BEST IS YET TO COME ON THE MUSIC SCENE
Six not-to-miss shows still on the 2018 calendar will keep you rockin’ until the new year
The weather hasn’t really delivered heavy-duty fall rains and overcast days, but it will. And when it does, you’ll start feeling it’s time to get out of the weather and into a concert hall or art gallery.
With only two months remaining in 2018, many have already started putting together their best shows of the year lists. We think that’s premature, because there are still a number of key musical events remaining on the calendar, and no, we’re not talking Christmas concerts. In fact, some of the late-year events could wind up being surprise additions to that annual top-10 list.
Here are six not-to-miss shows in November and December.
1 China Cloud Feztival When: Nov. 8-11, 8:30 p.m. Where: China Cloud Studios, 524 Main St. Tickets and info: $48.44, visit eventbrite.ca
How time flies. A decade ago, enterprising artists took on the operation of a space to present cutting edge music and provide emerging artists with a place to profile their work. The history of the city is rich with great spaces that came and went. Amazingly, China Cloud Studios is still around, so it’s time to celebrate with a concert series that features some of the venue’s “favourite acts.” This includes comedy (Nov. 8), cool pop (Nov. 9) avantharp (Nov. 10) and the wonderful and eclectic psychedelic pop of Colin Cowan and Elastic Stars (Nov. 11) with special guest. Visit Facebook for full listings.
2 Hard Rubber Orchestra presents: A Tribute to King Crimson When: Nov. 15, 8 p.m. Where: The Rio Theatre, 1660 E. Broadway Tickets and info: From $15 at riotickets.ca
What happens when one of Canada’s most adventurous big band orchestras decides to take on the music of one of progressive rock’s most consistently edgy bands? It remains to be heard how the 19-member group, with guests Leanne Dunic and Erik Severinson, tackles classics such as Thrak, I Talk To The Wind or Starless and Bible Black. John Korsrud, Bill Runge, Fred Stride and Eric Wettstein contribute arrangements. Expect it to be loud. Juno-nominated meltdown duo Peregrine Falls opens.
3 The White Album Revisited When: Nov. 22, 6:30 p.m. Where: St. James Community Hall, 3214 W. 10th Ave. Tickets and info: $45, visit roguefolk.bc.ca
As yet another classic album turns half a century old, a collective of Vancouver’s finest musicians from a number of different communities gathers to do the White Album justice. The 1968 double album by the Beatles gains its name from its white cover with nothing but the band’s name on it and represents the beginning of the end of the band in many ways, as it marked when members’ creative differences really started to flare up. Naturally, that led to some of their best songs. Come hear such gems as Blackbird, Revolution, While My Guitar Gently Weeps and the wonderful Happiness Is A Warm Gun — 29 tunes in total — performed by the likes of Andy Hillhouse, Bill Coon, Kate Hammett-Vaughn, Allen Stiles, Ron Samworth and others in this benefit concert for PAL Vancouver (Performing Arts Lodge). Presented by the Rogue Folk Club with additional support of the Vancouver Musicians’ Association.
4 Elvis Costello and the Imposters When: Dec. 4, 8 p.m. Where: Queen Elizabeth Theatre Tickets and info: From $64 at ticketmaster.ca
On the mend after an operation for what he described as “a small but very aggressive cancerous malignancy,” which caused him to cancel tour dates, Elvis Costello returns. His latest album, the first recorded with his crack backing band the Imposters in over a decade, is titled Look Now. It’s his first since his work with the Roots on Wise Up Ghost and it finds him in fine form on a set that includes some of his most direct and straightahead songwriting in decades. Some of these songs, such as the bouncy Unwanted Number, will be recognized by long-term fans. Expect it to be a very eclectic set list.
5 Yukon Blonde and the Zolas When: Dec. 5, 9:30 p.m. Where: Commodore Ballroom Tickets and info: ticketmaster.ca Two local acts on top of their rock ’n’ roll games, to be sure. In fact, this show is all but sure to sell out, and may have done so by press time. This could be one of the holiday season’s top rock moments. You have to wonder why they didn’t add another night?
6 Freddie Gibbs When: Dec. 14, 7:30 p.m. Where: Fortune Sound Club Tickets and info: ticketweb.ca One of the more interesting voices on today’s rap scene, Gibbs is a super free-flowing MC with an eclectic style that favours the experimental side of things.
His latest album, Freddie, sees him looking like he could be a member of Chic on the cover and he’s most certainly filled with some of his shortest tracks — nine on the album are under the three minute-mark — and range from surprising slow grooves to rant-along bangers. This should be one of the top underground/ overground hip-hop shows of the year.