Wednesday, October 3
B-Real, Pocket Kings, Sirreal, JM Drumbeats, DJ Speedy Shoes
Club 90ne9, $25, 9 pm
Ever since the smoking ban came about in BC, it must really be hard for these guys to get away with their herbacious hobbies. I mean, at least back in the day you might be able to make it look like you were just smoking a cigarette. Hell, nowadays the bouncer might even toss the band out for smoking onstage. B-Real is from Cypress Hill. It’s not a place; it’s a hip-hop group.
Thursday, October 4
Rise Against, Gaslight Anthem, Hot Water Music
Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, $29.50-$43, 6 pm
My little sister is so excited about this show. She got tickets for her birthday, so she’s taking the French exchange student that’s visiting right now. I don’t even think that she’s ever been to a real concert before.
Friday, October 5
Acres of Lions, Fall in Archaea, Transit, Everyone Everywhere, The Harbour Sound
Logan’s Pub, $10, 9 pm
“I never got a reaction from you. Even when I pushed and pulled at you. Even when I screamed and called your name, there was no reaction from you.” For some reason my son just loves that tune by Acres of Lions. Maybe it’s the catchy bit when the singer’s heart is beating “bah bah, bah bah.” That’s all I need for a song to get stuck in my head. Just repeat a “woo hoo” or a “yeah, yeah, yeah” or even a “hey, hey” and I’m done for. It gets embedded in my brain for days. I’m no scientist, but there must be some science behind that kind of thing.
Friday, October 5
Dustin Bentall and the Smokes, Ryan Guldemond
Lucky Bar, $15, 8 pm
I heard Dustin Bentall sing the anthem at a Canucks game once. It sounded pretty damn good. He was singing with his dad (a.k.a. Barney Bentall), though, so it was like this beautiful proud moment of father/son harmonizing. Come to think of it, he might’ve opened for another band I went to see. You know how sometimes you’re just so intent on the headliner that no matter how good the opening band is, they might as well be playing polka hits from the ’50s? Yeah, it might have been something like that.
Saturday, October 6
Scimitar, Robot Metropolis, Pledge of Arrogance
Logan’s Pub, $8, 9 pm
Have you ever tried to do any Flash animation? I’m trying to figure it out right now for a project. I had high hopes, but I think I’m going to need to start small. It’s either that or I get some coaching from a friend of mine. He gets paid to do Flash. Must be nice. One of the guys in Scimitar spent some serious hours plugging away at a Flash project. I got a chance to voice a character in his story. Turned out to be pretty damn funny. Ask him about it if you go to this show. Tell him I sent you.
Thursday, October 11
Andre Nickatina, Mistah F.A.B., Mumbls
Club 90ne9, $25, 9 pm
One of my buddies can just spout new lyrics to well-known tunes without any preparation. No matter where we are or what we’re doing, he just throws something out there and it sounds perfect. I can’t even do it justice by trying to explain it to you right now. You just kind of have to be there, in the moment. It’s uncanny, really. Sure, he’s really into music, plays guitar like nobody’s business, spins some records and stuff, but he’s got some “Weird Al” type of talent that’s quite amazing. Oh, and he loves Andre Nickatina.
Sunday, October 14
Stanton Warriors, Drumsound and Bassline Smith, Whoa, Grenade!
Upstairs Cabaret, $20, 10 PM
People love to dance. It’s a broad generalization, but it’s true. Moving your body to music is just such a natural thing. It’s not like everybody knows how to do it. I’m pretty sure the majority of those on the dance floor at any given moment look ridiculous. Some are downright comical. Therein lays the beauty. When someone can just let loose with reckless abandon and lose themselves in the moment, that’s a beautiful thing. I usually laugh my ass off from the side of the dance floor. It’s pure entertainment, much like Stanton Warriors breaks.