Danny Michel @ West End Cultural Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba
Photos & review courtesy of Jenny Ramone Photo | Feb 08 2019
Eclectic Canadian songwriter Danny Michel stopped by Winnipeg’s West End Cultural Centre on February 8, 2019, a frigid, frozen winter’s night. The show marked Michel’s 17th appearance at the venue as well as the 10 year anniversary of his “Live In Winnipeg” album, recorded at the WECC in 2009.
Though he was in town in support of “White & Gold”, Michel drew from his extensive discography through out his two sets. Accompanied on stage by only a red guitar emblazoned with “This machine surrounds hate and forces it to surrender” and a looping pedal, he played stripped down versions of crowd favorites “Feather, Fur and Fin”, “Click Click” and “Tennessee Tobacco”, encouraging the crowd to join in and sing along.
From the moment he walked on stage, Danny Michel held the crowd in the palm of his hand, telling the stories behind the songs, cracking jokes, accepting requests and interacting with the audience. Michel expressed how comfortable he feels playing in Winnipeg and it really shone through on this particular evening. Michel is an entertaining, engaging performer, able to carry a 2 hour show solo without there being a dull moment.
Danny Michel’s tour continues through Western Canada until mid-February before heading to the east coast in March.
Arkells @ Save on Foods Memorial Arena, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Photos courtesy of Leanne (Green) Yerex | Feb 03 2019
Madness @ The O2, London, UK
Photos courtesy of Gili Dailes | December 14 2018
British pop legends Madness played The O2 arena in London as part of their Sound of Madness tour. Playing all the fans favourites as well as some brand new tracks, Madness gave an impressive performance that reminded us why they’re in the list of the top selling UK groups of all time.
The Zolas & Yukon Blonde @ Capital Ballroom, Victoria, British Columbia
Photos courtesy of Leanne (Green) Yerex | December 06 2018
Yukon Blonde and The Zolas ended their Canadian tour in Victoria B.C. at Capital Ballroom last week to a sold out crowd.
The Zolas
Yukon Blonde
Presented by Atomique Productions, Photos by Leanne (Green) Yerex
Website: www.leanneyerexcreative.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/leanneyerexcreative
Dear Rouge @ Capital Ballroom, Victoria, B.C. Canada
Photos courtesy of Leanne (Green) Yerex | October 10 2018
Presented by Atomique Productions, Dear Rouge made their final stop on their cross-Canada ‘Phases’ tour this past weekend in Victoria B.C., supported by fellow Vancouverites Blonde Diamond (formerly Youngblood) and Toronto’s Modern Space.
Blonde Diamond
Modern Space
Leanne (Green) Yerex on Instagram: @leanneyerexcreative
Hands Like Houses @ Trixies Entertainment Complex, Louisville, KY
With support from Emarosa, Devour The Day and Arlington
Photos and review courtesy of Emily May | November 18 2018
Australian alternative rock band Hands Like Houses is currently in the midst of their US tour in support of their latest album -ANON, performing recently in Louisville, KY to a packed house. Having been a band now for 10 years, they have amassed a devoted fanbase, with many fans this evening excited to see their favorite band.
Starting things off with "New Romantics", the band performed a nice variety of songs including "Colourblind", "Monster", "Perspectives", "Tilt", "No Parallels", and "I Am". The band was having a great time on stage, interacting often with each other, as well as with the crowd. Singer Trenton Woodley and guitarist Alex Pearson chatted periodically throughout the set, thanking the crowd for being there this evening and telling funny stories. It is apparent that the band love performing and love their fans and were having a great time promoting their new album.
KY alternative rock band Emarosa, Memphis rock band Devour The Day and Southern CA rock band Arlington opened the show.
Emarosa
Devour The Day
Arlington
Advance Base @ Surface Noise Records, Louisville, KY
Photos and review courtesy of Emily May | November 11 2018
Owen Ashworth, better known by his stage name Advance Base, is a musician out of Chicago, IL. Having opened in the past for The Postal Service, Pedro The Lion, The Mountain Goats, Stephin Merritt and Mark Kozelek, he brought his electronic solo project to Louisville, KY.
His performance this evening was at a local record store, Surface Noise, which provided a cozy and intimate setting for the Ashworth's performance. With an impressive array of gear set up, including electric pianos, autoharps, loops, pedals, and a drum machine, he performed his minimalist and nostalgic songs for the small crowd that had gathered. With folding chairs set up on the floor in front of the "stage", many of the guests sat with a few standing amongst the stacks of records.
The crowd was quiet and respectful as he played, their rapt attention fueling his performance. Record store performances are always a great way to check out different artists that you may not otherwise see and provide an intimate and fun atmosphere in which to listen!
Deep Dark Woods @ West End Cultural Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba
With Support from Kacy & Clayton
Photos and review courtesy of Jenny Ramone | November 21 2018
The Deep Dark Woods brought their prairie influenced take on Americana music to the West End Cultural Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba on November 21, 2018.
The band, lead by smooth velvety voiced Ryan Boldt, showed no sign of being on the tail end of a ten day tour that took them through western Canada via Spokane and Seattle. From the second the Deep Dark Woods took the stage, the audience was held captive by songs of life, death and trying to survive life on the Canadian Prairies. The band was loose and tastefully jammy, bringing to mind notes of Canadian folk legends the Band or Neil Young.
As a live band, the Deep Dark Woods feels very much like a collaborative effort, with each musician showing respect to their band mates during a guitar or organ solo. The band was joined on harmonies by Kacy Anderson, of opening act Kacy & Clayton, whose sweet breathy voice was the perfect compliment to Boldt’s near baritone. Haunting harmonies, mournful lyrics, twangy guitar, and swelling waves of organ wove together to form a blanket of sound to keep the soul warm through a tough Winnipeg winter.
Saskatchewan based folk duo Kacy & Clayton, who happen to list the Deep Dark Woods as one of their musical influences, warmed up the room for the band they had accompanied on the whole tour. With perfect harmonies and easy picking guitar stylings, Kacy & Clayton’s music sounds and feels like it’s from a time and place in the not so distant past, making one nostalgic for a simpler time.
