Vancouver gigs: Walk Off The Earth at Fusion Fest

Herself has a huge music/teenage crush on Walk Off The Earth and in particular the charasmatic Gianni. Despite technically being the second best looking in the band, I have to agree that he does have a certain charm! When we came to Canada 'See Walk Off The Earth' was on our list of things that were improbable but nice to pretend we'd actually do. After a few days of not simply just looking up their tour dates, I took it on myself to check the dates and whadyaknow, they were playing the very next weekend for free at the Surrey Fusion Fest.

Surrey seems like a terrible place from what I've seen of it on the news (gangland shootings, robberies etc) but the festival was just on the outer edge of the district in a huge outdoor park. We got there after work, poked around the international food stalls and then wandered up to the stage to see Walk Off The Earth. It was fairly easy, like.

The band pretty much bounced on stage and never stopped moving the entire time. Sprinkling in original songs with their own unique cover versions (okay, usually reggae/ska-tinged cover versions) WOTE throw guitars around the stage, change between instruments at will and even get their crew invovled at various points of the gig with drum interludes and backing vocals.

The band are making the most of their rising popularity and are, wait for it, are a touring band that are actually having fun. Be it cheesy choreographed stage moves, sign-prompted audience participation or ukelele prizes (for real), they try to get everyone in the party mood. Including, in a very direct way, myself and herself. Mid-song, Gianni gets off stage and heads in our direction to dance with us. I get into a strange   hug/bounce/singalong with him (I'm not the most gifted dancer in the world and being at the centre of attention isn't a natural place for me) and herself screams herself silly before dancing with him as he dances past. Life made.

I don't go to many non SCENE gigs these days but I'd recommend these guys to anyone. Check 'em before they get MEGA famous as opposed to regular famous - Walk Off The Earth

Have you listened to Tsunami Bomb?

Like Farse, Tsunami Bomb are one of those bands I associate so much with listening to skate punk as a teenager (and watching P-Rock TV) that I forget other people might not know them so well. Like the college brah wheeling another keg into another house party who doesn't know why the singer of The Wonder Years doesn't just loosensup and has some fun, I have a mental block where I just assume everyone into punk etc had the same musical upbringing as me. Where in reality I lived in rural Ireland, yada yada..

It's like god looked at Brody Dalle and went 'Crap, let me try that again..there..that's better.'

Tsunami Bomb had what seemed like a winning formula: Relatively good looking female singer (who is automatically hotter in the sausagefest that is punk) + catchy major key songs + vaguely rebellious subject matter = $$$. Unfortunately after some quality work Tsunami Bomb hit a shitstorm of band drama and eventually broke up in 2005.

In a nostalgia multipack, this video is ripped from p-rock AND a drummer in a band I was in based our band name around this song and passed it off as his own idea. The fiend. So this is probably one of their most famous songs. Based around the same 4 chords as in every other song, with a snazzy riff  and of course sweet vocals and a catchy chorus. Not sure what's going on with the tattoo segments of the video. I mean, obvious there are continuity errors all over the gaf because she doesn't have any tatts in the 'live' parts..but..there's photos of her with tattoos from Tsuanmi Bomb era and then without in more recent pics...hmmmm.

In this video Agent M spends alot of time running for some reason and generally looking a bit lovely and she sings with a dignity, restraint and grace that everyone can enjoy. For some reason the band really seem to be holding back during the 'live' sections, not sure why, maybe they were told to tone down the punk elements. This song also showcases the backing vocals of the guy who wants to look like Matt Skiba. While his vox are somewhere in a middleground of meh between singing and a hardcore shout, his parts do add a hook. Also, the drummer never seems to look at the camera. Does she give the finger at 2.20?!?

This is one of my favourite TB songs. It sticks to the same formula pretty much but it's a winning formula.

This was unreleased for the most part and bloody hard to find on youtube. Another song based around G, C and F, another winner.

They also did crappy teenage pop punk style songs in their earlier days, yay! This one is about how Irish boys suck cos they chat her up and then pass out so naturally it strikes a chord with meself. I still love you, Emily. Or at least the version of you who sings this song.

And a last one, a fast one with some PUNK RAWK SHOUTING! She can do it all folks.

So yeah, I could post all of their songs here because they're all classics. Some of the best songs are the ones that were never released as singles. Check them out if you haven't already.

I found this in a second-hand (Martin Millar) book

Writing a blog can seem like fun and games but the truth is that much of the time it's a slippery slope towards becoming a hipster douchebag. You're always just one pretentious post with some black and white photos, some dodgy poetry or a guide to skinny jeans away from being someone Michael Cera would play in an indie comedy for young adults.

I fear this post could be the catylst to this blog becoming another self-absorbed plea for gratification of a clusterfudge but sure what harm. I like second-hand books and I especially like when books have notes left inside them. This goes back to library books that would have ultimately pointless instructions scrawled in the margins under the pretence of a bit of juicy goss at the end, and was rekindled when I found a Terry Pratchett book that had been given as an anniversary present and then eventually given away. But I resisted the temptation to start compiling such discoveries..UNNNTILLL NOOWWWW..

My copy of The Good Fairies Of New York contains this note -

 
It's innocent enough. Presumably 'C' didn't find it as Fab as the gift giver as the book was subsequently given away. I mean, if this was a horror film there would be some more sinister reason but then I'd have to find a photo in the book of a creepy kid or something to thicken the plot..

Vancouver gigs: Strung Out

This one time at a Strung Out gig, I got dumped on stage after crowdsurfing. But more on that later...

I've kind of missed out a bit on Strung Out to be honest. Don't get me wrong, I've loved every song of theirs that I've heard but through my own fault I hadn't tracked down their albums until lately when I started properly listening to their later albums. When I saw they were playing here in Vancouver I jumped at the opportunity. Only problem was they were playing two of their earlier albums in their entirety. Joke was on me.

After some bewildering walking around in circles I found the venue, which was a rectangular underground place, at the back of a building, wedged between a Honda dealership and some other warehouses. In the queue I got talking to a guy called John whose family had been run out of Galway generations ago. Both John and I had resigned ourselves to having a quiet drink on our ownsomes and were delighted to have someone else to get merrily drunk with. John recommended me a horrible dark beer but made up for it by later recommending the beer-choice of hipsters, PBR, which was cheap and in can form.

Precursor

First off, perfect name for an opening band. Secondly, great band (more on that later). Thirdly, I've only just looked them up on Facebook to see they are made up of ex members of Daggermouth, The Fullblast and others?! Whaaaat?

So now I feel slightly foolish for thinking of them as a start up band. But let us move on. Precursor combine vocals that are melodic but gritty reminiscent of early Rise Against, Bouncing Souls or a more intense version of Polar Bear Club. They play punk rock with some fiddly bits and some nice drumming. (Again, with their history this is no surprise).

Looking back, it was clear that they know what they're doing (the singer DID say they had been around in bands for ages...) they were tight, the songs well crafted and their gear and sound were far better than any opening act I've seen in a long time. Check Precursor out on Facebook.

Handguns

I have 'defended' pop punk for about 10 years now. I don't mean it in the Man Overboard way, just in that I try to call people who hate on Blink 182 but will swear blindly that Fall Out Boy are a great band who write pop songs but play their own instruments and that makes it ok. Don't both bands do that? And aren't both bands pretty sweet? Handguns however are one of the pop punk bands that give pop punk a bad name. They are essentially the 'that guy' of pop punk.

Firstly, there's the high-pitched whiney vocals. Again, I'm someone who has listened solidly to Tom Delonge for about 12 years now and I've also enjoyed the occasional Set Your Goals song. But this, no.

Then there's the acting and dressing like the most SWAGMERCH of hardcore dudes. Stomping with a backwards baseball cap and stick your mic in the face of one of the three fans you have up the front who are fistpumping with their mouths open. Without actually really adding very much hardcore to your music. I'm not quite sure why this annoys me but it does. I mean, at least Daggermouth had the music to backup the hardcore influences.

Derp! DERP! HERP! DERRRRRP!

 Such Gold

This photo needs it's own post. So much lol.

While this almost definetely makes me a hypocrite, I quite like Such Gold! I know, they fall into the same DUDE HARDCORE INFLUENCED POP PUNK BRO style as the lads above, but I think they pull it off better and have some great songs. On the night I felt that the two backing vocalists actually sounded better than the main guy but otherwise they sounded good.

While they are expanding their influences (which should be a good thing), I think the first two EPs may be my favourite Such Gold. The strongest songs from their EPs went down the best on the night and I hope that they have upped their game for the album so that they don't end up being a 'singles' band. You know, they might be on your mp3 player, but it's just one or two songs.

Strung Out

Put simply, Strung Out are one of the most talented punk bands in the world and probably the most technically gifted punk band I have ever seen live. In a scene that is predominantly made up of young guys pumped up on angst, hormones and whatever stimulants they can get their grubby little hands on, Strung Out stand out live the scarily fit 65 year old at the tennis club.

Storming through Suburban Teenage Wasteland Blues and Twisted By Design with barely a pause for breath Strung Out leave pretty much everyone in their sweaty wake and are still having fun after all the years. The set is metaphor of their career, notable for musical prowess, energy and stamina. To be honest the crowd started to wilt towards the end but that's understandable for the sweatbox that is the Biltmore. I took up residence by the bass speakers on the floor at the side of the stage and it was pretty sweet to watch the band at work from that close. Oh yeah, and I was onstage briefly when I was unceremoniously dumped there after a brief crowdsurf. After the gig, and after a bit of walking around in a bewildered daze I got a taxi with my new friend and headed for home. Good times.

How good is this Under The Sea cover by Suburban Legends

One of the worst things about having a girlfriend into Disney films and Ska/pop-punk is that I have to sit through said Disney films, listen to the songs at various times and then also have to hear various covers of the same songs.

Ah, who am I kidding, it's pretty sweet! The latest find (awhile ago) was this Under The Sea cover from The Little Mermaid by Suburban Legends.

Oh hai girls, we're rebellious but cute!

Of course this makes perfect sense from a marketing point of view for the band:

• Taking an existing song and covering it is a classic technique to get new fans but they have the plus of it being an era-spanning film soundtrack song
• Bonus 'OMG they're so different and DGAF' points for being sensitive enough to like Disney but cool enough not to care is the punx judge them. Maaaan.

I'll eventually check out their other songs (which is exactly what the band want, dammit) but for now I'm happy enough with this find.

Alan Bagh is Birdemic not the room, lol

When Alan Bagh, star of Birdemic: Shock and Terror, added me on Twitter I couldn't resist some light trolling of the man who has committed some of the worst crimes against acting ever caught on camera.

Successful troll is successful

What's even better though, is that there is going to be a sequel. How ballsy is Alan Bagh? Lolololol amazeballs.

Bill is a struggling filmmaker; Gloria is an aspiring actress.  Rod, a Silicon Valley millionaire finances Bill’s film, a dream come true until eagles and vultures attack Hollywood and its up to Rod, his girlfriend Nathalie, new friends and old to mount the resistance.  Who will survive?

If you haven't seen Birdemic, then check out my post about it here to get a taste of what it's about.

Meet Buddies Say: Ho - French Easycore Strikes Again!

If it wasn't for all the French ppl I'd consider moving to France for some sweet easycore action. As well as Can't Bear This Party!, Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! and (the female fronted melodic hardcore) Bigblast, there is also newbies (I think?) Buddies Say: Ho!

Is it me or do the rest of the band seem sheepish because of ZANY GUY at the back? I'm guessing he's the keyboard player?

The Good Days And Cliches Guide To Becoming A French Easycore Band goes as follows:

1. Choose a wacky band name. It doesn't matter if it makes sense, you're French and that's charming! Exclamation marks = fun!!!
2. (Closely linked to pt 1) Grammar? You don't need it! Your potential fans won't care that you've made yourselves difficult to find online because you've thrown punctuation in like a blind man trying to season a meal cooked in a blender on a bouncy castle.
3. Sing in English, with a slight American twang while maintaining your French accent at times. This will ensure no one has a fucking clue what you're singing about and you'll seem more poetic.
4. Breakdowns are essential, if your vocalist can sing any of his styles over them, all the better.
5. Occasionally throw in a curveball to distinguish your sound from American easycore. This can be achieved with an intelligent drummer, forays into metal(core), a xylophone (though CBTP! have done that..still it sounds good so copy it) and maybe a singer who isn't whiney but can actually sing and for bonus point can do heavier stuff too.

BSH stick to this rulebook like the smell of garlic, onions and cigarettes stick to your beret. This makes for a winning combination for me at least! I'm pretty impressed with the range of vocals and while I may joke about them being slightly generic, there is a huge difference between the mid-tempo easycore and breakdowns of Breathe, My Hero, the crabcore-esque Fury and the epic Saved By A Living Dead, which could possibly be the first easycore song that could work in a festival/stadium rock gig or even as support to BMTH. 'Now everybody scream "OHHHH!"'

I can't find much of them on Ootube but you can stream their debut EP on bookface.