Categories
Live music galleries

Live music galleries: Alvvays [2016]

(I got the idea for this series while sifting through the ‘piles’ of digital photos on my laptop. It occurred to me to share some of these great pics from some of my favourite concert sets from time to time. Until I get around to the next one, I invite you to peruse my ever-growing list of concerts page.)

Alvvays live @ Dragonboat Festival in 2016

Artist: Alvvays
When: June 25th, 2016
Where: Ottawa Dragonboat Festival, Ottawa
Context: I had already seen this Toronto-based indie pop band just the previous year and though they were good live, they weren’t so mind-blowing that I would’ve gone out of my way to see them again so soon. However, they were announced as headliner for one of the nights of the Ottawa Dragonboat Festival’s free concert series and I just couldn’t turn that down. Indeed, I’m not sure how they continue to do it but this festival continually books some of Canada’s hottest acts and does so without charging a cent for admission. Anyhow, a year of touring definitely agreed with Molly Rankin and her band Alvvays (pronounced “Always”) because they were phenomenal this time around, playing the hell out of their buzz-worthy, self-titled debut and pleasing to no end the indie kids up front with the album’s hits (like the one below).
Point of reference song:
Archie, marry me

Molly Rankin of Alvvays
Kerri MacLellan, Brian Murphy, and Phil MacIsaac of Alvvays
Alec O’Hanley and Molly Rankin of Alvvays
Molly Rankin, Brian Murphy, and Phil MacIssac of Alvvays
Kerri MacLellan of Alvvays
Molly Rankin of Alvvays
Categories
Live music galleries

Live music galleries: Young Galaxy [2012]

(I got the idea for this series while sifting through the ‘piles’ of digital photos on my laptop. It occurred to me to share some of these great pics from some of my favourite concert sets from time to time. Until I get around to the next one, I invite you to peruse my ever-growing list of concerts page.)

Young Galaxy live at Osheaga in 2012

Artist: Young Galaxy
When: August 4th, 2012
Where: Trees stage, Osheaga Music and Arts Festival, Montreal
Context: Young Galaxy played their last show for the foreseeable future this past weekend in Ottawa, having recently announced an indefinite hiatus. Unfortunately, I was unable to make the show because I was in Toronto for the Canadian Thanksgiving holiday, so instead, I’ll reminisce a bit and post pics about the time I saw them six years ago at Osheaga. It was one of the excruciating schedule conflicts I had to navigate that weekend: see The Raveonettes for the first time or see Young Galaxy in their hometown. I’ve never regretted my decision. They’re not only one of my favourite Canadian bands but one of my faves from all time and they’ve always been great live. This performance was the year after “Shapeshifting”, their first collaboration with Dan Lissvik, was released and signalled a shift towards a more electronic sound. Brilliant show, all told. 
Point of reference song:
We have everything

Stephen Ramsay of Young Galaxy
Stephen Kamp of Young Galaxy
Catherine McCandless of Young Galaxy
Matt Shapiro of Young Galaxy
Stephen Ramsay of Young Galaxy
Andrea Silver and Stephen Kamp of Young Galaxy
Catherine McCandless of Young Galaxy
Stephen Ramsay and Catherine McCandless of Young Galaxy
Categories
Live music galleries

Live music galleries: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club [2015]

(I got the idea for this series while sifting through the ‘piles’ of digital photos on my laptop. It occurred to me to share some of these great pics from some of my favourite concert sets from time to time. Until I get around to the next one, I invite you to peruse my ever-growing list of concerts page.)

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club live in 2015

Artist: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
When: September 20th, 2015
Where: East Main Stage, Toronto Urban Roots Festival, Toronto
Context: Just less than a month ago, I posted some words on how my younger brother Michael got me into Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. I followed them through all their albums, really falling head over heels with them with their third album, 2005’s “Howl”, but never got the chance to see them live, until three years ago (almost to the day) and almost 14 years after I heard the first notes of their self-titled debut. I had already procured an early bird pass to the penultimate edition (though none of us knew it then) of the Toronto Urban Roots Festival with my two concert buddies, Tim and Mark, when BRMC was added late to the last day of the festival. It was definitely a case of better late than never. I would recommend seeing them live to anyone who will listen.
Point of reference song:
Lose yourself

Peter Hayes and Leah Shapiro of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Leah Shapiro of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Robert Levon Been of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Robert Levon Been and Leah Shapiro of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Peter Hayes of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club