Guided by Robots ‘Glad Girls’—video

“Hey hey glad girls!”

More video wonderment from the ANZA Club Saturday night (Dec 15).

Several ladies got up onstage for a performance of one of Guided by Voices’ most beltable anthems, “Glad Girls”.

There have been drunker renditions with more people singing this song at past Guided by Robots shows—annual events featuring members of Vancouver band SK Robot with vocalist Kevin Perley paying tribute to Guided by Voices—but this one definitely captures the evening in all its celebratory messiness.

Word up: the song doesn’t actually kick in ’til about the 1:20 mark.

Video—Guided by Robots and friends, “Glad Girls”:

Guided by Robots 2012—’My Valuable Hunting Knife’ (live)

Guided by Robots at the ANZA Club, Vancouver, Dec 15 2012.

Okay, I’m getting around to this later than I’d hoped. This is night two in the roll-out of GBV/GBR videos from the ANZA Club Saturday night Dec 15. In other words, this is members of Vancouver band SK Robot backing Guided by Voices fans in the GBV-aoke portion of the annual Guided by Robots event.

We think one of the ladies is named Lauren.

Video—Guided by Robots with friends, “My Valuable Hunting Knife” (live):

Vancouver International Burlesque Festival 2012 – photos

Nicky Ninedoors at the Rio Theatre, May 3 2012. Cameron Brown photo

Photos – Vancouver Int’l Burlesque Fest May 5 2012

- photos by Cameron Brown

Last night was the third and final showcase performance for the 2012 Vancouver International Burlesque Festival (although there is a VIBFA members-only pyjama party tonight).

Dancer/performer Nicky Ninedoors supplied us with a list of performers. They are, in chronological order:  Betsey Bottom Dollar, Bunny Bee, Cheesecake Burlesque (Rocky Horror Picture Show tribute), Spooksy DeLune and the Cabaret Du Passe (including Cameo LeCrock and Candy Curves), Burgundy Brixx (on the Rolls Royce), Alyssa Kitt (sexy knees girl), Capitol City Burlesque (space!), Cherry On Top (the phoenix), Dapper Dan and Via Rose (The Magic Flute), Judith Stein (an honoree in the Burlesque Hall of Fame), Capitol City Burlesque (the apples), Persephone Illyri (purple fan dance), Indigo Blue (the chartreuse fan dance).

You can also see the pics at Cameron Brown’s site.

Reviewing Elvis

Elvis Costello at the Orpheum Theatre, Vancouver, April 10 2012. Robyn Hanson photo

Man, when I was a teenager there was no one whose music I loved more than Elvis Costello’s.

My Aim is True, This Year’s Model, Armed Forces, Get Happy, Trust, and Imperial Bedroom – each new album was like a message from the gods. I listened to them obsessively and played them on acoustic guitar; the massive songbook A Singing Dictionary, which included guitar tabs and lyrics to the first four Elvis Costello albums, plus the B-sides compilation Taking Liberties, was my bible.

Growing up in Winnipeg, however, I never got to see him perform, although a close friend of mine, Eugene Osudar, saw him in 1977 at the Manitoba Playhouse (and raves about it to this day). Costello was then on his first North American tour, for his debut My Aim is True, and played for something like 35 minutes.

However, living in Vancouver – which also now happens to be Costello’s adopted hometown, since he married B.C. native Diana Krall – means I’ve had more than a few opportunities to see my teenage hero live.

Last night’s Orpheum show, which was the kick-off of his 2012 Spectacular Spinning Songbook Tour with The Imposters, was I believe my third time seeing the so-called “beloved entertainer” at the old theatre. Three years ago I also saw him outdoors, at the Malkin Bowl in Stanley Park with his band the Sugarcanes; and I vaguely recall seeing him perform with just keyboardist Steve Nieve in 1999 at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre (read the late Dave Watson‘s review here).

But this concert may well have been the best yet, and proved to me that the 58-year-old still has the punk fire in him, and that he can still rock ‘n’ roll when he wants to – even if at times Costello seems to have let showbiz go to his head (let’s just say he sometimes reminded me of that uncle who thinks he’s a lot funnier than he actually is).

I especially loved hearing/seeing him do “Strict Time”, “You Belong to Me” and “Five Gears in Reverse”, a few of the more obscure songs from his lengthy catalogue. Oh, and “(I Don’t Want to Go to) Chelsea”, inexplicably a fan favourite. And I mean that in a good way.

And you can’t beat The Imposters – whom Costello called “the best band in the world” – for tight, ferocious playing.

You can read my full review here.

Cthulhupalooza 2 – Son of Cthulhupalooza

Vancouver band celebrates HP Lovecraft

HP Lovecraft lovers The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets are presenting the second music/film/dancing tribute to the horror-fantasy writer.

Cthulhupalooza 2: Son of Cthulhupalooza features the Hillside Thickets plus special musical guests Scythia and Auroch.

HP Lovecraft-based and -inspired films from around the world will be screened, as will the premiere of The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets’ latest music video, for “20 Minutes of Oxygen”. Little Miss Risk will perform burlesque (we’ve seen her dance out of her HR Giger-type outfit, so if any burlesque dancer can do Lovecraft justice it’s Miss Risk).

Little Miss Risk in an HR (‘Alien’) Giger-inspired outfit. Photo by Heather Renney for Dr. Sketchy

The event also includes the Miskatonic Middle School PTA Bake Sale (not a band – we don’t think).

Festivities get underway at the suitably doom-y Rickshaw Theatre Feb. 18 in Vancouver.

Cthulhuapooza 2 tickets

Shoe star of the day – Britta Phillips

Dean Wareham and Britta Phillips at the Biltmore Cabaret, Vancouver, Nov 15 2010. Mikala Taylor photo

Photos – Britta Phillips with Dean Wareham at the Biltmore Cabaret, Vancouver, Nov 15 2010

Dean Wareham gusted through town earlier this week as part of a “plays Galaxie 500″ tour. A seminal late ’80s/early ’90s indie-rock trio, Galaxie 500 was a showcase for Wareham’s songs; he went on to form Luna, a more successful, pop-influenced band.

After bassist Britta Phillips (also an actor – she was the voice of Jem in the cartoon Jem and the Holograms) joined Luna, the two married. Since that band has gone on hiatus the couple have worked together, as Dean & Britta, on various other projects, including a multi-media project called 13 Most Beautiful… Songs for Andy Warhol’s Screen Tests.

Here’s Britta and her sexy boots ontstage at the Biltmore Cabaret in Vancouver, Nov 15. Thanks to Mikala Taylor for the pics.

Britta Phillips at the Biltmore Cabaret, Vancouver, Nov 15 2010. Mikala Taylor photo

Shoe star of the day – Civet’s Suzi Homewrecker

Suzi Homewrecker with Civet at the Rickshaw, Nov 4 2010. Skot Nelson photo

Photos – Civet’s Suzi Homewrecker at the Rickshaw Theatre, Vancouver, Nov 4 2010

Last Thursday in Vancouver, Civet opened for Nashville Pussy at the Rickshaw Theatre. The Long Beach all-girl punk band knows how to dress, especially when playing a concrete bunker on the corner of Main and Hastings. We sure as hell wouldn’t mess with these Civet gals, especially when Suzi Homewrecker is sporting such fab footwear…

Suzi Homewrecker with Civet at the Rickshaw Theatre, Vancouver, Nov 4 2010. Skot Nelson photo

(Want more? Check out more Civet at the Rickshaw photos)

Shoe star of the day – The Mountain Goats’ John Darnielle

The Mountain Goats’ John Darnielle at the Rickshaw Theatre, June 2 2010. Robyn Hanson concert photo

Photos – John Darnielle at the Rickshaw Theatre, Vancouver, June 2 2010

Wizard of words John Darnielle brought his band The Mountain Goats to Vancouver on tour in support of its latest sound recording The Life of the World to Come. Photog extraordinaire Robyn Hanson snapped these pics. John Darnielle is this blog’s Shoe Star of the Day.

The Mountain Goats’ John Darnielle at the Rickshaw Theatre, Vancouver, June 2 2010. Robyn Hanson photo

Shoe star of the day – Said the Whale’s Jaycelyn Brown

Jaycelyn Brown with Said the Whale at the Commodore Ballroom, May 5 2010. Jason Statler photo

Photos – Jaycelyn Brown

Vancouver band Said the Whale played the Commodore Ballroom earlier this month, and Jason Statler took these photos of keyboardist Jaycelyn Brown.

Jaycelyn Brown’s shoes at the Commodore Ballroom, May 5 2010. Jason Statler photo

Photos – You Say Party! We Say Die! at the Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto

Becky Nickovic with You Say Party! We Say Die! at the Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto, April 2 2010. Brandur Olaffson photo

You Say Party! We Say Die! at the Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto, April 2 2010

- text by eugene osudar/photos by Brandur Olaffson

You Say Party! We Say Die! at the Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto, April 2 2010. Brandur Olaffson photo

You Say Party! We Say Die! at the Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto, April 2 2010. Brandur Olaffson photo

there’s nothing quite
something like
YSPWSD live
it’s a dance party
energy
vitality
beauty
grace

Becky, singing and dancing
oh and this time
glittering golden
flower petals
skirt
the light dancing
as she moves so gracefully
happily
singing about
love, love, love
and dancing.

always dancing.

and the squiggly
pantyhose. red.
black. squiggle hose.

i’ve written it before,

i want to dance
with her
and her friends
and the band
in her living room,

to the songs she chooses

she’s the DJ
and the dancing queen.

would she choose ABBA?

 

You Say Party! We Say Die! concert photo, the Horseshoe Tavern, April 2 2010. Brandur Olaffson photo

 

a little
a lot(tle)
or a
not atotle?

Krista, keys/ing and pen lending
Stephen bassing
Derek guitaring
Devon thumping and bashing, lightning
drumming. and yowling and yelping.

mostly
it’s a;ll about the loving.

the dancing.

Toronto
packed the super heated,
super humid, the paper in my notebook
was clammy,
Horseshoe Tavern

and the youngsters and oldsters
(moi)
danced
with Becky
and the supercharged
hyper/electric
band

YSPWSD

my music loving
photographing
friend
came with a skeptic’s
heart,

Brandur left captivated
transfixed
and in love (we’re
all in love with the west coast’s
dancing queen)

with a live performance
that really
out/did
what Serena Maneesh did to me.

and why not.

who couldn’t dare
love
Becky
and the band

and who wouldn’
t
dare catch
the stage divers?

well, there was that one song.

oops!

no one caught them!

no injuries and they dived for more
crowd surfing pleasures.

no foul/no harm.

nearly one hour,

xxxx
mega dance song (okay, that’s not the title)
glory
OPP
DD
Laura
SSF
Monster
Lonely
Suck It
Fire
Gap
Care

encore,

me she you me?
YSPWSD (theme song)

B52s
a(p)parent in the early his and herstory
of YSPWSD
songs

dancing and joying
and loving
in the recent
songs.

“with wings outstretched.”

tambourine sling
hip
shot dancing
on toes

calves
flexing
in squiggle hose.

stop, smile, pose
pictures pictures
snapping snapping.

“let’s give it up
for all the amazing women
in the room tonight.
I was walking around
(Becky gestures to the Amazing women
on the dance floor)
amazing
Amazing
AMAZING!”

she praises the amazing men too.

and then she dances
and sings
delightfully.
with grace,
and
positive
energy.

and during Monster
she jumps into the audience
and dances with
the dancers
the amazing dancers.

every song
more and more
energy
and grace
and beauty.

 

You Say Party! We Say Die! at the Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto, April 2 2010. Brandur Olaffson photo

 

YSPWSD
is the perfect
summary
of this band’s
integrity
veracity
simplicity.

lick your lips around me
lip your licks surround me
just ground me
for an instant of a when
and then send me
soaring.
rocketing
and
roaring
and screaming and applauding
deafening
for more and more

encore!

YSPWSD
The Horseshoe Tavern
April 2nd
a very
Good Friday.