Showing posts with label Vancouver. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vancouver. Show all posts

Tuesday, 9 March 2010

Jasper Sloan Yip unveils new album



If you wasn't at Jasper Sloan Yip's album launch party on Saturday night then you missed a hell of a party. It was held at a packed Cafe Deux Soleils on Commercial Drive which was the perfect venue for everyone to come and watch Jasper and his band perform their new album on the cafe's tiny stage.

Every Day and All at Once is the second album from Jasper Sloan Yip and his band - Mark Brichon on bass/banjo, Graham Serl on drums, Stephanie Chapman on violin and VO's very own John Tanner on keyboard. Versatile and dynamic, the five of them bring their instruments together and fuse a warm, folky sound that makes every day feel like summer. Produced at Vertical Studios with help from Tom Dobrzanski who produced bands such as Said The Whale, Hey Ocean! and We Are The City, Every Day and All At Once has to be the album of the summer…or any season for that matter.

When I first saw Jasper perform back in Summer 2008 with his first EP, White Elephant, I knew I was witnessing a great talent. In those days he would grace the stage by himself and his trusted acoustic guitar and ukulele with occasional help from Mark on banjo. Even then, you could see what a great guitarist and lyricist he was but give a musician a bit of time and a trip throughout Europe and they will always come back to smack you in the face in the form of album number two.

With the softened drumbeat on 'Transit,' soulful guitar solos on 'Today' and reggae beats on 'Back and Forth and To and Fro' show how Jasper has grown as a musician and songwriter. Besides getting hold of four talented band mates, Every Day… shows experimentation with different musical styles and lyrics that are pure poetry and don't even get me started on that voice. His voice has gained so much range and strength that he can blow an entire room away. That isn't even an understatement as he proved this on Saturday night during the encore.

Re-recorded and completely stripped down to his old roots of ukulele and banjo, 'Postcards' was one of the first songs I heard back in 2008 and now I was seeing it again as a powerful encore and an even better version of the original. With delicate ukulele strums and vocals blasting and bouncing around the room, 'Postcards' was the perfect way to wrap up an awesome show and prove to us that this is going to be Jasper's year.

Check out upcoming shows and listen to new tracks at www.myspace.com/jaspersloanyip

For more live photos from the show go the the Flickr gallery


Wednesday, 10 February 2010

The Editors at Commodore Ballroom Feb 6th

The Editors played at Vancouver's Commodore Ballroom on Saturday. You can find the review and photos at Limewire | Vancouver Observer | Flickr

Editors Website

Wednesday, 20 January 2010

What a winner!



My winning photograph at the Vancouver Photo Marathon exhibition for the theme 'Perform.' You can see all 12 images here

Wednesday, 29 July 2009

Social Distortion - Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver July 17th

A 30 year celebration for these punk rockers with a double show in Vancouver. For more photos and the full review by my boy Cory A. Ross go to Flickr and Limewire.

Social Distortion website and myspace

Friday, 24 July 2009

Andrew WK at Biltmore Cabaret, Vancouver


A super crazy show at The Biltmore for Andrew WK's stop in Vancouver. For the full review, go to Limewire Music Blog. For more photos, Flickr

Thursday, 4 June 2009

Peaches at Commodore, Vancouver May 31st

photos by Amplify This!

Leotard-wearing, sex-loving, electro-clash singer Peaches put on an electrifying show at Commdore Ballroom. For the full review head over to Big Shot Magazine

More photos at Amplify This!

Saturday, 30 May 2009

No Use For A Name at Richards, Vancouver

photos by Amplify This!

Punk rockers No Use For A Name stopped by Vancouver on their huge North American tour for a powerful, kick ass show. Die hard fans had tears of joy forming at the corner of their eyes to witness their heroes in the flesh play a collection of old and new. While his mouth open in awe, my boy was there to assist me with the review which you can find at Limewire Music Blog.

For more photos of the show, go to Flickr

NUFAN website / myspace

Tuesday, 19 May 2009

The Stills - Commodore Ballroom May 8th

photo by Amplify This!

Live show for recent Juno winners, The Stills. Full review over at Limewire Music

More photos at AT! Flickr


Monday, 20 April 2009

The Roots and Tokyo Police Club

photos by Amplify This!

So I have lacked on the live reviews recently which is funny as I have actually been to a lot of shows. I'll start with AMS Block Party at UBC in Vancouver. A student haven of beer, weed and loud music.
Making their way from Ontario, Tokyo Police Club were main support and gave us a kick with twangy guitars and dance beat drums. I was pleased I finally got to see them live as it was worth the wait.

The Roots were the main performance and the crowd were clearly saving themselves for this part of the show. Shame they were all wasted.
Seven strapping men come stomping across the stage with tuba intact to perform a hugely powerful set. I am not too familiar with The Roots apart from a lot of people loving them so all I will say is that they were really very good.


The Roots Site / Myspace

Tokyo Police Club Site / Myspace

More photos at Amplify This! Flickr