A happy-go-lucky English rambler dude goes to New Zealand for a year. Here he interfaces with some of those he left behind and details his nefarious activities. Or summat.
Recently clicked on MP3s - 7th June 2005 The Lucksmiths - Warmer Corners
Jens Lekman - When i said i wanted to be your dog
The Trashcan Sinatras - Weightlifting
Teenage Fanclub - Man Made
Laura Veirs - Carbon Glacier
The Decemberists - Picaresque
The Eels - Blinking Lights
Wednesday, August 14, 2002
Went to the Mum gig last night (How cool is that? Going to see an Icelandic band in Vancouver), wonderful in every possible way.
The venue, 'Richard's on Richards', was nicely laid out (I watched the gig from up on a balcony), had plenty of character, and a cool red brick wall behind the band, that you seem to see in loads of North American venues. I learnt however, that in a previous, slightly seedier, life it was called Dicks on Dicks, ahem, and a had an entirely different clientele). Click here for pics of the venue.
As well as a good looking venue, the band themselves were fairly intruiging in appearance. The three lads all wore matching heavy metal band t-shirts, and the two twin sisters in the group both looked like extras from a BBC adaptation of The Railway children - petticoats a go-go!
Last but not least, they sounded incredible too. Obviously a talented bunch (Swapping instruments willy-nilly), they were playing the most bizarre range on instruments i've ever seen on the same stage. Cello's, guitars, keyboards, Moogs, an accordian, a kids-mini-air-keyboard-thing (Not sure if that's it's proper name) and the drummer's kit included a colander, dustbin lid, a strange clicky thing that he had to wind up as well as a cymbal that he raised and lowered into a bucket of water while playing it. Impressive.
I was slightly worried that their music might not have been that entertaining to watch/hear live, but it wasn't nearly as ambient as i had imagined, and the band were great to watch. They certainly can't be described as an ambient Belle and Sebastian anyway! I'd say it was more like the theme music to an underwater mystery film, where a Sperm Whale detective goes around investigating aquatic intrigue, and having adventures. Possibly. They were great anyway, and their cd is now high on my shopping list.
