Concert Collective

It's time for a concert update. I've had the privilege of going to a bunch of stellar shows this past Fall, so here's a visual recap (and I highly recommend that you check these artists out).

Ra Ra Riot

Imaginary Cities with guests Ra Ra Riot & Dinosaur Bones at the Pyramid Cabaret

 Vibrant pop rock was the product of this show (except for Dinosaur Bones who were a dampening opener). I often found myself bobbing or dancing constantly. I couldn't help it. Imaginary Cities enthralled their hometown audience, thriving off the evident support of friends, family, and fans.

Imaginary Cities (Winnipeg's own)

 The electric cello within Ra Ra Riot was a highlight, as well as Imaginary Cities' front man Rusty with his triumphant (yet brief) trumpeting.

Yukon Blonde

The Commodore Ballroom

Twitter accounts:
@imaginarycities
@rarariot
@pyramidcabaret

The Head and the Heart with Lemolo & Taos + the Get Down Stay Downs

Yukon Blonde at the West End Cultural Centre

 These guys are just down to earth, classic rockers. Their humility shone through as they shared hilarious personal stories and thoughts from the road. Brotherly mic sharing was a highlight.
I also highly recommend their self-entitled album. Thoroughly solid. 

Twitter accounts: @yukonblonde | @TheWECC


The Head and the Heart with guests Lemolo & Taos with the Get Down Stay Down at the Commodore Ballroom (Vancouver)

Who knew that this venue actually looks like a ballroom inside?! I thought the name was just fancy to stand out. I was pleasantly mistaken.


Anyways... Lemolo, followed by Taos with the Get Down Stay Down, got things a-rockin'; however, The Head and the Heart was who the crowd came for, and erupted (including myself) the moment they stepped on stage for their set. Perfect vocals, it's unbelievable.

The Head and the Heart encore - "Down in the Valley"

 A huge highlight was when every single member of the 3 groups flooded the stage during the middle and main set; belting out the song in both chorus and instrument.

Twitter accounts: @headandtheheart @LemoloMusic @commodorevcr

Sam Roberts

Sam Roberts Band with guest Zeus at the Winnipeg Centennial Concert Hall

 Sam Roberts produces classics (with sensational lyrics) like none other. He is a legend on the Canadian music scene for just over a decade now. Lyrically, I am in awe of what he is able to convey. He and his band are a class act, playing a bunch of favourites from each and every record. Keeping both the faithful and newcomers entertained. This band knows how to JAM.

A major highlight would be the 15-20 minute non-stop, mind melting encore. Take my word for it!

 I've had their most recent album Collider on repeat all summer (a candidate for a top 10 album of the year in my books).

Twitter accounts: @samrobertsband   @themusicofzeus    @Concert_Hall

Zeus

 So check these groups out if you're lookin' for some groovin' new tunes! That is, if you aren't one of those people who ONLY listen to Christmas music starting about now... 

 If you are one of those people, I suggest Sufjan Stevens' entire 42 track, Songs for Christmas singalong catalog. Just loop that sucker and you're good to go for the whole holiday.

Ciao for now!

Fall-tering

I know... I apologized in early summer for being absent, but I feel like I need to ask for forgiveness and state my disappointment once again. Where has my passion for blogging disappeared to? Not sure at the moment... Maybe it was the fact that I was preoccupied with work, friends, soccer, and travels all summer, leaving the only downtime for relaxing (meaning mostly lounging around at home). Maybe it's the fact that Twitter has taken over as my instantaneous micro-blogging outlet. No matter, it is fall again and that means university, which also means procrastination. I will definitely try to get blogging more this fall!

Fail.

I had that written up as a draft on October 4th. OCTOBER FOURTH. Over a month and a half ago. Anyways, I will try and break this frustrating spell with an overdue Life Lesson for a certain NHL netminder that goes by the name of Ilya Bryzgalov...

Watch what you say when a whole city is listening.

 Then, back in spring as goalie for the Phoenix Coyotes, Bryzgalov said this:

"You don't want to go to Winnipeg, right? Not many people live there, not many Russian people there. Plus it's cold. There's no excitement except the hockey. No park, no entertaining for the families, for the kids. It's going to be tough life for your family. I've been there for just once, maybe twice, when I play in minors. It was really cold. I used the tunnels between the buildings to get to the arena. Because it was minus 40-something. Real cold."

Tisk, tisk, Ilya. You should know better. All 15,004 fans taunted the man as he sat on the bench watching the game, while Bobrovsky played instead of him. Our pleasure of booing him was not fully withheld however. As the Jets continued to punish the Flyers and put the puck into the back of the net, chants of "WE WANT ILYA!" flooded the arena. During one of the final TV timeouts our wish was cheekily granted. A courteous camera man was kind enough to plant a solo shot of Bryzgalov on the bench, and it beamed on the jumbo screen. All of a sudden the boo decibel level quadrupled. Pronger's boos were considered juvenile compared to this one huge, solid drone. Priceless. As Bryzgalov looked up to his horror, payback was dealt... and it felt good.