PHOTOS: Born Ruffians, Tokyo Police Club @ Commodore Ballroom - September 14, 2024

Born Ruffians, Tokyo Police Club
Commodore Ballroom
September 14, 2024

Photos by Christine McAvoy

Tokyo Police Club @ Commodore Ballroom -- September 14, 2024

I’m not gonna lie, I would probably call myself a ‘casual’ fan of Tokyo Police Club. I’ve always liked their singles, seen them live a few times, but never really done a deep dive on the band, y’know? But even with that said, I was still bummed out when the Newmarket foursome announced after nearly twenty years, they were calling it a day. And so with one last tour, I knew had to see them one final time.

Opening the night was long-time friends of the band, Born Ruffians (how long? they joked they were in each other’s MySpace Top 8). Starting off with “Foxes Mate for Life”, Luke Lalonde’s distinctive voice rang through the ballroom. Throughout the set, all four members were bubbling over with energy, even when not playing their instrument -- especially if they weren’t playing their instrument, in the case of Maddy Wilde on keys, who I don't think stood still for more than two seconds in a row throughout the show! Highlights included the frenetic “Hummingbird” and “Needle”, as they capped it off appropriately enough with “Fade To Black”.

After a quick break, the lights dimmed and David Monks, Graham Wright, Josh Hook, and Greg Alsop took the stage starting as Tokyo Police Club started hot with “Favourite Colour”, the crowd instantly singing along.

From there, the band reminded the sold out room how many hits they had, spanning their whole career, from “Nature of the Experiment” off their debut EP A Lesson in Crime to the chaotic “Bambi” and the anthemic “Wait Up (Boots of Danger)” off Champ, up to “Simple Dude” off what turned out to be their final album, TPC. They didn’t say much throughout the set, letting the music speak for itself, but a few times David thanked the crowd, and even assigned “New Blues” the designated sad song, for everyone to mourn.

After about an hour, the band took a quick break for Monks to do a couple acoustic songs; crowd favourite “Tessellate” as well as “Ready to Win”, before the rest returned for a few more songs, capping off the main set with “Hot Tonight”.

But of course, they weren’t done as the crowd clamoured for more, and the band returned first with the winding “Argentina (Parts I, II, III)”, then doing another quick encore fakeout, and coming back with another version of “Tessellate” — full band this time — and ending off the night with another huge singalong to “Your English Is Good”.

My only disappointment in the set was the absence of “Cheer It On”, which just goes to show how many bangers the band has. But even with that, it was still a very fun show. As sad as it is to see someone like Tokyo Police Club end, I always appreciate it when a band actually has some sort of farewell, instead of just dissipating into the ether (leaving you to wonder…?), and this night was a perfect way to celebrate their career.

TPC setlist
Favourite Colour
Box
Not My Girl
Nature of the Experiment
Citizens of Tomorrow
Shoulders and Arms
Be Good
New Blues
Simple Dude
Tunnel Vision
Hands Reversed
End of a Spark
Bambi
Frankenstein
Wait Up (Boots of Danger)
Tessellate (acoustic)
Ready to Win (acoustic)
Favourite Food
Graves
Way Back When
In a Cave
Hot Tonight
(encore)
Argentina (Parts I, II, III)
(second encore)
Tessellate (band)
Your English Is Good

BR setlist
Foxes Mate for Life
Breathe
Dedication
Hummingbird
Little Garçon
Forget Me
Ocean’s Deep
Needle
Miss You
We Made It
Fade To Black

Francy Pants and Alexandria Maillot @ Green Auto -- August 15, 2024

Last night at the Green Auto outdoor stage, Francy Pants and Alexandria Maillot put on a very special show for the Sarcoma Cancer Foundation of Canada, both raising money and sharing their experiences. And if you missed the show or still want to support, you can do that at this link right here!

First up was Alexandria Maillot, playing their first show in quite some time. Their lovely voice joined by Daniel Baxter’s smooth guitar tones, Alexandria started with a couple familiar songs, “Make It Out” and “Pale” from their latest album Benevolence. From there, Maillot tested out some new songs, many written about their journey, which they also chatted about between songs, including dedications to their support group in the audience, and re-working old songs ideas that took on new meaning in “Back to Me”. Maillot finished off the set with another new one, “What is in a Mile”, excited to get the crowd singing along to wrap up the set.
It had (obviously) been quite a while since I’ve seen Alexandria play live, and it was great to see them back on stage.

Not long after that, it was time for Francey Pants, the moniker of Francis Hooper (currently one half of doohickey cubicle). First joined by Daniel Ruiz on percussion, he laid down some looped beats, and with soft vocals, launched into a very fun, animated performance that gave lounge singer vibes (in all the best ways).

Much like Alexandria, many of his songs were about his journey with sarcoma, including “Count On You” which was dedicated to his parents who were in the crowd, and “I Hate Change”, a song co-written with Maillot years ago, who also joined him to sing. Throughout the set Francis invited up a slew of friends, musicians, and co-writers for some groovy songs, including other half of doohickey cubicle, partner Alli Deleo with a synchronized dance number(!). The set grew to a close as the last few songs were more on the funky side, like “Wet My Plants”, and finished with what seemed like an actual encore, an impromptu final song.

The show was also my first time at the Green Auto outdoor stage (I had been inside, of course) and that was a really neat space. And on this night, it was very obviously filled not just with people there to see a show, but with a community; people who have supported both Alexandria and Francis not only as musicians, but through their journeys over the last few years.

Bend Sinister @ Rickshaw Theatre -- June 20, 2024

This month, The Rickshaw Theatre is celebrating its 15th anniversary, and putting on a whole host of shows with some of the city’s finest talent. The Pack AD, The Pointed Sticks, Bison, ACTORS, Hyaenas, and Rong⚡ are all among the bands playing over the span of a week, including last night’s show: the eclectic mix of Bend Sinister, Elliot C Way, Colleen Rennison, and The Furniture. 

I got to the theatre a little later than I meant to, catching the last bit of Colleen Rennison. The former No Sinner singer recently put out a solo album, Persephone, and this was my first time catching her perform. With an 8-piece band and soulful voice – as well as sparkling dress – Rennison gave cabaret vibes as she hit songs off the new album, like the bombastic “Crawling on the Ceiling” or the smooth “Circles”. She also slipped in a cover of “I’m Just a Prisoner (Of Your Good Lovin’)” by Candi Staton, citing her as a big influence on the record, and capped off the set with another huge showcase of her incredible voice, and stage presence. She definitely made me regret missing my bus, and next time I will make certain I am there for her full set. 

Next up was the country grit of Elliot C Way. Appropriately clad in cowboy boots & hat, and leather vest, his whiskey-soaked voice and accompanying pedal steel set the tone.
Throughout the set, Way teased some new songs, like one called “Living Hard or Hardy Living” which was being played in front of a crowd for only the second time -- and had one of the most country opening lines I’ve heard in a while; “Tequila in the summer, Whiskey in the winter”. After a few more tunes, including “Annabelle”, which Way introduced as about a dominatrix, he capped off the set with “Fool’s Gold” from his band The Wild North. 

And finally, Bend Sinister took the stage to round out the evening. With their recent record, Mostly Great Things, out a few weeks ago, the anniversary show doubled as their album release, as they kicked off with “Leave The Lights On” from the album, starting strong and amping up the energy with “Hot City” (appropriate for this weekend’s weather in Vancouver).

The band wove through their last few releases, from the chaotic “Big Star” to the intensity of “Walk the Other Way”, and the joyous “Show Me How To Love” to the (relatively) calmer “One Shot”. Dan Moxon is always a monster on the keys and vocals, with an energy that the rest of the band definitely matches, as Dan introduced them throughout the night with solos; Joseph Blood on guitar, Matt Rhode on bass, and Dicky Neptune on Drums.

After the absolutely chaotic “Teacher”, the set came to an end with the introspective -- but no less rockin’ -- “What It Takes”, a look at the lives of touring bands now-a-days. But they hadn’t even left the stage while people cheered for more, with Dan joking he had to get up early, so just one more song. The finished off with the anthemic “Rock ‘n’ Roll”, complete with a pause mid-song for an action shot, the perfect way to close the set as they left everyone with the refrain, “Long live rock ‘n’ roll”

I haven’t really made it a secret that, for a long time, the Rickshaw... wasn't my favourite venue in Vancouver. Which, admittedly, had a lot to do with a bad experience at my first show there. But over the years, the venue has made improvements inside, continues to celebrate local music & book eclectic bands (and even some pro wrestling), and had carved out a great niche for itself.

setlist
Leave The Lights On
Hot City
Heard It All Before
Show Me How to Love
Renegade 
Big Star
Walk the Other Way
One Shot
Gotta Get Ready Now
Got You On My Mind
Shannon
Price You Pay 
Teacher
What It Takes
(encore)
Rock ‘n’ Roll

Skye Wallace @ Green Auto -- June 12, 2024

Last night, Toronto’s Skye Wallace returned to her one-time home, kicking off a quick jaunt of shows through the west coast, starting at Green Auto here in Vancouver.
And, just as a side note: I’ve only been to Green Auto a couple times now, but the sound there is great — a lot better than you would expect from looking at it — and they consistently put on shows with fun (and inclusive) lineups. It’s a really cool space, and Vancouver definitely needs more venues like it.

I got to the venue a little late, missing opener Leo D.E Johnson and catching the last few songs of CJ Wiley. They had a fun, breezy rockin’ sound, and was joined by Skye Wallace for a couple songs, their latest single “Cheap Therapy” and the 90s-alt-rock vibe of “No One Like U”. They finished with a haunting song I didn’t catch the name of, but I made a note that I’ll have to check them out again when I can.

After a quick turnaround, Skye Wallace hit the stage backed by usual bassist J Strautman, as well as some familiar Vancouver faces, Jasper Sloan Yip on guitar and Dicky Neptune on drums.

Skye kicked off with the raucous “There Is A Wall” and the dark & moody “Truth Be Told”, before shifting into some new songs. The recently released “Momentum”, my favourite of the new batch of songs, worked on with the legendary Hawksley Workman; “Tough Kid” was dedicated to a friend in the audience; and they even teased a few unreleased songs, possibly releasing later this year.
Between songs, Skye chatted and joked with the crowd, and other highlights included the raw “Tear A Piece (Bite Me)” and the frenetic banger “Coal in Your Window”.

Wallace wrapped up the set with a cover of the Against Me! song “I Was a Teenage Anarchist” — after gushing about recently opening for Laura Jane Grace(!)
And the band was barely offstage before the crowd chanted for more, which possibly elicited the rare legit encore, with a quip that they hadn't planned on anything, before finishing with the existential questions of “The Doubt” and Skye’s incredible voice filling the room once more.

I feel like every time I see Skye Wallace play, I like them more & more, and this night was no exception. Especially having a killer backing band behind them, as well as a really cool venue.

setlist
There Is A Wall
Truth Be Told
Momentum
Tough Kid
[new song]
Mean Song 2
Tear A Piece (Bite Me)
[new song]
Coal In Your Window
I Was a Teenage Anarchist [Against Me! cover]
(encore)
The Doubt