So, there’s this band. They’re called Halfway to Hollywood. And they’re fantastic. I downloaded their music the other day, and from the second I hit the play button, I was hooked.
Hailing from Vancouver, BC, these guys are doing everything right, it seems. Up out of nowhere they appeared last spring and immediately became fairly well-known in the Vancouver all-ages music scene. Their music is a bit more pop than rock, but still has that absolutely REAL edge to it that most mainstream crap lacks. The catchy hooks in “Speechless” and “Last September” make these songs nearly impossible to stop singing after hearing them only once. The vocals are crisp and clear above the instrumentals—something that is important to a fanbase that wants to hear the words and sing along. In addition, Halfway to Hollywood have achieved their own distinct sound after only a year in existence, though their songs thankfully aren’t carbon copies of each other. A great feat indeed for a newish band. In fact, the only bad thing about their music is that they don’t have enough of it up for download
What’s more—Halfway to Hollywood! have established a good and firm relationship with their fans. If you go to their twitter profile, almost all the posts they’ve made are part of conversations with fans. Clearly, they don’t take a single fan for granted, and it proves to be working, as this band is making waves in Vancouver. Not little waves, either. So, what do you think? Are Halfway to Hollywood the next big thing in Vancouver’s music scene? I’m thinking yes.

Check them out on one of their million social networking profiles. I’ll give you a couple links, but the rest of them are listed on their Facebook page (kudos to HTH for this!)
www.facebook.com/halfwaytohollywood
www.twitter.com/HalfwaytoHolly

     Scene: The End of September show on September 24 at Tom Lee Music Hall featured both favourite local acts and newer ones from out of town. Five bands in one night, from about 7:30 onwards. Fighting For Ithaca, Ready Set Die, The Knots, Seventh Rain, and The Perfect Trend.

     The Perfect Trend took the stage with a force that surprised us. These Vancouver Island natives played songs that ranged from heavier, scream-filled musical journeys to lighter numbers with licks of pop-punk in them. As odd as that sounds, this was no pop band playing at being hardcore by jumping from fluffy songs into poorly developed scratchy screams. Oh, no, it wasn’t. The Perfect Trend’s Facebook page lists them as alternative rock/post hardcore, and that is exactly what they are. With epic guitar breakdowns and gritty vocals emanating from three or four sources, this band has the music part of performing down no problem, but their showmanship is even better. As the keyboardist rocked out so hard that the plugs in his earlobes flew across the stage, the other band members moved around just enough—but it was oddly alluring to watch. In fact, at one point lead vocalist/guitarist Liam Glaim jumped down from the stage and played the rest of the (long) song from the floor, bouncing and spinning around with his guitar so much that people steered clear in order to avoid a collision. The Perfect Trend has a stage presence so great that it’s worth going to see them perform just for the show itself and not the music (not to say that the music isn’t worth listening to while you’re there).

     Calgary, Alberta band Seventh Rain (known for coming to Vancouver to play shows with Fighting For Ithaca) were next on the bill, and as usual they wooed the crowd with their catchy pop hooks and easy-to-learn choruses (and quite possibly through the use of their frontman’s looks as there were a number of teenage girls in the room). Stage banter, high-fives with fans, and smiles all around formed the ‘performance’ portion of their set, but there was so much of each of these aspects that it proved to be a delightfully happy show, and one would feel special when the guitarist or the bassist singled one out to smile at. Seventh Rain classify themselves as rock/pop, which could make some people turn up their noses (“Pop? Really?” say the hipsters), but this band’s style is not at all like the mainstream crap you hear on the radio—it’s much, much better. In fact, Seventh Rain are trying to change the sound of the radio with their single “Love Always”, and they might just succeed. Now how’s that for entertainment?

     The Knots were no stranger to playing at Tom Lee Music Hall—they played one of their first big shows there back in 2010; a show which helped them win the BC’s Best Teen Band Contest sponsored by Youthink in that same year. Crisp, clear vocals and steady rhythms helped set an easy pace for the middle set, and though every member is still a teenager, they were impressively comfortable onstage. The Knots performed both songs from their self-titled EP and songs not yet recorded, including one piece so new that it lacked a name. The simple melodies of this group’s music paired with nice work on guitars make for tunes that are very easy on the ear but still dynamic enough to hold one’s attention. This band might just make it to ‘the pros’.

     To our surprise, the fourth band to take the stage was not Ready Set Die, but instead Fighting For Ithaca. The five rising stars of Vancouver leaped, bounded, ran, and played music as per usual (the usual is, of course, as if it’s just another day on the job (a job which they absolutely love, obviously)), but with one catch—the new addition of some fancy stage effects. Colourful lights dazzled the band’s large and still growing fanbase as clouds of artificial fog surrounded the musicians. Bassist and lead vocalist still bounced around as crazily as always, but to the relief of bystanders there was a lesser risk of their feet getting tangled in cords due to the new wireless systems the band showcased. A newly revamped setlist was also a plus: comprised almost completely of as-yet-unreleased numbers such as “You And I” and “Wasted Nights”, fans knew almost every word. Those words they didn’t know were quickly picked up as the band members leaned over the crowd with light shining up from below (new lightboxes to stand on were another new stage feature). Things got personal for a few minutes during Fighting For Ithaca’s rendition of “Fire” by Raghav as smoke spiralled around vocalist Curtis Steeksma and out over the crowd. Each of the guys in the band had smile on his face for most of the set, almost as if they knew how incredibly they were playing. Fighting For Ithaca are capable of either building up an insane amount of energy or toning things down to a calm and close atmosphere (as displayed by their two-song encore) with their fantastic lyrics, fabulous guitar riffs, bass lines, and drum fills, and their close interaction with fans. It was touching to see such a large group of teenage girls all singing along with this band that has come so far in the past year.

     The fifth and final band of the night was none other than three-piece female-fronted pop-punk band Ready Set Die. Unfortunately, due to the great number of the previous bands’ fans present at the show and the lateness of the set, the concert hall had mostly cleared out by the time Ready Set Die took the stage. If this bothered the group, they did not show it. Despite only playing to a handful of people, they drove themselves into each song without mercy, clearly there to play good music no matter what. Lead singer JT Criminal’s rich vocals filled the room over the sound of her guitar, and the songs played were well-written and carried out to the point of perfection. Ready Set Die deserves some big respect for their performance, and this band might just be the next big thing in the Vancouver music scene.

The Perfect Trend: www.myspace.com/perfecttrend

Seventh Rain: www.seventhrain.com

The Knots: www.theknots.ca

Fighting For Ithaca: www.myspace.com/fightingforithaca

Ready Set Die: www.lovereadysetdie.com

*I regret to say that I was one of those people who had to leave the show early, so I didn’t see all of Ready Set Die’s set. I liked what I did see though, and I hope my review of them suffices.

     While Vancouver band Fighting For Ithaca plays local shows frequently, their concert on August 28 at Billy Bishop Legion Hall was a special one, as they played with four bands that don’t frequent the Vancouver all ages scene. The lineup included three bands from out of town: For The Weekend, Take Me To The Pilot, and Brighter, Brightest; as well as another local band (Japanese Girls).

     The night started out with Japanese Girls entering the stage area (the legion didn’t have an actual stage, just a space cordoned off by cables). The first disappointment came about when it was announced that the band’s drummer and bassist weren’t able to make it, leaving only a lead guitarist and a singer-slash-guitarist to play the set. The first song had a great introduction, but the singing left much to be desired. He was off-key at times, although one might chalk that up to the lack of a rhythm section that could have thrown him off. Just when it seemed that he might have the potential to sing well, both band members launched into what seemed to be an epic guitar battle. Perhaps if vocalist Charlie Kerr focused less on theatricality, and more on improving his singing (he does have the potential), Japanese Girls might not clear half a room in the space of three songs. I wonder what they sound like with their bassist and drummer. (And just a tip: next time they have to play a set without the rhythm section, perhaps they should consider an acoustic performance.)

     It was an immense relief when Take Me To The Pilot (the whole band) took control of the stage and actually sounded good. With songs fleshed out so well that they sound better live than on their EP, choruses catchy enough to pick up on and start singing along to, and plenty of crowd interaction, TMTTP put on a show that rivals bands a few years senior. Even the song titles hold intrigue: a lament about the world called “I was Alive For 15 Days In The 80’s,” a love song titled “Green Eyes,” and of course the popular “Tonight,” which has aired on a TV show. All things combined, and it’s a wonder that Take Me To The Pilot haven’t taken the nation by storm already.

     As the middle set in the show, For The Weekend had the most difficult job of ‘wow’ing the crowd and proving that they are not just generic pop-punk. Whether or not they did a good job of this is up for debate, as the flashing green strobe light set up in the corner for the duration of their set made it exceedingly difficult to focus on the music. So, while I regret to say that I didn’t pay much attention to the actual music due to distraction, I heard just enough to make me want to give this band another chance. I may just have to give their forthcoming album a listen.

     When co-headliners Brighter, Brightest took the stage, fans made it clear (with a wave of cheers) how ecstatic they were to see the Toronto band. In fact, despite Brighter, Brightest only having played one Vancouver show prior to this one (that one having been the day before), a good chunk of the crowd knew all the songs and were singing every word with heartfelt, excited expressions on their faces. The band played old songs as well as tracks from their new full-length. With just the right balance of peppy and slow songs, and just enough fan interaction worked into the set, Brighter, Brightest put on a show that was memorable to old and new fans alike.

     If the cheers that greeted Brighter, Brightest were considered a wave, then those that greeted Fighting For Ithaca were the tsunami that decimated Japan. Likewise, if BB’s fans had earnest expressions of excitement showing, then FFI’s fans were crazed asylum escapees. Not only did these mental inmates know every word to every song featured on the band’s old EP, but they seemed to have the newer songs memorize as well. One might think that this is due to FFI having so many dedicated fans who go to every show (and certainly that is part of it), but when the band introduced a brand new, never-before-played-for-fans slow song (“Seeing Stars”), the crowd managed to pick up on the chorus within second. So, not only does Fighting For Ithaca write meaningful lyrics, but even their slower songs are super catchy. While tens of voices screamed out the lyrics to “Last Chance” and “Out of Time” with vocalist Curtis Steeksma, the bassist and lead guitarist jumped around the stage so recklessly that it’s a wonder neither of them tripped on the cables littering the floor. The energy continued even when Jonny Steeksma (rhythm guitar) broke a string and had to pause to tune his spare guitar. The flow of the performance went uninterrupted as the other band members bantered back and forth and made light of the situation. The set seemed to pass quickly, a feeling that was clearly shared by many other spectators, as a roar of “encore” rose up as the band began to pack up. At first Fighting For Ithaca refused, stating that it was late and they had time constraints, but eventually they agreed to play their popular cover of “Shake It” by Metro Station. The mark of a band that truly cares about its fans? I think yes.

     The Rickshaw Theatre—what a weird place to hold a pop punk concert. Furthermore, what a weird place for an unsigned band to headline—wait a minute! Fighting For Ithaca are no longer unsigned! That’s right, the popular pop punk outfit from Vancouver recently signed with 604 Records, and headlining a show at the Rickshaw on June 11, with co-headliner Fake Shark-Real Zombie! and supporting bands Seventh Rain and GreenTree was their way of celebrating (and possibly warning the world).

    Starting off the night was the new but popular band, GreenTree. With most of the members still in high school, one would not expect this young band to be so good. But they are. One would also not expect the show to be much different from the last time one saw them live. But it was. The theatricality which I had admired so much before was, for the most part, gone. While it was clear that GreenTree didn’t have much of their fanbase at the show, they earned more than a few cheers as they launched into “Let Us Go”. While GreenTree has three lead singers and things get a bit confusing at times, they put on a fantastic live show and it’s clear that this band is going places.

     Second up was Seventh Rain from Calgary, Alberta. Having played a show with Fighting For Ithaca earlier this year, most of the crowd already knew who they were, and the atmosphere of the venue started to rise slowly but steadily. With upbeat numbers such as “Heart’s Not Beating” and even a cover of “Airplanes” by B.O.B. (the same as they played at the last show with FFI), fans got more and more excited as the set wore on. The band interacted with their audience and made it clear who they were, where they were from, and where their music could be found online. For a non-local, unsigned band, Seventh Rain sure played a superb set for another band’s fans, and almost certainly walked away with an expanded fanbase.

     As co-headliners Fake Shark-Real Zombie! took the stage, the crowd started to fill out and move closer. The set started out well enough, despite the odd shift in genre, but quickly took a turn for the bizarre as lead singer Kevvy Mental was accompanied on stage by person after person. It became difficult to tell who was actually in the band, and who was not. Likewise, as Kevvy bounded (yes, bounded) across, around, and all over the stage, it became increasingly difficult to differentiate between songs unless the whole band paused for more than a minute. That’s not to say that it wasn’t a good show, though. With stage antics weird enough for anyone to appreciate (such as inviting a skimpily-clad firedancer onstage), Fake Shark-Real Zombie! are one of the most original bands in the Vancouver music scene.

     Gradually, the buzz in the air (a combination of excitedly-talking sweaty teenagers, ringing ears, and tense anticipation) calmed to almost nothing, and then rapidly became one enormous roar of approval as the stage lights came on once more. Fighting For Ithaca ran out onto stage, opening with a guitar intro off their EP “Thanks For Waiting,” immediately followed by their classic opener “Trial By Fire.” With hordes of adoring fans pressed against the stage and singing every word, it was hard to believe that this band had only just scored a record deal. Unlike with previous concerts, the band avoided playing most of the songs from their EP, choosing instead to fill the air with new songs (that they’re currently in the studio recording) such as “Wasted Nights” and “Out Of Time,” a catchy number that is easy to learn the words to. As lead vocalist Curtis Steeksma announced the oddly-named “Waffles In the AM,” a huge cheer erupted from the fans; clearly, this was a crowd favourite. Not only did Steeksma move around the stage constantly, but the rest of the band did too (even drummer Phil Maloney managed a healthy-sized stage presence from his place behind the others). In fact, the only time throughout the whole set that the band didn’t run around the stage was during their final song “Cityscape,” and that was because they invited their fans to join them onstage for the duration of the crowd-interactive song. Just like that, the set was over, but the crowd was dissatisfied. A tremendous chant of “FFI” filled the theatre, and the band came back out to perform an encore of two songs—a new ballad followed by another crowd favourite, “Cause And Effect.” At long last, Fighting For Ithaca departed the stage, the lights came back up, and everyone left the theatre, still feeling the excitement and energy from a phenomenal show.

I’ve been sick and haven’t gotten around to writing my review of June 11’s Fighting For Ithaca show at the Rickshaw. Now I’m wondering if I should even bother because it’s been a week.

Not really expecting an answer, but… should I review the show?

Fans of All Time Low everywhere rejoice as they finally get ahold of brand-new copies of the band’s newest album, Dirty Work, released on June 7, 2011.

     The album begins with “Do You Want Me (Dead)?,” a peppy, sarcastic song with metaphors such as “I’ve got my hands up, yeah yeah/I’m staring down the barrel of a loaded night” and prepares the listener for a fantastic album. However, while the opening track is upbeat and happy, the second track halts, if not reverses, the good mood. With a title like “I Feel Like Dancin’,” one would expect this track—the first single off of Dirty Work—to be a perfect dance song, but in actuality, it has quite the opposite effect. With its plodding beat that sounds nothing like All Time Low, the track is too slow to be a party song. That’s not to say that sounds different than traditional All Time Low aren’t welcome, though. “Under A Paper Moon,” with its high-energy, fast-paced melody and imaginative lyrics, shows the band’s growth in both sound and songwriting, while “Return The Favor” is a pleasant display of the band’s diverse musical taste, giving the listener an image of [singer] Alex Gaskarth salsa dancing with a girl as he sings the pleading lyrics. It’s a weird song, but in a good way. “No Idea” also demonstrates All Time Low’s musical diversity, beginning with what sounds like an orchestra reminiscent of string quartet covers of punk songs—odd but surprisingly pleasurable.

     Other bright points of the album include “Heroes” with its well-written chorus that can connect to so many young people, and “Time-Bomb” with its ongoing metaphor and quick tempo. But perhaps the best track on the record, both lyrically and melodically, is the simple, strong “Guts.” With a chorus that asks “Is this what it feels like/Finding out that I’ve got the guts to say anything” and the perfectly matched voices of Gaskarth and Maja Ivarsson, it’s an easily relatable song that displays both frustration and hope as well as the clichéd struggle.

     Some may think that because of the multitude of songwriters and producers that worked with All Time Low on this album, it isn’t as incredible as it could be. However, once one remembers what the band’s real strengths are—clever lyrics paired with innovative melodies—Dirty Work becomes not someone else’s album, but just a new level of All Time Low. 

-KC

     April 22 may have been both Good Friday and Earth Day, but Vancouver concertgoers marked this day on their calendars with the Neon Heroes, Vinyl Villains concert instead.

     The show at the Tom Lee Music Hall began with The Shrugs playing an acoustic set. Opening bands always have the toughest job being the ones who have to pump up the atmosphere and get everybody into their “concert moods”, but The Shrugs didn’t seem fazed by this. Their set definitely had that coffee-shop feel to it, as acoustic sets often do, and yet vocalist Caitlin Connelly managed to make the room more energetic by making jokes with the crowd.

     Up next was a clear crowd favourite, GreenTree. The set began with two strong openers, one of which had a catchy enough chorus that even people who hadn’t heard the song before could easily sing along. At first it was unclear who the lead vocalist was, but eventually one realized that although all members of the band share vocals, the band actually has two main singers—Glenn Hall and Gabriela Geneva. Hall’s voice almost effortlessly captured one’s attention, while Geneva’s provided perfect contrast. The third song, Who I Am, was a slower number involving vocalist/drummer Hall coming to the front of the stage to almost act out the emotive lyrics with Geneva. While the theatricality was a bit cheesy and it was difficult to take Hall seriously because of his radioactive green hair, it showed that GreenTree have great stage presence and know how to please a crowd. After a few more slow songs, the band sped things up again with an upbeat song. The verses were pleasing enough, but the chorus was a cacophony of voices and guitars. It was uncertain which component one was supposed to pay the most attention to. I was disappointed with the fast-tempo song, and concerned that GreenTree’s upbeat songs did not measure up to their slower songs, but the final song proved me wrong. At the end of the set, the theatricality that had been displayed earlier returned as band members dramatically left the stage one by one until only green-haired Hall was left behind, sitting at his drum kit looking bewildered. An exclamation of “They did it again!” (a reference to the fan-interactive song they had played) and a crash on the cymbals, followed by the stage lights going out ended the set, and the audience was left both energetic and laughing.

     The middle slot on the bill was held by Bullets In Overdrive, and right from the start it was clear that they had some pretty dedicated fans watching. Groups of girls were pressed up against the stage shouting the lyrics of Back To Misery. Guitarist Michelle Devera may be tiny, but she gives off a “don’t mess with me” vibe as she rips around the stage playing. Lead vocalist Jordan Armstrong’s voice was easy to hear over the instruments, and the lyrics were clearly understandable. Fans danced during Here We Go, sang along during Follow, and waved glowstick-encased wrists in the air during slower songs. The band played a few new songs, and one song in particular was so easy to follow along and learn the lyrics to that almost everyone could sing along right away. As Brandon Armstrong wildly pounded on his drums, stunts such as synchronized jumps were performed by Devera, Jordan Armstrong, and bassist Kelsey Pothier. While Jordan had to be almost glued to his mic stand and guitar throughout most of the set, Devera and Pothier both whirled around the stage, switching sides and whipping their long hair. Between songs, the band joked around with fans they already knew, and provided enough allure to gain themselves new fans.

   Kieran Strange began her set by prancing out onto the stage wearing a black bandit mask (obviously a tribute to the “Vinyl Villains” part of the show title). As she launched into her first song, her bright pink hair drew the eye, capturing the colored lighting that tinted it different shades. She jumped around the stage, her voice carrying both high and low notes, singing to her band, her fans, and basically anyone else who got in her way. More than once, she crouched in front of a person in the front row and sang directly to that person for a few seconds before jumping back up and then choosing the next person to sing to. Between songs, she told the crowd a bit about herself, introduced her band, talked about why she wrote certain songs, and even asked one guy in the front row to help fix the “stop” sign taped to her belt. One song that she performed seemed to be more popular than any other—perhaps because it was so relatable (“I could do anything I want but I’m just too lazy.”) The atmosphere of the venue kept getting more and more buzzed with each song, and when the set was over, there was an air of tired energy throughout the room.

     Finally, Bell Tower Dreams took the stage. A large banner across the back of the stage announced their band’s name, and the remaining crowd (many people had been at the concert for previous bands) let out one collective cheer. The air around the stage seemed charged with excitement suddenly. Bell Tower Dreams began with an upbeat number that got almost everyone moving. Too Pretty was certainly a crowd-pleaser, and most of the audience sang along. The band also started to play a cover of Friday by Rebecca Black, but quickly trashed the idea despite the fans in the front row singing along. As with the previous bands, Bell Tower Dreams interacted with their audience while onstage, even holding a ‘dance-off’ competition (the prizes were a band shirt and sticker). Partway through the second-to-last song, bassist Sam King attempted a bass spin that would have appeared awesome had it worked out (he had already completed a flawless one earlier in the set), but his guitar strap broke and his bass went flying toward the back of the stage. Thankfully, the instrument wasn’t harmed too badly, and King was able to immediately continue the song without using the strap (before the final song, he did a temporary repair job on the bass with duct tape), a slightly impressive act which brings to mind the phrase “the show must go on.” Speaking of impressions, Faris carried out an impressive number of high notes throughout the set. At times, it was a little bit difficult to make out her words over the instrumentals, but that may be due to the fact that I was standing directly in front of the guitarist. For the most part, her voice soared effortlessly as she strutted around the stage, avoiding King and guitarist Brett Cranston as they practically bounced around.

     Certainly, this was a night of extreme energy and great Vancouver music, not to mention neon (glowsticks everywhere!) and a little bit of villainy.

The Shrugs: http://www.myspace.com/theshrugsmusic

GreenTree: http://www.myspace.com/greentree

Bullets In Overdrive: http://www.myspace.com/bulletsinoverdrive

Kieran Strange: http://kieranstrange.com/

Bell Tower Dreams: http://www.myspace.com/belltowerdreams

meganpicturetaker:

THIS. All of it. Wait, while we’re at it, let’s just take the right to get married away from celebrities. 

 So damn true.

earthtoalex:

Unicorn Poop.

tourmomsays:

After the TM blog Curran did and WATKs asking the question now we want to know:

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE JOB TOUR MANAGING ENTAILS?

WHY DO YOU WANT TO BE A TOUR MANAGER?

This is the thing, we want you to REBLOG THIS (DO NOT SEND US A MESSAGE!) telling us why. It can be as long or short, but we what you to be HONEST, we don’t bullshit with you so don’t bullshit with us! We will not look down on someone based on the answer, we will admire you more for being truthful! 

What I think TMing entails: 

Being organized, able to talk to people, handle stress, the ability to utilise sound equipment/other equipment if needed to, be trustworthy, have a good phone plan, can at least sort of get a group of guys in one place at one time, be okay with being away from home frequently, be okay with not making a ton of money, able to to two or more jobs at once, good with money, love music, not care what you look like sometimes, be louder than loud band dudes so they hear you, have authority (or at least some), have a reason to be respected by others, keep people in order and doing their jobs, can run FAST (what’s Jonny Drummer doing with those matches? OH CRAP!), be responsible, and have a sense of humor (otherwise you’re going to be miserable when a band guy makes a joke about you!).

Why I want to be a TM:

I don’t know. I like to travel (and prefer driving to any other form of transit). I love music. I feel most comfortable when people are making jokes and bantering, but I like to still keep things under control. I would hate being stuck at a desk all day because I prefer to keep moving and do lots of different things. I’m used to roughing it (I don’t particularly like it, but when my family takes road trips, it’s sometimes hard to find a shower…). I can plan stuff pretty well. I get things done. Eh, mostly, I’d like to TM because I want to work in music, close to the artists. :)