OUT TO SEE: A YEAR IN PHOTOS (VANCOUVER & LOCAL MUSIC EDITION PART 2: APRIL – JUNE)
APRIL
Row 1: Get Set Go, The Slow Death, Twilight Sleep
Row 2: Whispertown 2000
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MAY
OUT TO SEE…ONE WEEKEND OF MUSIC (Part II of II)
Eagle Rock Music Festival
Saturday arrived and that meant one of my favorite festivals of the year was upon me: The Eagle Rock Music Festival. My intent was to get to the Eagle Rock Music Festival by 4 p.m. to catch Seasons, but around 2 p.m. I decided I needed a nap. As it turned out, the nap didn’t prevent me from catching Seasons. I made my way out of my apartment at around 4:30 p.m. and drove to the Eagle Rock Mall to catch the bus to the Festival. I was told that the buses weren’t going to start transporting people over to the Festival until 5 p.m. Hmm, having already missed Seasons (assumption at the time), I was intent on catching the next band on my list which was Moses Campbell. I was a bit irritated by this bus thing (why start at 5 p.m. when the festival kicked off at 4 p.m.) as I walked it – luckily the walk to the Festival isn’t that far.
I arrived at around 5 p.m. and would you know it, but things were a bit behind and so I was actually able to catch Seasons. My first couple hours at the Festival were a fun adventure. I got to catch the full set of Seasons. I then headed off to catch Moses Campbell. And then it was Downtown/Union and one of my favorite bands Manhattan Murder Mystery. Moses Campbell is a band that was mentioned to me by a guy while we waited for the metro Red Line. I’m happy I was eventually able to catch them. It was a fun set with the violinist busting a string within minutes of their start. They also sent out a plea that Echo Curio remain open. I do hope Echo Curio starts booking bands again. And as a friend had mentioned to me, I was able to see that Manhattan Murder Mystery had doubled in size. The last time I saw them they were a four piece band. I now saw them as an eight piece band. Maybe the next time I see them they’ll be at ten. It doesn’t matter. They rocked it.
From there, at least for me, I felt there was a little loll in my band options. I eventually headed off to the Razorcake Stage to catch Le Bestia and then hooked up with a friend and we headed off all the way to the other part of the festival to catch LA Vampires at the KOXY Stage. The only reason we headed down there was because I found the band name intriguing. The band played in total darkness on stage and the lead singer wore vampire glasses. Maybe that (the glasses) sounds cheesy, but I have to say I enjoyed the set – though I only caught about three-fourths of it as I was off back to the other side of the festival to catch a couple last songs of Wait. Think. Fast. – a band I missed out on seeing at Silverlake Jubilee. Now back to LA Vampires quickly. There is actually a connection here with the FYF Fest. The lead singer from LA Vampires used to be in a band with Best Coast. At the moment, Best Coast is having better success, but I’d keep an eye/ear out for LA Vampires.
The band of the event for me was The Submarines. I cannot say enough about how much I loved this band. It was like being enchanted. And of the bands I saw, I’d have to say they won over they crowd more than any other. Anyways, an interesting exchange happened between me and another camera guy. We were squeezed close to each other taking photos from slightly different angles. The other guy obviously wanted some photos from the angle I was at so he asked me, “Do you want to switch?” Of course, I eagerly agreed because I wanted some photos from where he was standing – even though we were within a few feet of each other.
From there I caught a bit of Walking Sleep until heading off to catch Toys that Kill. No diss here of Walking Sleep since in a previous blog I did write something up on them – I just needed to check out Toys that Kill. What better way to end a night out than some punk rock.
So this being one of my annual festivals, what did I notice? At one point as I was walking from one end to the other, I noticed this sea of people. It is unbelievable how large this event has grown over the years – though I have to admit some skepticism regarding how many people were there to see the bands versus just having a good time roaming the streets of Eagle Rock.
And to end the night a trio of us had some fun. My two friends offered to drive me to my car. We ended up driving all around Eagle Rock, the hills and valleys. It was a nice time to just talk after a long day of music.
Look for Notes from Vivace’s “Eagle Rock Music Festival in Photos” tomorrow (Friday)
For Part I click here
OUT TO SEE: SILVERLAKE JUBILEE PART 2 OF 2
If you missed my Part I, click here to read about Day 1 of Silverlake Jubilee.
Sunday, Day 2
Day 2 at the Silverlake Jubilee started later than Day 1 for me. I had brunch with friends at around 1 p.m. Come around 2:30 p.m., I went home and took a 30 minute nap. I was exhausted from my Saturday activities (once again, see Part I). After my nap, I drove on down to Silverlake Jubilee, parking along Hyperion (this is actually a semi-important point).
Santa Monica Stage
Silverlake Jubilee was on a tighter schedule for day 2 versus day 1. The first band of the afternoon for me was Lilofee. They started their set with an awesome wall of sound.
Comment: “We’re so excited to play here. We’re half way from Los Angeles and half way from San Francisco.”
Noticed: Lead singer had this female claw motion.
Sunset Stage
Next was a brief encounter with Seasons. I only caught half their set, if that. By missing half of Seasons’ set, I realized that Silverlake Jubilee had Sunday’s schedule tightened up compared to Saturday’s.
Comment: “We’ve got to make sure we’re in tune for our last song.”
Santa Monica Stage
I caught part of Division Day’s set where I heard the lead singer doing the sound check by saying, “Potato. Potato. Potato. Banana. Banana. Banana. Elephant. 
Elephant. Elephant. Potato.”
Noticed: Couldn’t help but notice the yellow shaker used by the drummer. I have no clue why this caught my attention, but it did.
Sunset Stage
Yes, at this point I was spinning with my constant back and forth between the two stages and had to settle down.
I stuck around the Sunset Stage to catch the Monolators’ full set. While standing near the stage, one of the band members kicked an opened Gatorade bottle. Gatorade flew towards the audience and the handful of us near the stage back paddled a couple feet. “I just wanted to add some special effects,” was the comment made afterwards.
Comment: “Does anyone know what a fop tie is?” (more…)
OUT TO SEE: WHISPERTOWN 2000, CHASING KINGS, SEASONS, TWILIGHT SLEEP
(click on images to enlarge)
First Anticipated Band
Back in December 2008, a friend suggested we all go and check out a band called Whispertown 2000. A small group of us headed off to the Relax Bar. Before Whispertown 2000 went on stage, my friend stated that she was too tired to stick around and headed home. Most of the group left with her, leaving just me and one other friend. We caught their set and then had a late night dinner at the Asian restaurant next door.
Ever since that night, I’ve mentioned off and on to my friend (the one who made the suggestion, not the one who stuck around with me) about catching Whispertown 2000. Unlike a number of local bands I follow, Whispertown 2000 doesn’t play too often in Los Angeles (or I don’t notice when they play in town) so when those handful of chances to catch Whispertown 2000 came up over the last year and a half the timing just didn’t work out with our schedules. Finally, I found a night I thought would work for both of us. “Whispertown 2000 is playing April 27th at Silverlake Lounge, are you in?” Technically, it was just Morgan doing a set. My friend replied yes and then a couple days before the set, she decided it was more of a maybe. Then the night of the 27th, it was no.
I figured I’d head over by myself.
I caught the last half of The Chasing Kings. They play some powerful music and along for the ride was an artist who was set up on stage, painting throughout their set. I couldn’t see much and don’t have any photos to share of their set as I was stuck in the back. If anyone hasn’t been to Silverlake Lounge, it is long and narrow and so it can be difficult to get to the front of the stage unless you’re willing to push your way through the crowd. (If you catch the movie Greenberg – I wouldn’t recommend it – there is a scene set within Silverlake Lounge.)
After the band finished up, the crowd dispersed and I made my way up to the front of the stage. Sometimes when I head out unusual moments just stick out in my mind. As I was hanging near the front of the stage, a guy walked up and plopped himself down in front of the stage. He sat there and when he caught Morgan’s eye, (more…)
NOTES FROM VIVACE’S APRIL PLAYLIST…
Garbaj Kaetz (pictured right): “Girl from the Street”
Seasons: “The Weight”
Schoenberg Knife Fight Ensemble (pictured right): “Middle East Song”
Day of the Outlaw: “Master Disaster”
Princeton: “Calypso Gold”
Princeton ‘Calypso Gold’ from kay kanine on Vimeo.
Oh, The Spanish Moss (pictured right): “Coal Black Lungs”
Roll the Tanks: “Police Me”
The Dharma Bums (pictured right): “Why Be Sad”
