Music

FREE CONCERT | STARS [Vancouver]

Fresh from not one but two appearances at Coachella, and following an international tour of Australia, Asia, Canada and the U.S. (including 4 dates with Tegan & Sara), indie sensation - STARS will be performing hit tracks from their storied career for Vancouver audiences as part of the Samsung Galaxy S4 launch, and you have the chance to check them out for FREE! If that is not enough for you, there will also be a special appearance from FEIST! Doors will be opening at 5:00pm at Rocky Mountaineer Station - 1755 Cottrell Street in Vancouver.

Robert DeLong | The Mixologist

So there’s this guy covered in face paint using vintage video game controllers as midi instruments, while playing drums and a keyboard all at once. It’s not entirely electronic, and it’s not completely indie rock. Regardless of description, the ultimate goal is good old-fashioned fun. Meet the universally talented Robert DeLong. We can’t really label him with a particular genre, and he probably couldn’t either.

Vampire Weekend | Diane Young / Step [VIDEO]

Vampire Weekend has two new songs out from their upcoming third album, Modern Vampires of the City, which is set to be released on May 14. Take a listen at their double A-side single, "Diane Young" / "Step" with these two teaser videos below. "Diane Young" is an uptempo track that's a bit old-school pop rock, while "Step" is more of a romantic melody. If you like what you hear, you can pre-order Modern Vampires of the City and receive "Diane Young" instantly.

BUKE AND GASE | GENERAL DOME [Album review]

General Dome scratches an itch as it pushes, pulls, and intrigues throughout its duration. Inspired by motorcycles, homemade instruments, warehouses and railroads, to call it a “curious ride” seems fitting. The project is somewhat genre defying, but familiar at the same time. Lead vocalist Arone Dyer delivers perfectly sensual and confident melodies that stick to your brain, while the music is equally confident in its spasmodic arrangements, exploding with purpose around every corner.

TEN YEARS OF ION X ROBERT DELONG

This year we are celebrating 10 years of ION, and we have decided to kick it up a notch. Instead of just doing the party in Vancouver, we have decided to take the party on the road, so to speak. We will be in Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver and we are pleased to announce that our friend, Robert DeLong, will be joining us in all three cities.

To purchase tickets, go here

VERONICA FALLS | WAITING FOR SOMETHING TO HAPPEN

The term “indie pop” is an awful thing, innit? To me, it brings up connotations of smug twenty to thirty somethings drinking tea and talking about all of those books they were “into” during university. But, once and a while, a band like Veronica Falls comes out and gives the genre a whole new meaning. Replace the tea with whiskey and replace the book talk with a perfect melody/harmony combo and you’ve got Veronica Falls: indie pop for generation-self-aware.

GOLDEN GRRRLS | GOLDEN GRRRLS [album review]

In high school, kids that didn’t want to go to the pep rallies for football games would all go to the cafeteria to hang out. I get the distinct feeling that if Golden Grrrls would have ever shown up to such a gathering with their gear in hand that they would’ve really turned that mother out. This record is bouncy and fun like a well proportioned woman in a bathing suit, but it also has a certain peacefulness and sophistication to it - like if Ladybug Transistor ever got into partying.

Student Loan Records

STUDENT LOAN RECORDS IS A LABEL CURATED BY DANIEL RINCON THAT HAS RELEASED A SERIES OF 7”S AND CASSETTES FOR LOCAL BANDS SINCE DECEMBER 2011. HE’S OPERATED THROUGH A UNIQUE ECONOMIC MODEL: PUTTING ON SHOWS TO FINANCE THE LABEL’S RELEASES. ONE HAND FEEDS THE OTHER, AND VANCOUVER’S NIGHTLIFE SCENE IS BETTER OFF FOR IT AS THE LABEL HAS SOME PARTICULARLY RAD ACTIVITY.

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