Jimmy Eat World Comes to Vancouver May 21

Back in 2001, “The Middle” was my jam. Jimmy Eat World had just come out with their breakthrough album Bleed American, and the song was everywhere. It was great. The lyrics were sort of sad in an uplifting way, the hook stayed catchy no matter how many times it was played on the radio, and the guitar part was enough that I, along with millions of other high school kids, could pick out the simple chords on our cheap knockoff Stratocasters.

Then Jimmy Eat World kept releasing good albums, like 2004’s Futures and 2007’s Chase This Light (their highest charting work to date), and managed to avoid being stuck with the label of “that band that does that ‘Middle’ song.” Their latest album, Invented, was released in September 2010, and the band went on tour in support of it, playing shows worldwide as well as festival dates at Coachella, Soundwave, and an upcoming headlining gig at Reading and Leeds.

The band plays the Commodore Ballroom on May 21, and there are a few tickets to the Jimmy Eat World Vancouver concert still available at ShowTimeTickets.com. They’ve been touring for well over a decade, so they’ve had plenty of time to hone their stage act. Anybody else thinking of going? Seen them live before? Let us know in the comments section!

Social Distortion prepare for summer tour

As they begin winding down their European tour, founder and frontman Mike Ness and his band Social Distortion are also looking forward to their fast-approaching North American summer tour. Kicking off on July 17th in Seattle, WA the band will head north to Canada and continue east throughout July and early August, hitting a total of 14 cities before ending the tour on August 8th in Collingwood, ON.

With their last studio album hitting in 2004, the band is not currently promoting anything new, however frontman Ness has confirmed that there are plans for a new album in the near future.

Throughout the tour the band will find support from the all-girl punk opening act, Civet and The Strangers, who will be along for the entire North American ride. Check below for the Social distortion North American tour date nearest you!

Social Distortion North American Tour Dates

Seattle Social Distortion Tickets: Jul 17 – Showbox SoDo – Seattle, WA
Vancouver Social Distortion Tickets: Jul 18 – Commodore Ballroom – Vancouver, British Columbia
Victoria Social Distortion Tickets: Jul 20 – Royal Theatre – Victoria, British Columbia
Edmonton Social Distortion Tickets: Jul 22 – Edmonton Event Centre – Edmonton, Alberta
Calgary Social Distortion Tickets: Jul 25 – MacEwan Hall – Calgary, Alberta
Sakatoon Social Distortion Tickets: Jul 28 – The Odeon Event Centre – Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Winnipeg Social Distortion Tickets: Jul 29 – Burton Cummings Theatre – Winnipeg, Manitoba
Green Bay Social Distortion Tickets: Jul 31 – Oneida Casino – Green Bay, WI
Milwaukee Social Distortion Tickets: Aug 1 – The Rave – Milwaukee, WI
Indianapolis Social Distortion Tickets: Aug 2 – Murat Egyptian Room – Indianapolis, IN
Burlington Social Distortion Tickets: Aug 4 – Higher Grounds – Burlington, VT
Montreal Social Distortion Tickets: Aug 5 – Le Medley – Montreal, Quebec
Quebec City Social Distortion Tickets: Aug 6 – Imperial Theatre – Quebec City, Quebec
Collingwood Social Distortion Tickets: Aug 8 – Wakestock – Collingwood, Ontario

Eagles of Death Metal North American tour

The Eagles of Death Metal announced last month that they will be touring North America in promotion of their 2008 album “Heart On.” The band will be making a lengthy stop in Canada along the way, playing eleven shows in Canada alone, out of the seventeen total dates on the tour.

The band is currently scheduled to play four shows in California in the beginning of June before heading to Europe to tour throughout the month and into late July. Eagles of Death Metal tickets are on sale for all their shows except for the August 4th and 7th shows, which will go on sale soon.

Canadian Eagles of Death Metal Tour Dates

Vancouver Eagles of Death Metal Tickets: Jul 20 – Commodore Ballroom – Vancouver, BC
Vancouver Eagles of Death Metal Tickets: Jul 21 – Commodore Ballroom – Vancouver, BC
Edmonton Eagles of Death Metal Tickets: Jul 23 – Edmonton Events Center – Edmonton, AB
Calgary Eagles of Death Metal Tickets: Jul 24 – MacEwan Ballroom – Calgary, AB
Saskatoon Eagles of Death Metal Tickets: Jul 25 – Odeon Events Center – Saskatoon, SK
Winnipeg Eagles of Death Metal Tickets: Jul 26 – Garrick Center – Winnipeg, MB
London Eagles of Death Metal Tickets: Jul 29 – Cowboys Ranch – London, ON
Kitchener Eagles of Death Metal Tickets: Jul 30 – Elements – Kitchener, ON
Ottawa Eagles of Death Metal Tickets: Jul 31 – Capitol City Music Hall – Ottawa, ON
Montreal Eagles of Death Metal Tickets: Aug 1 – Parc Jean Drapeau – Montreal, QC (Osheaga Festival)
Toronto Eagles of Death Metal Tickets: Aug 2 – Kool Haus – Toronto, ON

American Eagles of Death Metal Tour Dates

Jun 5 – Ink & Iron Tattoo Festival – Long Beach, CA
Jun 6 – Glass House – Pomona, CA
Aug 4 – House of Blues – Boston, MA
Aug 5 – Lupo’s – Providence, RI
Aug 6 – Webster Hall – New York, NY
Aug 7 – Theatre of Living Arts – Philadelphia, PA
Aug 8 – Ram’s Head Tavern – Baltimore, MD

The Secret Life of a Rock Snob

The time has come to finally reveal my secret…I’m a closet Rap and R&B fan. Every summer it slowly starts to seep out of me, but I usually keep it hidden away on my iPod or only listen to it when I am home alone and am sure the neighbors have gone out. The reason I am finally able to admit to it publicly was brought on by the announcement of Snoop Dogg’s West Fest with guests Warren G, Tha Dogg Pound, Westurn Union, Warzone, Mistah FAB.

I brought it up casually to a friend the other day who is a huge indie rock fan. I expected to be berated for even mentioning it…but to my utter astonishment and delight – she screamed in excitement! I ran to my bedroom and dug out the Warren G CD I keep hidden in a box under my bed, alongside a few other CD’s I’m not yet prepared to admit to. We sung (rapped I suppose is the correct term) to the CD and laughed hysterically at the fact that we both new every line and had never once admitted it to each other.

The most ridiculous part of it all is that this is a friend that knows everything about me. A friend I tell my dreams and crazy schemes too, who knows all the highs and lows from my past, yet doesn’t know that below my bed lies a box of CD’s I’m too ashamed to put out on the shelf.

Based solely on the fact that I judge people based on their musical tastes, I have never let on to my guilty pleasures, unless I feel I have a case to defend them to my fellow rock snobs. I can get away with artists like Elton John (usually singing a line or two from Tiny Dancer does the trick), or Phil Collins (the man is an amazing drummer and no one can deny that In the Air Tonight gives them chills), but when it comes to popular modern music I can’t find any viable defence.

So it is with that that I declare, I can sing along to 90% of whatever is on the Top 40 Charts at any given time and I am no longer hiding my Warren G CD in a box under my bed (there will, however, still remain a few secrets left in that box…but I will now have to find a new hiding spot for it).

Join me, Snoop Dogg, Warren G et al, June 19th at the Commodore Ballroom. General Admission tickets on sale Thursday, May 29th at 4:20PM (rolls-eyes) for $45+service fees.

Snoop Dogg’s West Fest
w/ Warren G, Tha Dogg Pound, Westurn Union, Warzone, Mistah FAB
June 14, 2008 – Ventura Theater – Ventura, CA
June 15, 2008 – The FillmoreSan Francisco, CA
June 16, 2008 – Senator Theater – Chico, CA
June 17, 2008 – Lithia Motors Amphitheater – Central Point, OR
June 18, 2008 – Showbox SodoSeattle, WA
June 19, 2008 – Commodore BallroomVancouver, BC
June 20, 2008 – Roseland TheaterPortland, OR
June 21, 2008 – The Big Easy Concert House – Spokane, WA
June 24, 2008 – Dodge TheaterPhoenix, AZ
June 25, 2008 – Star of the Desert ArenaLas Vegas, NV
June 26, 2008 – Santa Barbara Bowl – Santa Barbara, CA
June 27, 2008 – Cricket Wireless Amphitheater – Chula Vista, CA

Elbow – The Seldom Seen Band


One of my favourite bands almost slipped through town without my knowledge.

I’ve been waiting FIVE years to see Elbow play in Vancouver. With only a brief 30-minute opening slot at the Commodore in support of Grandaddy in 2003 (a show I opted out on at the time, assuming they’d hit the road on their own soon after), a headlining gig was long overdue.

But, when an amazing band like Elbow, who hasn’t seen much commercial success, even with vast critical acclaim and endorsements from major artists like REM and U2, comes to town, how is one supposed to even know? If it wasn’t for my quick glimpse to a telephone pole on my way home from work and my utter astonishment and surprise (I actually gasped aloud) when I saw they were playing here – I would have missed the show and likely never even known I had.

Thankfully, I did see the poster, and I am beyond happy to report, I have now seen Elbow live, and let me tell you, it was well worth the wait!

Whoever chose St Andrews Wesley Church as the venue is my new hero. I cannot imagine a better setting for Elbow’s emotive, atmospheric brand of brit-rock. The rich sounds of the 5-piece combo with the addition of two violinists throughout the set, and the soothing vocals of lead-singer Guy Carvey seemed a natural fit for the dimly lit cathedral and was the closest I’ve come to a religious experience.

From the politically-charged lyrics of Leaders of the Free World (“the leaders of the free world are just little boys throwing stones”) to the tales of unrequited love in Great Expectations, (“you were the sun in my Sunday morning”) a song, Carvey explained as when he “got married to the first women he ever loved…on a bus….but she didn’t know about it,” each song ended with such power and fullness that it seemed like a grand finale of sorts.

Between the healthy mix of older songs and new tracks off their latest album, “The Seldom Seen Kid,” released April 22nd, Carvey warmed the crowd up with his story-telling of his childhood days as an altar boy with drummer Richard Jupp (“we wore dresses for Jesus”) and chatted with various members of the audience. And the audience ate it up. When they weren’t bursting into standing ovations or laughing hysterically at Carvey’s rambling stories and witty remarks, the crowd was on the edge of their pews, silent in anticipation between songs.

It was one of those shows that leave you wanting more. My back was sore from the wooden pew and my ears were throbbing from the speaker right beside me, but it didn’t matter this time – I could have stayed another two hours just as happily.

The thing about Elbow, is that they just aren’t your normal rock band. There’s no pretension, ego or attitude, just music. They are just a bunch of blokes from Manchester who love doing what they do. Simple as that.