Live at the Cambie

The last couple of weekends found me at the Cambie Bar, my favorite haunt in Nanaimo....yeah, that's right, I was on the wrong side of town and let me tell you rockers...they were fucking doing it right!  A week ago I was there for Carry the Storm and Under the Mountain and this past weekend the rock continued with SplitTRACT, Soundstem and Nanaimo favorites and home boys No Operator!

Last week Carry the Storm opened the night with their unique brand of metal.  It doesn't matter what kind of metal you're into, Carry the Storm has created a sound that seems to blend them all together!  They're my favorite local metal band and they fucking rock the place to it's foundations everytime they play.  Oh, I should also mention that they were the judges favorite at the VIU (Vancouver Island University) Battle of the Bands and actually got paid!  I hear their winnings are going into the artwork for their upcoming EP!  I can't wait for that release!

Under The Mountain are the fucking hard rockers that took home honors at this past year's Cambie Battle of the Bands and they never disappoint....though I'm really starting to wonder if Steve (lead vocals and guitar) knows how to play without a hangover...everytime I catch them he's well, under the weather, let alone under the mountain.  Doesn't seem to fucking matter....they kill it everytime!  They too are promising an upcoming EP release!

This week the I was treated to Vancouver's SplitTRACT and was fucking blown away by the incredible talent of this band.  Hard Rock is their style and man, they are fucking tight!  I'm not the only one noticing either...local radio stations have picked up on their sound and have been sending it over the airwaves.  I highly suggest  you pick up their EP while it's still dirt cheap...these boys have the makings to make it big and it won't be long before their merch goes up in price - and rightly so! And dare I say...not hard on the eyes either.  Oh fuck it, check them out for yourself....

ALONE

Next up was another Vancouver band, Soundstem, and what a great set!  Randy...killer bassist for SplitTRACT did double duty and played bass for this band as well!  I feel I know Randy well because after every song he played (for both bands) an enthusiastic fan (I believe his name was Geoff - don't know if that's how he spells his name, he just struck me as a Geoff with a G...) yelled out "I love you Randy" ....not in a gay way (not that there's anything wrong with that) but in a drunken friend at 2:00 am way.  Well I fucking agree Geoff...I fucking love him too!  This band has been around for a while and played originals off both their CDs as well as a covers of Bon Jovi's Wanted Dead or Alive and Billy Idol's Rebel Yell!  One of the originals they played is Erase and also the first track on their CD Tomorrow can Wait....check it out rockers....

ERASE

Headlining the show was No Operator and also what drew me to the Cambie for a second weekend in a row.  These guys are fucking amazing!  I missed their show a couple of months back and was heartbroken....stupid winter weather...and there was no fucking way I was going to miss this one!  There's a reason these guys are the fucking beaus of the ball in Nanaimo!  No Operator has managed to find the perfect blend, a clean sound that appeals to rock fans yet hard enough for metal fans to throw their horns in the air and start a mosh pit.  And oh yes....there was definitely a pit!  Their high energy is contagious and they had the joint jumping!    Goes to show you don't need a large stage to move around because these boys used every bit of that small stage and put on a show like no other! 

There is something else I need to share with you about No Operator.  These boys are just more than pretty faces!  I've had the opportunity to really dig into their latest CD Weather and War (not a hard feat considering I own it) and not only am I impressed by their incredible talent as musicians but also by their intelligence.  Their songs are rife with political opinions and they're using their gift of music to not only open ears, but minds as well.  I have to admit, I had a hard fucking time trying to choose just one of No Operator's songs to share with you!  I chose this one because it's just so fucking hauntingly beautiful.....

WITH ALL SIDES

These bands fucking rocked to a packed house and I have to congratulate Amber McGrath for a job well done in bringing talent like this to our appreciative ears!  But that's not all I'm congratulating this awesome chick for!  Saturday marked the 150th show she's brought to Nanaimo's Cambie Bar and I for one am grateful for her dedication and support of live local music.  The Cambie has been an awesome venue for local bands to stretch their stage performance muscles as well as gain new fans...good job Amber!  Yeah, yeah....I know....I still expect to pay the cover..... ; )

Where can you find more info on these bands?  Well, let me help you out!

If facebook is your thing:

Carry the Storm - https://www.facebook.com/carrythestormmetal

Under the Mountain - https://www.facebook.com/UndertheMountainband

SplitTRACT - https://www.facebook.com/splittract

Soundstem - https://www.facebook.com/Soundstem

No Operator - https://www.facebook.com/nooperator

If you like to tweet:

Under the Mountain - https://twitter.com/UnderThMountain

SplitTRACT - https://twitter.com/SplitTRACT

Soundstem - https://twitter.com/Soundstem

No Operator - https://twitter.com/NoOperator

Random links:

Carry the Storm - http://carrythestorm.bandcamp.com/

Under the Mountain - http://www.reverbnation.com/underthemountain

SplitTRACT - http://chriswitoskimusic.com/splittract/

Soundstem - http://www.reverbnation.com/soundstem?page_view_source=facebook_app

No Operator - http://www.nooperator.com/

No Operator

Bad hair day, my ass.  This weekend I was cursed and the powers that be decided to hand me a fucking smack-down.  I spent Friday night doing my taxes....yeah, good times....not.  The government is keeping with its practice of stealing from the poor to feed the rich....god dammit I gotta win the lottery!  If that wasn't bad enough news, thanks to being broke and mother nature (fucking snow), I had to bail on a show I've been looking forward to over a month.

Carry the Storm and Two Years and Counting opened for No Operator at my favorite bar in Nanaimo.  First let me tell you about the Cambie...it's not fancy, it's in a questionable neighborhood and it fucking rocks!  The drinks are reasonable and so far I haven't come across another local venue that supports local artists and kick ass rock and roll more!  So, if you find yourself in Nanaimo, BC on a Saturday night, there's always a good time happening at the Cambie!

I was especially disappointed to miss this show for a number of reasons. First, as stated above, the Cambie is always a good time on a Saturday night.  Second, Carry the Storm is an amazing thrash metal band and I try to make it to as many of their shows as possible.  Third, I haven't had the pleasure of seeing Two Years and Counting perform, though I have checked out their digital album on bandcamp and they fucking rock hard! Finally and possibly most importantly I fucking love No Operator.

No Operator is one of those uber talented rock bands whose audience is often made up of other musicians.  They have garnered the respect and admiration of their peers and let me tell you boys and girls....that's the type of band you want to support!  They are the Velvet Undergrounds of our time and generally ahead of their time.  They know their craft and are not afraid to break new ground.

That being said, No Operator is getting respect from music fans as well.  They are becoming a fast favorite, playing gigs across Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland as well as getting decent airtime on local radio stations.  Here is a taste of why....and again, No Operator is breaking new ground because I rarely share live performances....to be honest I find the sound quality usually fucking sucks, but not so in this case.  Please, take a listen to With All Sides by No Operator performed live at the Cambie in March of 2013.....

WITH ALL SIDES

So there you have it.... and that's just their mellow stuff - when No Operator ramps it up they're a force for reckoning..... and why I'm so fucking pissed I missed this show!   I'm not quite sure who's so fucking pissed at me they felt they needed to curse me, but when I find out, they'll be getting a personal smack-down of their own!  After all, I have been taught it's better to give than to receive.......... ; )

You can find No Operator on facebook at www.facebook.com/nooperator.  You'll find all their info and their music there.  If facebook isn't your thing, please take the time to review their music on their bandcamp page at nooperatormusic.bandcamp.com.  If you dig it (and I know you will) make sure you buy it! 

No Operator

There's no better way to start your morning than with a cup of coffee and some fucking kick ass rock n roll. So grab a cup of joe and ready your ears for  No Operator!

I've been a fan of the band since I heard about them about a year ago and I was lucky enough to catch No Operator live earlier this year at the Cambie in Nanaimo.  It was a fucking killer show and you can read about in my blog post No Operator can Trace the Sky and Carry the Storm posted on July 4, 2013. So I was super excited to hear them on the radio this week thanks to Mike Lang of 106.9 The Wolf (the best fucking rock station on the island) and his radio segment "Fresh Tracks" which airs on The Wolf every Sunday evening at 6:00 pm Pacific Time.

Getting radio play is big for any band...especially one that is just starting to establish themselves.  Even if it is only one song during one segment.  I have no doubt that this is just one more step in the right direction for Ollie and the boys of No Operator.  The first step of course is to record killer tunes...they have that one down to a science.  Check out No Operator and their youtube vid for State Your Allegiance.....

STATE YOUR ALLEGIANCE

For more info on the band visit their facebook page at www.facebook.com/nooperator.

So there!  You've had your coffee and infused your senses with some great hard rock.  The world is yours for the taking, go out and get it....... ; )

No Operator can Trace the Sky and Carry the Storm

CARRY THE STORM

Wow...what a time for music!  I've had my fill of fucking great music this last little while.  We have greats like Black Sabbath and Eric Clapton releasing new stuff, I've been hearing some great Indie stuff online like Screaming Eagles and Jemile Aka BaghdadBad Boy (two very different styles but man I got to tell you about these guys in more detail!) and then if that isn't fucking enough I caught some great island local live music on June 7!

And it's that show I'm going to tell you about first!  I've traveled off the island to the big city of Vancouver to see shows in the past...and there is no fucking doubt, Vancouver rocks!! But I found out first hand this weekend that Vancouver Island and more specifically Nanaimo fucking rocks too!

On our way to the show our designated driver was telling us about his new favorite band.  It was a band he had caught live the weekend before and as luck would have it, he had the CD!  The Body Politic is a hot new Progressive Metal band out of Nanaimo, BC and they are building quite the fan base.  Any fan of Tool would definitely get off on the vibe that The Body Politic is laying down and vice-versa.   As a matter of fact I asked our designated driver (my friends kid, just turned 19) if he heard the similarities in sound between Tool and The Body Politic.  He asked me who Tool was...... fucking kids!

The show we were on our way to see was at a small club called the Cambie in Nanaimo.  A cool little dive with limited seating and a small stage.  Taking the stage that night were three bands.  These bands, though diverse, all have something in common....members of each group have played with who I was going to see.... Blake Deal.  I was excited to finally hear Blake perform.

Blake Deal - Carry the Storm

Blake's band, Carry the Storm, opened the show with face-melting Deathcore Metal - what my sister-in-law refers to affectionately as kill your mother music.  Blake's demonic vocals led Riley Anderson and Steven Bekker on guitars.  Their fingers flew over their guitar strings, the friction surprisingly not setting their guitars on fire, but definitely alighting something in the souls of the audience! I had five words for Blake after their set.... GET INTO THE FUCKING STUDIO!  He tells me in a couple of months....and when they have something recorded you can bet your ass that I'll be sharing it with all of you!  In the meantime you can find more info and photos by visiting and liking their facebook page at facebook.com/Carry-The-Storm!!!

Trace the Sky hit the stage next and let me tell you, these boys know how to rock.  Their alternative style has a pop punk edge much like what made the Offspring and Green Day so popular.  Liam Glaim has come out from behind the drums (used to play drums in a band he shared with Blake) to come out front with the two Matts (Harder and Gladman) to play guitar and sing.  They definitely had the crowd jumpin!  Here's just a sample of what we heard......

Check out Trace the Sky on facebook to listen to more - facebook.com/tracetheskymusic

Headlining the show was another fucking awesome band from Nanaimo!  No Operator has a hard rock sound that definitely appealed to this hard rocker!  And wouldn't you know it....Oliver Galloway (Ollie) - guitar and vocals - used to play in a band with Blake as well!  Either Blake really gets around or Nanaimo is a small town.... well maybe a little of both, hahaha!  Anyway... these guys are really making waves on our island.  Take a listen to the lighter side of No Operator and you'll understand why!

Visit No Operator on facebook to learn more about this up and coming band - facebook.com/nooperator

Needless to say, I had an fucking great time!  What more could a girl want than hot bands on a hot summer night........ ; )