Vancouver Olympics Are a Cultural Olympiad

Vancouver -- Free. If that's not everyone's favourite word, then I don't know what is. Usually there is some kind of catch. For example: what is being offered for free is of no value or you only get the free thing if you spend large amounts of money on something else. Thus, a good quality item for free with no strings attached is an irresistible force.

With the 2010 Winter Olympic Games underway in Vancouver, there is an abundance of free live music all around town. When the final list came out I carefully marked my calendar, sticking only to events around downtown. Sometimes there are two bands I like playing at the same time; oh, what an awful choice to make.
Sunday night offered no such conundrum; a very good Vancouver-based band that I have seen live -- Mother Mother -- was playing at the LiveCity Yaletown at 8 p.m., then another Canadian band that I don't know much about but heard one song and was immediately hooked -- Elliott BROOD -- was playing a few blocks away at LiveCity Downtown at 9:30 p.m.

There's nothing a good Canadian doesn't love more than outdoor music -- for free no less -- mixed with large crowds and a little bit of travelling involved.

Packed Buses Headed into Downtown on a Sunday Evening

I had intended to get downtown early, it being such a clear, blue-sky day, but got tied up with things at home so didn't actually head out until 6:30. I went down to 4th to catch the bus because most people have been traveling along Broadway (9th) and I like to avoid squished buses when I can. No such luck, a few stops after mine the bus was packed and couldn't pick up any more people. Other buses we passed had "bus full" on their sign, which seems to be an epidemic around this town these days. Everything is taking so much longer so I didn't actually get across the bridge until well after 7 p.m. Oh well, time enough to get to the venue.

Or so I thought. Time enough to get to the venue but not enough time to get in. The line was insane. Totally insane and impossible. I briefly considered hunkering down across the street, figured I'd be able to hear OK, but then changed my mind. There was so much other stuff going on! Apparently it was an awesome show, say people who were there.

Wandering Aimlessly Around Downtown Vancouver

There sure was a lot to see! Little stations of noise and lights and people are set up everywhere. I bypassed the rowdy Coca Cola hoopla on my way down Mainland toward Georgia. This is the original Yaletown, Hamilton St and Mainland St, the first bits to go up when condos were built at the old warehouse and storage district. Narrow streets normally half-dedicated to parking sporty and enviro cars, lined with expensive shops filled with things no one needs, and doggy grooming boutiques. Now there are tents and booths either providing entertainment or selling Olympics trinkets.

Texting my friend that I wasn't going in to the Yaletown LiveCity, I came upon a band just getting ready to play. It was not quite dark out yet, people were just milling around in no particular hurry. I stopped to check out whoever this band was, struck up a conversation with a couple of young fellows leaning against the shop wall. Now the band was playing. They are called No Spin and have a bit of the late '80s punk/new wave thing going on. The lead singer girl had a really, really nice guitar. I think it was a Gretsch, but I didn't get close enough to investigate properly.

Better Go Stand in Line or I Won't Make it In

After the experience at LiveCity Yaletown, I thought it best not to linger so continued on my way, leaving the boys to groove with the ever-growing crowd. Someone told me there were celebrities about, most notably US Vice President Joe Biden heavily surrounded by security. I didn't stop for that, but there was a traffic closure and mega-police on Dunsmuir at Hamilton so Biden must have been around there. There were very tense-looking police officers who make me nervous. We're not used to big shows of force or authorities here in Canada; our own Prime Minister would probably get about 10 percent of this security.

When I got to the LiveCity Downtown, the line up was not entirely frightening and it was just after 8 p.m. I ducked into a bar in the Sheraton Hotel across the street to use the bathroom -- may as well get running water while I can if you know what I mean. I then decided to stop and have a quick pint. $8! Like I said in a previous entry, businesses are jacking up prices. Beer has suddenly become $3 or $4 more than usual, and they are using these funky new glasses so you can't really tell if you're getting a full pint. Annoying.

I stepped into the lineup, overheard a volunteer explain it would be about half an hour to get in. All right. I chatted a bit with the people ahead of me and behind me, but mostly just updated my Twitter ( @KetaK ) and other such nonsense. There was a big security check -- empty the purse, take all metal out of pockets. But fast, walk through metal detector and you're in.

Best to Expect the Lineup After the Lineup

Now I was in and headed straight for the venue, barely noticing Canada House and Manitoba House. I'm sure there was more in there to see but I was all about the music. Of course there's another lineup, grrr! Now people were really getting stoked so everyone was talking to everyone else, strangers or not. One fellow complimented my necklace and when I told him I made it myself he announced he is friends with the Guess Who and demanded my business card. Luckily I loaded up before I left for just such an eventuality. Then, because I am cheeky, I pointed to the All-Access pass hanging around his neck and asked what the heck he was doing standing in line. Haha!

The half hour or so passed quickly and after presenting ID we were in. First I scoped out the room, looking for a spot with good sound but a bit out of the way so that once the band started I wouldn't get squished. Bought two beer tickets for $14 -- holy moley! -- then went to the other lineup to get the beer.

That's the other thing about Canada, or Vancouver anyway: Temporary liquor licenses for such events are issued so that you purchase a ticket, not alcohol, then go elsewhere to get the alcohol. Something about no money changing hands for actual booze, don't ask me . . . this country was built by Protestants. Those plastic glasses are not a pint by the way, so I am feeling rather light in the wallet today for really not that much product.

Did I say there is always a catch if something is free?

Elliott BROOD Rock and Everyone Should Take Notice

Ensconced in my spot behind a row of tables just to the side of the floor, feeling confident that no mad rush would engulf me, and with my beer in hand, I started to relax. Chatted with the people around me, everyone was in that delicious state of mellow excitement where you know a good time is just about to happen. This band ROCKS HARD. It's a three piece, like I said I had only heard one song but was immediately hooked.
Check it out on iTunes: Elliott Brood; Mountain Meadows; The Valley Town.

None of the guys' names is Elliott, or Brood, by the way.

The fellow behind me said the same thing as me, he know nothing about the band but had heard a different song and was immediately hooked. Neither of us knew the names of the songs we liked so had a little high-five moment when each of ours were played.

So. Much. Fun.

By the third or fourth song the crowd really started to get into it. Toward the end the band passed out little tins and mallets so people could drum along. None came my way so I just used the table to bang on. Bruised hand today. The crowd was hooting and shouting and waving their hands, every once in a while someone up in the VIP section unfurled a Canadian flag and everyone went crazy for a few minutes.

The lead singer said something like, "I want you to all stomp your feet along with this next song" and boy did the crowd comply. I was jumping and clapping and stomping and laughing, then stopped for a second -- the whole floor was moving. It was AWESOME.

We wouldn't let them leave so they came on for a three song encore. By then everyone was sweating and clapping and cheering. Promptly at 11:30 they left the stage, Daniel Wesley was up next but there was no way I could stay that late. I made a dash for the exit, realizing the fresh air outside felt really, really good.
Decided to take the long way home, by Skytrain to the 99 B-Line down Broadway up to my house just before UBC. I didn't trust that the #22 Macdonald bus would even come at that time on a Sunday night.

Tonight it's Jets Overhead, also at LiveCity Downtown. Wednesday night Elliott BROOD is playing again, at Science World, and I will be there. Oh yeah!