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SCENE AND HEARD showcases the independent music scene here in Vancouver. We interview some of our favourite local artists, post weekly guest playlists comprised of Vancouver artists and ‘Last Week in Music’ highlights some of the concerts happening around the city... |
Remember all those great shows that I was going to go see last week? Well I had a fire in my apartment so instead of doing anything music related I cleaned everything I own and moved apartments this week. Never fear! I still managed to send my friend, and fellow music-lover, Cameron Bode to see Hard Core Logo: Live! on Thursday and have his review below!
THIS WEEK IN MUSIC: starts tonight! I'd say you should come catch Rain City Chronicals at St James Hall at 7pm but IT'S SOLD OUT, so I hope you have your tickets!!! If you are out of luck head to the Railway to see Sun Wizard, Louise Burns, Debra Jean and the Means, and Rolla Olak. Wednesday is not only VIA's 3 year anniversary, but Talent Time's too, so head to the Biltmore for the show. Thursday I'm heading to see a PuSh Festival show called Peter Panties, which runs Feb 2-13 at The Cultch. Friday is another smorgasbord of fun which you should start with our co-sponsored Book Launch of The Beggar's Garden then go see some music: Sweetheart at The Media Club, Gord Grdina Trio at the Railway, or dance at the Barbarella launch at the Waldorf! On Saturday, this week's playlist creator, Top Less Gay Love Tekno Party will be playing at The Cobalt! And last but not least, LMNOP will be at Raw Canvas on Super Bowl Sunday :) Have a fire-free week!
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Here's Cameron's write-up!:
"Staging a production of the much loved novel and film Hard Core Logo would be a mean feat for any theatre company. Walking into the lobby of the Rickshaw Theatre one gets the feeling that even if luck never came to the band of the same name, it is certainly on the side of the November Theatre/Theatre Network commissioned show that is about to start.
There, standing next to the beer lineup are two members of Vancouver’s punk rock pantheon: Joe ‘Shithead’ Keithley and Nardwuar the Human Serviette. Turns out there is more than just luck at work; both had been brought in early on as part of the creative team for Hard Core Logo:Live. The payoff of having these kinds of living, breathing punk voices (Joe Keithley is known as The Godfather of Canadian Punk for good reason) is evident from the onset of the show. The ensemble cast shines throughout, playing off one another perfectly in both the telling of the story as well as in live music set pieces.
Make no mistake about it, these boys are a band, bringing as much energy and chops to the stage as any number of great, actively touring acts. The effort in casting these roles and then putting them together through countless rehearsal hours would be hard to overstate.
While a dark current does run through a story that sees four miscreants in their mid-thirties hastily reforming their band for a cannonball run-like tour taking them through Canada’s western provinces in a week at the onset of winter (of course music fans are in love with this tale!), the show is never lacking in hilarity. With wonderful character material to draw upon, and great timing and chemistry from the actors, the action is always up tempo and moving, even if the tour bus itself has briefly been halted due to an encounter with a moose!
Hard Core Logo: Live runs as part of the PuSh International Performing Arts Festival at the Rickshaw Theatre (254 East Hastings St.) through February 6th and is not to be missed. Showtime is at 8pm and tickets are just $25, available here. If you are able to make it to the Saturday, February 5th performance, make sure to stick around afterward for a free acoustic set from Mecca Normal (which is made up of "DIY Political Punk Pioneers' Jean Smith and David Lester). Still not enough punk for you? Check out POST NO BILLS - Selections from the Vancouver Punk Collection, which is on display now in the Museum of Vancouver’s Public Exhibition Space for FREE until February 26th.
-Words by Cameron Bode
-Photos by Bev Davies
