Review by Alicia Agarrabeitia
Photos by David Thai
The Sounds brought short skirts and high kicks to Vancouver last night on the last show of their 2011 tour. Despite releasing their last album in March of this year, they only played five songs from it and the other 12 were a mix from their three other albums. Although they played a great array of songs, they played several (12 of 17) songs that they played at their last concert in Vancouver which was a bit of a let down. But then again, you play what the crowd wants right?
Last time I saw the band, Ms. Maja wore leather and platforms. This time around she had a feminine, Victorian look going on. When she came out I thought, pretty. Then she started doing high kicks in her very short dress and I thought, ‘atta girl….that’s the Maja I remember. Have I mentioned that she has great legs? Don’t think I’ll eat for awhile.
To be honest, the show was a bit of a roller coaster. I realize that concerts aren’t upbeat and awesome the whole time, there has to be lulls here and there, but at last nights show, it seemed like there were a few songs that were complete buzz kills (“Yeah Yeah Yeah” being one of them). The band picked up the tempo quickly after the lulls but it was really apparent when people weren’t feeling the band.
That being said, there were definitely a few standouts throughout the night: “Seven days a week”, “Song with a mission”, “Ego”, and the crowd favourite “Living in America”. Something I really like about the band is the treatment of some of their songs from the album to the stage. It’s not that they change them much but they gain a Hed Kandi: Twisted Disco-feel. The first song of the night, “It’s so easy”, was a perfect example of this: great way to start the night.
It was great to see the concert because the band, especially Maja, are very charismatic and have great energy on stage, but something was missing overall. Maybe they were tired after so many shows, maybe it was me reminiscing on how they played several of the same songs from the last time I saw them, maybe it was the crowd (slightly empathetic)….who knows. Despite that, it was a good night and I hope the band got a chance to celebrate the beginning of their much deserved break whilst on the streets of Vancouver!
Setlist:
It’s so easy
Dance with the devil
Seven days a week
No one sleeps when i’m awake
The no no song
Something to die for
Song with a mission
Better off dead
Night after night
Painted by numbers
4 songs and a fight
Dorchester hotel
Ego
Yeah yeah yeah
Living in america
Tony the beat (encore)
Hope you’re happy now (encore)
