Music > a grabbag show... we have it all...
Spoken Word > Interview with SFU Formosa Cultural Club's vice president Lucy Fang
To listen to our previous shows, please visit our archive at: www.cjsf.ca/achives and find our show by the time and date...
Spoken Word > Interview with SFU Formosa Cultural Club's vice president Lucy Fang
To listen to our previous shows, please visit our archive at: www.cjsf.ca/achives and find our show by the time and date...
Neil Hannon Is Back With His Comedy (an old review)
By Aris Pondaag & Charles Tai
On Sunday night, September 26th, 2004, the Divine Comedy were performing an entertaining set of comical yet emotional music in front of their scant audience at Sonar, Gastown. CJSF volunteers, Aris Pondaag and Charles Tai, were privileged to witness one of the most prominent song-writers out of UK with his company performing their last show of the North-American tour in support of the band’s latest album, Absent Friends.
With more than a decade of musical experience under their belt, the Divine Comedy, which currently comprise only a single member of the original line-up and a bunch of session players, have established themselves as one of a few bands around that still sticks to their original sounds and lyrics. Led by the charismatic singer, Neil Hannon, the Divine Comedy have produced more than half-dozen albums, in which some of them have spawned the band’s most essential hits to date. Tonight, the Divine Comedy are back after two years absent from North America, and with only represented by three musicians, the band are ready to show their worth.
The show kicks off at around 8.30 Pm to a somewhat unpacked crowd. The line up was Neil at keyboard accompanied by two other musicians (Tom and John) in charge of guitars and contra bass. The band appear in gracious mood, and even seem rather relief to reach the end of their journey in North America. They open the set with the album’s self-titled track, Absent Friends, which quickly gains the audience’s attention and sets the expectation for the listeners of what are coming. The band then launches on to a mixture of new and old materials.
Some of the highlights from the new album were Charmed Life, a song dedicated to his daughter, and Come Home Billy Boy, a track about a ‘bloke’ as Neil simply explained. The band also pretty much covered most materials from their older albums. The highlights were National Express, which (the petite crowd responded by dancing and singing along to it) was responded by people singing along and dancing. Tonight We Fly, arguably one of the best tracks ever released by Divine Comedy, from the album Promenade, was also done superbly to end the set.
In between songs, Neil tries to interact with the audience with his remarks, which often make the crowd giggles. Towards the end of the first set, Neil Hannon surprises the audience by covering a song by Queens of The Stone Age, No One Knows. The rendition is done uniquely with a stronger staccato feel to it. During the pause in-between the choruses, Neil Hannon jokingly sticks out a devil hand gesture to the crowd and immediately receives loud cheers.
Sunrise, a beautiful track from the album Fin De Siecle ends the encore, and sends the audience back home with wonder and satisfaction.
More comprehensive information about the band can be found at their personal Website: www.thedivinecomedy.com.
By Aris Pondaag & Charles Tai
On Sunday night, September 26th, 2004, the Divine Comedy were performing an entertaining set of comical yet emotional music in front of their scant audience at Sonar, Gastown. CJSF volunteers, Aris Pondaag and Charles Tai, were privileged to witness one of the most prominent song-writers out of UK with his company performing their last show of the North-American tour in support of the band’s latest album, Absent Friends.
With more than a decade of musical experience under their belt, the Divine Comedy, which currently comprise only a single member of the original line-up and a bunch of session players, have established themselves as one of a few bands around that still sticks to their original sounds and lyrics. Led by the charismatic singer, Neil Hannon, the Divine Comedy have produced more than half-dozen albums, in which some of them have spawned the band’s most essential hits to date. Tonight, the Divine Comedy are back after two years absent from North America, and with only represented by three musicians, the band are ready to show their worth.
The show kicks off at around 8.30 Pm to a somewhat unpacked crowd. The line up was Neil at keyboard accompanied by two other musicians (Tom and John) in charge of guitars and contra bass. The band appear in gracious mood, and even seem rather relief to reach the end of their journey in North America. They open the set with the album’s self-titled track, Absent Friends, which quickly gains the audience’s attention and sets the expectation for the listeners of what are coming. The band then launches on to a mixture of new and old materials.
Some of the highlights from the new album were Charmed Life, a song dedicated to his daughter, and Come Home Billy Boy, a track about a ‘bloke’ as Neil simply explained. The band also pretty much covered most materials from their older albums. The highlights were National Express, which (the petite crowd responded by dancing and singing along to it) was responded by people singing along and dancing. Tonight We Fly, arguably one of the best tracks ever released by Divine Comedy, from the album Promenade, was also done superbly to end the set.
In between songs, Neil tries to interact with the audience with his remarks, which often make the crowd giggles. Towards the end of the first set, Neil Hannon surprises the audience by covering a song by Queens of The Stone Age, No One Knows. The rendition is done uniquely with a stronger staccato feel to it. During the pause in-between the choruses, Neil Hannon jokingly sticks out a devil hand gesture to the crowd and immediately receives loud cheers.
Sunrise, a beautiful track from the album Fin De Siecle ends the encore, and sends the audience back home with wonder and satisfaction.
More comprehensive information about the band can be found at their personal Website: www.thedivinecomedy.com.
Upcoming shows you should check out:
No Luck Club @ Mesa Luna on May 22nd
Caribou + Junior Boys
Doves @ Commodore Ballroom on June 9th
:)
:)
Ivy Takes Smoothness to Breathtaking New Heights
By Charles Tai
On Monday night, May 16th, 2005, New York’s atmospheric pop trio Ivy performed an exhilarating set to a cozy and passionate crowd at Richard’s on Richard, in support of their fifth full-length, In the Clear (2005). Charles Tai, co-host of That Chinese Show, was there to experience the band’s effortless brilliance first hand.
Perhaps because it was a Monday, the show was off to a rather sluggish start. In fact, there was no line-up at the door, when it opened at 7:30 pm sharp. After a bit of wait-and-see, Astaire, the quartet from Ivy’s hometown, kicked off the show with only a handful of audience in attendance. They were quickly followed by Vancouver’s synth-pop four-piece Hermit, who brought along a fancy screen projection that did more to distract than to enhance their performance.
Shortly after 10 o’clock, Ivy finally took to the stage, with guitarist Andy Chase, bassist Adam Schlesinger, and Parisian-born singer Dominique Durand. Loud cheers erupted, as people slowly poured into the front from many of the venue’s dark corners. The trio appeared to be in splendid mood, exuding an air of confidence that can only be found in the most seasoned veterans. The band was assisted by members of Astaire on drum and keyboard, and an additional guitarist was also called into duty. Right away, the six of them launched into the first song, Undertow, the opening track from their third album, Long Distance (2001).
Durand formally introduced the band to the crowd, once the opening number ended. Riding on a wave of momentum, the band quickly leaped into the second song, Thinking about you, one of the many new materials that were being showcased on this North American tour. Song after song, from Four in the Morning to Ba Ba Ba to Edge of the Ocean, Ivy explored new aural terrains and revisited some of the earliest classics since their debut, Realistic (1995). Long-time fans would be relieved and excited to find the new tunes filled with Ivy’s trademark suave and lush ambiance, while newbies would fall, in a snap, for their wistful popcraft and trippy melodies.
Throughout the night, the band was able to create a very intimate atmosphere, by throwing in humors along the way. At one point, Schlesinger, in all good humor, made a last-minute request that the mirror ball in the ceiling be turned on exactly when the chorus meets the verse. Technical staff scrambled to make the mirror ball work, and the band started playing the song. Viola! The light was set into motion halfway in the song and everyone just laughed.
Wrapping up the night, the band covered Serge Gainsborough’s L’Anamour and concluded with one of my favorites Get Enough during the encore. By this time, the crowd had broken into a free-for-all dance-off, which resembled a scene out of a hippie-era movie. At the end of the day, Ivy’s performance was just plain too smooth, overflowing with shoegaze romanticism and nostalgia. If you are not yet a fan, I recommend that you start with their acclaimed second release Apartment Life (1997).
For more information on the band, please visit Ivy’s official website: http://www.thebandivy.com
By Charles Tai
On Monday night, May 16th, 2005, New York’s atmospheric pop trio Ivy performed an exhilarating set to a cozy and passionate crowd at Richard’s on Richard, in support of their fifth full-length, In the Clear (2005). Charles Tai, co-host of That Chinese Show, was there to experience the band’s effortless brilliance first hand.
Perhaps because it was a Monday, the show was off to a rather sluggish start. In fact, there was no line-up at the door, when it opened at 7:30 pm sharp. After a bit of wait-and-see, Astaire, the quartet from Ivy’s hometown, kicked off the show with only a handful of audience in attendance. They were quickly followed by Vancouver’s synth-pop four-piece Hermit, who brought along a fancy screen projection that did more to distract than to enhance their performance.
Shortly after 10 o’clock, Ivy finally took to the stage, with guitarist Andy Chase, bassist Adam Schlesinger, and Parisian-born singer Dominique Durand. Loud cheers erupted, as people slowly poured into the front from many of the venue’s dark corners. The trio appeared to be in splendid mood, exuding an air of confidence that can only be found in the most seasoned veterans. The band was assisted by members of Astaire on drum and keyboard, and an additional guitarist was also called into duty. Right away, the six of them launched into the first song, Undertow, the opening track from their third album, Long Distance (2001).
Durand formally introduced the band to the crowd, once the opening number ended. Riding on a wave of momentum, the band quickly leaped into the second song, Thinking about you, one of the many new materials that were being showcased on this North American tour. Song after song, from Four in the Morning to Ba Ba Ba to Edge of the Ocean, Ivy explored new aural terrains and revisited some of the earliest classics since their debut, Realistic (1995). Long-time fans would be relieved and excited to find the new tunes filled with Ivy’s trademark suave and lush ambiance, while newbies would fall, in a snap, for their wistful popcraft and trippy melodies.
Throughout the night, the band was able to create a very intimate atmosphere, by throwing in humors along the way. At one point, Schlesinger, in all good humor, made a last-minute request that the mirror ball in the ceiling be turned on exactly when the chorus meets the verse. Technical staff scrambled to make the mirror ball work, and the band started playing the song. Viola! The light was set into motion halfway in the song and everyone just laughed.
Wrapping up the night, the band covered Serge Gainsborough’s L’Anamour and concluded with one of my favorites Get Enough during the encore. By this time, the crowd had broken into a free-for-all dance-off, which resembled a scene out of a hippie-era movie. At the end of the day, Ivy’s performance was just plain too smooth, overflowing with shoegaze romanticism and nostalgia. If you are not yet a fan, I recommend that you start with their acclaimed second release Apartment Life (1997).
For more information on the band, please visit Ivy’s official website: http://www.thebandivy.com
Music > PK14 (China), DJ Dee (Hong Kong), etc.
Spoken Word > Interviews with SFU Formasa Cultural Club and UVoice Student Newspaper, on the topic of Asian culture and Immigrant life.
Stay tuned to FM 90.1
Spoken Word > Interviews with SFU Formasa Cultural Club and UVoice Student Newspaper, on the topic of Asian culture and Immigrant life.
Stay tuned to FM 90.1
Hello hello...
Topic > Student Clubs, Asian Culture, Immigrant Life
Music > independent music of all genres by Asian
see you this saturday at noon on FM 90.1!
Topic > Student Clubs, Asian Culture, Immigrant Life
Music > independent music of all genres by Asian
see you this saturday at noon on FM 90.1!
May is a month filled with elections around the world: UK, Taiwan, and BC....
But, May is also the Asian Heritage Month (at least proclaimed by the Government of Canada).
Topic > We will turn our attention to music in Asia in a broader sense
Music > Pizzicato Five (japan), Pure Saturday (indonesia), Fan Hung A (hong kong), Nipples (taiwan), etc.
If you have ideas for show or suggestions, please let us know. Email us at thatchineseshow@hotmail.com.
But, May is also the Asian Heritage Month (at least proclaimed by the Government of Canada).
Topic > We will turn our attention to music in Asia in a broader sense
Music > Pizzicato Five (japan), Pure Saturday (indonesia), Fan Hung A (hong kong), Nipples (taiwan), etc.
If you have ideas for show or suggestions, please let us know. Email us at thatchineseshow@hotmail.com.
604.291.5797
thatchineseshow@hotmail.com
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