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It's Tuesday September the 4 around 8:42AM and

Rock On, Vancouver

The concert scene is supposed to cool down come Labour Day. Not this year for Vancouverites. September offers more hip-shaking, head-banging, toe-tapping, shroom-tripping good times than any month since … hmmm … well, I’ve been here. Every week has multiple shows that are must-see for music fans and they’re spread through the Lower Mainland’s many outstanding venues (civic strike permitting). There are even a couple of days where it’s hard to decide who to see. On Sept. 17, Mute Math plays the Commodore while Editors headline at Richard’s on Richards. Tip the door guy and see if he’ll let you run from one to the other between sets (might work at Richard’s, but not the stricter-than-a-nun’s-ruler Commodore).

Rock fans are especially happy because three iconic bands – the Flaming Lips, Smashing Pumpkins and Arctic Monkeys – strum into town. Squealing girls get to see Justin Timberlake and old folks will breathe some Aqualung with Jethro Tull. The Canadian scene is represented by singer/songwriters Matthew Good and City and Colour (aka Dallas Green). (Yeah, Honeymoon Suite’s coming too, but we’re highlighting the good, remember.)

Even when things go bad they work out just fine. Trashy Amy Winehouse cancelled her Commodore gig for Sept. 24, but that only means the guy scheduled as her opening act – Scottish sensation Paolo Nutini – becomes the headliner. Way better value as far as I’m concerned. And when the Orpheum can’t be used because of the no-end-in-sight civic strike, Crowded House’s show for Labour Day Monday was moved to Malkin Bowl, one of the best outdoor venues in the country (as long as it doesn’t rain).

Here are the highlights for the Vancouver music scene in September (***-I have my tickets; **-If I could afford it, I’d go; *-Give me a freebie and I’m there, and I’ll buy the first round):

Sept. 1-2: Gladys Knight, River Rock**
Sept. 2: Tokyo Police Club, Plaza Club*
Sept. 3: Crowded House (with Pete Yorn), Malkin Bowl***
Sept. 5: Justin Timberlake, GM Place*
Sept. 7: Spoon, Commodore**
Sept. 7: Wolf Parade, Richard’s**
Sept. 7: Velvet Revolver, Pacific Coliseum*
Sept. 8: Brian Jonestown Massacre, Commodre**
Sept. 12: Richard Thompson Band, Commodore*
Sept. 12: Sean Kingston, Plush*
Sept. 13: Medeski Scofield Martin and Wood, Commodore**
Sept. 14: King Yellowman, Commodore*
Sept. 17: City and Colour, Orpheum***
Sept. 17: Mute Math, Commodore*
Sept. 17: Editors, Richard’s**
Sept. 18: Flaming Lips, Orpheum***
Sept. 18: Hot Hot Heat, Commodore*
Sept. 20: Matthew Good, The Centre*
Sept. 21: Peter, Bjorn and John, Commodore**
Sept. 23: Perry Farrell’s Satellite Party, Commodore*
Sept. 24: Smashing Pumpkins, PNE Forum**
Sept. 24: Paolo Nutini, Commodore**
Sept. 24: Josh Rouse, Plaza Club*
Sept. 25: Korn, Pacific Coliseum*
Sept. 25: They Might Be Giants, Commodore*
Sept. 29: Jethro Tull, Red Robinson*
Sept. 30: Arctic Monkeys, PNE***
Sept. 30: The New Pornographers, Commodore*