A couple of months back, I was commissioned to supply recommendations on Vancouver venues and bands for a UK publication of some repute. This is the third time in my less-than-illustrious career that I’ve been called upon to tell the British what to do and, I’ll readily admit, it’s damn gratifying work to get when you’re a lowly colonist.
While contemplating what the originators of the “Chelsea Smile” might make of The Cobalt and which Anglophilic local acts might appeal to NME zealots, I found myself more deeply immersed in the city’s music than I’ve been in at least a year. This intensive appraisal of the “state of the scene” (or something similarly nonsensical to cradle in quotation marks) has continued to plague me through my weekly attendance at this year’s Shindig.
For the uninitiated: Shindig is CITR’s annual “battle of the bands.” (It actually tends to forge more alliances than rivalries.) Held every Tuesday until December 4 at The Railway Club and hosted by glutton-for-punishment Ben Lai, the competition sees the opening round of twenty-seven bands eventually whittled down to one winner. This drawn-out process provides compelling drama, sucker-punch surprises and endless fodder for thirteen incredibly enjoyable weeknights.
To date, seven of the nine semi-finalists have been selected. Along the way, a few items have come to my suddenly hyper-honed attention:
Perhaps you’d care to sample the mixed greens?
This year’s Shindig judges have shown a marked preference for meat and potatoes. Every band that’s advanced has featured six strings and high volumes. Highlighting this tendency is November 20’s semi-final, which features two thunderous guitar-and-drums two-pieces—JPNDRDS and Treacherous Machete. Admittedly, there’s many variations on the broad “loud guitar band” theme, be it The Petroleum By-Products’ latest wave of New Wave, The SSRIs’ dynamics or Stolen Bicycles Gang’s user-friendly hooks. However, sadly left in Shindig’s wake have been the more subdued likes of string-laden Lownote, melodic songstress Fanshaw and bilingual oddities Wintermitts.
A “favoured” sound certainly runs counter to recent Shindigs. Last year’s final consisted of folkie collagists (Organ Trail), angular pop (Victoria, Victoria) and a full-blown choir (um, The Choir Practice). 2004 offered the welcome diversity of Dandi Wind, Vancougar and The Mohawk Lodge. Hell, a hip-hop act (The Front) won in 2003.
When did Shindig judges lose their taste for something completely (or at least slightly) different?
h2. 404 Page Not Found
Call me a curmudgeon but I dearly miss bands having their own websites. There are twenty-seven bands in this year’s Shindig and only six genuine websites between them. I, for one, have grown weary of searching out band particulars and ending up on some slightly modded version of the exact same MySpace page. Individual websites were once an extension of a band’s identity. Even those that were amateurishly designed possessed an innate homespun charm. This age of online uniformity is simply unbecoming.
As I’m not averse to picking favourites (it’s kind of what Shindig is all about), special commendations go to Vonnegut Dollhouse, Wintermitts and The Greenbelt Collective for carving themselves out an individual web presence. (Extra points are awarded to Vonnegut Dollhouse for their clever CD packaging, which folds out into a paper dollhouse.)
h2. Where’s my Chocolate Choo Choo?
Much like summer camp and prison, Shindig is often about the people you meet. CITR’s Music Director, Luke Meat, is routinely in attendance and a regular fount of knowledge. When Mr. Meat recently regaled me with tales of Las Vegas’ Double Down Saloon and its two specialties—the bacon martini and Ass Juice—I concluded that Vancouver’s music venues are sorely missing something: weird signature beverages.
Speaking as someone who trudges up The Railway Club’s stairs every Tuesday to sip on his usual (“Whatever’s on special.”), I can’t help but consider how the Shindig experience might be bettered if I was nursing a Spruce Caboose, Bug Slinger, Mint Muzzle Loader, Rail Grease or just about anything incorporating the word “ass.”
With all of that duly noted, allow me to close by stating: I love Shindig to pieces (even the warty pieces). It’s one of this city’s consistently rewarding music institutions. If you haven’t already done so, get thyself to this veritable musical cage match. There’s still six weeks left and I have it on good writerity that (SPOILER WARNING) two of this year’s bands won’t survive the shocking season finale (/SPOILER WARNING).
