photos by: Tamara Lee
GRIMES
I suppose the definition of a modern day siren would be someone whose voice can immediately bring us to tears (and potentially convince our ships to head towards their jagged rocky islands). Well then singer/ songwriter of Grimes, Clare Boucher, has it defined.
After wrestling through an unsuitably moshie crowd at the Fortune Sound Club, I talked my way to the front convincing four very intoxicated (and jovial) hipster girls to allow me to shoot in their coveted front row spots. There was a lengthy wait spent listening to them gossip about boys and things, but eventually Boucher took the stage and I began shooting per usual. After about 1.5 songs, to my astonishment, I noticed one of the girls (having been so happy just 
minutes before) was wiping away floods of tears and holding her head in her hands. What? It appeared as though this girl was just that moved by the music.
I have seen devoted fanbases, but this was probably a Vancouver first to witness. Especially considering the indifferent hipster crowd, some of whom I had listened to earlier having ironic pissing contests about how excited they were that they “might, like, slit their wrists or something”. But Boucher’s winding melodies and layered sounds did have a memorizing effect; the crowd listened attentively, calmly and entranced. Grimes music just has a little of that… something… and Boucher’s artistry sure gives those ancient ladies of the Greek Isles something to watch out for.
VIEW GRIMES PHOTO GALLEY HERE
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VERONICA FALLS
Take post punk, britpop, surf rock, 50’s classic and a little splash of moody minor chords and you have something like Veronica Falls. They have a new and unique sound, but also something keeping them classic, reminiscent of Siouxsie and the Banshees or the Breeders… maybe Pulp kinda, or.. well, enough with the comparisons.
They played for a modest crowd at the Media Club last month, proving themselves better than the turn out. Pushing through sound troubles and lack of monitors, the foursome still managed to give the same incredibly solid sound from their album. (That is, if one had heard it yet, being UK based and only less than a year old.) Despite being relatively newer, perhaps their maturity comes from the fact that they are a collaboration of musicians from previous bands (Sexy Kids and Your Twenties) I dunno, but if you missed this show you better check it out on their myspace or itunes cause we are calling Veronica Falls as being a new can’t miss act!