When the pandemic hit back in March day to day life changed so much. It changed the way we socialize, the way we work and the way we consume live music. In the early months of the pandemic, I started playing online poker with my friends. It was weird for me at first. I had never hung out with my friends on video chat before but after a few poker nights it felt almost normal.

Will the same go for live music? Going to live shows has been a habit of mine for many years but now but with obvious restrictions I have not been to a live show since January. The pandemic has been especially hard for musicians and live venues. Some musicians and venues have chosen to give live streaming a try.

Live stream concerts have become more frequent in recent months with the end of the pandemic very much unclear. The Rickshaw, The Commodore and The Vogue are just a few venues that have hosted live streaming events.

I work at a rehearsal studio in East Vancouver and earlier this year in the summer, we hosted alternative country artist Orville Peck who was rehearsing for his live stream show at the Vogue. We also hosted some performances for a local online folk music festival and we’ve even had a handful of local bands host their live streams from the studio.

I recognize the importance of live stream shows to help provide some much needed income for musicians and the venues hosting them but will live streaming catch on? I don’t know. Personally I am more likely to watch videos of older performances than I am to watch a live stream but this doesn’t mean I don’t check them out. I still think it’s important to support live music through these difficult times until live shows returns.

In the summer of 1964 Beatles Mania was in full swing and B.C. was no exception. August 22nd 1964 the Beatles played there only show ever in Vancouver. It was only a month after A Hard Day’s Night Came out and the Beatles were on top of the world.

The Beatles played the night before in Seattle and arrived in Vancouver late. Mainly because the pilot did not have the proper paper work to enter Canada. When they finally arrived in Canada, the band hopped in a limousine, had a short tour of the city, had some burgers and milkshakes, attended their press conference all before being shipped off to Empire Field.

The concert was held at Empire Field. It was scheduled to start at 8:00 PM but the band didn’t get hit the stage until 9:23 PM, due to the border delay. The show had 20,621 in attendance and only lasted 27 minutes. They played 11 songs. Fans who attended the concert claim it was difficult to hear to band over all the screaming. Authorities struggled to hold the crowd back and had to urge them to calm down so no one would get hurt.

The Beatles were suppose to spend the night at the Hotel Georgia downtown. But because they were so late getting to town, after the show ended the band went straight back to the airport and continued their tour in the United States and just like that the biggest band in the world had their first trip to Canada and only trip to Vancouver.

I’d love to go back in time and check out this show. I’ve been a fan of the Beatles since I was a teenager. I love their music and have spent countless hours watching old videos on YouTube. They will never be another band like them and it’s pretty cool to think that if only for a short time they were in our city.

Yesterday I discussed one of the smaller live music venues in town. Today, I thought I’d discuss one of the bigger ones The Commodore Ballroom.

The Commodore Ballroom is located on Granville Street in the heart of the entertainment district. The venue hosts live music from all genres and events such as graduations, banquets, parties, stand up comedy and other events. The venue is fairly large and holds about a thousand people (pre COVID capacity). A large floor takes up most of the venue and there are some tables and seating off to the side. The building was designed for live music so the sound is always good but the drinks are quite expensive.

The Commodore was built in 1929 in the Art Deco style. Inside, the venue still holds its early twentieth century charm. You can easily picture yourself going there to see Sammy Davis Jr. in the forties. Its history adds to the allure of the venue. Some legendary acts have played there such as Sammy Davis Jr., BB King, The Clash, The Beastie Boys, Dr. Dre and David Bowie just to name a few. In March of 2017 I saw the Japandroids preform at the Commodore. Drummer David Prowse, who grew up in Vancouver, spoke about how cool it was to be playing at the Commodore. I could truly tell how touched he was to be playing at such a historic venue in the city he grew up in. Recently the commodore has hosted a few live stream events. Peach Pit played a live stream show there back in September and next month in September they will host a live stream drag show.

While live streams during the pandemic make sense, I am stating the obvious by saying I hope we can get back to proper live shows soon. The Commodore Ballroom is a historic great venue. Check it out.

Logan’s Pub was a pub and venue in Victoria that supported the indie music scene for decades. Earlier this week Logan’s Pub announced they will be closing their doors for good, this is a painful reminder of the impact the pandemic has had on the music industry. Music venues were some of the first places to close and will likely be some of the last places to reopen, once the pandemic is history. With no live music, no festivals and the future still very much unclear, venues, artists and performers are feeling the pinch. If there are no longer any venues, BC’s music industry could struggle long after the pandemic is behind us.

Luckily there are organizations that are helping out. Sound On BC is an organization that supports, promotes and celebrates BC artists and performers, by hosting live streaming events such as concerts, live performances, workshops and DJ sets. The live streams will be available for free on Sound On BC’s website although donations are encouraged and all proceed go to support BC artists, presenters, venues, production staff and charities across BC.

Sound On anticipates hosting 100 live stream shows that showcase the talent and diversity of BC’s musical community. Sound On relies on funding from the BC government, corporate sponsors and private donations to support its cause.

I hope we don’t see anymore closures of music venues like Logan’s Pub this year, but sadly I suspect we will. If live venues are not supported at this time they may not be around when we’re allowed to enjoy them again. If we do not help support BC music through this difficult time, the state of BC music might never be the same. Anyone who wants to see live music beyond the pandemic should really consider donating to this great cause.

Continuing with my theme of exploring great live music venues across Vancouver. I’ve already discussed two of Vancouver great live venues, The Rickshaw and The Biltmore. Today I thought I’d profile one of the city’s smaller venues.

If you’re looking to see live music in a more intimate venue. I would recommend checking out Lana Lou’s. Lana Lou’s is a small music venue located on Powell Street near Oppenheimer Park. Because of its size, you should not be expecting to see popular bands but great local bands and lesser known touring bands. There is a small stage and a small floor, a few tables and bar. The venue is not without his charm. It’s nicely decorated and has a cozy dive bar vibe. The drinks are cheap and in my experience the staff is friendly. Lana Lou’s also serves food, but I can’t speak for the food because I’ve never tried it.

I’ve seen quite a few shows at Lana Lou’s usually it’s just a friend’s band or something like that. There is usually about thirty people there. I’ve never seen the place too crowded, although it wouldn’t take too many people to make it feel crowded. They clearly like to support local musicians from hip hop to punk and more obscure artists you may not see at your average venue.

Small venues like Lana Lou’s this are very important for local musicians. If it weren’t for these types of venues, Vancouver wouldn’t have much of a music scene. They give musicians a place to play, whether they’ve been playing for decades or they’re just starting out. I would strongly recommend checking out Lana Lou’s if you get the chance. You truly feel a sense of community when you’re there. Lana Lou’s do it yourself spirit makes it one of the best places in Vancouver to see live music.

If you’ve been to the Cambie, Pub 340 or just walked around Gastown in the past few years, You’ve probably seen Chi Pig. Chi Pig has been a staple of Gastown for many years. He was often seen walking around Gastown and socializing with the regulars. A lot of people would recognize Chi Pig but not everyone knows about his impact of the Vancouver punk scene.

Chi Pig was the lead singer of the hardcore punk band SNFU. SNFU formed in Edmonton in 1981 and relocated to Vancouver in 1992. SNFU are one of the most acclaimed and influential hardcore bands to come out of Canada.

Sadly, Chi Pig died earlier this year in July of this year at the age of 57 but he has forever left his mark on Canadian music and Vancouver. Tributes for Chi Pig poured in from all over.

Popular former news anchor Tamara Taggart wrote in a tweet:

“I couldn’t believe it when he walked through the door. Ken lit up the room, a true frontman + a Vancouver #punk legend. #SNFU RIP Chi Pig”

Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong wrote:

“Oh man. This breaks my heart. Chi Pig was one of the greatest front people I’ve ever seen. I saw SNFU at Gilman when I was 16. I thought he was going to jump through the ceiling. Super smart. Great lyrics. Amazing album titles. So funny. He had an amazing mask collection. lead singer for SNFU. What a bummer. Sending love to all the Edmonton and Vancouver punks. What a loss.”

For me, I’ve seen Chi Pig countless times, mostly while drinking at Pub 340 or The Cambie. I know a few older punk fans that had a lot of respect for him. I was almost always too intimidated to talk to him, mostly because I didn’t know what to say but one night at Pat’s Pub after a Walter Lure show in 2019, I did have a few words with him. He was very nice and well spoken, which probably shouldn’t have surprised me but it did. It’s sad to think that Chi Pig will no longer be apart of the community. RIP Chi Pig.

Japandroids and ANTI- Records are teaming up to raise money for live venues. In an effort to save live venues in the United States, Vancouver band Japandroids has asked their fans to upload a photo or video of Japandroids, select a venue, download and share on socials and then tag @Japandroids, the venue, and use #saveourfuckingvenues. For every post with the hashtag ANTI- will donate one dollar to The National Independent Venue Association.

The National Independent Venue Association, NIVA, is an organization who’s mission is to preserve and nurture independent venues and promoters throughout the United States.  NIVA hopes the help to keep as many live venues open as possible in order to preserve their cultural significance, help local economies and help those who rely on live venues as an income.

In a statement posted on Japandroids socials, the band wrote:

“One of the most amazing things about being a touring musician is how it makes me feel like I’m part of a much larger, global community. There are so many different venues where as soon as we walk in the door we feel like we’re home. We’ve become friends with promoters, managers, bartenders, stage hands and sound engineers all over the world.”

Japandroids released a live album earlier this year called Massey Fucking Hall. It was recorded in 2017 at Massey Hall in Toronto. The album is a strong reminder of the importance of live venues in our communities.

The thought of live venues closing due to the pandemic is a scary one. Japandroids have been one of my favourite bands for a few years. I’ve seen them live four times. Hopefully with the help of organizations like NIVA, live venues across the globe will stay open, so we can enjoy live music well after the pandemic is behind us.

Yesterday I wrote about one of my favourite venues in Vancouver to see live music, The Rickshaw Theatre. Today I would like to continue that theme by writing about another one of Vancouver’s great live music venues, The Biltmore Cabaret.

Located on Prince Edward Street near Kingsway and 12th, The Biltmore Cabaret is a venue that hosts a lot of local and touring bands, DJs, burlesque shows and dance parties. Over the years I’ve seen a handful of shows at the Biltmore. My favourite show I’ve seen there was also my first. It was Japandroids back in 2013. At the time they were supporting their Celebration Rock album. The gig was a lot of fun and the crowd was very raucous and kept the bouncers busy for the night.

The roof is low which adds to the atmosphere of the venue but the flatness of the floor and lack of levels can make it hard to see the stage if you’re not at the front. Especially if you are a little shorter like me. Like the Rickshaw, the line for the bar also gets very long so you’ll want to strategically pick the best time to grab a drink and maybe even get two. It is important to know that the venue also has an eleven o’clock curfew because a lot of people live nearby. This comes in handy if you want to see a show but still have to go to work the next morning.

Like Biltmore is one of Vancouver’s great live music venues. If you ever get the chance to see a band there, don’t pass up the opportunity. Even when there is no live music the Biltmore is still a fun place to hangout and enjoy your night and the area has a lot of cool bars go to afterwards and many late night food places as well.