Articles by Al Smith

• 

  B.A. Johnston / Ketamines / Korean Gut / Cousins

  The Area, Calgary AB June 21

  PUBLISHED Jun 22, 2012

  This afternoon event, hosted at Calgary farm/beehive/community space the Area, provided an excellent start to the day's proceedings, with n...

• 

  Blackout Beach / Apollo Ghosts

  Biltmore Cabaret, Vancouver, BC March 10

  PUBLISHED Mar 12, 2012

  An early start time and a wealth of other interesting Saturday night shows prevented this night at the Biltmore from being as well-attended...

• 

  Atlas Sound / Carnivores / Frank Broyles

  Biltmore Cabaret, Vancouver BC February 29

  PUBLISHED Mar 1, 2012

  Opening this all-Atlanta show was Frank Broyles, lead singer and guitarist of recently defunct garage rockers Balkans, who actually played...

• 

  Sled Island featuring Fucked Up, Dinosaur Jr., GZA, Melvins, No Age

  Calgary, AB June 30 - July 4

  PUBLISHED Jul 6, 2010

  The fourth iteration of Calgary's Sled Island feels like a coming of age, with the annual event becoming a destination on the Canadian fest...

• 

  Jamie Lidell / Alex B

  Venue, Vancouver BC June 14

  PUBLISHED Jun 16, 2010

  Jamie Lidell's career trajectory includes the sort of about-face that is rarely pulled off with any degree of success. We knew the guy coul...

• 

  Buzzcocks / The Dollyrots

  Venue, Vancouver BC May 31

  PUBLISHED Jun 1, 2010

  It takes a band like Buzzcocks to sell out a show on a dreary Monday, and sell out it did, leaving a number of downcast fans standing on Gr...

• 

  Mono / The Twilight Sad

  Biltmore Cabaret, Vancouver BC May 12

  PUBLISHED May 13, 2010

  An up-and-coming buzz band opening for an established touring act is a time-tested formula, but in this case, the openers outdrew the main...

• 

  Liars / Fol Chen

  Venue, Vancouver BC April 30

  PUBLISHED May 4, 2010

  A 7:30 p.m. start time is a tough sell on Friday night, and to make matters worse, this show actually got underway ahead of schedule. This...