January 26, 2010 SHOWCASE : ByStarlight / Stars of Boulevard / Timothy

The crowd at Republic (photo credit: Devin Weening)

Last night’s SHOWCASE @ Republic presented by GRAHAM PENCE ARTISTS was a fantastic night of music and dancing. ByStarlight, Stars of Boulevard, and Timothy played to – and captivated – a nearly full house, each managing to present their various takes on modern rock music confidently and effectively. The three bands that took the stage on this unassuming Tuesday evening showcased three very different sounds, but they were all well-received by the nearly 200 music fans in attendance.

ByStarlight (photo credit: Devin Weening)

Act 1: ByStarlight (myspace.com/bystarlightband)

If anyone knows how to get a party started, it’s this five-piece power-pop outfit. They had the crowd hooked right out of the gate with their infectious, highly danceable tunes. Although they only started playing together a few months ago, their chemistry is evident already; the rhythm and lead guitars complemented each other very well, and the inclusion of keys and synthesizers added to the sound without taking it over. Nigel Crowe’s vocals are reminiscent of Ed Kowalczyk (of LIVE), and were strong despite sounding slightly flat at times. While spending less time chatting and more time rocking would have kept the crowd more tightly engaged, ByStarlight set the tone early, and the next two bands followed their lead.

Stars of Boulevard (photo credit: Derek Rohde)

Act 2: Stars of Boulevard (myspace.com/starsofboulevard)

If ByStarlight got the engine running, Stars of Boulevard shifted it into a higher gear. While Detroit Rock City played silently on the screen behind them, these four rockers provided the soundtrack by testing the limits of Republic’s sound system, proving to the highly entertained crowd that the artists adorning their attire (Frank Zappa, Billy Idol, and Mötley Crüe) are but a few of their many influences. Matty Carolei absolutely abused the drumkit while Ken Abbey’s expertly executed guitar riffs (most notably, the solo on “Sabretooth”) soared behind – and alongside of – Josh Helgason’s powerful vocals. Their cover of Lady Gaga’s latest club standard, “Bad Romance”, was arguably the turning point of the set, causing Stars of Boulevard to garner the strongest, most enthusiastic response from a SHOWCASE crowd yet.

Timothy (photo credit: Devin Weening)

Act 3: Timothy (myspace.com/timothy.music)

As the final act of the night, Timothy did a fantastic job of building on the energy generated by the previous two bands, while still managing to make their set stand out. Unlike the acts before them, they even dared to pull things back for a song or two, but did so without losing the intensity and momentum of the evening. Their mature indie-rock sound – powered by the best drumming of the night (courtesy of Todd Bjerkness) and a great interplay between the rhythm and lead guitars – kept the crowd involved up until the very end of what will be remembered as one of the greatest nights of local independent music Tuesday has ever seen.

The crowd at Republic (photo credit: Devin Weening)

Click here to see the rest of my photos from the show. To stay informed with what’s coming up at SHOWCASE @ Republic, click here to check out the Facebook group, or subscribe to the GRAHAM PENCE ARTISTS presents SHOWCASE @ Republic blog by clicking “Sign me up!” at the top of this page!

review by: Devin Weening (devinweening.wordpress.com)

Preview of January 26, 2010 SHOWCASE : ByStarlight / Stars of Boulevard / Timothy

GRAHAM PENCE ARTISTS presents SHOWCASE @ Republic – Tuesday, January 26, 2010 with byStarlight, Stars of Boulevard, and Timothy.

Meet the bands:

byStarlight (photo credit: Derek Rohde)

ByStarlight (myspace.com/bystarlightband)

“ByStarlight was formed in 2009 as an attempt to fully integrate electronic music with traditional rock and roll / pop….In their short time together, ByStarlight have been extremely well received by listeners, concert goers and industry professionals alike. Combining both an exciting live show and incredibly well written tunes, ByStarlight are definitely the band to look out for in the near future.” (myspace.com/bystarlightband)

Stars of Boulevard (photo credit: myspace.com/starsofboulevard)

Stars of Boulevard (myspace.com/starsofboulevard)

“Stars of Boulevard is many things to those who have discovered it. It’s raw and it’s free as shown in outlaw tracks like “Highway” and tracks like “That’s All It Is”, but there’s also a sensitivity and sensuality as found in “You Can Take The Money (The River)” and “Ruby Skies”. There’s adventure, social consciousness, songs of loss, love, good and bad, and life. These things and more.” (myspace.com/starsofboulevard)

Timothy (photo credit: myspace.com/timothy.music)

Timothy (myspace.com/timothy.music)

“Timothy is four gentlemen of the Coquitlam, British Columbia area, a mountainous region of Canada’s west coast, favoured dearly by the clouds, dead to the sun, yet in all accounts unspurious in its claim to beauty. Being reared in such conditions, the four aforementioned gentlemen are given both to cheerfulness and melancholy, the latter overcome by the former due to their ties to religion, which is the only cure for the more pensive despairers. For those of you in an unconscious despair, allow us to introduce yourself to yourself.” (myspace.com/timothy.music)

Why you should be there:

Timothy and Stars of Boulevards are two of the most buzzed-about bands in the Greater Vancouver indie scene, and the chance to see these two straight-ahead rock acts together is an opportunity no self-respecting fan of great music should pass up. ByStarlight, while less established than the other bands on the bill, delivers an energetic brand of synth-driven pop rock that is sure to get the party started on the right foot.

All in all, this week’s edition of SHOWCASE @ Republic is shaping up to be among the best yet, and should prove to everyone in attendance why SHOWCASE is the place to be on a Tuesday night. You don’t want to miss it!

For more details and to RSVP, check out the event page on Facebook, and, while you’re at it, join the SHOWCASE @ Republic presented by GRAHAM PENCE ARTISTS Facebook group!

January 19, 2010 SHOWCASE : Young Pacific / Familia / Tara Lett

Young Pacific (photo credit: Derek Rohde)

Act 1: Young Pacific (myspace.com/youngpacificmusic)

A band debut is a lot like a middle school dance. Remember those? The girls point and laugh on one side, the guys look down and shuffle on the other? The night gets better after each bathroom visit, coupled with a few swigs of daddy’s Beefeater, but the tension never seems to lift, does it? I’ve been to my fair share of indie-introductions, and this is all I can picture when I see that daunting gap between artist and audience. So, when a band like Young Pacific comes along and practically leaves the dance floor in shambles, it’s hard not to sit up and take notice. The band expertly fits their self-described “happy-go-lucky-indie” mould, with singer/guitarist Mike Holden crooning to melancholic perfection above breezy synth leads and a skin-tight rhythm section. “We want people to know it’s ok to dance!” declares the front man to our writers. Considering the amount of brat pack, fist-pumping enthusiasm they inspired throughout the set, I’d say these boys are on the right track.

Catch Young Pacific this Friday, January 29 at Pub 340, with guests Pigeon Park and Timothy.

Familia (photo credit: Devin Weening)

Act 2: Familia (familiafamilia.com)

Peak Performance finalists Famlia are anything but a flash in the ever-growing hipster pan. Cool threads and an even cooler swagger make for some pleasing eye candy, but the real leg-up they have on this competitive market comes from undeniable band chemistry. Understandable, seeing as the group has been playing in and around Vancouver for the past 6 years. Singer Tamara Umlah is utterly infectious, with a delightful bounce in her step I can only attribute to an innate rhythmic bond she shares with brother/drummer Cody Hiles. Lone guitarist Bronson Izzard switches flawlessly between soaring leads and reggae-toned riffage, while bassist Dwight “DJ” Abell is nothing short of lovable in his Flea-esque cadence. Truly, this is a band to look out for. Unfortunately, even our loudest cries for an encore couldn’t stop the generic house music from kicking in.

Catch Familia February 23 at the Biltmore Cabaret, with guests Ben Sigston and Fields of Green.

Tara Lett (photo credit: Derek Rohde)

Act 3: Tara Lett (myspace.com/taralettmusic)

So, I have already used the middle-school dance analogy to describe the tension between a new band and a new audience, but confidence is not an issue with this sizzling house-tart and her wrecking crew of midi magicians. Literally, the band is too attractive. Combined with a room full of gawky scenesters and their insecure girlfriends, you can’t really blame anyone for keeping their distance. I for one had a fantastic time letting my inner-gaga loose. Tara Lett’s setup is simple and sexy, with a sugar-coated punch so sweet it stings. Sometimes, when it’s 12:30am on a particularly fantastic Tuesday night, and you’re not quite ready to pack it in…a little dancing and a glossy shot of girl power is all you need. Shots of tequila are also good for that, which we inevitably purchased and raised triumphantly to Ms. Tara Lett and her frustratingly gorgeous backing band; a fitting end to a night of whimsical indie-pop.

Click here to see who’s up next at the SHOWCASE, here to learn more about GRAHAM PENCE ARTISTS presents SHOWCASE @ Republic, and here for the rest of Devin Weening’s photos from the show!