Have you ever been inside The Commodore? It’s the most intimate experience you can have with a famous band. Sometimes, when I will go see a show at a major stadium like Rogers Arena or BC Place, I can feel that something just isn’t right. The whole time, all I can think about is how much better of a show it would have been in a smaller venue; some performances are just meant to have that level of intimacy. Although I’m sure that band would much rather have the stadium booked, venues like The Commodore have a special place in the hearts of their communities.
On October 9th and 10th of this year, 54-40 are playing back-to-back shows at The Commodore.
54-40 / Facebook
Earlier this year I was running a radio show contest, giving away tickets for this very performance. I played into the segment with “One Day in Your Life,” and was instantly hooked.
What really sold me on this band though – and not that they need any selling, 54-40 have been performing for longer than I’ve been alive – was when I got a chance to collaborate on an interview done with Neil Osborne, the vocalist and primary songwriter of the group.
It was a great time, he told us about his career, his music, the usual old rock star reminiscing. It’s safe to say Neil did not let a second of his life slip by with the stories he had to tell. He plays every show like it’s his last and the upcoming Vancouver dates will be no different.
Are you going to see 54-40 perform on October 9th or 10th? Their most popular tracks are “Ocean Pearl” from 1994 and, “I Go Blind” from their self-titled 1986 album.
You will love them if you like artists such as R.E.M, Grapes of Wrath, or even The Smiths I think could be a close comparison.
54-40 is a gritty, alternative rock group with bass-driven melodies and a recognizable Vancouver/Pacific Northwest sound. The Commodore is the perfect venue to see them at. If 54-40 is not your thing, I recommend attending just to feel the connection with the band at the venue, you might get a feel for what I mean. Seeing 54-40 at The Commodore will be a thousand times better than seeing them at a major stadium.
It’s going to be an amazing couple of nights with 54-40 taking the stage in October.