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Vancouver October Concert Listings: Get a Fix of Broken Social Scene

Remember 20 years ago when Canadian music went from laughable (oh, hey, BTO’s on the radio again) to pretty damn cool in what seemed like a matter of months? Thanks to VideoFACT and MuchMusic (which actually played videos in their entirety back then), Canadian acts were showcased nationally and many of us liked what we saw and heard. Actually, we liked it a tonne. From 1986-1989, the Tragically Hip, Blue Rodeo, Sarah McLachlan, Tom Cochrane & Red Rider, and 54-40 all released debut albums to critical and commercial success. Before their arrival, DJ’s were stuck with such a lack of home-grown choice a drinking game could be played every time a Canadian Content regulation was fulfilled. (That’s “Standing in the Dark” by Platinum Blonde, they're from Canada - take a shot!) Luckily for us, our best musicians got their due. Those of us who have enjoyed their careers from the beginning felt a sense of national pride that we could produce talent more than capable of holding its own on stage with whatever came out of New York or London or Sydney.

Since then, Canada’s continued to produce outstanding acts, but the corporate machine has won out. If this was still 1987, Kathleen Edwards, Matt Mays, Stars and Classified would be as successful as the Hip, Maestro Fresh Wes and McLachlan were then. While the critical acclaim for Canadian music has never been greater, commercial success isn’t there unless you can land a deal with Apple to get your video constantly shown on iPod commercials (are you sick of “1-2-3-4” by Leslie Feist yet?). Instead, bland, gimmicky acts get the attention and many of us have to dig for the great music within our borders.

One of the best comes to town this month when Broken Social Scene plays the Commodore. These guys and gals aren’t only among the most talented bands going, they’ve got the coolest collective around. Based in Toronto, they only have two permanent members (Brendan Canning and Kevin Drew), but the band can at any time include 19 musicians who drop in and out of recording sessions. When they play live, you never know who you might get. BSS members include Feist, Jason Collett, members of Stars, Metric, Apostle of Hustle and Treble Charger. They play award-winning music that’s ambient, psychedilic and, at its best, mesmerizing. Hear ’em play songs by Drew on Oct. 25 and don't surprised to see something of an encore on Oct. 29 when Apostle of Hustle (aka Andrew Whiteman) takes the stage. (Watch Apostle of Hustle - National Anthem of Nowhere)

(Black Francis, Credit: Will Fresch)

Here are my highlights for the Vancouver concert scene in October (***-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):

Oct. 1: Klaxons, Commodore*
Oct. 1: The Aliens, Richard's*
Oct. 2: Chris Cornell, The Centre**
Oct. 2: Built to Spill, Commodore***
Oct. 2: Dick Dale, The Yale*
Oct. 3: The National (with St. Vincent opening), Commodore***
Oct. 3-4: Black Francis, Richard's*
Oct. 4: Down, Commodore*
Oct. 6: Foreigner, Red Robinson Theatre*
Oct. 6: The Weakerthans, Commodore**
Oct. 10: Nick Lowe, Richard's***
Oct. 11: Mondo Generator, Commodore*
Oct. 12: Sum 41 and Finger Eleven, GM Place*
Oct. 17: Kanye West and Ludacris, GM Place**
Oct. 17: Tokyo Police Club, The Plaza Club*
Oct. 19-20: 54-40, Commodore***
Oct. 20: Final Fantasy, Richard's*
Oct. 20: Ozzy Osbourne and Rob Zombie, GM Place*
Oct. 21: Brad Paisley and Taylor Swift, GM Place*
Oct. 21: The Mobius Band, Media Club**
Oct. 25: State Radio, Richard's**
Oct. 25: Broken Social Scene, featuring songs of Kevin Drew, Commodore***
Oct. 26: Justin Nozuka, Media Club*
Oct. 27: Brandi Carlile, Commodore***
Oct. 29: Apostle of Hustle, Commodore***
Oct. 30: Henry Rollins, The Centre**
Oct. 30: Boys Like Girls, The Plaza Club*
Oct. 30: Billy Joel, GM Place**

Posted by The Van Music Fan | Link |