Radiohead, REM, & More: Summer Concert Highlights

Posted by Jon
Filed in Music
February 26, 2008

It's no secret that Vancouver is one of the best Canadian cities to call home for fans of live music. Ami's been doing a great job of keeping everyone up to date on the week's extensive musical offerings. His weekly column proves that on any given night in the city, theres almost as many places downtown to find a fix for a melody-addiction as there are to score crack. And I don't know about you, but I've got a mad melody addiction... it's why I call this city home.

While it's nice to live in a town where I can get my sway-and-nod on any night of the week, I can't count the number of times I've lost out on seeing a great band because I waited too long on buying tickets. Apparently, theres a lot of fellow addicts here in the city. The amazing Mountain Goats show was sold out, and if you didn't jump on the Vampire Weekend hype train (even the Tyee nabbed seats on the caboose), then you'll be missing out on these 'Strokes-meet-Graceland' New Yorkers when they play Richards on Richards on Richards March 27th. Likewise, local rockers Black Mountain (who just played on Conan) and British media darlings Hot Chip have already sold out their April shows at the Commodore...

So here's your heads up! No excuses! There are some more huge acts playing in Vancouver soon, and everyone wants to add the phrase "yeah I saw Radiohead play back in..." to their default party vocabulary. Theres been a handful of top-tier tour stops announced, and while tickets for them haven't necessarily gone on sale yet, they're the type that will sell out within days, if not hours. So keep your eyes peeled, and heres your guide to the soon-to-be-sold-out shows you'll need to see in the coming months...

To start things off right, a certain Mr. Bruce Springsteen is playing GM Place on March 31st, but I'm sure you already knew that. Unsurprisingly the Boss demands $80-150 per ticket, so if you took the hit, enjoy.

One major act any fan of indie music (why do I feel so dirty when using that term?) will be familiar with is Beirut, the band led by 22 year old New Mexican Zach Condon. Their unique style of indie-pop relies heavily on the influence of Eastern European folk music, accordions and all. The guy already has two surprisingly solid albums out, and his catching Balkan-American pop will likely lead to a sell-out show at the Commodore on May 22. The glockenspiel, euphonium, and aforementioned accordion never let the music stray too far from indie rock tradition, and I know I've got my tickets. To be convinced of his talent... check out these videos of the band playing in the streets of Paris. Where's my Rock Band ukulele extension?

After offering up an early review of his latest album, we promised we'd let you know as soon as tickets went on sale for the inevitable tour -- and the time has come! Local legend and founding member of The New Pornographers, Dan Bejar, aka Destroyer, has announced that he'll be playing the Commodore Ballroom on Saturday, May 31. Supported by Victoria legends Frog Eyes and local favorites Victoria, Victoria! (truly great, if you haven't seen them), I wouldn't be surprised if tickets are gone in the next couple of weeks.

[While not 100% Destroyer-related, the latest New Pornographers video "Myriad Harbor", is essential viewing. Beautifully animated, the clip features our man Dan Bejar and his ever-growing, band-mate consuming Afro. I always said Bejar's hair alone owned the rest of the band...]

As good as Beirut's The Flying Club Cup was, when 2007 drew to a close every critic had one band on the mind: Radiohead. Although the latest album was, in this blogger's opinion, highly overrated; the band undeniably put a chink in the musical-industrial complex by their free digital release of In Rainbows. They have...kinda... announced their summer tour. Their last confirmed stop is July 8th in Berlin, and they've listed about 15 cities they'll be visiting afterwards, Vancouver included! Fans are anticipating late summer dates in New York and San Francisco, so expect them to come sometime around then. Overrated or not, Yorke and Greenwood are Yorke and Greenwood and I can't wait to say "I've seen Radiohead twice..." We'll do our best to keep you updated, but this is the kind of show that will sell out in hours -- so keep your eyes open!

Last time Radiohead played here it was back-to-back nights at Thunderbird stadium with American alt-rock staples REM. Although this year the tours are unconnected, 2008 will once again see both bands performing in Vancouver as REM hits the road in support of their new album Accelerate, which hits on April 1st. As REM get older and, unfortunately, less relevant, they seem to be dipping even deeper into the 'young & hip' pool, and are bringing both The National and Modest Mouse with them when they play Deer Lake Park on May 23 (forgetting that Modest Mouse are no longer young or hip?). This one will likely be expensive, but these bands have a lot of fans. As you debate, check out the video for the lead single, "Supernatural Superserious".

Beirut plays with the ever-popular "Special Guests" (i.e, unannounced support acts) at the Commodore on May 22.

Destroyer plays at the Commodore with Frog Eyes and Victoria, Victoria! on Saturday May 31.

tickets available through all the regular outlets: ticketmaster, scratch, red cat, or zulu (who always have a great list of upcoming shows online)

REM plays at Deer Lake Park in Burnaby on May 23.

Radiohead plays somewhere in Vancouver, probably around August?

tickets not yet available for either

Photos courtesy of rolling stone & grollavsbear

I know where my carbon tax cheque is going...

Reader Reviews and Comments

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"His weekly column proves that on any given night in the city, theres almost as many places downtown to find a fix for a melody-addiction as there are to score crack." You can't be serious. You just wrote that? Really?

Posted by: Sean Orr at February 26, 2008 3:25 PM | Quote Comment

"It's no secret that Vancouver is one of the best Canadian cities to call home for fans of live music."

This whole article got off to a bad start!

Do you really feel the need to champion Radiohead & REM?

Posted by: Anonymous at February 26, 2008 4:18 PM | Quote Comment

I spent my youth in Calgary, musically sheltered, constantly wishing my favourite bands would add a stop in Vancouver. I mean it when I say we live in the right place to see live music, and I'm not afraid to say I'm excited to see Radiohead...

The article was, obviously, in no way meant to highlight the city's vibrant (disagree?) local scene; which Ami, Sean, and others have been covering from time to time... Vancouver could definitely use some better local music criticism, particularly online, but that's beside the point.

My intention was merely to remind Beyond Robson's readers of some of the bigger shows that require month-in-advance purchases... give our fans a chance to get tickets. While Radiohead & REM announcements may be all over the place... bands like Destroyer & Beirut often don't get any press 'till they're sold out.

Sorry the article offended, though I'd hardly say I was very kind to REM.

What would YOU all like to see from BR's music coverage?

Posted by: Jonny at February 26, 2008 5:38 PM | Quote Comment

These articles are great. I love these heads up posts about upcomming shows. Radiohead is HUGE and I would cut my toe off if I missed them.

Posted by: Chris at February 26, 2008 6:59 PM | Quote Comment

What the hell? I just spent a few years living in Montreal. There is no way Vancouver has an even decent music scene. There is no comparison to Montreal or Toronto... or even Seattle. Vancouver looks good compared to Brandon, Manitoba. That's it.

Posted by: Ali at February 26, 2008 7:13 PM | Quote Comment

"I spent my youth in Calgary". Say no more.

Posted by: bumbum at February 26, 2008 11:53 PM | Quote Comment

"everyone wants to add the phrase "yeah I saw Radiohead play back in..." to their default party vocabulary."

You'll only sound "cool" saying this if you saw Radiohead at the Town Pump in July 1993 (i didn't because i was 8).

They are now a massive massive band who are impossible to avoid no matter where you go. I'd think anyone who wanted to go to this show would already know about it. It would probably be of more interest to your readers* if you held your radiohead wad and wrote a concert review after the fact. You know, let us know how it was because we already knew it's coming......

*at least me - i'm totally assuming everyone is like me here

Posted by: thom at February 28, 2008 12:59 PM | Quote Comment

dude, i spent my youth in calgary too and that didn't stop me from seeing huge bands like radiohead (3x), ramones, violent femmes, mudhoney, bad brains, not to mention the great local scene in the 90s...all within an hour of downtown cowtown. music scenes are great everywhere if you listen and look. i saw way more live music in the late 90s in calgary than i do here, and that's saying a lot! nonetheless, a plethora awaits!

Posted by: d-have at February 28, 2008 3:37 PM | Quote Comment

i can play those beirut paris videoclips on loop. and one of the best live shows i've seen, at that!

Posted by: connie at February 28, 2008 10:36 PM | Quote Comment

Dude - how could you leave out the Rush show?

ps - good rebuttal.

Posted by: Vnair at March 3, 2008 12:49 PM | Quote Comment

RUSH didn't have a Van date until very recently ( it was an add on basically ). I dont think they do well in Van ( North America ) compared to the rest of the world. Im going to see them, Ive never seen them before. I hoping to buy a reverse baseball T with a black body and white sleeves.

Posted by: Chris at March 4, 2008 10:38 AM | Quote Comment

Jonny - "What would YOU all like to see from BR's music coverage?"

My issue with this post (and several other recent posts) is that well, to be honests, posts about Radiohead, REM, and Canucks hockey happenings aren't exactly 'beyond robson'. This is the time of local vancouver stuff that we can hear about anywhere, anyplace. Pick up a Straight, go to the Discover Vancouver forums, heck, even The Province highlights this stuff.

I remember reading BR last year and hearing about bands/music/arts/events/opinions/etc that I really simply did not hear about anywhere else. This blog used to feature interesting and unique things in this city without (too much) pretension.

Now between posts about hockey and OMG RADIOHEAD it's just not really well.. beyond robson is it? Maybe you guys should change your name to 'a block off robson', cause you seem to be moving closer and closer to it all the time.

Posted by: Jeannette at March 6, 2008 2:40 PM | Quote Comment