Author Archives: Jamie Shiho

Whats Wrong with Nickelback?

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Here’s a fun fact. I once put a Nickleback disc in the radio of my friend’s car without him knowing. When we got in the car next and it played and the lyrics “I’m through with standing in line…” played, he ejected the disc and threw it out the window. And you know what, fair. People don’t like Nickelback.

 

But why exactly is that? It honestly seems as though it’s gotten to the point where not liking Nickelback is simply a meme that everyone goes along with. I’ve stated in other articles that I myself view Rockstar as a Vancouver-based gem that belongs in the hall of fame. Play it at a party and tell me drunk mid-twenties post secondary kids aren’t going to sing along. I dare you. If they don’t, you’re either lying, or were born after the year 2000 and I don’t like you.

 

Now Nickelback does indeed have some absolute gems under their wings, believe it or not, How you Remind Me was the most played song on U.S. radio between 2000 and 2009. Yes you read that correctly. Give it a listen even!

(Youtube/ Roadrunner Records)

 

It’s stats like these that may have proven to be the band’s own downfall though. Chad Krueger reads that stat and says to his mates “guys we gotta make that song again, just different”. Meanwhile us fans are out here thinking “no actually make something new we don’t want the same song sung a different way”.

 

Which is exactly their problem! Their biggest complaint is that they have a great song, and several mediocre songs mimicking the great song, on every single album. It does get tiring. And on top of this, what genre are they exactly? Are they metal, are they rock, are they indie? I just don’t know because every damn album changes. 

 

The complaints about this band are warranted for sure, but I’ll reiterate one thing. If you discredit the gems they have produced, Rockstar, If today was your last day, How you Remind me, I just want you to know you’re wrong. 

 

But also, you’re kind of right.

Is Vancouver’s Vogue Theatre Haunted?

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Vancouver’s storied Vogue Theatre originally opened as a movie theatre in 1941. It took less than a year for the venue to hold its first musical talent, and while it still does to this day it has mainly been known for its hosting of the various fine arts shows from around the city.

 

What you might not have known about this great venue however, is that many believe, and a great many at that, that the Vogue is haunted. Yes, actually haunted. By the same ghost each time even.

 

Numerous staff members throughout the years have shared their experiences seeing a tall, dark haired, grey 3D silhouette of a middle aged man throughout various parts of the venue. Even going as far as deeming the long hallway in the basement area that houses the changing rooms for cast members as “the haunted hallway”. Where the man likes to make his most frequent appearances. 

Vogue Theatre VPL_80284

(Flickr/ Vancouver Public Library Historical Photographs)

Bill Allman, a man who managed the Vogue for many years, has detailed multiple stories in past interviews of his encounters. In one run-in, Allman was giving a tour to his then girlfriend and another friend that saw them reach the projector room on the top floor. While Allman himself and his girlfriend were not witnesses themselves, the other friend described to them that upon entering the room she saw an old man, with dark hair who looked very angry at their presence sitting in the projector operator’s chair. He turned, gave a stern look, then vanished into thin air.

 

Another encounter came in the middle of a performance. Cast member Shane McPherson was in the middle of a dance number before stumbling, dropping his prop cane, and continuing his number. When asked about the slip up, McPherson said he saw a translucent dark-haired man enter through the doors, stare him in the eyes, and evaporate before him.

 

These encounters are only two of the many that have been described by former cast members and venue employees themselves. While the Vogue may be one of Vancouver’s most storied buildings, it clearly does not come without it’s demons.

 

Attend at your own risk.

5 favourite songs by Vancouver Artists

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Vancouver, BC has been home to some great alternative rock bands for decades now. Dating back from the 80’s to 2021 itself countless artists have released countless classics and it’s impossible to rank any of them from best to worst. But I can tell you which I like most. 

Here are my 5 favourite songs performed by Vancouver Artists.

 

  1. Rockstar- Nickelback: Alright now look here, and shut up. I know what you’re all going to say and I don’t care. This song is iconic and the fact that it’s a native song to Vancouver is incredible. Go play this song at a party and tell me people don’t sing along. If you do, you’re lying.

(Youtube/ RoadRunner Records)

[this ones just for the fans]

4.Lucifer- Blair Lee: Blair Lee may not be as popular as some other entries on this list, and this song may not be anything entirely special but when she released this in February 2021 I became an instant fan. She has a voice that reminds me of Lana Del Rey almost that makes it quite easy to fall asleep at night.

 

  1. 99 to the Moon-Said the Whale: Here’s a funny story. The first time I heard this song was because I saw BCIT’s very own Sylvia Masich jammin’ out to it on Evolution1079’s instagram page and thought, I need to see what has her so hype. And I wasn’t disappointed. Released as part of their latest album Dandelion (which didn’t disappoint by the way) this song might just be the best on there.

 

2.Forgotten Souls-Mother Mother: This may not be their top song by any means, but it’s by far my favourite. I can’t quite put my finger on why, the three lead vocals gel so perfectly together and create a melodic vibe that never fails to put me to sleep at night.

 

1.Summer of ‘69- Bryan Adams: What else could it be? The most iconic song on the list, and maybe of the entire 80’s (wow that’s saying a lot). Released in 1984 ten years after Adams moved to Vancouver, the song reached top-10 in the charts in both Canada and the U.S This is another song you play, and if you tell me people don’t know the lyrics, you’re again lying.

 

That’s my top 5, hopefully there’s a new song that becomes your favourite too.

What are your favou]rite songs native to Vancouver? Did you agree with my list? Let me know on social media @ Evolution1079.

 

What you don’t know about the Zolas

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Vancouver’s own The Zolas are returning to Vancouver for multiple shows. In the midst of a Canadian tour that’s seeing them perform live for the first time since 2019 they return November 26th in Vancouver, and 27th in Victoria. 

(Youtube/ LightOrganRecords)

In honour of their return, here’s a few facts you might not have known about the homegrown band.

 

The band is actually only made up of two core members.

Zachary Gray and Tom Dobrzanski are the two band members. Tom mans the piano/keyboards and Zach is on the vocals and lead guitar while other local live artists fill in around them depending on where they play.

 

Their debut album Tic Toc Tic was recorded in Tom’s basement suite while he studied at UBC. Tom then realized his true love, and potential to be successful in making music.

Tom has not only a business degree, but also has training in audio engineering and serves as that role, as well as producer and composer for not only The Zolas, but previously the duo’s first band Lotus Child as well.

 

Tom and Zach originally founded their first band Lotus Child in Vancouver. The duo released several self produced pieces which garnered much attention across the Vancouver indie scene and began to spread across Canada. The duo eventually left the group in 2009

 

Zach is actually the son of composer and producer John Maclaughlin Gray who is also a playwright. John has actually worked on plays that have been performed on Broadway in New York. He along with fellow writer Eric Peterson wrote and composed Billy Bishop Goes to War which hit Broadway in 1980.

 

The Zolas will be returning to perform live in Vancouver for the first time in almost two years this November. The group will play at the Vogue Theatre on the 26th, before playing at the Capitol Ballroom in Victoria on the 27th. 

What you Didn’t know about Said the Whale

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Vancouver’s very own Said the Whale has just released their new album Dandelion and it may be their best one yet. Featuring hit songs like 99 to the Moon, Honey Lungs, and Show me Everything the band’s seventh studio album is quickly taking off as one of their best to date.

(Youtube/ Said the Whale)

With the rise in popularity quickly becoming so prominent, here are some things you may not have known about Vancouver’s Said the Whale.

 

The band was started in 2007 by Ben Worcester and Tyler Bancroft, both of whom man the Microphone and lead guitar. That same year they released their first EP, before re-releasing it a year later with the addition of several more songs.

 

In the spring of 2011 the band toured the United States for the first time landing the band in Texas where the band was a feature of Winning America, a CBC documentary. The documentary followed their west coast tour down to Austin where they took part in the SXSW music festival. 

The feature would wrap up at the 2011 Juno Awards which saw the band win Best New Group of the Year.

 

In 2012 the band was named atop the “top stars to watch” list put out by music magazine Rockstar Weekly. Naming them the top spot over established bands like Rush, Van Halen, and The Rolling Stones.

 

Most recently, earlier this year Bancroft announced his new record label EVERYTHING FOREVER. The debut recording for the label will be the single I do Yeah by fellow Vancouver artist Titus Bank. Additionally the label will provide two grants biannually for artists age 21 and under with the hope to grow more young talent not just in Vancouver but Canada as a whole. 

 

Said the Whale is riding high off their latest album release, and with the band being an additional signing to the EVERYTHING FOREVER record label themselves, they do not seem to be slowing down any time soon.

Mother Mother Returns to Vancouver

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Arguably Vancouver’s most famous native band Mother Mother is returning to their hometown for a collection of shows. Coming off their latest album together Inside the band will return home to play four shows from the 2nd of December through to December 5th. 

 

All four shows will be held at the infamous Commodore Ballroom but only one of those shows will be an all ages event. The afternoon show on December 4th at 2:00pm will be the only show that permits minors. All three of the remaining performances will require patrons to be of legal drinking age.

 

The band will take a short intermission for the early months of the year before playing two shows in Victoria during the early spring. After which they take overseas for a European tour that will see them hit the stage in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Germany, France, Spain and more. 

 

Mother Mother debuted in 2005 under their then name Mother with a self-titled album. The band would later rebrand due to legal troubles regarding their name, and changed their name, the title of their debut album to Touch Up, and adding several new songs to the re-release. 

 

The Quadra Island natives have reached the top-five in the alt-rock charts five times, and have taken the top spot twice with hit singles The Drugs in 2016 and later Get up in 2018.

(Youtube/ EscapeArtist74)

The band has seen a number of changes in personnel over the past several years, including longtime bassist Jeremy Page being replaced by Mike Young in 2016, and Jasmin Parkin taking over the vocal and keyboard duties from Debra-Jean Creelman in 2009. Percussionist Kenton Loewen also left the band in 2009.

 

Mother Mother is one of the most recognizable names in music when it comes to homegrown talent in BC, and with their many Canadian shows coming up, and their tour of Europe the band’s name is only growing larger. Catch them in concert in Vancouver at the Commodore Ballroom this December.

A Brief History of the Commodore Ballroom

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One of Vancouver’s most storied venues, the Commodore Ballroom first opened its doors back in 1929. Today it plays home to some of the most popular local acts in the city, with bands such as BlackAngels. The Midnight,  and Mother Mother all playing at the venue within the next 40 days.

 

What you might not know however is the Commodore has gone through its share of closures and rebrands. When the venue originally opened in 1929 it was originally branded as the “Commodore Cabaret”.  The Cabaret was supposed to be a direct rival to the only mainstay ballroom in the city at that time. That of course being the Hotel Vancouver.Unfortunately that did not last as only a few months later it would be forced to close its doors as a result of the great depression. 

 

They would reopen again a year later and have stayed open ever since, but under many new streams of management. Most notably management changed hands in 1969 by Drew Burns, who would turn the “Cabaret-style” ballroom into the notorious rock/indie rock venue it’s been known for.

 

The Commodore would continue a steady stream of revenue and popularity for the next several decades before closing again in 1996, but this time for renovations. The doors would stay shut for almost three full calendar years but when they reopened, the venue boasted a brand new hardwood dance floor, among many other upgrades and renovations. The project itself reportedly cost upwards of $3.5 million.

(Youtube/ Jean Claude Van Couver)

Burns was also quite charitable throughout his tenure, opening the venue to host fundraisers for The Cancer Society, Green Peace, the Food Bank and more local charities.

 

Over the years this storied venue has played host to hit artists like Nirvana, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pearl Jam, RadioHead, Coldplay, The Tragically Hip and more.

 

5 Things you didn’t know about the New Pornographers

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The New Pornogrpahers are returning to Vancouver for a live performance for the first time since the infamous Covid shutdowns. The band is playing two shows at the Vogue Theatre this December and in honour of the band’s return, here are five things you may not have known about the New Pornographers.

 

  1. Neko Case has sung in three other bands, in addition to some solo projects. This made it extremely hard for TNP to book her for new projects and studio time. Case handles vocals, percussion, piano and some guitar but has never been able to make a full commitment to the band.

 

  1. Dan Bejar was not a part of their first studio album at all. Though it is no fault of his own, nor of the rest of the band. Bejar also handles vocals and percussion and is actually the frontman of his other band Destroyer. When asked about the absence of Bejar from the album both sides said it was simply a difference in creative vision. Bejar was working on a softer tone for his next project with Destroyer, while TNP were creating a more propulsive album at the time.

 

3.Bejar has actually left the band twice. Before his return to the group in 2021, Bejar had told the band he would not be collaborating with them on two occasions. The first being that he felt he was getting too overloaded with solo projects, and the other coming at a time when up-and-moved to Spain. The move was described as “abrupt” by the group as they felt the band was just beginning to take off.

 

  1. Blaine Thurier, in addition to his contributions to the band, is a well known filmmaker across Canada. His projects including Low Self-Esteem Girl, Male Fantasy, and A Gun to the head have all been showcased in the Toronto International Film Festival, and South by Southwest Film Festival. Thurier has also directed several music videos for the band. 

( Youtube/ Fuzzy Legends Archives)

All for Swinging you Around as directed by Blaine Thurier

 

1.Multiple band members don’t actually tour with the group. Most notably Neko Case and Dan Bejar. The two have been vocal in the past; they are too busy to commit to such tours given their many solo projects and relations to other groups

 

The New Pornographers are set to return to Vancouver for two live shows on December 11th and 12th. Both events will be held at the Vogue Theatre. 

My 5 Personal Favourite Indie/Alt-Rock Bands

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I myself was born and raised just outside of Vancouver’s downtown music scene and have therefore developed a strong love for the indie-rock, alt-rock, folk/soft-rock, “whatever you want to call it” music scene. 

In honour of this, I wanted to present to you my list of top-five favourite indie bands.

 

  1. The 1975.

Originating in 2002 while the members were all in high school together, the now Manchester based band has been playing together ever since. They are ranked slightly low on this list given their transition into more of a pop band, but their early work, mainly their debut album, was a work of genius. I saw these guys play live at UBC several years ago and it was a show I remember to this day.

 

  1. City and Color.

I only recently found an ear for Dallas Green’s music but once I did, I did not look back. I’ve said it live on Evolution Radio the record If I should go Before you does not leave my vinyl player. I still vary on which song is my favourite, but so far I’ve got to stick with my usual answer in Wasted Love.

(Youtube/ cityandcolourVIDEOS)

  1. The Killers

This group has a special place in my heart for one reason, on top of their great music. I was working late nights in a restaurant where my co-workers played Hot Fuss at least once a day. I loved the album and even knew most of the songs but I didn’t know the band’s name. When they finally told me I took the band, and the album to my best friend at the time, and HE knew every single word to almost every single song too. From there The Killers have been a mainstay on the aux.

 

  1. Young The Giant

This band really should be #1 on my list but I can’t put them there because I have not seen them live. If I had they would probably beat out my top spot. With that said, it’s safe to say Cough Syrup might just be my favourite song of all time, in any genre. And that’s not even the band’s consensus top song. Regardless, any time this band comes on I’m in the mood to listen and I can’t shut them off.

 

1.Ed Sheeran

Okay this might be cheating, hell it’s definitely cheating but I still consider this man more Folk/rock than I do pop or anything else. And this is my list and I make the rules. Unfortunately Sheeran has also made a transition over to the pop scene, but much like the Disney Star Wars movies, that work simply just doesn’t exist.

I saw Sheeran live and it was to date the best concert I have ever been to. I won’t even list my favourite songs here because I don’t want to discredit the ones I don’t mention. Ed Sheeran takes my top shot without question.

ed-sheeran-en-argentina-2017

(Flickr/ Ludmila Joaquina Valentina Buyo)

What are your favourite bands or artists in the indie scene? Or any music scene? Let us know online at Evolution1079.com or on social media @ evolution1079.