thursday agenda : broken social scene, grand archives

By josh
February 5th, 2009 @ 12:26 PM daily agenda
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brendan canning performing with broken social scene

Tonight, two highly recommendable bands under one roof! Even though that roof is metal and in the near reaches of SoDo, it’s worth mapping out your public transit agenda to get the the Showbox “SoDo” on time to see Grand Archives opening for Broken Social Scene.

Any time either of these bands plays, I’ll tell you to see them.[1] Grand Archives, because they started incredible the first time I saw them playing a four-song show at half-Neumo’s and they’ve gotten improbably better, more cohesive, and warm-fuzzy smile-inducing ever since. They’re readying a new album later this year; so this should be a good opportunity to hear a bunch of newish material before it arrives in disc form.

Broken Social Scene is currently touring in support Something For All of Us, Brendan Canning’s pseudo-solo “BSS presents” effort. Canning’s usually plays the role of “the cornerstone of the band’s rhythmic foundation” and typically hangs out a few steps shy of the spotlight on the crowded stage while Kevin Drew drinks and chats. His solo album is a touch more introspective than the full collective’s material. It’s an album with glitchy instrumental stand-outs, a healthy serving of big anthems, duets, and a hilarious jazz funk explosion. In person, it’s always a bit of a surprise to see who shows up on stage. Sometimes its collaborators like Feist and Amy Milan, last time at the Moore it was Andrew Kenny from American Analog Set and a couple Death Cab for Cuties for an encore.

// tonight, 8pm, $23 [showboxonline]

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(1) Exuberant recommendation aside, I wouldn’t blame you for sticking closer to home and saving a bit of money while supporting an all-star lineup of local talent: SHIPs, Grand Hallways, Kate Tucker and the Sons of Sweden, and Ghost of Kyle Bradford are playing a mega-show that also merits serious consideration. $8, 8pm. [neumos]

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9 Comments so far

  1. samantha on February 5th, 2009 @ 12:59 pm

    I wish that I didn’t hate Showbox SoDo so completely, because I love both of those bands lots and lots.

    PS, Hallways and Grand Hallway are two different entities–Hallways tonight, Grand Hallway with Hey Marseilles on the 19th. I think they should have a dance-off for the name.


  2. josh on February 5th, 2009 @ 1:04 pm

    I don’t love the SoDo, but venue imperfection isn’t enough to stop me from seeing Broken Social Scene.


  3. audrey on February 5th, 2009 @ 3:12 pm

    Even Broken Social Scene won’t get me to the Showbox SoDo.


  4. josh on February 5th, 2009 @ 3:23 pm

    I’m trying to think of a venue that would be so bad that I wouldn’t see BSS there. So far I’m coming up empty.


  5. audrey on February 5th, 2009 @ 3:44 pm

    And I’m doing the opposite: trying to think of a band so good I’d have to go to the SoDo. Radiohead? Bjork? Arcade Fire? Portishead? So far the only thing to get me there was Obama.


  6. samantha on February 5th, 2009 @ 4:32 pm

    I’m with Audrey. After the awful experience that was Of Montreal, I’m not sure there’s a band that could get me back to the SoDo.


  7. josh on February 5th, 2009 @ 4:54 pm

    huh. I guess I don’t really have the appropriate level of hate for SoDo. So far I’ve only been there for two shows — Obama and of Montreal — and both involved access to the photo area. Clearly my experience is skewed. But I like these bands more than enough to go back.


  8. audrey on February 5th, 2009 @ 4:54 pm

    My new favorite band is Obama.


  9. josh on February 5th, 2009 @ 4:56 pm

    he’s got some hot mp3s

    http://thephoenix.com/BLOGS/phlog/archive/2009/02/05/barack-obama-is-tired-of-this.aspx



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