Zach Gray @ Rickshaw & David Vertesi @ Cafe Deux Soleil -- 12/10/10

Another busy night in Vancouver, with three people that I wanted to see playing shows. I chose using a very complex series of algorithms (read: which cost less), and decided upon seeing Zach Gray at the Rickshaw, followed by David Vertesi at Cafe Deuz Soleil. (The third was Aidan Knight at the Jon & Roy Holiday Extravaganza)

First stop was the Little Mountain Gallery Fun-Raiser at the Richshaw for Zachary Gray, of The Zolas, doing a solo set. After the first band, World Peace, he said he needed a better name to be able to yell, and jokingly dubbed himself “Lesbian Kissing” for the show. He did a set of mostly Zolas songs, but an older Lotus Child and a cover of (Talking Heads), and like last time, the songs were really cool to see done solo, but did seem kind of missing the “rest” of the song. Maybe I'm just too used to the full band. Zach also went off on a few stories between the songs, which is always cool to see. Well, only if you have a good storyteller on stage, which Zach was, luckily.

And as an aside, I am still no fan of the sound at the Rickshaw. Zach didn't sound too bad, cos it was just him, but the more people you get on stage, the more terrible the sound is. I absolutely hated it my first show there, and I don't think I am going to catch too many more shows there in the future.

After that it was off to Cafe Deuz Soleil for the Megaphone Magazine fundraiser. Vertesi was headlining, but first was the aptly named Julia & Her Piano and also Andrew Lee, of 41^st & Home. Very nice & pleasant sound and a good voice, despite mentioning she was a bit under the weather and Lee's trumpet and backup vocals helped round out the sound. It was a bit chatty in the room, as is wont for shows in places like this, so I wouldn't mind seeing her again in a more ideal setting.

Next up was Ladner and they, too, fit their name, as they were kind of flat and boring. All of their songs ran together and sounded pretty similar, like the same, long song.

And finally, David Vertesi. He was again joined by Dave Joseph helping out on bass, and a wicked keytar. The aformentioned chatter continued through his set as well, but despite that, Vertesi managed to capture the crowds attention with his songs, which he admitted were all about love, for better or worse. And the more I see him play – and listen to his album, for that matter – the more I think the former, as his raw lyrics bring give his [damn catchy] songs relevance amongst all the other songs about love. I think he mentioned, after the set, that the next time he plays (this Friday at the Biltmore) will be with a full band, and that has me very intrigued, as each time I've seen him so far he has been more or less solo.

Henry & The Nightcrawlers w/ Zach Gray & David Vertesi @ Billy Bishop Legion -- 11/27/10

Some of Vancouver's finest musicians came together at the Billy Bishop Legion Hall for the Record Release Party of Henry & The Nightcrawler's debut full length, 100 Blows.

The night started out with The Zolas' Zachary Gray playing a solo set. I wasn't actually sure what Tom-less Zolas songs would sound like, but I should have had more faith in Zach, as he was able to pull off the songs with his usual effortlessness. They were different, sure, but they were definitely not weird... or worse.
It was only a short set of half a dozen songs, and mostly Zolas songs, but he threw in a couple songs from his old band, Lotus Child, as well. I am woefully unfamiliar with Lotus Child, so those songs were cool to see. He ended with "Marlaina Kamikaze", which was probably the most different from the original, but also best song of the set. I also finally captured the new(ish) song "Guest" on video, after it getting perpetually stuck in my head every time I see it live. Not great video quality, but the audio is what matters.

setlist:
You're Too Cool, Guest, Coelacanth (LC), Gossip Diet (LC), The Great Collapse, Marlaina Kamikaze.

Second up was David Vertesi, and before he even started, the crowd was singing him a very off key but well meaning rendition of happy birthday. He was joined by David Joseph on bass (or sometimes keytar) playing from his debut solo album, Cardiography. His set was also just a handful of songs, but his smooth voice and charm got the crowd shoulder-shimmying along. Aside from his own songs, part way through the set he called up his Hey Ocean! bandmate Dave Beckingham for some help, only for the three Dave's (all in plaid) to be joined by Ashleigh Ball to play Hey Ocean!'s "Jolene". Another highlight of the set was "Hearts Don't Break, People Do" which, given the lyrics, would be strange to call heartbreaking, but the emotion that poured out from the song was palpable.
At the end of the set, he was surprised on stage by a cake, and another happy birthday singing.

setlist:
Gentlemen Say, Mountainside, Broadcasting, Jolene (HO!), Soft Skin, Hearts Don't Break People Do, All Night, All Night, All Night.

And finally, it was time for Henry & The Nightcrawlers. Tonight, the Nightcrawlers were to be played by Zach G on bass, with We Are The City's Andy & Cayne on drums & keys (respectively). That was the lineup that I last saw them as (making this the first time I've seen Henry play with the same backing band, interestingly enough) and the lineup that just finished a short tour. It was probably both of those factors that helped this be the best set I had seen from the band yet. The way each of them played off each other, both while performing and even stage banter, you could tell (even before Henry admitted it) that the four guys on stage were best friends. They played all of the new album, though not in order, with a couple highlights being "On A Week Night", which had a fantastic build to the ending, and "Amberly" with a slight lyrical adjustment, giving a mention to one Brenda Lee (the blogger, not the singer). 
After a brief mention of Billy Bishop, who the place they were playing in is named after, they played a cover of The Kinks' "Strangers", and "ended" the set with the title track to the album, "100 Blows".
I've always said I like encored better when they are short and consist of something special, either covers or jamming, not just a couple more regular songs -- those should be in the "main" set! -- so I quite enjoyed the one-song encore, which was a cover of Elliott Smith's "Needle In The Hay".

I should be used to it by now, but I never fail to be impressed with the music community that has been built in Vancouver. Tonight was another prime example of musicians from various bands who are willing to come together and support not just their follow musicians, but their friends.

setlist:
The Fight (La Lucha), Daytime Friend, The New Guy, The Fucking, On A Week Night, Amberly, Girl Drinks Red Wine In A Bathtub, Fan The Flames, Strangers [The Kinks cover], 100 Blows.
(encore) Needle In The Hay [Elliott Smith cover]