Kyra – The first act of the night was what I would describe as good fun! Ian House warmed up the crowd with some familiar covers and some collaborations with various people in the room. My personal favourite was his rendition of Justin Bieber’s Baby!

Alysha Brillinger, from Toronto, took the stage next and brought something unique and charismatic! Her sound was upbeat but not too in-your-face, and her voice is beautiful and perfectly suited to the style of music she plays. I am often blown away by how someone can so successfully command a room with just their voice and an acoustic guitar – Alysha is one of those cases. Her tunes had most of the room bobbing along and it definitely made me excited for summer… I think her music would be a good soundtrack to a lazy, but beautiful, summer day! She introduced her cover of Amy Whinehouse’s Love is a Losing Game by sharing (and in fact celebrating) that she just had a breakup; “they say love makes you crazy, I think breakups make you crazy”. While I do admit there’s a fine line between stage banter and oversharing, I enjoy hearing a little commentary on life from artists on stage every now and again. By the end of her set, the crowd emerged from the edges of the room and populated the floor, ready to dance.

The dancing continued for Redgy Blackout‘s set, as they kicked it off with a song I love, Heart Beat. They put on an amazing show, as always! I’m amazed at what awesome music they can create with just the two of them up there. In response to an audience that didn’t want to stop dancing, they kept it upbeat all the way through and ended with my personal favourite Like Penguins Do.

I try to refrain from raving unless I feel it is truly deserved, but I must say Watasun earned it! While I am a huge fan of their albums, they really don’t compare to hearing this band live. I can think of no better way to describe it than as ‘candy for the ears’. The combination of infectious rhythms, unique instruments and Adam’s textured voice make each song an absolute treat to listen to. I have not seen the media club that hoppin’ in quite some time. I did see a few people in the room not dancing, but they looked like they were really fighting it. It was a fun Friday night at the Media Club and I would highly suggest checking out a Watasun show in the future.

Check out more photos!

Kyra – The first in a series of career development seminars hosted by Music BC took place this past Saturday and I was lucky enough to attend. Almost exactly one year ago I first heard about Music BC and attended last year’s seminar on social media in the very same location. I remember it being such an eye-opening day for me. It is remarkable to think of how much I’ve learned and how many amazing people I have encountered in the past year throughout my adventures in the Vancouver music industry. I have been to sever of the seminars put on my Music BC. They have all been interesting, informative and inspiring and this one was no different. The panel worked well together to provide an in-depth and diverse look at how to make your online presence work for you. They dispensed a wealth of information about social media, websites, blogs and more. If I could pass on one, overarching tip it would be to engage your fans online. The word engage came up several times as they emphasized that the value is not in the number of online fans you have, but in the relationship that you build with them.

These seminars are a great way to learn about different parts of the industry and an awesome way to meet people. I highly recommend checking one out in the future.

Also, check out more information on the panel from this seminar and follow them on twitter.

Check out more photos!

Brittany – You know a band is incredible when, from the moment you hear that first note to the last, you have constant goosebumps. The 6 piece brit rockers known as Scars on 45 may be mumblers but they have a charisma that keeps you intrigued throughout their impromptu dance moves and unique sound. I was enthused to hear that the full band was together for their second time in Vancouver. Lead female vocal, Amy, has one of these voices that you can’t even place at times. Its raspy, yet soft at the same time and kept me completely engulfed in the performance. As a whole, Scars on 45 could have had more audience involvement and interaction. It always makes the performance more enjoyable with high energy and movement. Overall, they demonstrated an amazing talent beginning with their single “Heart on Fire” to ending in a Rihanna ‘We Found Love’ cover. Definitely keep an eye out for these Brit Rockers in the future!

My inner fan girl came out as soon as The Fray hit the stage. If any of you have ever had the chance to experience the ‘feel good music’ that is The Fray you can understand why there’s a reason their songs are known and loved. The moment front man, Isaac, hit the stage in his white coat he went directly to the audience and tried to get everyone involved and grooving along. It wasn’t until their 2nd to last song that people finally got the hint that they could stand up out of their seats and actually have fun and get a little crazy at a concert. Crowd etiquette aside, The Fray are one of those bands you must see live because their albums do not do them justice. I know that I have said this before but bands like Switchfoot and The Fray especially are two that were made for touring. Not only do they showcase other musicians within the band but they build off each others energy, which is a must in the concert books for myself. When a band is truly in sync with each other it makes the concert experience 150% better and that is exactly what I saw at The Fray. Their energy, enthusiasm and interaction with the audience made their performance stand out amongst recent live performances I’ve seen.

This past sunday, we headed down to the electric owl for a screening and release party for a documentary about the group Fera, a group consisting of a set of twins with great voices and songs that are a little bit country, a little bit pop and a lot of awesome. They were joined by many friends, both offstage and on, for this special night.

Brittany – There is something to be said about a woman who can rock a three inch heel and look flawless doing it; AJ Woodworth is one of those women. She opened the evening with a variety of acoustic tracks off her upcoming album expected out in later 2012 and dazzled the audience with her big bold voice that suits country music beautifully. I myself am not usually a country music fan, but when you hear AJ belt out those notes and sing about that ‘Little Black Dress’, you can’t help but bop along and relate to the lyrics. Drop dead gorgeous looks aside, this woman appears to be a down-to-earth country girl at heart and is genuinely grateful for everyone who takes the time to listen to her music. I just hope that enough people take the time to listen to AJ’s rock star voice and are able to soak up as much as they can as her career skyrockets. I predict incredible things in her future! Definitely keep an eye out for this budding 604 recording artist and look out for her single ‘Wild Card’ to debut anytime now!

Kyra – After being wowed by AJ Woodworth’s performance (Wild Card, in particular, really spoke to me), I was psyched to finally see this documentary I had heard so much about. It was, first and foremost, a really brilliant idea; an effort to show the moments, the memories, the struggles and the people that have made up Fera’s journey so far in the music industry. It is appropriately named, The Pursuit, as it shows that these talented twins are determined to pursue their dreams no matter how many challenges they may face. Nothing too flashy or fancy, the film managed to really paint an honest picture of the industry, the girls and just how hard they’ve worked and how much passion they have. As someone with interest in the industry, it was fascinating to see their particular experience. It was also kind of neat to notice how often we have been in the same place at the same time in the past. Events such as a Hanson concert and a Peak Performance showcase that we attended were featured… small world! It definitely got me thinking about what it’s going to take for Fera to finally find the success they’ve been after and I believe they deserve. The film didn’t shy away from truths about how rough the industry can be, how hard it can be to keep your spirits high or how trying it can sometimes be working with your twin. It also showcased what a fantastic support group Fera has had and how grateful they are for everyone who has ever helped them on the road to realizing their dream. Definitely check out The Pursuit the next time you have a spare 17 minutes.

After the screening, Fera took the stage with a few words of gratitude and a few awesome songs (not to mention one kind of silly one about having egg on your purse). They sang my favourites Recovered, Stardust and Fairytales, as well as some throwback tunes that they had written way back in the day, some of which they insisted were retired for good reason. It was a cute little trip down memory lane though, particularly since the crowd was filled with a lot of supporters who you could tell had been with them through it all. With the help of Matinee member and brother in-law Matt Rose, they also played a beautiful song written for their late grandfather. To end off their set they invited all of the members of The Matinee up for a few songs. They were also joined by and old friend, and I do mean quite old, who’s name I didn’t catch, who helped them out with vocals. It seemed like a cute gesture until they let him belt out a verse on his own and our jaws dropped at his incredible voice. I was blown away at the voice that carried throughout the room. Stephanie finished off the set by saying “and that’s what we call rocking out acoustically,” and that is exactly what they had done.

It was such a pleasure to be there for this special evening and I think this documentary is just another important step on the journey of these two very talented and well loved twins!

Check out The Pursuit now!!

Check out more photos!

Kyra – It’s been far too long since I’ve seen The Matinée and I was more than a little excited to see them play at Venue this weekend. One thing I will say about concerts at venue though is that it the drunk girls do really seem to come out in full force. I’m not typically used to being stepped on and spilled on and bumped into and mistaken for some girl named Rose when I’m at a show. However, it is a small price to pay to see an awesome band in the lively, rocking atmosphere that they deserve. I was so pleased to see that Venue was pretty packed when I arrived. It was a bit of a chore to work my way up near the front to take some photos.

I was not fortunate enough to catch Good for Grapes, but I have heard nothing but great things, so they still remain on my concert bucket list. Washboard Union put on a good show and seemed to get the crowd pumped up. I will admit that their very traditional country style is not really for me. I can see how some people who enjoy The Matinée would also enjoy this band, but The Matinée has something completely unique and special going for them that I just didn’t get from this band. However, they could play their instruments well and they evoked a good amount of toe tapping and head bobbing for an opening act. The actual washboard was pre

In contrast, The Matinée, as lead singer Matt Layzell pointed out on stage, is “not just some country band,” and that’s why I, personally, love them so much. When first heard a little clip of one of their songs, I wasn’t convinced that this would become of my favourite local bands. Seeing them live changed everything. Their music may have a very country feel, but these boys can truly rock! Their tunes are catchy and, most surprisingly to me, they don’t all sound alike. Each song has something different going for it and I really do love them all. It was an absolute treat to hear a few of their new songs at this show. While I always prefer a song I can sing along too, it’s always interesting to see a band testing the waters with material that they’ve been working so hard on. I thought they sounded great, a little bit new and different, but still the same Matinée vibe that seemed to sit well with the crowd. Between the powerful vocals, the undeniable charisma of each and every member and the high energy, foot-stomping style of their music, it was no surprise that the audience cheered The Matinée back onstage for an unexpected encore.  Throughout the night they had us singing, dancing, clapping, laughing, and even some tearing up.

It was a pleasure to get to catch up with Matt Layzell after the show for a few moments. One of the other things I love most about this band is how truly down to earth and nice these boys are. He was anxious to hear my opinion of the new songs, expressing how nerve racking it is to play them at such a large show without having any opportunity to test the waters first. He seemed truly humbled by and grateful for the success of the show. I was able to finally proudly add a The Matinée button to our collection too.

If you haven’t seen these guys live yet, you are missing out. They have shows coming up in Whistler and at CelticFest in the next month. Even if the words ‘country music’ scare you a little, rest assured that The Matinée is “not just some country band” and they have a little something for everyone.  

Check out more photos!

Kyra – I could not imagine a more lovely way to spend Valentine’s Day than being serenaded by an impressive lineup of amazing artists. The Sweet Heart Serenade at the Rio theatre was fun for couples and singles alike. Being that it is, in fact, a movie theatre, everyone got a drink and grabbed their seats for the show. As some of the artists mentioned, it was a little bit of a strange set up for a concert. Everyone was very quiet and spread out, just sitting and watching the artists like you would watch a movie. I will admit though that the mellow atmosphere was nice in many ways, I enjoyed just getting to sit and enjoy the music, and there was nothing to distract you even from the quieter acoustic tunes that made up most of the show.

Hannah Epperson started the show off. Besides her incredible talent on the violin, she is absolutely adorable and she set the standard for a night of fantastic music and witty Valentines stage banter that made that audience feel like they were just curled up in their living room with a bunch of friends. Next up, Spencer from Sunny Pompeii performed a set which he tried to fill with as many love song as possible. He was delightful to listen to and even better when he brought Hannah and fellow band member, Simon, onstage to join him. It was bitter sweet as Simon was leaving for Korea (I believe) the following day. Next up a few member of Brasstronaut brought the mellow vibe back with several slow, but very beautiful tunes. I am a really big fan of Tariq’s surprisingly soft but dynamic voice. I was super excited to see one of our personal faves, Portage and Main, and even more pumped that our friend Savannah, from Redbird, was joining them. As a single gal I had to giggle when John said something along the lines of – shouldn’t we play some happy love songs, wait, there’s no such thing. I can imagine it would be easier to write about love that didn’t go right than love that’s going well… I mean who would want to jynx it? Despite a lack of upbeat love songs, the set was awesome and they got the theater singing along with Oh Carolina!

Zachary Gray from the Zolas took the stage and prefaced his performance by saying that he would play two songs and then we could all leave if we wanted… or cheer if we wanted more. His set, it would seem, would be a series of encores, definitely not something I’ve experienced before. Even in this slightly strange atmosphere and generally mellow vibe, Zach had a presence on stage that brought the room to life. He was just so very raw and real. After being called back to the stage a second time and informing the audience, in his candid fashion, that he had just eaten “like 10 rolos”, he gave the audience exactly what they seemed to be waiting for, an awesome rendition of the song You’re Too Cool. He changed both the tempo and his instrument of choice at points in the song, but that’s what made it such a great performance, it was just fun. Overall it was a fantastic evening or friends and lovers and I wouldn’t have wanted to be anywhere else on Valentine’s!

Check out more photos!

Kyra – It was so nice to finally be able to get out to another Wintercoast show. It’s been far too long since I have seen them live and they are one of those bands that gets better every time I hear them. With some new material, including a wintery tune called Leavenworth, and another slight shuffle in members they hit the stage at the Roxy, a venue where I actually have never seen a show. They played a great set and, I’m sure, made some new fans out of anyone who wasn’t familiar with them. The mor I hear of their new material the more excited I am for the full-length album that they are working on.

The Oh Wells, although I have heard their music and considered myself a fan, are a band that I have yet to have the pleasure of seeing live. I must say I was pretty blown away by their performance. They are one of those bands where everyone on stage puts on a show and looks like they truly want to be up there. The set was also quite diverse and had a unique pattern of levels that kept you engaged and entertained. By the end they had the whole place on their feet dancing along, including myself of course. To be completely honest, I was going to stay only for part of their set because I had an assignment due the next day that I hadn’t started, but I was hooked and I just couldn’t leave… Oh well!!

Also, The Oh Wells are running a campaign to raise money for a bus so they can go on tour! I think the rest of Canada deserves to see this awesome band live! We did our little part! Check it out here!

Check out more photos!

Kyra – There was something so nostalgic about what I like to call the three day Hanson ‘binge’ that Brittany and I went on last week. Our trip to Calgary to see Hanson in 2008 was one of the first times we were truly inspired by a concert and that experience has played a huge role in leading us to where we are now. Some might call us crazy, but it was completely worth it to hop on a greyhound and head home to the Okanagan to see them in both Kelowna and Penticton after seeing the Vancouver show. It was so cool to have Hanson there in the Vogue theater, a place where I have seen so many other monumental shows, and even more special was having one of our favourite local artists, Carly Rae Jepsen, opening for them. We were ecstatic when we heard she would be the opener and we were just as excited to see her three days in a row as we were for Hanson. She made us smile every show and even dedicated our new favourite song, ‘Just a Step Away’ to us after meeting us in Kelowna. She is, by far, one of the sweetest artists I have ever met and I’m so glad that she is getting the attention she deserves (‘Call Me Maybe’ hitting number one on the Canadian Billboard charts!). Her and the guys, Nik and Tavish, put on a fantastic show all three nights and Tavish even through in a moon walk for us in Penticton!

As for Hanson, we were not disappointed. It’s true that most people look at us like we’re insane when we say that we are fans of Hanson, but they’re not all long blonde hair and MMMbopping anymore. Their music is so diverse and truly fantastic. Their latest album, “Shout It Out” is incredibly upbeat and tons of fun and they had their audiences dancing along with them. ‘MMMBop’ was, of course, the highlight for many who had dusted off their Middle of Nowhere albums from their teen years and decided to check out the show. For Brittany and I, it was one of our faves ‘Strong Enough to Break’ that proved to be a highlight. Overall, it was an amazing few days and made us feel truly grateful to have so much music, especially live music, in our lives.

Check out more photos!

Brittany – Although I would have loved to square punch the lighting guy in the jugular, Dallas Green of City and Colour put on more than a Little Hell of a performance. Considering this was the first show of their Canadian tour, you always expect something to go a little off schedule, but, on the contrary, Dallas Green put on one of the most engaging shows I have ever seen. When thinking of the type of music City and Colour performs, it does not seem like the most engaging material in the world. However, Dallas Green has a magical way of making me want to swoon and bawl my eyes out at the same time. He is one of those artists that is able to make you feel so emotionally connected even when he is singing about his wife’s night terrors in Fragile Bird or when he gets you with an oldie but goodie like Coming Home. As friends and I sat there trying to hold back tears of pure music joy, I could not at that point think of something negative to say about anything. Despite the lighting guys blinding me and the four drunks kicking my seat and loudly giving explicit details of their lives, I could not help but be thankful that there are artists like Dallas Green that still remain in the music world who are there for the simple connection between artist and audience. During one song he even asked the audience to stop recording and taking photos and to simply enjoy the moment as it happened instead of trying to record it for the future, because, as he so simply put it, recording will do a live performance no justice. That is why City and Colour is a band that must be seen live. Recordings will never do Dallas Green justice. We hope some of you were as lucky as I was to be speechless after a performance like theirs and we are significantly envious of the fans that get to see them for their following Canadian tour dates.