Louise Burns @ Fox Cabaret -- July 13, 2023

Hot of the release of the new album Element, Louise Burns celebrated with a hometown show in Vancouver at the Fox Cabaret. And not only was she commemorating the new album, but it was also her first venue-show in four years (second show, counting the past weekend's free outdoor Khatsahlano show)!

I missed the first opener of the night, Matías Roden, arriving to catch the last bit of Devours. Clad in his signature look (head-spikes, glimmering beard, and leather skirt with suspenders) he played “Mutant DIY homo pop”, as he describes it.
Alone on stage with just his equipment, he exuded a fun energy in songs that ranged from the relatively darker “10 Things I Crave About You” to the incredibly dancey “Jacuzzi My Stonewall”, which saw him wading into the crowd to cap off the set.

Not long after, Louise Burns hit the stage with her backing band in tow; regular guitarist Darcy Hancock, as well as Mike Noble and Cole George (on loan from Hotel Mira for the evening, on bass and drums respectively).

Louise started off with “Like A Dream”, as the screen behind her projected a loop of clips from recent music videos, scenery, and animals throughout the show. There was also a CRT TV perched at the front of the stage, with a live feed filmed from the back of the room, but that was probably hidden to all except the first few rows of people standing.

Burns’ warm voice rang through the cabaret as she hit songs off her new album, including the atmospheric “I Don’t Feel Like I Used To”, the upbeat “Bloom” and “Play Pretend”, which samples humpback whales(!)
She also delved into her back catalogue for favourites like “Ruby” and “Emeralds Shatter” off her album The Midnight Mass — which released ten years ago this week — as well as other highlights, “Just Walk Away” with its tropical-tinge, and the sinister “Who’s the Madman?”

After about an hour, the main set came to a close with the tempestuous “Storms”, before Burns returned for my two favourites off their respective albums. First “Let It Die” from the new album, and finally “Cry” from 2019’s, Portraits, which brought the set to a raucous end.

I think the last time I saw Louise Burns play was her previous album’s release show four years ago, so it was not only great to see her perform again, but celebrating a brand new album as well. Burns has long been a pinnacle of the Vancouver music scene — both in front of the mic and behind the scenes — and last night at the Fox Cabaret was an excellent showcase of that.

setlist
Like a Dream
I Don't Feel It Like I Used To
Who's the Madman?
Ruby
Kids
Just Walk Away
Element
Play Pretend
Hot Girls
Emeralds Shatter
Bloom
Storms
(encore)
Let It Die
Cry

Louise Burns @ Biltmore -- 11/07/19

With her new album Portraits out right now, Vancouver’s own Louise Burns hit the Biltmore Thursday night for a release party celebration. Unfortunately the combination of an early show and other celebrations (of the birthday variety) prevented me from seeing the openers for the night — both Michaela Slinger and Biawanna — but I got there just ahead of Louise Burns hitting the stage with a backing band that included some Vancouver all stars like Jody Glenham, Rob Tornroos, Eric Breitenbach and Darcy Hancock, as well as the sensual sax solos of Dominic Conway.

Starting off the set with the first song off the new album, “Like A Dream”, Burns went through nearly the whole album, as well as some old favourites. New songs like the darker “Clowns”, a heartfelt ballad “Everything You Got” showing off the power to her voice, and the infectious “Cry”, my early favourite off the album. Other highlights included the dark and sinister “Who’s The Madman”, and the stage bathed in green lights for “Emeralds Shatter”.

After nearly an hour, Burns thanked everyone for coming and admitted they only had a few left and weren’t bothering with an encore, capping off the set by raising the energy; first with the the tropical and deceptively upbeat “Just Walk Away” and then the tempestuous “Storms”.

I had a sneaky early listen to the album before seeing Louise Burns play, and I would say without a doubt, it’s her strongest release yet. And her live show definitely backs it up. It’s always a treat to see Burns perform, and this was perhaps the best she’s ever sounded.

setlist
Like A Dream
Cry ***
Over You
Cheers
Emeralds Shatter
Cherry
Who’s The Madman
Ruby
Clowns
Everything You Got
Just Walk Away
Storms

PHOTOS: Biltmore Cabaret 10th Anniversary - July 06, 2018

Biltmore's 10th Anniversary ft. Louise Burns, Jody Glenham, Adrienne Labelle (Supermoon/Garbage Dreams), Kevvy Mental (Fake Shark), Courtney Ewan and Andy Bishop (Twin River), Jason Corbett (ACTORS), Jo Passed, Alexis Young (Youngblood), Horsepowar, Zach Gray (The Zolas), Ackee Tecumseh - with the house band: Jody Glenham, Adrienne Labelle, (SUPERMOON), Adam Fink (ACTORS), Louis Hearn
Biltmore Cabaret
July 06, 2018

Christine McAvoy Photography

#SingItFwd: A Special Juno Awards Edition @ Vogue Theatre -- 03/21/18

Two years ago, we thought we were seeing the last ever SingItFwd with a two-night extravaganza. The show was an annual event, running since 2011, to benefit the children of the St. James Music Academy, and was always a highlight of the year. But now it's back for a very special Juno edition, as the music awards touch down in Vancouver this weekend. 

This year's the show featured a host of local bands, many of which had played the event before, and some even nominated for a Juno this weekend. They all played a few songs each, sometimes stripped down, sometimes brand new stuff, and sometimes even joined by the kids from the St James Music Academy. 

Starting off the night was the indie pop of Peach Pit, and their song "Drop The Guillotine". They were a great way to kick off the show with energy, especially when lead singer Neil Smith had portions of the crowd screaming with nothing but a hair flip. 
(They also managed to make a few people feel old when they said they "grew up" on these SingItFwd shows, as well as some of the other bands performing that night). 

Louise Burns was out next, alone of stage for a couple stripped down songs. Her haunting voice rang through the theatre with a couple songs that may be appropriate for the weekend, "Strange Weather" and "Storms", as well as a brand new song. 

Khari Wendell McClelland followed, first with his own song, and then and after a cover of Bowie's "Five Years", we saw the first emergence of the kids from the SJMA, as they were out to sing choir on the song "Roll On". 

A group of St James kids on strings were out ahead of a couple of The Zolas. Zach said how happy he was to be there as they played a couple songs off their recent album, before giving a shout out to a band that wasn't there, launching into a cover of one of their songs, "Keep On Dancing" by We Are The City, one of my favourites of the night. 

Closing out the first half of the evening was Said the Whale, Tyler & Ben trading off lead vocals on, respectively, "Confidence" and "Lilac and Willow". They debuted a new song, called "Broken Man", which was Tyler admitted was being played for the second time ever (the first being downstairs in the green room 5 minutes beforehand). 

After a brief intermission, a St James Jazz band was up, followed by the amazingly powerful voice of Dawn Pemberton. Anyone that hadn't heard of her before was immediately won over with her cover of "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" and one of her own songs, "Deeper". She then invited the kids back onstage to sing Stevie Wonder's "Love In Need Of Love" with her. 

Leif Vollebekk was next, with perhaps the most emotion-stirring set of the night, his voice cutting through the near-silence of the venue as he poured his heart out with songs like "Vancouver Time". He was also joined by drummer Johnny Andrews for a song, joking that he was jealous since Johnny was drumming for at least half of all bands performing that night. 

Ryan Guldemond and Jasmin Parkin were out representing Mother Mother, first playing "Body of Years" then also teasing a brand new song. Ryan joked about being 'afraid' of kids, in his own loquacious way, before being joined for their final song by both Ashleigh Ball and the SJMA choir for "Simply Simple". 

And finally, after some great thank yous and videos from the stage for people who couldn't be there (including co-creator Ambrosia Humphrey) Hey Ocean! closed out the night. They teased their upcoming album The Hurt of Happiness with the title track, and the kids were out once more to sing with David Vertesi on a song written for Ambrosia, while it was . 

Usually, the shows will end with a big, giant singalong cover, with the kids and all other musicians up on stage, and this one was no different, as they paid their respects with a great cover of "Ahead by a Century" by The Hip, Vertesi and Ben the Whale taking lead vocals, the latter absolutely channelling Downie.

On the blog post for the very first edition of SingItFwd, I said something like: "It would be cliché to call it a magical night, but there is hardly any better description." and I feel like that's been apt every year, but especially this one. It was a nice to see them come back for one last dance, and nice to see the celebration of local music ahead of the Junos.

Photo Round Up: July 12, 2017 ft. Johnny Payne, Louise Burns, The Zolas, Jenny Banai, Skye Wallace

Weekly Photo Roundup for the week preceding July 12, 2017

The annual Khatsahlano Festival happened again this passed weekend with performances along West 4th Ave. I managed to catch a couple during the day including Johnny Payne, Louise Burns, and The Zolas.

And last night we bid adieu again to Skye Wallace (who is off to Ontario for another stint) with a show at a packed Healtley on Hastings Street. She was joined by Jenny Banai (who opened) and an array of familiar Vancouver musicians.

Check out the concert calendar for what is coming up this week!

Photos by Christine McAvoy