lead vocals, guitar), James Bowman (vocals, guitar), Andrew Seward (vocals, bass) and Jay Weinberg (drums).

For more information about Against Me! check out their website: againstme.net.

Rancid:

Rancid is a punk rock band from California made up of members Tim Armstrong (lead vocals, guitar), Matt Freeman (vocals, bass), Lars Frederiksen (vocals, guitar) and Branden Steineckert (drums).

For more information about Rancid check out their website: rancidrancid.com

My Chemical Romance:

My Chemical Romance is an alternative rock band from New Jersey made up of members Gerard Way (lead vocals), Ray Toro (vocals, guitar), Frank Iero (vocals, guitar), Mikey Way (bass) and Michael Pedicone (drums). 

We've seen My Chemical Romance live before on their World Contamination Tour and photos are available here.

For more information about My Chemical Romance visit their website: mychemicalromance.com

Blink 182:

Blink 182 is a pop punk band from California made up of members Mark Hoppus (vocals, bass), Tom DeLonge (vocals, guitar) and Travis Barker (drums). 

For more information about Blink 182 check out their website: blink182.com

I just thought I'd add, for the sake of a possible love connection, the link for an "I Saw You" from the Georgia Straight. I'm the romantic, meant-to-be type, so if this guy happens to visit this blog instead of the Georgia Straight website maybe it's worth a shot because someone wants to find him. So here goes.. Someone saw you!

CBC Musical Nooners - David Vertesi

For this hour long set David Vertesi brought along Peter Carruthers and Dan Klenner. He performed most of the songs off his album Cardiography, as well as two covers, including his cover of the Spice Girls song "Say You'll Be There". It seems like Vertesi crowds have come to expect Dave to perform that song. It was a beautiful sunny day and a great day for an outdoor concert!

More photos after the break!

FOX Vancouver Seeds 2011 and State of Shock

Every year, 99.3 The Fox holds a contest for local bands to promote new music and local artists. The winners receive a Fox Platinum Award and perform along with the top two bands and a special headlining guest. This year, the Fox organized a free concert with the top three bands, as well as past seeds winner, State of Shock, on Granville and Robson in downtown Vancouver. This year's top three are Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Head of the Herd and Louder Than Love.

Head of the Herd:

Head of the Herd is a blues rock band created by Neu (guitar/lead vocals) and Clay (guitar, harmonica, vocals). Their debut album On the House was released in 2011 and the track "Knock Me Down" was used in the highlights reel for the Rip Curl Stew 2011.

For more information about Head of the Herd, visit headoftheherdmusic.com and make sure you download a copy of their new album On the House for free!

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes:

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes is a metal rock band made up of Jared Hayes (vocals), Chris Champagne (guitar), Shan Robertson (guitar), Kyle Otsuji (bass) and Drew McKay (drums). Their debut self-titled EP was released in 2007 and since then they have produced their first full length album The Masquerade. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes also won first place in the Airwalk Unsigned Hero Competition in 2010 which gave them a two page spread in Alternative Press as well as a spot on the Fall 2010 Alternative Press Tour in the United States. 

For more information about Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, visit their MySpace Page!

Louder Than Love:

Louder Than Love is an experimental rock band made up of Paul Lambert (lead vocals/guitar), Tyler Thompson (drums), Dano Okano (keys/vocals), Nate Parsons (guitar/vocals) and Tony Lambert (bass). Since releasing their debut album Dark Days in 2010, Louder Than Love has completed two Western/Canadian/U.S. mini-tours and released their new EP Coming Around. 

For more information about Louder Than Love, visit their website louderthanlovemusic.com and make sure you download their new single "Long Road" as well as three tracks from Dark Days available for free!

State of Shock
Seeds winners from 2004, with their album Guilty By Association, State of Shock are proof that winning this title can catapult you into the spotlight. The band includes Cameron Melnyk (lead vocals), Alison Toews (bass), Jesse Wainwright (guitar), Simon Clow (guitar), and John Philippon (drums). In 2007 they released the popular "Money Honey" off Life, Love & Lies, and their new album Rock N' Roll Romance is set to be released September 20th of this year.

For more information about State of Shock, visit their new website!

Thanks for checking out our photos! Make sure to get your tickets to 99.3 The Fox Vancouver Seeds 2011 Launch Party at the Commodore Ballroom on August 24th featuring the Vancouver Seeds 2011 winners and the Trews!