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CIVL News » 2009 » April

Archive for April, 2009

BRASSTRONAUT RETURNS!

Thursday, April 23rd, 2009

Is Brasstronaut a pop band? Is Brasstronaut a jazz band? Are they a confused jazz band redeemed by their pop sensibilities? Hey, Is that Edo Van Breemen from The Clips?

What is Brasstronaut? With trumpets riding on decidedly more complicated lines than typical pop music, lyrics that, alongside themes of colonialism display a serious sensitivity to “indie scene,” the constant refrain from reviewers proclaims the enigmatic nature Brasstronaut. And if we don’t know what they are, how can we tell if they are good at what they do?

Formed through an improvisational jam in late 2005, Brasstronaut released their first recorded offering in September 2008, entitled Old World Lies. The consistent feature of Edo Van Breemen on piano and vocals and Byron Davies on horns typifies the sound of Brasstronaut. Van Breemen’s vocals and Davies horn interlocking, matching one another along melody lines, Davies horn occasionally wandering into Dave Douglas, Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis inspired improvisations. Van Breemen’s relaxed vocals lamenting old world abuse, vapid posturing. Not biting, but a tired grieving. The album fills out the sound the two’s sound with upright bass, cello and percussion. It is pop music, yet intelligent, complicated, intricate classical and jazz influenced pop music. Too smart for pop music, but to pop for smart music.

Brasstronaut returns to Vancouver from their time in Toronto and celebrates the event with a performance at the Biltmore Cabaret, April 30th, 2009 along with the Fine Mist and DJ Warm-it-up-Chris.

Sorry About the Exams…

Friday, April 17th, 2009

I can’t resist. When Larry Portelance of the CanCon Containership highlighted this on his blog, it demanded to be shared. A week or two ago, Billy Bob Thornton and his “cosmic cowboy music” making band the BoxMasters entered studio Q of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation for an interview with Jian Ghomeshi.

The interview, never really got up on its feet with Billy Bob evading Jian’s questions with enigmatic responses of “I don’t know…I don’t really understand the question.” Watch the video to find out why, then make your own judgement.

To add to our enjoyment, Shane Nelkin and Tariq Hussein of CBC Radio 3 were quick to create this incisive spoof.

An excellent batch of shows this weekend.

Friday: Ozomatli, Sweatshop Union will be playing at the Commodore Ballroom. Collapsing Opposites, Search Parties, Apollo Ghosts, Zombie Pistolero @ the St. James Community Hall (All Ages - Pay What You Can)

SATURDAY

Black Kids and Mates of State play The Commodore Ballroom while BRUTAL FEST goes down at the Maritime Labour Center. Acts include Terror Syndrome, Divinity, Verbal Deception, First Reign, Alpha Trion, Ninja Spy, Gross Misconduct, 13th Prophet.

SUNDAY

Finally, to cap off the weekend catch the excellent Richard Swift and Vetiver @ The Biltmore Cabaret.

WEEKEND AGENDA

Friday, April 3rd, 2009

How did we not hype JunoFest last week? Well, it happened, and for the best review of what went down, your best bet is to track down Larry Portelance of the CanCon Containership and he will probably give you a good run-down.

Live music pickings are relatively slimmer this weekend. Yet perhaps only because of the past weekend’s absolute overload of sound. Here, I plan your weekend.

Friday night, you stumble by The Biltmore Cabaret, pay your $16 bones and catch a show with MIRAH, along with an opening performance from Tara Jane O’Neil.

Recover. Then, Saturday night Get into the Hot Panda, Fanshaw, and Vincat show happening on Saturday April 4th, 2009 at the Media Club.

If that doesn’t work out. Little Mountain Studio is hosting Fine Mist, GR8-2000, Nihilist Party, and London Drugs. That’s the band. Not the department store, or narcotics from the capital of the UK.

OH! And get this! April 5th. That’s this Sunday. Flemish Eye (That’s Chad Vangaalen’s wee gig) recording artists Women, with Nu Sensae and Kidnapping are playing at the Wise Hall. That’s the Wise Hall, 1882 Adanac St. 8:00PM.

Love from CIVL Radio