Concert BReak Meets Music Waste: May 29 - June 5

Did New Music West leave you a little unsatisfied? Fear not! While the folks at NMW figure out how to make their idea work, Only Magazine's Music Waste Festival arrives this week and lasts from Wednesday, June 4th - Sunday, June 8. Music Waste was created in 1994 as a protest against NMW. Fourteen years later, many people still regard the Music Waste as a better alternative to NMW. This year's festival features over 60 (mainly local) independent acts.

There are also some big-name acts in town this week to balance out all the indie that's coming your way. Continue past the jump for more listings and a video on the local indie scene.

Thursday, May 29
Last week's Concert BReak still has a little life in it...check it out for tonight's shows.

Friday, May 30
♦ The Long Blondes @ Richard's: This UK group is known for their post-punk style and glamorous looks.
♦ Smokey Robinson @ Red Robinson Show Theatre (Day One): One of the biggest names to come out of Motown Records, Smokey Robinson is back on tour. Old-school R&B lovers will have fun with this one!
♦ Felix Cartal @ Celebrities: This local dance-music-maker will be joined by Expendable Youth and Paul Devro.

Saturday, May 31
♦ Smokey Robinson @ Red Robinson Show Theatre (Day Two): See above.
♦ Von Bondies @ Richard's: This alternative-rock trio may not be signed to Motown...but they are based out of a suburb near Detroit.
♦ Destroyer @ Commodore: Dan Bejar's long-awaited return from his tour of "Trouble in Dreams". Frog Eyes opens.
♦ Carpenter @ Pub 340: This local punk-quartet is having their CD release party with Aspirations, Mad Cowboys, and Trigger Effect.
♦ The Savannah Leigh Band @ Media Club: Vancouver-based folk-pop musician Savannah Leigh will be joined by Headwater and Language Arts.
♦ Japanther @ The Astoria: Japanther is a noise-rock duo out of Brooklyn.

Sunday, June 1
♦ Los Campesinos! @ Plaza Club: This seven-piece UK band that seem to relish the freedoms of being signed to an independent label. I was going to say that You Say Party! We Say Die! would dig this group...but then I realized they'll be opening the show.

Monday, June 2
♦ Glow In The Dark Tour @ GM Place: Kanye, Lupe, N.E.R.D., and Rihanna. Yup.
♦ Jaguar Love @ Richard's: Johnny Whitney and Cody Votolato (ex-Blood Brothers) join Jay Clark (ex-Pretty Girls Make Graves) tour their debut album "Take Me to the Sea".
♦ Joan of Arc @ Media Club: This large band out of Chicago love to use electronics and samples with their arty indie style. They are also known for recording ridiculously large numbers of tracks on album recordings (over 100 on the song "The Gap").

Tuesday, June 3
♦ Gena Perala @ Media Club: This local songwriter will be featured in this Songwriter's Showcase at the Media Club.

Wednesday, June 4
♦ Crosby, Stills and Nash @ Centre of Performing Arts: These 60's geniuses of vocal harmonies are still touring! Some CSN questions for you: Who is your favourite member? Do you think Young helps or hindered their music? (Answer in the comments section).
♦ Japanese Graffiti @ Cobalt (Music Waste): Music Waste kicks off with Japanese Graffiti, Ejaculation Death Rattle, V. Vecker, Mass Succubus, Perilisk, Fortune, and Acre (PDX). (Drop a link to Japanese Graffiti's website if you have it!)

Thursday, June 5
♦ Billy Bragg @ St. Andrew's-Wesley United: British folk-rocker Billy Bragg claims Bob Dylan, The Clash and Motown are all major influences to his song.
♦ Said The Whale @ The Biltmore: I really like Said The Whale. They're releasing their new album at this show with Lotus Child and Maurice.
♦ Hank And Lily @ Rahda (Music Waste): The experimental indie-rock of Victoria's Hank and Lily will be accentuated by the Ora Cogan, Creaking Planks and Dyad.
♦ Mt. Career @ Hoko's (Music Waste): (Another band I can't find a link to,) Mt. Career will be joined by Greenbelt Collective, Chilliwack's Finest, Bird Costumes and Catamaran.
♦ B-Lines @ Pub 340 (Music Waste): A singing/screaming local punk band or a transit route of accordion busses? Either way, you're going to have fun. Dead Ghosts, Get Well Bomb and The Tvees will also be about.

Photo courtesy of Noah Adams on Flickr.