Ben Meyercord's Live Music for Friday, October 23rd

Hello Dear Readers,

Last night I didn't make it out to any shows. Did you? Did I totally drop the ball on any major shows or anything? I was at a Y La Bamba practice until late. Which leads me to the following:

Friday, October 23rd

Doug Fir is having a show with Blitzen Trapper and Y La Bamba. There is no shame in my game. I feel like this is one of the best shows going on tonight. I think Blitzen Trapper seems to be getting better with every release. If you have not heard their latest, Black River Killer, I suggest that you do. I have been listening to it all morning and it is good. To be fair, I guess the lead/ title track is from their last full length Fur, but the other six tracks are new. The thing I like the most about the band is their melodies. It seems like the vocal melody is a wave that kind of goes where ever it will and the music kind of rides it out. Y La Bamba is a female led six piece folk pop band that makes the most out of all the voices that the band contains. There are a lot of three part and even some four part vocal harmonies. The songs can range from stark arrangements to full on rock songs. From English to Spanish. From Spiritual to lost love. The one unifying element is Luz Elena's distinct and quite beautiful voice. The show is $13-$15 and starts at 9 PM.

The Banana Stand is having a show with Southern Belle, Bohdi, and Padriac Finbar Hagerty-Hammond. If I were not playing a show tonight this is the show I would be attending. Mostly because of Padriac Finbar Haggerty-Hammond and his wonderful songs. He is a really clever lyricist and has a really good sense of melody too. I think he has said that he wish he could write show tunes. Which makes sense because most of his sings are pretty narrative. Most of his songs are very sweet but some have a sense of longing that often hits a little too close to home for me. Whatevs. He is great. I swear I almost cry every time I hear his "X-Mas" song. Southern Belle is a band that seems well versed in indie pop and indie rock. I am not sure which one, but one of the band members has a voice that is a dead ringer for Spencer Krug (of Wolf Parade/ Sunset Rubdown). But there are two other vocalists which makes them pretty interesting. I am a fan of bands that have multiple songwriters (like Wolf Parade). Bohdi is a rock band. They seem to have a wide variety of influences and blend them very well. Maybe some Cars, I don't know...some other new wave-y bands. Oldies rock and roll? Whatever it is. It sounds good. Plus their keyboardist is Padriac Finbar Haggerty-Hammond. Over all this seems like a very fun show. The ALL AGES show is FREE and starts at 8 PM.

The Artistery is having a show with Rose Melberg (Vancouver, BC), Kellarissa (Vancouver, BC), and The Fall Colors. One of my favorite kinds of music growing up was female led indie pop bands. Guess what this show is. Glorious female led indie pop all around. The Fall Colors are a band that have gotten comparisons to Cannanes or The Clean (both very good compliments). Does that help you at all? If not you can always click on the link I have provided for you. Rose Melberg was in the group Tiger Trap and The Softies. Remember those bands? They were pretty cool. I especially liked The Softies. I must have listened to their album, Holiday In Rhode Island a million times. It was soft music with very pretty sleepy female harmonies. Rose Melberg's solo output is very similar to the Softies feel. Kellirissa sounds like lo-fi electro pop. It is not very dance-y, but seems to incorporate a lot synths and some beats. The ALL AGES show is $6 and starts at 8 PM.

Rotture is having Supernature with Breakfast Mountain, May Ling, DJ Copy, E*Rock, and DJ BJ (one of the dudes from Atole). So the deal with Supernature is that it is a dance party that occurs every month that is made up some live bands and the three resident DJ's (Copy, E*Rock, and DJ BJ). This is the 19th installment. Breakfast Mountain is the result of someone who loves dance music and hip hop and mixing them in to something upbeat and exciting. May Ling is basically Reporter sans a member and even more dance oriented. The resident DJ's are very experienced in keeping the audience dancing. So if you want to do a little or even a lot of booty shaking I suggest you go to this show. The show is $5 and starts at 9 PM.

Ella Street Social Club is having a show with Hillfolk Noir, and Shoeshine Blue. You know what. There is a lot of folk music. Honestly sometimes I feel like it is maybe too much folk music? But at the same time I really like it. When did everyone else decide that this was going to be the predominant form of music? It seems like an unlikely genre to champion. Whatever. Future Historians are very good at it adding a very nice touch of pop sensibilities to their folk. Hillfolk Noir are very country and blues leaning in their folk. Actually so is Shoeshine Blues. The last time I saw Shoeshine he was backed by two girls providing very beautiful backing harmonies and sometimes some flute. It was really nice. Jeez. I guess this is a really good show too. The show is $5 and starts at 9 PM.

If you see me at the show please say "Hi". If you go to any of the other shows have a good time.

-Ben


Padriac Finbar Haggert-Hammond plays for FREE at Banana Stand tonight.