The Weather Station @ Hollywood Theatre -- 11/12/21

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So, uh... it's been a while? While I've seen a few outdoor events recently -- and was in the real-life audience of a livestream show last October -- The Weather Station kicking off their Canadian tour in Vancouver was the first actual, indoor live music show since last year. And not just that, but in a brand new venue, on top of that. The Hollywood Theatre is a converted movie theatre (which still has screenings) with soft seats up front, and a more open section at the back to mill around; like a hybrid of the Rio Theatre and the Imperial, here in Vancouver. It was a nice venue and I look forward to seeing more shows there.

The evening started with Jasper Sloan Yip taking the stage alone, acoustic guitar in hand, to play a few songs off his latest double EP, Strange Calm / Blushing Autumn. He started with the dreamy "Gin Fizz", and after a couple songs shifted to take a seat behind the keys for the "piano portion" of the set. Jasper’s voiced filled the room with heartfelt songs like "Strange Calm", and “Blushing Autumn”, as even he confessed to closing his eyes and getting lost in the songs. He brought the short set to an end with the final song off the new pair of EPs, “Every Night, Beside You, I Lie Awake”.

Shortly after, the stage dimmed as the opening notes of "Wear The World" rang out, as the band members of The Weather Station slowly illuminated, and singer Tamara Lindeman rose from her crouched position up front.

Performing mainly off the latest album, Ignorance, the set had an ebbing flow, with soft songs slowly building in intensity, only to fall back to a haunting calm. Lindeman mainly let the songs speak for her, but did take a moment to thank everyone for coming, acknowledging it was likely a lot of people's first show back, musing how it's still a little weird to be around so many people, and joked about making her return in an "insane grass suit" (her words) which was just all fringe.

Highlights of the set included the older, crowd favourite “Thirty”, the breathless vocals of "Better Now" (a newer song, included on the deluxe edition of Ignorance), and the simmering, controlled chaos of "Robber".
They brought the main set to a close with "Parking Lot", but of course, Tamara was back moments later for the encore. She talked about how her advocacy for climate change has thrust her into unexpected spotlights, and then, accompanied only by keys, launched into a heartbreakingly beautiful new ballad about no longer finding the stars in the night sky as alluring as she once did. The rest of the band then returned to cap off the night with Lindeman’s voice ringing out for the gorgeous "Subdivisions", the final song off Ignorance and am excellent way to cap off the night.

For a “first show back”, you couldn’t ask for much more, and I am so glad to be taking in live music again, because let’s be honest… livestream shows just don’t measure up to the real thing.

Jasper Sloan Yip
setlist
Gin Fizz
Blushing Autumn
Halcyon Dream
Strange Calm
Anew
Every Night, Beside You, I Lie Awake

The Weather Station
setlist
Wear The World
Loss
Atlantic
You And I (On The Other Side Of The World)
Way It Is/Way It Could Be
Thirty
Better Now
Look
Separated
Heart
Tried To Tell You
Robber
Parking Lot
(Encore)
[New Song]
Subdivisions

Steph Macpherson Album Release Show @ Media Club -- 10/01/15

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It seems like everyone chose the first of the month to plan their shows. And while there was a number of events to choose from that night, the one I was looking forward to was the Vancouver album release show for Steph Macpherson's new album, Stones.
In the three years since her last album was out, Steph ran a successful IndieGoGo campaign to help her travel down to Nashville, TN to make her new album with Juno-winner Steve Dawson. And while the results of that journey will be released at the end of next week (Oct 9), she kicked off her album release tour in Vancouver. 

The first Steph of the night was Stephanie Chatman. I have seen her performing with about 74% of all Vancouver bands, backing them on violin, occasionally a part of the Four on the Floor String Quartet, but this time she was showcasing her own solo material. On stage alone with just an acoustic guitar and her soft, lovely voice, she started off with "Norway", from her EP Compass Rose. Aside from her own songs, she did a cover of Father John Misty's "Chateau Lobby #4 (in C for Two Virgins)", and was joined by her "special friend" Andrew Phelan from The River & The Road for a nice duet. 
She ended the set with a song she introduced as a "mellow song", though most of the set had a similar mellow, sit-down-and-drink-some-whiskey vibe. 

The next act was Macpherson's touring partner, Noah Edwards. He had a fun, catchy 90's-tinged pop-rock, with a good energy.
A few songs stuck out, one called "Matchstick" that was a bit darker than the rest of the set, and a newer song he played acoustically, letting his band take a break, called "Shoreline". He also pulled out a cover song, choosing to go a little more classic with "Dancing in the Dark". 

Jasper Sloan Yip was up next, packing the stage with his band, which, yes, included Stephanie Chatman as part of this three-piece string section, as well as backing vocals. The set mostly focused on his latest album Foxtrot, and Jasper's great ability to seamlessly flow from bouncy, upbeat songs like and "Show Your Teeth" to the more soft-spoken and intimate songs like "Love, and All its Opposites". Sometimes even shifting in the same song, as with "It Must be True". 
He brought the set to a close with the pairing of the soft, piano-and-strings driven "Indian Summer" quickly building into a chaotic ending which segued perfectly into the explosive "Horseshoes", Jasper shredding on his guitar.

And finally, to celebrate her new album, was Steph Macpherson. She started the set off with track one from Stones, "Lie Beside You", pouring her heart out with the lyrics "I want to lie beside you, not to you", and ran through most of the album; such as the biting "Everything You Don't Do" and beautiful harmonies with guitar player Christian Down on "Cerulean Blue". Other highlights included the title track "Stones", and one of my favourites of the new album, the hard-hitting single "You Got Mean". 
I always enjoy a well-put-together set, and Steph's grew in intensity as it went on, culminating in a pair from her last album Bells & Whistles, "Silver Platter" and "The Verdict" as Steph's strong voice sailed over top of her driving guitar, closing out the night without bothering with the faux-encore. 

Since I first saw her in the 2010 Peak Performance Project, I have seen Steph Macpherson play a few times, and this was the strongest yet. I really enjoyed the set, and hopefully Steph will be back soon on a night that is much less busy. 

setlist
Lie Beside You, Home, Everything You Don't Do, Spark, Cerulean Blue, Wood & Nails, Stones, You Got Mean, Silver Platter, The Verdict.