On Thursday February 2nd 2012 a mere hop into the ever aforementioned final year of mankind, I decided to take the year by the horns so to speak and went to The Biltmore to check out Jakalope.

Josh’s set was bare bones acoustic and heartfelt, his soft voice and lyrics reveal an intelligent romantic soul. Being the first musician of the night Josh had the dubious task of warming the crowd up which is always a challenge for one man on a stage with an acoustic guitar.

Yeah, that’s right a party review. How did I land this gig? Oh ya Jordan called me. Our conversation went a little something like this…

Kidstreet’s debut album “Fuh Yeah” is fun fast erotic electronica with hints of retro synth-pop.

By the end of the evening the crowd had gathered around the center of the bar in a circle around the band for the final sing along of the night. Paper Lions had a way of bringing everyone together and making us new friends while at the same time making us all feel like very old friends who hadn’t seen each other in ages, marking the close of a pretty sweet night on the Vancouver music scene.

After seeing the film Electronic Awakening the night before, there was no place that I wanted to be other than at Earthdance.

This weeks episode includes a spotlight on Speedway a blast from the past on Toronto’s indie music scene. The Harvest, a band from Vancouver who are breaking out on the scene and an interview with Matt Bryant from Headwater.

Headwater is one of the strongest young folk and country acts in Canada. Check out the brief audio interview with Matt Bryant who took the time to chat with us from Café Deux Soliels on Commercial Drive where he runs the open mic every Thursday night.

I am truly sickened by the riot that occurred in Vancouver after game seven of The Stanley Cup Finals. I am almost at a loss for words. Although, disgusting and utterly shameful do come to mind. Vancouver has been voted one of the best cities in the world to live in yet the mentality of spoiled children seems to permeate the air as I write this today.

Every Thursday night beginning at 9pm Matt Bryant from the band Headwater hosts an open Mic at Café Deux Soliels. I checked it out last week and it was packed. The caliber of talent ranged from novice to advanced, there were quite a few good musicians and some that were honing their skills. Props to those who get up there and give it their all, much respect to you!

Using the catharsis of song writing and performing as an exploration of his own feelings William Fitzsimmons has the ability to transcend pop music with its surface expression of physicality, instead he hits you in the heart and he breaks through to your emotions. He tends to write songs of a somber note and his fourth album Gold in the Shadow is no exception. When we chatted William told me the album is about balance, of what’s clear and what’s in shadow, of what’s dark and what’s light. Check out the audio interview for William’s own words and wisdom…

When Joe Purdy stepped onto the stage he let us into his world of folky bluegrass and he carried us along as if we were traveling the roads of Joe’s life ourselves . You can just sit in the darkness of the theater listening to Joe like you’re in the comfort of his own living room as he softens your heart with stories from his life.

Their radio friendly riffs, fast harmonies and quick melodies are sure to fill young iphones and ipods across the continent. Would I buy Impossible? Being that I’m in my thirties, it’s not quite my style. But if I was seventeen or I wanted to reminisce about being seventeen then I would probably buy it and dance in the living room at a friend’s house party with a girl I’m hoping to make out with and I would love every minute of it.

The first weekend of April in Vancouver plays host to the Canada International Film Festival. The 2011 festival saw hundreds of entries from thirty countries all over the world. The festival is proud to be dedicated to creating opportunities for independent filmmakers and aiding the artistic interaction of the film going community.

I recently saw a band from Ontario called The Mark Inside, they take their name from a William S Burroughs quote in Naked Lunch. “Hustlers of the world beware, there is one mark you cannot beat… The Mark Inside.”