Moloko - Casbah

Monaco/Closer - El Rey Theatre

L.A., the city of KROQ, turned out in force to see Peter Hook and his hired guns.  I got the impression that most of the audience were New Order fans who missed the last tour and are desperately trying to make up for it, although admittedly everyone around me knew all the lyrics to all of Monaco's songs.  Hooky was obviously ego tripping, making sure that he was the center of attention for the entire show. I do have to admit that it was pretty cool being five feet away from a guy who was actually in Joy Division.  I also have to give the man credit where it is due - it is obvious that his basslines are at the heart of all New Order songs.  I had just hoped that Monaco would not sound so much like New Order (someone tell me if there is any difference between Monaco and Hooky's last band, Revenge).  On the plus side, a couple of songs stood out as being more original, being influenced by britpop stalwarts Blur and Oasis.  Ok, maybe not totally original, but at least Hook realizes he's in the 90's now.  As a special treat, the encore consisted of a single song - Joy Division's "Failures."  I'd guess that this will be the only time in my life that I ever hear a Joy Division song performed by an original band member.

Gus Gus/Lamb - El Rey Theatre

Gus Gus is an Icelandic performance art collective.  This appearance at the El Rey Theatre with Lamb was billed as "Cold Breath 97," appropriate since Gus Gus have been labeled with the term "ice hop."  I was very impressed by this amazing show which featured the combination of the varied vocal stylings of three different vocalists, modern dance moves, inventive visuals (slides featuring group members in melodramatic poses were used as the backdrop for arty slogans), and electronic beats reminiscent of the Chemical Brothers.  The music ranged from Portishead-like trip hop tunes to more straightforward techno-influenced dance music with vocals and/or Sugarcubes-style rapping.

As Gus Gus opened their set, they performed a song with vocals which reminded me of Alison Moyet.  As the vocalist came onstage, there was some confusion as to his/her gender due to his/her androgynous appearance.  Well he turned out to be male.  And from that point on, the band continued to take the audience on a meandering trip, exposing us to provocative ideas while simultaneously providing musical beats for those inclined to dance.  The female singer contributed sultry vocals for the trip hop numbers and the other male vocalist mugged for the crowd and shouted heavily-accented soundbites, which for the most part I couldn't understand.  The slogan projected on the screens as the band came on for their encore was "The slaves did not want to leave," and this correctly conveyed crowd sentiment.  A pretty amazing show; the melange of elements was too cool for words.  I also have to admit to being mesmerized by the super cute female vocalist, reminiscent of countrywoman Bjork in earlier days.

Opening band Lamb performed an excellent set.  There had been a huge buzz surrounding Lamb, and I came away thinking that they deserved every bit of praise they've gotten.  This is as close to Portishead as you're ever going to get.  However, the trip hop is supplemented by elements of jazz trumpet and that offshoot of jungle known as drum and bass.  Torchy lyrics from the female vocalist and complex polyrhythms from the synthetic percussion section really spiced up the standard trip hop formula.  No wonder Bjork loves them.

Thrill Kill Kult/Radio Iodine - 4th & B

That Dog/Jane Wiedlin & Charlotte Caffey - Roxy

That Dog's performance was really excellent.  The kids were totally into it, welcoming That Dog home after their tour opening for Blur.  When everyone sang along to "Minneapolis," Anna's face lit up with a great smile.  The whole band seemed really happy to be playing for an enthusiastic audience; Anna especially seemed happier than during the Blur opening sets that I saw in San Diego and Vancouver.  At the end of the encore, Anna said, "This is our last song. Tonight's a school night and my little sisters are here."  Too adorable for words!

Jane Wiedlin & Charlotte Caffey, two Go-Go's alumnae, opened up for That Dog to an enthusiastic reception in their hometown of Los Angeles.  Anna from That Dog came onstage to introduce the duo, citing them as a prime influence on her own music.  The highlights for me were acoustic versions of "Our Lips Are Sealed" and "We Got the Beat."  Enough said.

Sarah McLachlan/Tracy Chapman/Jewel - Irvine Meadows

This was the original Lilith Fair tour.

Blur/That Dog - Rage

I got in slightly late for That Dog due to lack of a comp ticket and insufficient funds to pay a scalper $45 for admission. (Blur, the headliner, are pretty big in Vancouver.) I had to give the doorman $30 as That Dog were starting their set. Anyways, I made my way into the middle of the crowd and thoroughly enjoyed That Dog's set. At one point, Anna Waronker commented on the beauty of Vancouver. Anna seemed a bit hesitant playing in front of 1000+ people who had never heard of her band. (Since the demise of the late, great Coast 1040, the city has not had a modern rock station, so the only exposure has been through the excellent University (UBC and SFU) radio stations and the CBC.) I heard snide comments from the crowd who were obviously anxious to see Blur. (Since I had seen Blur just days earlier, and in fact had seen Blur in this same venue five years earlier, I had to restrain myself from explaining that That Dog were far superior to Blur live.) Well, I thought that That Dog were great, and I told Anna so. In fact, I babbled to Anna at some length about how much I loved her band and her music, to my considerable embarrassment. I guess I was just "Totally Crushed Out" by her. It was interesting to note that many people wanted to talk to Petra and Rachel, but not many people approached Anna. I guess most Vancouverites respond more to the down-to-earth looks of the Hadens and are a bit put off by the L.A. glamour of Anna.

Blur/That Dog - Canes

Prodigy - Mayan Theatre

At one point, Keith (the crazy guy from "Firestarter") popped up in the middle of the crowd as if by magic.

Sneaker Pimps/Josephine Wiggs Experience - Canes

Cardigans - Wiltern Theatre

Susanna Hoffs - Casbah