tuesday wake up call

Brand new Japandroids video for the track "The House That Heaven Built".



"The House That Heaven Built" is off of Celebration Rock, out now via Polyvinyl Records.

happy canada day!

Hey everyone, HAPPY CANADA DAY! To celebrate, here are some of my favourite songs from the past year or so by Canadian artists:

The Acorn: Slippery When Wet from No Ghost
Born Ruffians: Retard Canard from Say It
Diamond Rings: All Yr Songs from Diamond Rings/PS I Love You Split 7"
Great Lake Swimmers: River's Edge from Lost Channels
The Hidden Cameras: Underage from Origin:Orphan
Japandroids: Art Czars from Art Czars 7"
Propagandhi: Dear Coach's Corner from Supporting Caste
Timber Timbre: We'll Find Out from Timber Timbre

...and The Thermals: Canada, they are not Canadian, but it’s a wicked song about Canada!

nxne 2010, post-festival

Avi Buffalo's setlist from The Great Hall

Favourite shows:
Avi Buffalo @ The Great Hall and @ Lee’s Palace
I saw them twice during this year’s NXNE! Although I liked the stripped-down set at The Great Hall more, both shows were absolutely wonderful! I was really surprised that more people weren’t at the shows; given the fact they put out one of the best records of 2010.

Japandroids @ Lee’s Palace
The lively set from the BC duo + the energetic packed crowd made for an extremely fun and entertaining show!


Surprises:
Zola Jesus @ Sneaky Dee’s
I went into Sneaky Dee’s on Thursday night not knowing what to expect— I didn’t know much about Zola Jesus and I have only started listening to Stridulum EP prior to the show. However, the moment Nika Roza (aka Zola Jesus) started to sing, I knew I was watching something special. Roza’s vocal was incredibly haunting and the music was moody and atmospheric, think Fever Ray meets Bat For Lashes.

Wavves @ Lee’s Palace
I was undecided about this show for the longest time because I didn’t think Wavves would be good live. Man was I wrong… I am really glad I went because it was fucking great! Like Japandroids later, the band was lively and the crowd seemed to really enjoy the music.

nxne, day 3 | part ii

Wavves—June 18, 2010 @ Lee's Palace





see more photos at my flickr page


Japandroids—June 18, 2010 @ Lee's Palace





see more photos at my flickr page

go canada go!

I know I have been neglecting this blog lately, and I am sorry to say that my lack of posts will continue for the next two weeks because I will be busy watching the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics! Speaking of the Olympics, I have to congratulate freestyle skier Alexandre Bilodeau for winning Canada’s first gold medal on home soil! Bilodeau captured gold last night in the men’s moguls event at Cypress Mountain, it was dramatic and emotional (I cried), definitely one of the greatest Olympic moments ever! Anyway, I have to get back to watching alpine skiing; for now, I leave you with a song from Vancouver’s own, Japandroids.

Japandroids: Young Hearts Spark Fire [wicked-cool song]