THE BACKSTAGE RIDER

BOATY WEEKENDER Diary – Day 2. Somewhere in the middle of the Balearic Sea
Day 2 of the Boaty Weekender involves drunken and epic Buzzcocks, Mogwai, my buddies Teenage Fanclub jamming with Yo La Tengo and yoga with the Vaselines. Don’tcha know.
September 8, 2019
BOATY WEEKENDER Diary – Day 3. Sardinia, Sunstroke and Syndromes (and more BUZZCOCKS)
Day 3 of the Boaty Weekender finds us getting heatstroke in Sardinia and partying again with the Buzzcocks, Yo La Tengo and listening to Belle and Sebastian from our balcony.
September 8, 2019
BOATY WEEKENDER Diary – Days 4 & 5. Déjà vu all over again, and sad goodbyes
Day 4 and 5 of the Boaty Weekender, in which we maniacally try to see everyone we’ve missed, and all the same bands all over again: Japanese Breakfast, Wojtek the Bear, Campfire Social, HINDS, plus Belle and Sebastian, Yo La Tengo and Mogwai once more.
September 8, 2019
AMANDA PALMER: There Will Be No Intermission (and The Art of Grieving)
Please silent your electronic devices, this show is going to get deep and dark and meaningful. And surprisingly, Amanda Palmer’s “There Will Be No Intermission” tour is exactly what we need during these troubled times.
June 10, 2019
I Needed Sunshine: SEBADOH return to form (and to Vancouver) Photos/Review
Beloved lo-fi kings – and my very good friends – Sebadoh returned to Vancouver after 1,825 days. But who’s counting? I was, I was counting. It’s been 5 years since they’ve played live here so let’s see what’s what, shall we?
June 2, 2019
Photo/Review: Is this the in place to be? Yes, yes it is. THE SPECIALS return for their 40th Anniversary Encore.
Sleep all day. It’s the only way. I’m a parasite. I creep about at night…at The Specials live in Vancouver for the Encore tour and 40th Anniversary at the Commodore Ballroom on May 22.
May 26, 2019
THE PHILOSOPHER KINGS bring back their charms
A smooth trip back into the mid-1990s and some memories of Toronto-based band, The Philosopher Kings.
May 12, 2019
Everything is (not) falling apart: TEENAGE FANCLUB live
Not even laryngitis can wipe the smile off of Norman Blake’s face and thank all the gods for that. Here’s a look at Teenage Fanclub’s Vancouver show at the Commodore Ballroom on February 21.
March 4, 2019
Quiet and Peace with ÓLAFUR ARNALDS live in Vancouver
Vancouver’s Commodore Ballroom is not a seated venue. But it was on January 28th, the night of not one but two live shows in a single night. After all, you’d want to sit down for an Ólafur Arnalds performance (unless it was for his dancey duo side-hustle, Kiasmos). You’d want to get comfortable for Iceland – and…
February 10, 2019