How many times have I mentioned that this band is worth checking out?
I did not take this photo.. however you can fully anticipate my posting pics of them shortly
I came across this American band from Rainier, Oregon while checking out the April shows at the Media Club. I'd recently seen a band called Motion City Soundtrack in London, a pop-punk band, and needed more of the genre. I'd never heard of Broadway Calls , but after a few listens on their MySpace I was ready. Unfortunately I never made it to the show thanks to jet-lag, but they're now one of my favorite bands.
Start with their first track off of their most recent album Good Views, Bad News, Midnight Hour.
I love these lines in the song:
"But I don't have that passion.
Just an ego and moderate talent.
Please understand, I know nothing of being a great man."
I'm not going to analyze these lyrics and try to pull meaning from them because I've had enough of that at school. Sometimes you just have to let the music be music.
I am road-tripping to Seattle for their October show at Studio 7 with Carpenter, as I couldn't quite make the jump across the pond to see them at the Leeds and Reading festivals. This is going to be one heck of a road trip, seeing a solid gig in the home town of Sub Pop and the grunge phenomenon, a place where Kurt Cobain, Dave Grohl and Dave Matthews have resided, to name a few of my favorites. In my opinion, seeing this band live will be the musical equivalent of my finding the newly released Kurt biography (yeah, I'm on a first name basis) for half-price at a used book store in Abbotsford. As in, it's a bit of a trek, but completely worth it. Mind you, I've gone as far as Vegas, New York and London to track down the Dave Matthews Band, but still.
Broadway Calls is sweet. The Vancouver equivalent I'd say is East Van's Vicious Cycles.
VICIOUS CYCLES
September 12th show, The Orphanage (Basement of St. John of Shanghai Church on Napier St just off Commercial Drive) Opening Band: Carpenter, the same band opening for Broadway Calls in Seattle
photo by Monika Loevenmark
photo by Monika Loevenmark
photo by Monika Loevenmark
photo by Monika Loevenmark
photo by Monika Loevenmark
photo by Monika Loevenmark
photo by Monika Loevenmark
photo by Monika Loevenmark
photo by Monika Loevenmark
photo by Monika Loevenmark
photo by Monika Loevenmark
photo by Monika Loevenmark
photo by Monika Loevenmark
photo by Monika Loevenmark
photo by Monika Loevenmark
photo by Monika Loevenmark
photo by Monika Loevenmark
The show last night at The Orphanage was stellar. Awesome, it rocked. It was freaking cool. They are loud, funny, and brilliantly entertaining. Three or so guys moshing in front of me managed to give the night the feel of a fantastic house party show, and the basement was packed. They like their music the way they like their motorcycles: loud. Talk about a hook, I'm in! Their music is fast, powerful, and full of energy with an accessible hook in each song that screams the need to be seen live. The excitement in the room last night was palpable - or maybe that was the sweaty musk lingering in the air from all the dudes rocking out? - either way, I'm hooked on Vicious Cycles.
I'm so freaking glad I was given Big Shiny Tunes when I was in my early teens. That was my first taste of the genre, and I'd still put it up their with one of my favorite albums probably partly because of the nostalgia it calls up, has given way to an all-out obsession. I owe it big time for the necessary introduction to punk-rock, alt-rock, and straight up regular rock, if their is such a thing.
One last thought...
I've just come across the Along Way Home home-made CD I bought at their 2006 show at the Red Room, playing alongside the now disbanded Madison's Panic. It's signed and everything (obviously) - and the music's pretty good. Check out their MySpace.
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