Kaylee Johnston EP Release @ Biltmore Cabaret -- 06/03/16
This past Friday, Kaylee Johnston released her new, self-titled EP -- an album four years in the making, by her own admittance -- and celebrated with a show at the Biltmore.
Unfortunately I missed most of the first act, Matthew V, but from what I heard he had a voice that wow'd the growing crowd. The second act of the night was Windmills (aka Cory Myraas), playing his first Vancouver show in a few months. He took the stage with his guitar, drum pad, and looping gear for his "swoon-pop". Opening the set was "Face to a Name" from his most recent album Measures, as Cory harmonizing with himself and worked his looping building the song to a sweeping crescendo.
He talked with the crowd a bit between songs, thanking everyone there -- and telling a couple of his infamous "dad jokes" -- before his heartfelt songs, like "All Things End" and my favourite from the album, "Shame", as he confessed "You're a mistake worth repeating"
Aside from his own songs, he also had a few covers in the set, including "In Waves" by Fyfe, and his version of "Lilac Wine", citing both Jeff Buckley and Nina Simone's versions as inspiration.
It was a strong set from the Kelowna singer, and I look forward to the next time he plays.
It wasn't long after before Kaylee Johnston and her band took the stage. I had seen her not too long ago, opening for Radio Radio, and remember thinking she could have used a live drummer to fill out the sound. Well, not only did she do exactly that, but recruited one of the finest in the city in Johnny Andrews.
Poised confidently in a sparkling dress, Johnston danced and stalked the stage, coming right up to the front at times, her powerful voice belting out infection pop songs like "Lonely", in which she vowed to "dance till I don't care", and the raw and eclectic "Are You The One".
There was a slight misstep with "Kick Drum", causing her to start the song over, but she was able to get the energy back before before toning the set down for a couple songs, pulling out her acoustic guitar for the soaring "Try" and "Let's Pretend", which was dripping with heartbreak.
Kaylee also slipped a cover into her set, doing a version of Wheatus' "Teenage Dirtbag" with Windmills providing the object of her affections (you know, the one with "two tickets to Iron Maiden") for a really fun cover.
She played right up til curfew, capping the night off with her current single, a song that by all rights should be a smash pop hit, "Getting Over You", her voice once again filling the room and getting people dancing.
I'll be the first to admit, I'm not always that into pop music, but Kaylee's sound has an edge to it, and a raw emotion that pours through. Plus, her voice in undeniable and the songs are ridiculously catchy. I would definitely recommend picking up her brand new EP, and catching her next time she's playing live.
setlist
Lonely
Caught In The Thick
Are You The One
Kick Drum
Try
Let's Pretend
Teenage Dirtbag [Wheatus cover]
Gone
Getting Over You