Hot Hot Heat, The Stills @ Chill On The Hill -- 08.22.2009

Hot Hot Heat at Chill On The Hill
Hot Hot Heat at Chill On The Hill
Originally uploaded by vasquezr


A few years ago I spent some time in California. Now one of the nice things about Cali is that you can ski and in my case sail in a t-shirt all in the same day. Well maybe it wasn't a beautiful sunset at the Santa Monica Pier but the good people of Nestea brought a little bit of winter fun in August to Milton. Chill on the Hill promised to bring some summer and winter sports together with a couple of bands playing a free show. Closing at the Glen Eden ski club the show were British Columbia's Hot Hot Heat. The quartet composed of Steve Bays (vocals and keyboards), Paul Hawley (drums), Parker Bossley (bass) and Luke Paquin (guitar) put on a very energetic and entertaining set that was unfortunately cut short by the threat of an incoming storm.

Hot Hot Heat at Chill On The Hill
Hot Hot Heat at Chill On The Hill
Originally uploaded by vasquezr


The band played favourites "Talk to me Dance with me","Goodnight, Goodnight", "My Best Friend", and a short version of their big hit "Bandages". At one point Steve Bays gave a shout out to his grandmother who happened to be at the event and remarked how when he is ninety two he hopes to be at a rock concert. My sentiments exactly!

Update:
I wasn't quite sure what happened at the end of the show but it seems guitarist Luke Paquin was shocked by his microphone at the end of the performance. I have read he is recovering and wish him well.

Hot Hot Heat at Chill On The Hill
Hot Hot Heat at Chill On The Hill
Originally uploaded by vasquezr


Hot Hot Heat at Chill On The Hill
Hot Hot Heat at Chill On The Hill
Originally uploaded by vasquezr


Hot Hot Heat at Chill On The Hill
Hot Hot Heat at Chill On The Hill
Originally uploaded by vasquezr


Hot Hot Heat at Chill On The Hill
Hot Hot Heat at Chill On The Hill
Originally uploaded by vasquezr




The Stills:

The Stills at Chill On The Hill at Chill On The Hill
The Stills at Chill On The Hill
Originally uploaded by vasquezr


The Stills opened up the musical festivities. The Juno award winning band from Montreal entertained the crowd mainly with songs from their latest release "Oceans Will Rise". The band seemed to get off to a bit of a slow start but the set picked up some steam towards the end and they ended off with a bang playing their big single "Being Here".

The Stills at Chill On The Hill at Chill On The Hill
The Stills at Chill On The Hill
Originally uploaded by vasquezr


The Stills at Chill On The Hill
The Stills at Chill On The Hill
Originally uploaded by vasquezr


The Stills at Chill On The Hill
The Stills at Chill On The Hill
Originally uploaded by vasquezr


The Stills at Chill On The Hill at Chill On The Hill
The Stills at Chill On The Hill
Originally uploaded by vasquezr


Snowboarder at Chill On The Hill at Chill On The Hill
Snowboarder at Chill On The Hill
Originally uploaded by vasquezr

Tokyo Police Club @ The White Rabbit -- 08.15.2009

Tokyo Police Club at The White Rabbit
Tokyo Police Club at The White Rabbit
Originally uploaded by vasquezr


If I haven't stated it yet on this site I happen to love the small club show. Nothing like seeing a really good band in the middle a sticky, sweaty, crazy, wild crowd in an up close and intimate setting. Tokyo Police Club played a couple of benefit shows in their home town of Newmarket, Ontario in support of Doane House Hospice. I happened to make it to the all ages show because of a prior commitment on the night of the 19+ show and yes it was wild and sweaty. Now I've been to some hardcore shows where you expect to be pushed around a bit but I didn't expect this so much at a Tokyo Police Club show. It made for a difficult but fun bit of photography.

Tokyo Police Club at The White Rabbit
Tokyo Police Club at The White Rabbit
Originally uploaded by vasquezr


It didn't take much for the White Rabbit crowd to go nuts. They'd been warmed up well by locals Ruby Coast and The Elwins and were very eager to see the hometown band. Tokyo Police Club played a good mix of songs from both their debut "Elephant Shell" as well as both "Smith" and "A Lesson In Crime" EPs. They had the crowd hooked from the time the bassline for "Nature of the Experiment" started to the chants of Tokyo Police Club of "Cheer It On" the encore. The band has been at numerous festivals Coachella, Lollapalooza, Glastonbury, Leeds and made appearances on Letterman and even Desperate Housewives so it was a special treat to see them in a small club with such crazed fans! Good cause, great show, good guys and loads of fun. I believe they are working on a new album now which is quite exciting after the very excellently fun "Elephant Shell". Tokyo Police Club is playing with Winter Gloves @ the CNE bandshell on Saturday August 29.

Tokyo Police Club at The White Rabbit
Tokyo Police Club at The White Rabbit
Originally uploaded by vasquezr


Tokyo Police Club at The White Rabbit
Tokyo Police Club at The White Rabbit
Originally uploaded by vasquezr




STokyo Police Club at The White Rabbit
Tokyo Police Club at The White Rabbit
Originally uploaded by vasquezr


Ruby Coast:
Ruby Coast at The White Rabbit
Ruby Coast at The White Rabbit
Originally uploaded by vasquezr


As mentioned earlier one of the openers were Ruby Coast. This is the second time I've seen Ruby Coast play live. Having been impressed at the Sound Academy show when they opened for Arkells I was really glad to see them on the bill this night playing another solid set. Can't wait to see and hear more.

Wakestock 2009 - 08.08.2009

Wakestock 2009 was moved up from the Toronto Islands to Centennial Park in Collingwood Ontario. It was a weekend of heat sometimes sweltering, sports wake boarding, skateboarding, bikinis and live music. Gracing the stages at this years event were Civet, Closet Monster,USS, Social Distortion,Rebel Emergency, Stereos, Fall and Divide and The Midway state among others. I have to say the turnout was a little disappointing . Saturday which was headlined by Social Distortion was the best day for attendance. Sunday may have been plagued by the threat of lousy weather however I do suspect the drive to Collingwood proved to be to much for some of the big smokes concert goers. At any rate those that did show up had a great time.

Rebel Emergency at Wakestock 2009
Rebel Emergency at Wakestock 2009
Originally uploaded by vasquezr


Day Two


The Midway State:
The Midway State at Wakestock 2009
The Midway State at Wakestock 2009
Originally uploaded by vasquezr


The Midway State with their deep Collingwood roots closed off the event. Playing soungs from their debut album "Holes" the band put on a good performance for the remaining crowd.

The Midway State at Wakestock 2009
The Midway State at Wakestock 2009
Originally uploaded by vasquezr


The Midway State at Wakestock 2009
The Midway State at Wakestock 2009
Originally uploaded by vasquezr


The Midway State at Wakestock 2009
The Midway State at Wakestock 2009
Originally uploaded by vasquezr


The Midway State at Wakestock 2009
The Midway State at Wakestock 2009
Originally uploaded by vasquezr




Fall and Divide:
Fall and Divide at Wakestock 2009
Fall and Divide at Wakestock 2009
Originally uploaded by vasquezr


Another hometown hero and Canadian Idol Drew Wright and his band Fall and Divide played to a dwindling crowd. Although there was not that many people around to watch the show they definitely enjoyed their time on stage providing quite a few good photographic poses while playing songs from their upcomming album.

Fall and Divide at Wakestock 2009
Fall and Divide at Wakestock 2009
Originally uploaded by vasquezr


Fall and Divide at Wakestock 2009
Fall and Divide at Wakestock 2009
Originally uploaded by vasquezr


Fall and Divide at Wakestock 2009
Fall and Divide at Wakestock 2009
Originally uploaded by vasquezr



Stereos:
Stereos at Wakestock 2009
Stereos at Wakestock 2009
Originally uploaded by vasquezr


Stereos by far had the biggest crowd on closing Sunday. It was pretty evident the Edmonton quintet were who everyone was there to see on this day. Their hip hop/pop style was well appreciated by their fans.

Stereos at Wakestock 2009
Stereos at Wakestock 2009
Originally uploaded by vasquezr


Stereos at Wakestock 2009
Stereos at Wakestock 2009
Originally uploaded by vasquezr


Stereos at Wakestock 2009
Stereos at Wakestock 2009
Originally uploaded by vasquezr


Stereos at Wakestock 2009
Stereos at Wakestock 2009
Originally uploaded by vasquezr


Stereos at Wakestock 2009
Stereos at Wakestock 2009
Originally uploaded by vasquezr



Rebel Emergency:
Rebel Emergency at Wakestock 2009
Rebel Emergency at Wakestock 2009
Originally uploaded by vasquezr


My personal Sunday favourite was Rebel Emergency. I had seen them back in December with USS at the Sound Academy so this was a set I was really looking forward to. They did well to warm up the small crowd with their blend of reggae/ska/rock.

If you've seen Rebel Emergency before you know about their distinct display of crowd surfing. Though this did wow the crowd it would have looked so much better if there were more people. That way front man Roddy would have had much more crowd to surf through. Check out the photo above. Rebel Emergency is having a cd release party for "Love Ain't Free" August 27 @ The Mod Club.

Rebel Emergency at Wakestock 2009
Rebel Emergency at Wakestock 2009
Originally uploaded by vasquezr


Rebel Emergency at Wakestock 2009
Rebel Emergency at Wakestock 2009
Originally uploaded by vasquezr


Rebel Emergency at Wakestock 2009
Rebel Emergency at Wakestock 2009
Originally uploaded by vasquezr




Day One

Social Distortion:
Social Distortion at Wakestock 2009
Social Distortion at Wakestock 2009
Originally uploaded by vasquezr


Social Distortion closed of the Saturday performances. What can I say? These guys really brought it. The band has gone through quite a lot of lineup changes since they first stated out in the late seventies. Front man Mike Ness has been the only constant throughout the years. A great set from the live veterans.
Social Distortion at Wakestock 2009
Social Distortion at Wakestock 2009
Originally uploaded by vasquezr


Social Distortion at Wakestock 2009
Social Distortion at Wakestock 2009
Originally uploaded by vasquezr


Social Distortion at Wakestock 2009
Social Distortion at Wakestock 2009
Originally uploaded by vasquezr


Social Distortion at Wakestock 2009
Social Distortion at Wakestock 2009
Originally uploaded by vasquezr



Ubiquitous Synergy Seeker (USS):
USS at Wakestock 2009
USS at Wakestock 2009
Originally uploaded by vasquezr


As always USS did not hold anything back. They always find a way to capture the audience through their music and stage performance. I'm hard pressed to think of anyone who has much more energy during a live performance than Human Kebab. They got the crowd going with their infections vibe, handstands, and cut outs (Ellen, Obama, Einstien). Great warm up for things to come.

USS at Wakestock 2009
USS at Wakestock 2009
Originally uploaded by vasquezr


USS at Wakestock 2009
USS at Wakestock 2009
Originally uploaded by vasquezr


USS at Wakestock 2009
USS at Wakestock 2009
Originally uploaded by vasquezr



Closet Monster:
Closet Monster at Wakestock 2009
Closet Monster at Wakestock 2009
Originally uploaded by vasquezr


The Wakestock audience was treated to the first Closet Monster reunion show.
They had not played together since the end of 2005 and really seemed to enjoy themselves. There were a few closet monster fans on hand but it would have been nice to see more people pick up on the energy the band displayed.

Closet Monster at Wakestock 2009
Closet Monster at Wakestock 2009
Originally uploaded by vasquezr


Closet Monster at Wakestock 2009
Closet Monster at Wakestock 2009
Originally uploaded by vasquezr



Civet:
Civet at Wakestock 2009
Civet at Wakestock 2009
Originally uploaded by vasquezr


The first band I saw at Wakestock was the Los Angeles all girl punk band Civet. It was quite unfortunate that they played to such a small crowd. Civet had been touring for the last while with Social D and put on a really solid set. It will be nice to see them again soon in a smaller club with better attendance.

Civet at Wakestock 2009
Civet at Wakestock 2009
Originally uploaded by vasquezr


Civet at Wakestock 2009
Civet at Wakestock 2009
Originally uploaded by vasquezr


Civet at Wakestock 2009
Civet at Wakestock 2009
Originally uploaded by vasquezr


Skateboarder at Wakestock 2009
Skateboarder at Wakestock 2009
Originally uploaded by vasquezr