Great gigs of 2008 (PART 1)

I'm someone who goes to alot of shows. That's not bragging, that's just the straight up fuckin' truth. I work in a record store and get guest list for quite a few shows so sometimes i'll go just to see 1 band, or even just a few songs. On top of going to a lot of shows in Vancouver i also travel for shows, and have been doing that for years. Living in the Northwest is great because i've got Seattle, Portland, Tacoma, and many other cities all within short drives. I'm also someone who puts on shows, under the moniker of No Sense Productions.
I bring all these useless facts because i've been thinking about great shows and bands i've seen this year and how i'd like to write about some of them, but there's alot of info to process so it's going to be slow coming. Consider this Part 1 of a series of ongoing posts about "Great Gigs of 2008". Maybe i'll also write about some of this craptastic shows & bands i've seen this year.
This is a picture of Grave Maker, a band based out of Vancouver/Seattle. They started playing this year and i've seen them a bunch, not to mention done shows for them. This picture is from a show at the Media Club, not the best i've seen them but a great show. Their CD "Bury Me a Sea" is favorite of mine for 2008. The band are true road dogs who are a flurry of activity on stage.
That's Steveston Mike in this 1st picture, chilling up front at the show while i stand on the sidelines.



Handsome Furs and Wolf Parade are 2 bands from Montreal that i love, and that share a member (that would be Dan Boeckner). Handsome Furs is just Dan on guitar and his wife Alexi taking care of beats, sound manipulation, samples, etc. When i try to describe their music it's hard because it sounds like something i would hate, but i love the music these 2 create. Me and erin saw them play at Richards on Richards twice this year, once headlining and once as an opener. Musically their songs are great but there's something special about watching 2 people so in love creating art together, and their love for one another shows on stage without being too cutesy or mushy.
Wolf Parade played a great set at the Commodore Ballroom, knocking out the hits from their first LP ("Apologies to the Queen Mother") as well as their 2nd/newest LP ("At Mount Zoomer"). Their new LP has grown on me over the past few months and that's partially because of how powerful the songs came across in the live setting. I prefer Dan Boeckner songs over Spencer's songs (maybe that's why Sunset Rubdown hasn't grown on me yet) but on the new record and live Spencer's songs are burrowing their way into my brain big time.
Wolf Parade and Handsome Furs are great examples of bands that don't go crazy or jump around or say witty shit in-between songs, It truly is about the songs, and how well crafted they are and how talented the musicans are without over-playing.

Handsome Furs @ Richards on Richards