Stuart Derdeyn: 10 best concerts of 2019
Credit to Author: Stuart Derdeyn| Date: Tue, 24 Dec 2019 19:00:16 +0000
It’s never easy to distil a year’s worth of entertainment down to a dozen or so picks, but, as 2019 draws to a close, it’s time to look back over the past 12 months and put together a year-end list of the best music moments in Vancouver.
When separating stadium shows from crammed club dates or the perfect house concert, factors ranging from overall quality to emotional resonance — and more — must be measured. After all, the increasing affordability crisis in the Lower Mainland means many people aren’t going out as much as they once did as the cost of living rises. People pick and choose where to put their hard-earned pay more than ever before — particularly when factoring in skyrocketing ticket prices.
From goodbye tours to Vancouver debuts, 2019 was a big year for bigger-room shows. Here are the 10 best local shows I saw in 2019:
When: March 12
Where: Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Pink Floyd will always be progressive rock’s reigning group. But while everyone is familiar with the band that delivered enduring concept albums such as Dark Side of the Moon and the Wall, the group’s beginnings were in scrappy psychedelic songs that bristled with almost punk energy. Taking its name from the second Pink Floyd studio album released in June 1968, drummer Nick Mason’s Saucerful of Secrets draws on the 1965 to 1972 era of his former band and slammed through a set of such Syd Barrett-era gems as Arnold Layne, Astonomy Domine and Bike to rarities such as Childhood’s End and the heaviest song the band ever recorded; The Nile Song.
When: June 1
Where: PNE Amphitheatre
By the time the opening notes of Bad Guy announced her arrival on stage, the energy around Billie Eilish Pirate Baird O’Connell’s local debut was off the scale. There hasn’t been a singalong show like this one in ages. At times, Eilish would just hold the mic out for the crowd and let them cut loose, pulling off cool dance moves and grooving with genuine goofiness. This ridiculously talented artist is dynamite, unleashed.
When: Oct. 21
Where: Orpheum
Seeing Radiohead lead singer Thom Yorke on his solo tour promoting his fine, new solo album Anima was equivalent to being introduced to a brand new musician. Gone was the dour, hyper-intense rock star replaced by a loose, dancing groover who frequently smiled and even rapped to the crowd once, or maybe it was twice. Add in producer Nigel Godrich on keys and the shimmering work of live visuals composer Tarik Barri as backing, and it was both an audio and a visual treat.
When: April 11
Where: Chan Centre for the Performing Arts, UBC
Along with the accordion, the bagpipes are one of the most unfairly maligned instruments on the planet. A master of the Galician gaita (bagpipe) as well as a fantastic pianist, Cristina Pato is a member of Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble. Her band includes acclaimed double-bassist Edward Perez, percussionist Mauricio Zottarelli and accordion genius Julien Labro. The music they make combines traditional songs, Latin-American folk idioms and European classical music all presented through the window of jazz improvisation — and it’s phenomenal.
When: June 23
Where: Queen Elizabeth Theatre
On the road celebrating the anniversary of the game-changing Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), Staten Island’s legendary multi-member rap crew kicked off the 2019 TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival with a high-energy show that was intimate. Almost three decades later, classics such as Protect Ya Neck still crackle with intent. And the cool Netflix series had the group back in the public eye in a way it hasn’t been in years. Super fun. Watch coastaljazz.ca for info on the 2020 festival, June 19 TO July 1.
When: Sept. 21
Where: Rogers Arena
One of the few artists in history to have more than 50 Top 40 singles over a five decade-long career, Sir Elton John announced his retirement on Jan. 24, 2018. His farewell tour will come to a close in the U.K. next December, but his music-making is likely to continue unabated, as his deal with Universal Music Group would indicate. All who caught one of his three shows in Vancouver saw a gracious and giving performer delivering all he and his longtime backing band had to offer to his audience.
When: May 14
Where: Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Shuffling out onto the Queen Elizabeth stage, Young looked like the ideals of the 1960S, played out, tired and powerless. Then he picked up his instrument and played a fragile version of the Crazy Horse classic Think of Me that was like hearing the song for the first time. In a 22 songs set that went as far back as his days with Buffalo Springfield to his most recent recordings, Young played what he wanted, told stories in his distinct and meandering way, and made a case for keeping the faith that love, collective protest and passion can change the world.
When: April 5
Where: Rogers Arena
Over the course of eight studio albums released since 2000, P!nk (a.k.a. Alecia Beth Moore) has built up a hit-laden catalogue featuring enduring crowd-pleasers such as Get the Party Started, Just Like A Pill, Just Give Me a Reason to Walk Me Home and Hurts 2B Human. Her live concerts are big productions filled with elaborate stage design, the standard big dance numbers and — quite unique to her — acrobatic displays that wouldn’t be out of place at a Cirque du Soleil show.
When: July 19 to 21
Where: Jericho Beach Park
When all is said and done, the backdrop of the Jericho Park site makes absolutely anything sound better. Thanks to some really inspired booking, and a global folk music revival breeding loads of talented, new young artists, this year’s event was loaded with great performances and new discoveries. Among the acts who now have guaranteed local followings when they get back here again were gritty country rocker Sarah Shook and the Disarmers, Korea’s experimental Black String and Manitoba’s Raine Hamilton String Trio. Tickets are on sale for the 2020 festival at eventbrite.ca.
When: Nov. 27
Where: Venue
With 2019’s Stars Are the Light, Portland’s Moon Duo found something more in its updating of the whole Neu! and Spaceman 3 sound. Driving, repetitive and — ultimately — hypnotic, the show drew you in with its pumping, shifting projected light spectacle. Then, while the music veered from Suicide-esque proto-drone to tripped-out cosmic country, you could drift away on different parts and be at peace.