THE INVISIBLE ORANGE PRESENTS SPELL + SUPPORTS @ THE WISE HALL, VANCOUVER!

Mark your calendars for an electrifying night of rock and metal brought to you by The Invisible Orange. On September 10th, head over to The Wise Hall Lounge in Vancouver, Canada and get ready to be enchanted by the spellbinding performances of Spell, Hippie Death Cult, Spirit Mother, Bloodstar, and Intranced. Tickets are available at Red Cat Records, Neptoon Records, and Orangetickets.ca. The…

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CONCERT REVIEW: BRASS CAMEL W/ CHASE THE BEAR AT WISE HALL - MAY 13, 2023

Chase the Bear and Brass Camel performed at the quirky and intimate Wise Hall on Saturday, May 13th. Tucked away in the Commercial Drive area of the city, surrounded by heritage homes and co-operative housing, the venue is a staple of the local music scene. In a world of mass audiences and global stadium tours, both bands showcased the magic of music engaged with the community.

Chase the Bear kickstarted the concert with blazing guitar riffs and Troy Gilmore’s magnetic, raspy vocals. The bandmates sported trendy retro outfits – a homage to their largely classic rock sound with subtle soul and pop. The band played through their setlist, which included the wild, western-flavoured “Five More Minutes,” the determined and desperate “Underwater,” the spunky and empowered “Quit Callin’,” as well as “Wildheart” – a song of energized longing. Connor Brooks’ drums were consistently confident, skilled, and lively; the beats pulsated through the crowd and into the soul. “It feels like we're in a coming-of-age movie,” I told my friend.

Brass Camel took to the smoke-filled stage with glamour and charisma. Daniel James emerged in a purple suit, white headband, and orange-tinted glasses. The crowd watched in awe as the band performed with their signature steely electric melodies, high-pitched vocals, and vintage synths. The whole scene felt massive and intense, despite being in a smaller hall. The band shredded through many of their released tunes, including the rowdy, sci-fi “Last Flight of the Vulcan” and the bouncy and playful “Dinger’s in the Back.” The melodies and notes had such a beautiful dynamic range in-person. While the studio versions of the songs are fantastic, there’s nothing like experiencing the artistry up-close and firsthand. Fingers maneuvered expertly during complex guitar solos. With each new song, the band transitioned seamlessly and with style.

The crowd was quickly wound up, even starting a mosh pit during the dramatic and feisty “King for a Day.” Brass Camel ended on a high note with the cool, catchy “Pressure Cooker” and jumpy and joyful “I’ve Got the Fox.” At no time was the crowd not bopping their heads or flicking their wrists. Eyes were glued to the stage when James brought out a sleek, double-prong electric guitar. Immediately after the show, the band members ran to work the merch table and connect with fans.

Chase the Bear and Brass Camel teamed up for a high-quality, fun, and inspiring concert. The event brought together a talented group of musicians who don’t get enough credit for the bonds they forge in communities across the country. Sparks were quickly and expertly cultivated and lasted the entire show, the heat rivalling the blistering temperatures of the day.

“So... do you feel brassed?” I asked my friend, as wicked guitar rung out and colourful lights faded at the end of the show.

“I feel brassed,” he declared.

Written by: Jenna Keeble Photo credit to: Heather Horncastle

Roman & Paul Heyman

WWE HALL OF FAME 2024

Credit: BrockLesnarGuy 📸

we’ve seen other doctors talk about house and I want so badly to know what the hospital stuff thinks about wilson. completely normal man. then he’s chasing chickens down the hospital halls

vote1 is peak storytelling because it’s not a situation that is about right vs wrong as many people think. naruto is right but he’s also wrong and sasuke is right but he’s also wrong!! but in the end it’s not even about that. it’s about circumstances and most specifically trauma born out of those circumstances. it’s about naruto wanting to stop his friend from going somewhere dangerous but not being able to understand his point of view or offer any real help. it’s about sasuke not wanting to let go of the friend who makes him less miserable but having to live his life with the burden of revenge and itachi on his shoulders. it’s about not knowing how to show concern other than with violence. it’s about both of them having issues with being left behind. it’s about anger, pain, grief, misunderstanding, loss of love. it’s about acting out of personal hurt and their respective traumas. but most of all it’s about the circumstances of their world– one where two twelve year olds are forced to resort to violent measures to settle a situation that shouldn’t even exist in the first place. it hurts because neither of them want to hurt the other but it escalates to the point where it’s inevitable. there’s no winning either. sasuke doesnt win anything because he’s forced to leave someone he loves behind. it’s not about konoha, sakura, team 7, itachi. vote1 boils down to them losing each other.

so i'm taking a break from the dune craze to continue reading the mirror and the light, and as a leading authority on these books as well, what would you suggest reading after finishing the trilogy? i know nobody did it like miss mantel but is there a book with writing that good, similar vibes or characters like cromwell? i'm scared all that's going to be left are her other books😭

there licherally is nothing like it anywhere. I'm so serious. to me anyways lmao I was genuinely in a reading slump for like a good three months post the mirror and the light 😭😭 I have since come to terms with the fact that ill never read a better book than wolf hall ever and there is a certain freedom in that but. yeah maybe someone else got something?

I’ve just done a mass reread of witch hat and like. It Gets Me that olrugio is apparently SO well known for being brilliant at magic that he worries about being spotted in the cafeteria at lunch time (and then does get spotted and accosted by Hiehart who is fabulous but. Exactly how Much of an outlier is his behaviour?) and Qifrey is infamous enough that On Sight he is the subject of gossip.

like olruggio is really That famous? That good at magic? And then he makes friends with Qifrey who is really kind of a troublemaker and a pariah and then Leaves. there’s only ever that One panel of Peoples’ Opinions On Qifrey but. based on Qifrey Backstory and what can reasonably be inferred about witch society from admittably Everything Else witch society was probably Shocked that Olruggio left the hall to go hang out with Qifrey

Sorry this is a bit late!

Aroace Hunter week 2023, Griffin @sergeantsporks

Currently obsessively thinking about a silent hill from Mary's perspective. Starting in the hospital, the nurses replaced with doctors, faces blacked out except for white shiny gnashing teeth. She only has in her pockets a note written on hotel stationary that says I'm Sorry.

Escaping and meeting a young man, cute and a lil awkward, who says you look a lot like his girlfriend Maria, and shes missing too? Can we look for her together?

Hes... sweet, a bit quiet. He gets very close to Mary often, pushes her boundaries, but this is all weird and strange and maybe hes just scared. When she mentions it, however, he makes a rude remark abt Just Wanting To Help Her but backs off.

They get seperated when the Red Pyramid Thing, unchanged in this version, comes and attacks them both, but chooses to persue him.

Laura is still there, and when Mary and her meet they cling together. She talks about an awful, ugly man she met earlier, and to watch out for him. She helps guide Mary through a maze like area before the Other World sets in and separates them.

The monsters in Mary's Silent Hill are almost all larger then her, and many masculine in appearance. They attack her head, try and choke her. Certain ones cough and gasp, arms thrashing wildly and thrashing on the floor when knocked down. Some seems to have exposed, black lungs that stutter to breathe. If Angela and Eddie are the same in this version, then their boss fights remain the same. The Abstract Daddy just as horrifying to Mary as it is to Angela.

Every reunion with the man, hes different. Less nice, more haunted looking. He starts to call her Maria, and barely acknowledges her if she corrects him. Following his advice leads to darker and more dangerous areas. The Red Pyramid keeps coming and chasing him away, but shes always collateral damage when that happens.

Eventually, she makes it to the hotel. Hes waiting for her in the hotel room, haggard, almost unrecognizable from the man he was when they first met. He has a monologue about how she's been sick, and hes been trying his best to be there for her. She doesnt understand, she doesnt know him, shes NOT Maria! She never will be. She starts coughing.

He makes to leave but at the last second turns, and hes a monster now. Large, fleshy, imposing, always trying to suffocate her under thick hands. Upon his defeat, two Red Pyramids arrive and stab at the dying thing over and over until finally impaling themselves.

There are different endings still. She remembers her disease, and her murder, in most of them. In the best ending she leaves the town with Laura, likely still ill, but alive again. In one of the worst, she wakes up in the trunk of a car, as water begins seeping in.

CONCERT REVIEW: KATELYN TARVER W/ ROSIE DARLING AT THE WISE HALL - SEPTEMBER 9, 2023

Adorned with a canopy of lights, the high ceilings and cozy lighting of The Wise Hall were a fitting atmosphere for the Compliments Only Tour. It was an intimate crowd, but one that gave their undivided attention to both Katelyn Tarver and Rosie Darling on their Saturday night in East Vancouver.

I’d been familiar with Rosie Darling since her release “Nail in the Coffin” (with Boy in Space) appeared on my Spotify Discover Weekly earlier this year. Since then, I’d been getting acquainted with her music; therapeutic for both Rosie in her craft, and her listeners. She made her entrance to ethereal nature sounds and immediately invited the audience closer to the stage for opener “Reruns.”

Her music is very chill, singer-songwriter pop with an emotional gut-punch. Many of her songs are short in length, so they’re compact, but memorable. Her breathy edge is distinct in “Say Less.” “Villain” was released a couple of weeks ago, and while it’s aesthetic in sound, its message is even more important. About understanding and finding peace after the breakdown of a relationship, it references blame, responsibility and ultimately letting go. Rosie has a very calming presence as she moves on stage; she’s still coming into her own as a performer, using her free arm to bring in the audience. She’ll clutch at her torso on emotional lines and shut her eyes mid-track, imploring us to feel that ache with her.  

She sang “Nail in the Coffin” (sans Boy in Space) and “Witness.” The latter was introduced as an “older one” given its release in April 2021. Rosie’s keyboardist Mike Nardone (who I believe was also responsible for the programmed beats) genuinely looked like he was having fun, and I loved how her music was able to build in layers but still allow her voice to shine. The piano accompaniment was lovely, especially towards the end of the dreamy “Lost on You.” They weren’t wearing their matching red jumpsuits (or pantsuits) in Vancouver though, Rosie opting for a bronze silkier set; although still a penchant for the hair bow and oversized pajama pieces that give her a comfortable, chic style.

Since the release of her debut EP Coping (Nettwerk Records), she’s released a number of singles and the EP Golden Age in 2022. Her debut album Lanterns will be released November 10 (not mistakenly, a word woven into the lyrics of “Villain”). “Boxes” was introduced as an “emotional one [to] get through together,” and that we did. Her voice as lush and soothing as ever, breaking free from confines and learning to value herself.

She closed her set with the somber and much underrated “Coping.” Rosie has a delicate voice with a potent, effervescent kick. Her lyrical depth and visualization are notable, and her music feels like both an anthem and a lullaby. I was impressed by how close she sounded to her recorded music; Rosie Darling is one to watch.

Katelyn Tarver had an unassuming entrance; right into the keys for the beginning of “What Makes a Life Good,” before taking the microphone and working the stage. Instantly, you can see her connection with the music and the questions she poses (“Is it taking someone's broken heart and knowing how to fix it? Is it becoming a mother? Is it learning to be tougher?”). This is a prime example of the big picture outlook in her lyrics; they have meaning and are given much thought.

Throughout her set, she shifted between her trusty mic, keyboard, and acoustic and electric guitars. “Cinematic” was soft and sentimental, while “Hurt Like That” revelled in its instrumental breaks (and driving guitar lines). Katelyn had such a comfortable stage presence; she feels the words and music, and in doing so, allows herself to let go and dance. She’s a natural performer.

The soulful, R&B inflicted “Nicer” makes use of her piercing upper register, while “Shit Happens” is a weighty piano ballad. She spoke about the journey to write “Shit Happens,” in navigating the unforgiving music industry and wanting to make it. It was a special song on her 2021 album, Subject to Change. Katelyn spent time conversing with the audience, showing off her new boots and explaining the concept of ‘compliments only’ starting out as a joke between friends and family. “Compliments are underrated,” she remarked, before providing ones for guitarist Ryland Holland (who kindly steamed her shirt before the show) and drummer Chris Bellew (who was in Canada for the very first time, which she conceded was more of a fun fact than a compliment).

I loved getting to hear my favourite KT song, “Starting to Scare Me,” live. It’s dark and blunt, but has the most incredible rhythm and flow. “Love Alone” was on her debut EP, A Little More Free, circa 2011. She noted its importance as her first original work and having that ownership over her music. This was a beautiful song, just Katelyn and her acoustic guitar. With this song in particular because of its age, I can see her growth as a musician. I’ve seen an older rendition where she sounded more strained vocally to reach the higher notes, but she sings a softer version now that is gentler and uses her warm spirit.

She sang a powerful cover of Paramore’s “The Only Exception” (a song she loves so much, that she recorded and released her version last year), before moving to her new material. “Ignorance is Bliss” was released the day prior. I’d liken it to a bittersweet pop cut that makes us question our reality, and possibly enter an existential crisis. Katelyn reassured that the new music meant she is heading towards a new album, Quitter (Nettwerk Records), which drew cheers from the crowd.

“One Without the Other” was the missing link for the album to feel complete, while the title track was an upbeat charmer about reflecting on the past, present and future, and living for herself – not for others. I could tell she was excited to share the new music in her first headlining tour. She expressed that gratitude a few times through her set, stating it’s still “weird” to do what she does for a living and put herself out there, but thankful that fans have stuck with her.

Closing with the recently released “Parallel Universe,” she capped the night off perfectly. The use of shakers during the verses added character and I liked the subtlety. There were a couple moments where both the drums and guitar kicked in and I felt like it overpowered Katelyn’s voice (like during “Out of Excuses”), but for the most part, it remained clear and vivid. Her music is both compelling and poetic, and she embodies her stories as a performer.

It was a great night of music at The Wise Hall by two angel artists. I say angels as both were gracious and stayed to meet and interact with fans post-show. It’s by no means mandatory nor expected, but it says a lot about an artist’s integrity and certainly adds to the concert experience to get to speak with the musicians outside of any minor stage interactions. Both were receptive and kind, and I can’t wait until Katelyn and Rosie make their returns to Vancouver.

Written by: Chloe Hoy

"death is the one thing that should remind you that absolutely everything else about life is absurd and essentially meaningless. So why get so wrapped up in it?"

/ Dave Foley.

the hill i will die on is a book adaptation is always better when the author is completely hands on with the production