glasvegas @ popscene

venue: rickshaw stop (popscene)
artist: glasvegas
when: 6 march 2014 (thursday)
doors open at 10p

yes, that's right. it says popscene up there. yes, it's been ages since i was there last. i don't even remember the last time i went dancing there. i certainly have yet to go to popscene while it's been at the rickshaw stop. the last time i went, it was still at 330 ritch. and i thought i was done.

but popscene is like an old friend who hasn't changed very much. even though the venue has changed and is better like a facelift sometimes is, it felt familiar and almost comforting. they still play the same music there, though much of it is new. i think the djs are the same. hard to believe i've been coming to popscene since i was 18.

unfortunately, glasvegas didn't come on until 11:30p. my friend had to leave at midnight and i wasn't sure i should stay much longer than that either. so what we saw and heard from them, we really enjoyed. the first thing that caught our attention about them is that the drummer is this badass woman. she not only rocked the drums while standing but she rocked the flock of seagulls 80's do too. we were very impressed by her.

they played a lot of songs from their latest album which i picked up on vinyl. very exciting. what else we noticed about this band was their front man, james allan. especially when he took off his jacket to reveal a shirt that was open at the sides and really nice arms to go with it. i don't remember him being especially sexy in their youtube videos. but from the second floor in the dark at the rickshaw stop, he was looking pretty hot. my friend concurred.

despite not really being able to understand most of it, i love love the scottish accent. that was a nice treat for me.

rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

slaughterhouse

venue: rickshaw stop
artist: ty segall with burnt ones & the endless bummer (sold out!)
when: 25 february 2014 (tuesday)

i admit that ty segall is more noise rock than i am used to. and despite being a music snob, i still try to be open to new things. i think going to this show proves it. i'm all about action and not just talk.

i haven't been to the rickshaw stop in years (since 2008!). i remember it was not one of my favorite venues. so when this came up, i suggested that we get there early to get some prime seating on the second floor. we scored this cozy love seat in a corner where there was no one standing behind or over us.

the opening bands were quite loud and noisy. luckily, my friend brought me some ear plugs which made listening much more bearable. i rarely ever wear them but it gave me a better understanding of the music. it didn't just sound like noise. i could hear the guitars, vocals and drums more clearly. and when ty segall came on, i could appreciate the difference between good noise rock and bad noise rock. for instance, ty segall's vocals were much better than the second opening. it was a nice music adventure. i feel i've grown musically.

rating: ♥ ♥ ♥

one down, two to go

venue: rickshaw stop
artist: asobi seksu
who: lou & ro
when: 30 october 2008 (thursday)
show starts at 8p (but really, it started at 9p)

according to their website, asobi seksu is "colloquial japanese for playful sex." in preparation for the show, i've been listening to them on rhapsody. yuki (lead vocalist) sings both in japanese and english. her voice is amazing. in some of the songs, her vocals sound as if she is shrieking, yet it's lovely. a lovely shrieking. a bit of an enigma, which also matches her appearance. in the images of her, she looks like a delicate flower. beautiful and fragile. but live, she's rocking out with all her might and hair in her face and everywhere. you only catch a glimpse of her face when she sings into the microphone. and still, her long hair is wild all over.

in rhapsody, asobi seksu is categorized under "shoegazer" and "dream pop." i think they are the epitome of shoegazer music, which often times, feels like a fight between music and vocals. in this band's case, the shrill of the electric guitar(s) battling her lovely shrieking notes. for some, it might just sound like noise. for me, it is a combination of dramatic sounds and hardcore rocking out.

and don't even get me started on the japanese lyrics thrown into the mix. japanese-pop-shoegazer is quite special, not to mention a little sexy.

rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

we are the pipettes

venue: rickshaw stop
artist: the pipettes, smoosh & monster bobby
who: alex, lou & ro
when: 12 june 2007 (tuesday)
show starts at 9p

this was my second time at the rickshaw stop. i saw the silversun pickups there with lou & ro back in october. and yes, there is an actual rickshaw there. the opening was monster bobby who is part of the pipettes, well their back up band (according to wikipedia which may or may not be true). i liked his voice but couldn't really hear him too well.

the second opening was this band called smoosh. they were the female equivalent of hansen, except, they rock! i was so amazed and a bit shocked. they were so cute and talented. it's not everyday that you see an 8 y/o bass player. they also did a cover of bloc party's modern love which was most impressive. i thoroughly enjoyed these young ladies.

the only problem with the rickshaw is, upstairs, it gets really hot. i suppose heat rises but damn, it was damn hot upstairs. and that's where the seats are. so, that's where alex and i was. at this show, almost everyone was wearing polka dots. had i known that was their thing, i still wouldn't have worn polka dots. heh. i'm glad i didn't wear polka dots.

i really enjoyed the pipettes. they are super cool. only the coolest musicians have their own theme song (like tom mullaney, heehee). they also all wear polka dotted dresses that have the same pattern (fabric) with different styles. for example, one is a halter top dress, one dress has sleeves and the last one is strapless. all three sing and dance. and maneuver around and across the stage very carefully. it was immensely entertaining. they sing together as well as separately. it's refreshing to see a band take the time to put on a show for you. i'm so used to bands just standing there and playing their instruments. i enjoy myself so much more when i see bands get into their music. it makes me get into their music. but when they put together a dance routine, that's like the cherry on top!

rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ clap your hands if you want some more!

silversun pickups & the rickshaw

venue: the rickshaw
band: silversun pickups & viva voce (opening)
who: lou & ro
when: 28 september 2006 (thursday)
doors open at 9p

last thursday, i saw the silversun pickups (from LA) with my friends louis and romano. the show was sold out. i'd only heard their old stuff on musicmatch. lou & ro had only heard their new stuff. it was a nice balance. there were two opening bands. i don't remember the first one but the second band was viva voce. i think they were from oregon. according to the guys, the singer was cute and that certainly added to their appeal. i thought she was ok.

it was my first time at the rickshaw. they have actual rickshaws there. it's kinda fun. it was a small venue. nice and hip. apparently, it's some indian club on the weekend sometime. i think it'd be fun to go to.

the silversun pickups were quite good. i was impressed. i was especially excited when they played their old stuff. i'd been listening to it non-stop since will told me about them. i thoroughly enjoyed the show. and to think that ro thought they were too rock 'n roll for me. and that he'd been filtering out such bands on my mixed cds he'd been giving me. but he knows better now.

rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥