Madison Rivers CD Release Party

 By Camille Block

   Fans of Madison Rivers were treated to a fabulous performance at the Habitat May 13th. The group approached the stage and immediately lit up the crowd with familiar songs, high energy and a powerful stage presence. Their latest album “Projects” has caught the attention of not only many of their eager growing number of fans, but also that of CBC Toronto Radio, and eVent Magazine. It was no doubt that singer Genevieve LeBlanc brought something new to the table with a cool, honest voice against acoustic guitarists Brooks Vickers and Matt Leder.

   “We’re really thankful”, asserted Genevieve, as she claims all of the success of the band to sprout from the talents of producer Travis Saunders, owner and operator of Skyraider Studios. Madison Rivers was a collaboration of concepts from Brooks Vickers, Travis Saunders, Craig Smith and Genevieve LeBlanc (or Gen), and in just over a year they have now produced the album “Projects”. The album will soon be available on iTunes, consisting of ten impressively well-composed songs of love, compromise and resurrection from one paradigm to another. Gen recently returned from filming the music video of Once in a While, a song that most everyone can relate to. The members agree that through their very longing sound, they hope to create music that everyone can connect to, that reaches out to it’s listeners and releases their feelings.

   Despite it’s success, Madison Rivers still maintains it’s humble composure even amongst the closest of friends, family and adoring fans. “We are true to our form”, explained Gen, “and the chemistry is amazing!”. Brooks Vickers and Craig Smith (formerly with the group Blinded), made improvements to earlier musical concepts by adapting them for Gen's extraordinary vocal talent. The newest member of Madison Rivers Matt Leder, having only joined in January of 2010 has been the perfect contribution that the band needed to complete it’s acoustic performances.

   When asked about the making of their music, Gen explained that the lyrics typically come first.  She described receiving inspiration as a “totally spur-of-the-moment thing, but I accept it”. She explains that she often finds herself viewing things from a different perspective, to find a new take on her lyrics. “I love being in that person’s shoes,” she clarified, explaining that it’s beneficial when writing her music to come from various points of view on a given topic, and write about it. In order to keep a tune or melody in her head, she says that complete silence and concentration is vital. Brooks also found that peace and quite were a requirement when writing music, but has been known to completely isolate himself for weeks at a time in order to create the wonderful musical arrangements that we hear on the album. The group itself has come a long way from the small towns, stage fright and ideals that built what we hear on the album “Projects”.

  Upon being given such rich information, I finally had to ask multi-talented photographer and singer Gen the question, ‘why music’? I couldn’t agree more with the response “it is the voice of your soul, what drives me to do what I do. It gives us creative control of our lives”.

   I was introduced to the story behind their first photo-shoot, in which singer Gen wore long gloves. They have since become tradition to wear at every appearance of the band across the nation. Madison Rivers confirms that the quote “where there is love, there is hope” has become the motto behind many of their songs.

  The band has big plans for the future including the release of a second album and perhaps bringing in a drummer and a bassist. “The future is so untold”, says Gen, as they continue to pave their way into ‘stardom’. “We feel that the music is supposed to be more heavy”, expounded Gen, “and we hope to make the next album a little more upbeat”. Their fan support has been fantastic and will continue to grow beyond borders. You can keep up with the bands’ international tour dates on Madison River’s Facebook, and Myspace, and will find them performing across Canada and the United States, gloves and all.

Spoon

By Kate Mukasa

Vancouver was drenched with something other than rain for a change. On Sunday, April 11th those lucky enough to be in the city were spoiled for choice when it came to music.

But while the radio friendly Black Eyed Peas played a few blocks away at GM Place (I learnt later that even my MOM’S DENTIST was at that show), music snobs were filling the Orpheum Theatre to see indie rock darlings,  Spoon.

The last time I saw Spoon was in 2005, sipping on cheap beer in the appropriately smaller sized Pheonix club in Toronto. This time, I was sitting in a rather opulent theatre (no cheap beer),  about three times the size of The Pheonix, and a little more impersonal.

But, here we are 4.5 years later and I am just as excited as I was in 2005.

Micachu and the Shapes warmed the hipster crowd by getting them to their feet, and even dancing! Fans got a little teaser with Spoon’s Brit Daniel, Rob Pope, and Eric Harvey making a low key “guest appearance” for one of the Shape’s songs. So by the time the lights dimmed to intro Spoon, the theatre was virtually bursting with anticipation.

Spoon walks on, and despite the ill staffed security’s attempt to keep people in their seats, fans rushed to stage. What would their first song be, Underdog? Rhythm is Soul? Maybe something from Gimme Fiction like The Two Sides of Monsieur Valentine? But... I was a little disappointed when they eased into two quite slow songs, Before Destruction and Nobody Gets Me But You from their new album Transference.

From there, things only got better. It was good to hear The Way We Get By (arguably one of there most well known songs thanks to The O.C.) from 2002's Kill The Moonlight. After that, they bounced between songs from 2007's Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga with You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb, The Ghost of You Lingers (INCREDIBLE live), and Rhythm & Soul; and Kill The Moonlight's Small Stakes and Someone Something.

I was thrilled to hear Written in Reverse from Transference (one of my favorites on the new album) and the chilled Who Makes Your Money. With the crowd well into the set-list, the last few songs were pure enjoyment including The Underdog, Don't Make Me a Target, and Gimme Fiction's I Summon You. Predictably, Spoon ended their set with Got Nuffin from Transference.

I was also pleased to hear their more commercially popular I Turn My Camera On from Gimme Fiction in their encore set.

In terms of song selection, although dominated by their last two albums, there was something for every fan, going as far back as their 2001 album Girls Can Tell, but not quite as far as 1998's A series of Sneaks.

By the time I had stepped out of theatre, my final thoughts were….

A great show, Spoon is incredible live, but unfortunately the venue did spoil things slightly with dodgy sound and confusing, random lighting. With Brit Daniel and the boys coming across a little less enthusiastic than I've seen in the past.

Oh well, we'll always have 2005's The Pheonix and cheap beer.

Set List:

Before Destruction

Nobody Gets Me But You

The Way We Get By

You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb

Small Stakes

The Ghost Of You Lingers

Someone Something

Rhthm & Soul

Everything Hits At Once

Is Love Forever?

Written In Reverse

Love Song (The Damned cover)

Anything You Want

Who Makes Your Money

The Beast And Dragon, Adored

I Summon You

Don’t Make Me A Target

The Underdog

Got Nuffin

———

I Saw The Light

I Turn My Camera On

Don’t You Evah

Jonathon Fisk

Reba performs to sold out show in Penticton

By Kevin Kienlein – Gonzo Magazine

The South Okanagan Events Center hosted another great concert Wednesday with one of country music’s biggest stars and a true icon. Reba McEntire entertained a polite, appreciative audience of 5000 fans. Opening acts Melissa Peterman and Crystal Shawanda warmed up the crowd for a performer whose voice never faltered through the 2 hour show.

I was very impressed with Reba’s showmanship and the competency of her nine piece band; Doug Sisemore - band leader, keys & background vocals; Catherine Marx - piano & background vocals; Jeff King - lead guitar; Jim Kimball – guitar; Bruce Bouton - steel & dobro; Spady Brannan - bass guitar; Tommy Harden – drums; Jim Kaminsky – fiddle, and Jennifer Wrinkle – on fiddle, certainly some of the finest musicians in America.

Reba’s set list covered many hits and fan favorites from her 33 year career. With 31 albums, 55 million album sales, 34 No. 1 hits, two Grammys, seven Country Music Association Awards, 12 Academy of Country Music Awards, nine People's Choice Awards and 15 American Music Awards, a popular TV show and successful Broadway show this hard working Oklahoma cowgirl has accomplished more in her life than most folks could do in two lifetimes.

With a smile as genuine as her Oklahoma roots, Reba demonstrated why she is adored and appreciated. This lady has poise and a humble attitude that showed in every move and comment she made. While using the stage to full advantage, Reba gave us a peek into her life with video clips and photos to weave her songs into an interesting tapestry. There were no smoke bombs or fancy light shows, only genuine honest talent and great music.

At one point Reba sang a song dedicated to her dad; ‘The Greatest Man I Never Knew’, the intensity in her voice was echoed by the quietness of the crowd. At the end of the song you could tell how difficult is was for her to sing this remembering her father.

When Reba announced she was going to sing the theme song from her TV show. Melissa Peterman showed up ‘to help out’ singing the song. Melissa added local interest, commenting she had been to Slack Alice’s for an audition while grasping a bottle of ‘Bud’. They played their parts, which added some well arranged, self inflicted humor to the show. Melissa & Reba had the crowd involved and laughing for a good while. Melissa’s comment; she had never seen the ‘Queen of Country’ and the ‘King of Beers’ together added to the atmosphere of their ‘duet’. This added a touch of living room atmosphere, down home hospitality, which everyone seemed to appreciate.

The two-hour concert flew by quickly. I am sure fans appreciated Reba’s top notch performance. Once the final song was over, there was a quick costume change and Reba did her encore; ‘Fancy’.

I would highly recommend checking Reba out if she comes to a town near you. She is a first class, consummate professional and awesome singer.