3am Revelations

3am Mixtapes: Episode One Hundred One: #SingItFwd

3amrevelations@gmail.com (Kirk Hamilton) — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 19:00:00 +0000

Each week on the 3am Mixtapes podcast, I will share with you the Top Six Songs of a certain subject. The topics can be as general as best 2015 songs. Some might be a little more... specific. Top Six Songs About Being Late.

This week, not only am I talking about the upcoming #SingItFwdFinale, with the Top Six SingItFwd Performances but I am joined by half of the brains behind the operation, one third of the brains behind Hey Ocean!, and the whole brains behind his solo material, one of the hardest working musicians in Vancouver, David Vertesi.

Hear him talk about SingItFwd, the St James Music Academy, past years, this year's finale, what's next, and lots more. And a bunch of cool performances recorded live from previous years:

"Congo" by Bear Mountain w/ The St James Music Academy
"Bit By Bit" by Ryan Guldemond & Hannah Georgas w/ The St James Music Academy
"So Easily" by Kathryn Calder
"Summer Dress" by July Talk
"Resolutions" by Said the Whale w/ Shad
"Walking on Broken Glass" by Hey Ocean! w/ The St James Music Academy.

Any questions or comments or waffles or criticisms or suggestions for future themes are welcome!

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3am Mixtapes: Episode One Hundred: Favourite Songs

3amrevelations@gmail.com (Kirk Hamilton) — Wed, 18 Nov 2015 02:57:00 +0000

Each week on the 3am Mixtapes podcast, I will share with you the Top Six Songs of a certain subject. The topics can be as general as best BC bands. Some might be a little more... specific. Top Six Bands who have been in the Peak Performance Project.

I'm not really one to celebrate milestones just because they're at round numbers, but I had this idea floating around for a while and figured this was as good a time as any for my Top Six Songs!
These are just six of my favourite songs. Not my Six Favourites Of All Time Ever (I don't think I could do that list), but just six that have remained favourites for a while.

Check these out:

"The Bleeding Heart Show" by The New Pornographers
"This Modern Love" by Bloc Party
"Hoppípolla" by Sigur Rós
"Prime Time Deliverance" by Matthew Good Band
"Into My Arms" by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
"It's All Gonna Break" by Broken Social Scene

Any questions or comments or waffles or criticisms or suggestions for future themes are welcome!

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3am Mixtapes: Episode Ninety Nine: One Word Titles

3amrevelations@gmail.com (Kirk Hamilton) — Wed, 11 Nov 2015 06:10:00 +0000

Each week on the 3am Mixtapes podcast, I will share with you the Top Six Songs of a certain subject. The topics can be as general as best title tracks. Some might be a little more... specific. Top Six Songs About Photographs.

This week we take a look at the Top Six One Word Song Titles! Look, I'm nearing 100 here, not all of these topics are going to make sense, but I just noticed a bunch of cool new tracks had one word titled, and I just wanted an excuse to play them, okay? Okay!

Okay:

"Shook" by DRALMS
"Ashes" by Lindi Ortega
"Infamous" by Basia Bulat
"Hopeful" by Bear Mountain
"Believe" by Paper Lions
"Observer" by David Newberry

Any questions or comments or waffles or criticisms or suggestions for future themes are welcome!

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3am Mixtapes: Episode Ninety Eight: Dance Songs

3amrevelations@gmail.com (Kirk Hamilton) — Tue, 03 Nov 2015 19:00:00 +0000

Each week on the 3am Mixtapes podcast, I will share with you the Top Six Songs of a certain subject. The topics can be as general as best musical team-ups. Some might be a little more... specific. Top Six Songs About Death.

This week we take a look at the Top Six Dance Songs! But maybe not quite what you think...

Shake it to:

"Keep on Dancing" by We Are The City
"Dancefloors" by My Morning Jacket
"Song and Dance Man" by Jason Collett
"Fire on the Dancefloor" by C & C Surf Factory
"Dance Card" by Ciseaux
"Faerie Dance" by Plants & Animals

Any questions or comments or waffles or criticisms or suggestions for future themes are welcome!

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3am Mixtapes: Episode Ninety Seven: Then & Now (Oct 28 Wise Hall)

3amrevelations@gmail.com (Kirk Hamilton) — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 18:00:00 +0000

Each week on the 3am Mixtapes podcast, I will share with you the Top Six Songs of a certain subject. The topics can be as general as best songs about death. Some might be a little more... specific. Top Six Songs With a Kazoo in Them.

And since the show is about a week away, I decided this week is the perfect time to hype up Then & Now: A Fundraiser for Megaphone Magazine, and the Top Six Songs To Promote Then & Now October 28th at Wise Hall!

Have a listen to:

"Temper Temper" by The Matinée
"Shaky Throne" by T. Nile
"Oola" by Little India
"Crybaby" by Sarah Jickling and Her Good Bad Luck
"Help You" by Lovecoast
"Are You the One" by Kaylee Johnston

Any questions or comments or waffles or criticisms or suggestions for future themes are welcome!

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3am Mixtapes: Episode Ninety Six: Love Songs

3amrevelations@gmail.com (Kirk Hamilton) — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 18:00:00 +0000

Each week on the 3am Mixtapes podcast, I will share with you the Top Six Songs of a certain subject. The topics can be as general as best ballads. Some might be a little more... specific. Top Six Songs That Don't Sound Like Their Name Implies.

After a couple weeks off due to sickness and "recharging", I am back with the Top Six Love Songs! (kinda)

Fall in love with:

"Still in Love Song" by The Stills
"The Second Summer of Love" by Pink Mountaintops
"Love Stained" by TV On The Radio
"Love That Sticks" by Rah Rah
"The City I Love" by Rich Aucoin
"The Love Within" by Bloc Party

Any questions or comments or waffles or criticisms or suggestions for future themes are welcome!

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3am Mixtapes: Episode Ninety Five: Curses

3amrevelations@gmail.com (Kirk Hamilton) — Wed, 23 Sep 2015 01:27:00 +0000

Each week on the 3am Mixtapes podcast, I will share with you the Top Six Songs of a certain subject. The topics can be as general as best bands from Newfoundland. Some might be a little more... specific. Top Six Songs About Hannah Georgas.

This week, there's really no rhyme or reason to the topic, it is the Top Six Songs With Curse Words in the Title!

Swear to these songs:

"The Greatest Bastard" by Damien Rice
"Bitch City" by Jason Collett
"Sure as Shit" by Kathleen Edwards
"Bullshit Ballad" by Kevin Drew
"Stay Drunk and Keep Fucking" by Hawksley Workman
"Piss Off" by FFS

Any questions or comments or waffles or criticisms or suggestions for future themes are welcome!

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3am Mixtapes: Episode Ninety Four: WCMA Nominees

3amrevelations@gmail.com (Kirk Hamilton) — Wed, 16 Sep 2015 03:32:00 +0000

Each week on the 3am Mixtapes podcast, I will share with you the Top Six Songs of a certain subject. The topics can be as general as best concept albums. Some might be a little more... specific. Top Six Songs Off An Band's First Album.

Since this is a big weekend in Victoria coming up, with Rifflandia and Break Out West and all that hullabaloo, I figured it appropriate to look at the Top Six WCMA Nominees!

Some award potentials are:

"Mouthpiece" by Dan Mangan + Blacksmith
"A Real Fine Mess" by The Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer
"Get Your Shit Together" by The Wet Secrets
"Broken for Good" by Jill Barber
"Can't Getcha Out" by Nat Jay
"Uja" by Tanya Tagaq

Any questions or comments or waffles or criticisms or suggestions for future themes are welcome!

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3am Mixtapes: Episode Ninety Three: White After Labour Day

3amrevelations@gmail.com (Kirk Hamilton) — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 15:34:00 +0000

Each week on the 3am Mixtapes podcast, I will share with you the Top Six Songs of a certain subject. The topics can be as general as best European bands. Some might be a little more... specific. Top Six Songs With Curse Words In The Title.

As summer draws to a close, we have to remember that old rule to NOT wear white after Labour Day. And then we have to take that rule and say "Screw you, rules, I'll wear white whenever I want, you can't tell me what to do!"
And that's why this week is the Top Six Songs Wearing White After Labour Day!

Try these on for size:

"White Winter Hymnal" by Fleet Foxes
"Black & White Mountains" by Snowblink
"White Out" by Jets Overhead
"White Bread" by Buck 65
"Too Much To Handle" by Hollerado (from the album White Paint)
"Angel in White" by We Are The City

Any questions or comments or waffles or criticisms or suggestions for future themes are welcome!

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3am Mixtapes: Episode Ninety Two: Windstorm Blackouts

3amrevelations@gmail.com (Kirk Hamilton) — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 16:21:00 +0000

Each week on the 3am Mixtapes podcast, I will share with you the Top Six Songs of a certain subject. The topics can be as general as best Arts & Crafts bands. Some might be a little more... specific. Top Six Song About Food.

I was inspired by the BC Storm this past weekend, so this week you get the Top Six Songs For A Power Outage Caused by a Wind Storm!

Get blown away by:

"Neighbourhood #3 (Power Out)" by Arcade Fire
"Powerless" by The Flaming Lips
"Blackout" by Sloan
"City of Electric Light" by Chad VanGaalen
"Where The Wind Blows" by The Februarys
"Black Day In December" by Said the Whale

Any questions or comments or waffles or criticisms or suggestions for future themes are welcome!

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3am Mixtapes: Episode Ninety One: New Music

3amrevelations@gmail.com (Kirk Hamilton) — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 03:27:00 +0000

Each week on the 3am Mixtapes podcast, I will share with you the Top Six Songs of a certain subject. The topics can be as general as best 90s songs. Some might be a little more... specific. Top Six Song That Dave Grohl Played On.

And recently I've been pretty overwhelmed with all the new music coming out, so this week I'm keeping it simple with the Top Six Songs That Have Come Out In The Last Month Or So!

Check these out:

"Oh Donna" by Library Voices
"Monument" by Mutemath
"Ontario Morning" by The Most Serene Republic
"All My Life I Have Been Running" by Evening Hymns
"Spirits" by The Strumbellas
"Freedom! '15" by !!! (Chk Chk Chk)

Any questions or comments or waffles or criticisms or suggestions for future themes are welcome!

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3am Mixtapes: Episode Ninety: Fictional Bands

3amrevelations@gmail.com (Kirk Hamilton) — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 18:00:00 +0000

Each week on the 3am Mixtapes podcast, I will share with you the Top Six Songs of a certain subject. The topics can be as general as best debut albums. Some might be a little more... specific. Top Six Song That Are About Science.

This week I'm not going to talk about local, up-and-coming bands. I'm not even going to talk about real bands, because it is the Top Six Fictitious Bands!

Rock out with:

"Black Sheep" by The Clash At Demonhead
"Fever Dog" by Stillwater
"Sex Hair" by Mouse Rat
"Everybody Needs Somebody" by The Blues Brothers
"Never Did No Wanderin'" by The Folksmen
"Let's Go To The Mall" by Robin Sparkles

Any questions or comments or waffles or criticisms or suggestions for future themes are welcome!

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3am Mixtapes: Episode Eighty Nine: Whiskey

3amrevelations@gmail.com (Kirk Hamilton) — Tue, 11 Aug 2015 20:34:00 +0000

Each week on the 3am Mixtapes podcast, I will share with you the Top Six Songs of a certain subject. The topics can be as general as best duets. Some might be a little more... specific. Top Six Songs That Mention a Payphone In The Lyrics.

This week is a podcast about drinking songs; but not big, loud, raucous, party drinking songs. Oh no, quite different, these are the Top Six Songs To Swirl a Glass of Whiskey To!

Pour one of these:

"Ill Wind" by Jody Glenham & The Dreamers
"Norway" by Stephanie Chatman
"Dead Things ptII" by Skye Wallace
"King of this Town" by Matt Patershuk & The Dirty Plaid Orchestra
"Nowhere We Cannot Go" by Hayden
"He Brings Out The Whiskey In Me" by Amy Millan

Any questions or comments or waffles or criticisms or suggestions for future themes are welcome!

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3am Mixtapes: Episode Eighty Eight: Dreams

3amrevelations@gmail.com (Kirk Hamilton) — Tue, 04 Aug 2015 18:23:00 +0000

Each week on the 3am Mixtapes podcast, I will share with you the Top Six Songs of a certain subject. The topics can be as general as best songs off a soundtrack. Some might be a little more... specific. Top Six Songs About Body Parts.

Whether they are hopes and dreams, or sleepy dreams, or Fleetwood Mac dreams, a lot of artists have been inspired by the subconscious mind trying to sort your shit out. So this week, I figured I would do the Top Six Dreamy Songs!

Fantasize to these songs:

"Dreams of Surrender" by Savvie
"Sweet Dreams" by Kandle
"Undream a Year" by Valleys
"Darkness of the Dream" by The Tallest Man On Earth
"The Canadian Dream" by Sam Roberts
"Dreams" by Shad

Any questions or comments or waffles or criticisms or suggestions for future themes are welcome!

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3am Mixtapes: Episode Eighty Seven: Fireworks

3amrevelations@gmail.com (Kirk Hamilton) — Tue, 21 Jul 2015 21:48:00 +0000

Each week on the 3am Mixtapes podcast, I will share with you the Top Six Songs of a certain subject. The topics can be as general as bands playing Rifflandia. Some might be a little more... specific. Top Six Songs For Your Six Senses.

And seeing as the ~~Symphony of Fire~~ Celebration of Light is back starting this weekend, I figures that would be a good time for the Top Six Songs To Listen To While Watching Fireworks!

Ohh and Ahh with:

"I Used to Pray for the Heavens to Fall" by The Dears
"St Michael" by Louis-Jean Cormier
"Fancy Pants" by Bend Sinister
"That Was Was" by Dirty Three
"Starálfur" by Sigur Rós
"Last Known Surroundings" by Explosions in the Sky

Any questions or comments or waffles or criticisms or suggestions for future themes are welcome!

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3am Mixtapes: Episode Eighty Six: Polaris '015

3amrevelations@gmail.com (Kirk Hamilton) — Tue, 14 Jul 2015 19:56:00 +0000

Each week on the 3am Mixtapes podcast, I will share with you the Top Six Songs of a certain subject. The topics can be as general as best drum solos. Some might be a little more... specific. Top Six Bands That Sound Nothing Like Their Name Implies.

While my goal is to not repeat topics on this podcast, I figures with a new long list of different albums, it would be okay to do another Polaris Music Prize themed episode. So this week is the Top Six Albums I'd Pick Were I a Polaris Juror in 2015! (Which I'm not). Well, five picks, and one overlooked album.

Vote for:

"Take Your Face Off" by Lydia Ainsworth
"Deserter" by Siskiyou
"Taste" by Braids
"Four More Years" by Rich Aucoin
"Cynical Bastards" by Arkells
"Harriet" by Hey Rosetta!

Any questions or comments or waffles or criticisms or suggestions for future themes are welcome!

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3am Mixtapes: Episode Eighty Five: Fire

3amrevelations@gmail.com (Kirk Hamilton) — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 18:00:00 +0000

Each week on the 3am Mixtapes podcast, I will share with you the Top Six Songs of a certain subject. The topics can be as general as best songs of 2013. Some might be a little more... specific. Top Six Songs That Mention Payphones.

And if you're in Vancouver and looked out your window this weekend (or outside of Vancouver and looked on your social media) you would have seen a post-apocalyptic haze that descended over the city thanks to some raging forest fires. Which inspired the theme for this week, the Top Six Fiery Songs!

Light these up:

"BC Is On Fire" by The Pack A.D.
"Lampshades on Fire" by Modest Mouse
"The Fire Did Go" by Royal Wood
"The Fire" by Dan Griffin
"Throw it on the Fire" by Zeus
"Firestruck" by Young Galaxy

Any questions or comments or waffles or criticisms or suggestions for future themes are welcome!

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3am Mixtapes: Episode Eighty Four: Supergroups

3amrevelations@gmail.com (Kirk Hamilton) — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 22:08:00 +0000

Each week on the 3am Mixtapes podcast, I will share with you the Top Six Songs of a certain subject. The topics can be as general as best folk songs. Some might be a little more... specific. Top Six Misheard Lyrics.

This week is a pretty basic theme, it's the Top Six Supergroups! Or collaborations, or whatever you want to call them...

Join together with:

Room 32 by The Lion The Bear The Fox
Young & Foolish (Warm Up The Hi-Fi) by Teenland
The Changing Lights by Broken Bells
Losin’ Yo Head by Monsters of Folk
No One Loves Me & Neither Do I by Them Crooked Vultures
Police Encounters by FFS

Any questions or comments or waffles or criticisms or suggestions for future themes are welcome!

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3am Mixtapes: Episode Eighty Three: Jobs (with Gina Loes)

3amrevelations@gmail.com (Kirk Hamilton) — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 18:00:00 +0000

Each week on the 3am Mixtapes podcast, I will share with you the Top Six Songs of a certain subject. The topics can be as general as best supergroups. Some might be a little more... specific. Top Six Songs Translated into a Different Language.

This week I am joined by special guest Gina Loes, the lead singer of The Ruffled Feathers, who just put out her own solo EP called Get A Job June. And that, combined with the fact that I recently lost my job (making this a literal "get a job June" for me) means we talked about the Top Six Songs About Jobs!

Let these help you get through the working day:

"Sixteen Tons" by Tennessee Ernie Ford

"I Quit My Job" by Old Man Luedecke
"Capitalism is the Reason" by OK Vancouver OK
"Job Slob" by Brazilian Money
"I Hate Work" by Shred Kelly
"Get A Job June" by Gina Loes

Any questions or comments or waffles or criticisms or suggestions for future themes are welcome!

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3am Mixtapes: Episode Eighty Two: Change

3amrevelations@gmail.com (Kirk Hamilton) — Wed, 17 Jun 2015 01:36:00 +0000

Each week on the 3am Mixtapes podcast, I will share with you the Top Six Songs of a certain subject. The topics can be as general as best Polaris Prize nominees. Some might be a little more... specific. Top Six Songs For After You Just Got Fired From Your Job.

And as you may have noticed, there's some exciting new things happening here at 3am Revelations, so this week, it just makes sense for the Top Six Change Songs!

Change things up with:

"Time For A Change" by Jeremy Fisher
"Change" by Hey Ocean!
"False Creek Change" by Said the Whale
"Change" by Wide Mouth Mason
"Suddenly Everything Has Changed" by The Flaming Lips
"Changes Are No Good" by The Stills

Any questions or comments or waffles or criticisms or suggestions for future themes are welcome!

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3am Mixtapes: Episode Eighty One: Patio

3amrevelations@gmail.com (Kirk Hamilton) — Tue, 09 Jun 2015 18:00:00 +0000

Each week on the 3am Mixtapes podcast, I will share with you the Top Six Songs of a certain subject. The topics can be as general as best harmonies. Some might be a little more... specific. Top Six Songs For Sitting In A Dark Basement and Drinking Whiskey.

And given that we had ridiculously warm weather in Vancouver this weekend (which looks like it is continuing) I can't think of a better topic for this week than the Top Six Songs For Chilling on the Patio on a Sunny Day!

Get a drink with these songs:

"Davey and Clara" by Fans & Motor Supply Co.
"Carry On" by Cœur de Pirate
"The Arp" by Aidan Knight
"Dream Lover" by Destroyer
"Mango" by Highs
"Heaven and High Water" by P'aris

Any questions or comments or waffles or criticisms or suggestions for future themes are welcome!

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The Belle Game & David Vertesi @ Biltmore -- 06/04/15

3amrevelations@gmail.com (Kirk Hamilton) — Fri, 05 Jun 2015 20:29:00 +0000

Almost exactly a year ago was the last time I saw The Belle Game play, at the CBC Music Festival in Deer Lake Park. I am not sure if that was the last time they played live until now, but for the last few months the band has been hunkered down to work on their upcoming album. And as they near completion, they popped up for a show here in Vancouver, to tease and try out some of their new songs.
And you know it's going to be a good show when half of Vancouver's music scene shows up, members of at least a half dozen other bands in the crowd.

First up, though, was their pal David Vertesi opening the night with his self-described Sad Dad Cruise Ship, Crooncore sound, joined by Andrew Rassmussen on keys and Johnny Andrews on drums. After an instrumental build up, Vertesi started off the set with the high energy "Soft Skin" off his album Cardiography. Most of the set revisited the album, but also included a few new songs, like the catchy "Loud Talker".

I've always said what puts Vertesi above your average singer-songwriter is the amount of emotion he puts into his songs, and that was definitely evident during the show. Especially the absolutely heartbreaking "Learn To Run" which starts off soft and erupted with raw emotion. That lead into a new song, I think perhaps called "Forever Young", that was my favourite of the set. An upbeat song with lyrical nostalgia from Vertesi's smooth baritone. He also jumping into the crowd to play guitar part way through the song, eliciting some swooning reactions.

From there he turned every late-20-early-30-something person in the crowd into a screaming fangirl, with his cover of "Say You'll be There" by the Spice Girls, and finally he wrapped up the set with "Mountainside", a great song about a doomed relationship.

It wasn't long after that the curtain was pulled back for The Belle Game, (almost) the entire band clad in white. As well as their first show in a while, it was the first show with the band's "new" lineup, slimming down from a six-piece to a quartet; they dropped their bass player entirely (with Katrina Jones picking up the bass slack with the keys and synth) and guitarist Alex Andrew moving behind the drum kit. Adam Nanji and Andrea Lo's positions remained unchanged, on guitar and vocals respectively.

The set started with an ethereal, haunting introduction before they launched into a set of nearly exclusively new songs. Which for the most part sounded very much an extension of The Belle Game's sound. Enough like their previous album not to be jarring, but new & different enough not to be stagnant. And you could hear vague influences, songs had hints of R&B, or soul, or pop -- but without betraying the sound that made their first album Ritual Tradition Habit so good. Well, there was one song that had a bit of an overdose of synth and drum pads, but the rest of the new songs were rooted in their dark, orchestral indiepop sound.

Highlights included "The River", the only old song they played, which was the stunning highlight of Andrea's powerful voice, and a new song that I had actually seen performed a few times, and was a favourite since I first heard it, called "Mess Around" (I think). It is a slow-burning song that builds up to both Andrea's voice and their rich sound soaring, filling the venue.

They brought the set to a close with another soulful jam, not bothering with the whole faux-encore leave-and-come-back deal (which I always like when bands forego that). And while it was a really good set, I think the band had the slightest bit of "stage rust" -- notably, Alex seemed a little stiff on the drums a couple times. But seeing it was their first show in that configuration, I have no doubt that they'll be a finely tuned machine before long. It was still highly enjoyable, and definitely had me eager to hear the new album.

3am Mixtapes: Episode Eighty: Sixes

3amrevelations@gmail.com (Kirk Hamilton) — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 18:00:00 +0000

Each week on the 3am Mixtapes podcast, I will share with you the Top Six Songs of a certain subject. The topics can be as general as best love songs. Some might be a little more... specific. Top Six Songs For Chilling On A Patio On A Sunny Summer Day.

This past Sunday was a milestone for this blog, the sixth anniversary of 3am Revelations! So to celebrate, how about the Top Six Six Songs.

Tune in for:

"Song for Five or Six" by Owen Pallett
"Sixes and Sevens" by Ryan Dahle
"Six Toes" by Brasstronaut
"Deep Six" by Matthew Good Band
"The Six Strings That Drew Blood" by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
"Untitled #6" by Sigur Rós

Any questions or comments or waffles or criticisms or suggestions for future themes are welcome!

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Owen Pallett @ Biltmore Cabaret -- 05/28/15

3amrevelations@gmail.com (Kirk Hamilton) — Sat, 30 May 2015 19:41:00 +0000

The Road to Bestival ran through the Biltmore Cabaret in Vancouver the other night. The UK festival stretched its legs this year and will touch down in Toronto June 12th & 13th, and to drum up some hype they put on a series of free shows across the country, presented by Fido Mobile, with bands from the lineup. Vancouver was lucky enough to get Owen Pallett, and of course, there's no way I would miss seeing his immense talents at a venue like the Biltmore.

Hometown electronic band Gang Signs started the night out, beginning with a dark and percussive synth sound, the vocals split between Matea Sarenac and Peter Ricq (one half of Humans).
They spent most of the first song gazing downwards (perhaps at their shoes) for a darker and moody song, and I was a little weary that the whole set was going to be like that. But they slowly built the energy up as their set went on, building to more dancey and uptempo songs.
There were a couple in particular that I liked -- though didn't get the name of either -- but overall I thought it was just a good set, with some solid electro-pop. They were a perfectly good opening band.

To begin his set, Owen Pallett took the stage alone to start with some violin looping, but was quickly foiled by a faulty midi cable. However, after a quick anecdote of how he felt about playing a show for a cell phone company (in the end, he was okay with it) he got going with a few older songs from his Final Fantasy days, "That's When The Audience Died" and "This Lamb Sells Condos", putting on a clinic as he pieced each song together layer by layer.

The rest of the band, Rob Gordon and Matt Smith on drums and bass, came out after that, as they went into some newer material, starting off with the title track to his latest album In Conflict. Pallett danced back and forth between violin and keyboard, or both with his masterful looping, as his amazing voice soared over everything.
That is, until it came to an abrupt pause. As Chekhov knows, you can't introduce a broken cable in act one without it ruining the show later on, and about halfway through, "Soldier's Rock" came to a screeching halt. Owen explained the cable had been acting up all night, and while barely noticeable to the audience, he had to fix it to continue. This slowed the momentum a but while Matt vamped by awkwardly talking about some current events, but soon after they were right back into it, picking the energy right back up as "Tryst With Mephistopheles" built to a furious ending.

Owen played a few more songs alone before being rejoined by the band, and climaxing the main set with a song that has become one of my absolute favourites, the incredible "The Riverbed" driving with intensity and leaving everyone in the room breathless, before they closed with one last one, "The Great Elsewhere" from his Heartland album.

There wasn't even a pretense of an ending, though, as Owen left some reverb going, and he was soon back out alone for a few more songs. He once more engaged the audience, asking some questions and responding with his dry humour before going into a cover of Tori Amos' "Pretty Good Year". He finally decided on just two more songs, a pair of insane fan favourites, both getting huge reactions; "Many Lives → 49 MP" which had people singing/shouting along, and the ode to his Arcade Fire bandmates, "This Is the Dream of Win & Regine". Both songs, one again, gorgeously showing off his frantic bowing, and plucking of the violin's strings, for the perfect ending to the night.

setlist
That's When The Audience Died, This Lamb Sells Condos, In Conflict, Scandal at the Parkade, Keep the Dog Quiet, Soldier's Rock [attempt #1], Soldier's Rock [attempt #2], Tryst with Mephistopheles, The Passions, Song for Five & Six, The Secret Seven, Infernal Fantasy, The Riverbed, The Great Elsewhere.
(encore) Pretty Good Year [Tori Amos cover], Many Lives → 49 MP, This Is the Dream of Win & Regine.

Peak Performance Project Year Seven Launch Party with Good For Grapes & The Wet Secrets @ Fortune -- 05/27/15

3amrevelations@gmail.com (Kirk Hamilton) — Thu, 28 May 2015 20:43:00 +0000

The seventh (and final???) year of the Peak Performance Project kicked off last night, in style, at Fortune Sound Club.
Starting with the announcement of the Top 12 (cut back from a Top 20 last year, to accommodate the newly launched Alberta version of the Project), the bands chosen will take part in a week-long bootcamp learning everything that can about the industry, play a series of showcase shows, and take part in other challenges, all to have a shot at the giant novelty cheque for $102,700 presented to them by Music BC and 102.7 The Peak.

This year kicked off with a "Victory Tour" of last year's winner Good for Grapes, and the first PPP Alberta winner The Wet Secrets, after the live announcement of the top 12. They started here in Vancouver and will tour across BC and Alberta, finishing off in Calgary for their Top 12 launch party.

It has been something like eight years since The Wet Secrets last played Vancouver (one of their members was only 14 at the time!) and thanks to that, I had never had the seen them play live. So I was very much looking forward to it, having heard nothing but great things.

When they six-piece band from Edmonton hit the stage, the first thing you notice -- okay, the second thing you notice, after their matching marching band uniforms -- is their unique instrument composition. No guitar, just lead singer Lyle Bell on bass, and a strong horn section with Kim Rackel & Emma Frazier on trumpet & trombone, respectively (as well as backing vocals, and some sweet choreographed backup dancing) and Christan Maslyk rocking the sax. Drummer Trevor Anderson and Paul Arnusch on keys (and congas) rounded out the band.

But of course the spectacle of their outfits wouldn't mean a thing if they didn't back it up with their music, and they certainly did with a fun and catchy alt-pop sound. They started off with "I Can Swing A Hammer", the first song from their upcoming album, before ramping up the energy for the raucous marching song "Secret March", one of my favourites, and a song that will be stuck in your head for days.

Other highlights included "If I Was a Camera", which asked the crowd to take off their clothes, as the band went first, doffing their marching band jackets during the song, and "Get Your Shit Together", a song to listen to "when experiencing technical difficulties with the people of Earth."

And as fun as The Wet Secrets' music sounds, it often hides some darker (and, more often than not clever) lyrics. Lyle introduced one song as the happiest song about murder/suicide, and another favourite "Sunshine" is a cheery song about wanting to escape a dreary city (Edmonton) and "die in the sunlight"

Lyle was also quick to give advice to any of the top 12 bands in the crowd, and tell tales about the fun times they had in the competition last year, especially at the bootcamp, before they finished off their set with a cover of The Cure's "Boys Don't Cry".

It was a really fun set that absolutely lived up to my expectations, and proved that they are definitely worthy of having been the first Peak Performance Project Alberta winner.

It was getting late on a school night and the crowd started to thin, but as soon as Good For Grapes took the stage, their loyal fanbase rushed up to dance along with their folky sounds. The seven members filled the stage with energy and their rich sound filled the room, a set with songs that burst to life with a hint of brass and strings, and spot-on harmonies.

Their biggest song, "Skipping Stone", had people singing and clapping along, and they also included a very interesting version of The White Stripes' "Seven Nation Army" -- which was a little amusing, since one of the challenges in the Project is to learn a "Classic Canadian cover" and yet neither cover in the night was Canadian. They wrapped up the set with another grandiose song that included the obligatory floor tom breakdown, as the crowd chanted for an encore as they left.

To be completely honest, I haven't really been much of a fan of the band over the last couple years, but I can not deny they are very good at what they do. It's just a certain sound that I have grown a little weary of over the last couple years, and I feel that while the band has certainly improved since I first saw them, they haven't really evolved much. But they did mention they just finished a new album, so it'll be interesting to hear the new material.

As for the Top 12 itself, here is the list in order of announcement:

Little India – Langley
Chersea – Port Coquitlam
Smash Boom Pow – Vancouver
Jesse Roper – Victoria
Find the Others – Bowen Island
Mindil Beach – Vancouver
Bed of Stars – Abbotsford
Mike Edel – Victoria
Windmills – Vernon
JP Maurice – Victoria
Joy District – Comox Valley
Van Damsel – Kamloops

Regular readers will/should already know how much I like Chersea, so I was happy (but not at all surprised) when she made it in. She's also the sole female artist this year, but surprisingly not the only looper. Windmills, who I have seen before and like okay, also made it in. Perhaps they'll take after Hannah Epperson, who places second a couple years ago.

Three of the twelve bands are returning; Mike Edel, Van Damsel, and JP Maurice. Honestly, I am not sure that I like returning bands with a smaller pool, especially since JP and Mike also previously placed 4th and 5th (respectively) in 2012 AND it's JP's third time in the project (not even counting his backing up other bands). Van Damsel, at least, has changed their sound a bit since they were in it two years ago, and have been getting a push recently on The Peak; I think they are the early favourites to win.

Most of the other bands I either know in passing; Bed of Stars, or have only seen their names around town; Little India, Mindil Beach and Smash Boom Pow. The rest of them I am not familiar with at all, and look forward to hearing them.

And the first chance to see them all live will be at the Khatsahlano Street Party, on July 11th, where all 12 bands will play short sets throughout the day on the Peak Stage. See you there!