First of all, if you haven’t yet heard of Yard Act, take a moment and read this article and watch this video (which incidentally is up for a VMA award in the UK).
Welcome back. Yard Act kicked off their tour recently at the Rickshaw Theatre in Vancouver. The band is witty and politically charged without being preachy. Personal politics is the name of the game here and it warms this old punk’s heart to see and hear.
First up however was Brooklyn, NY’s Gustaf.
A powerhouse of pure blissful chaos fronted by Lydia Gammill; an amazingly dynamic front person if ever there was one. Apparently, they are Beck’s current favourite band so that says a lot.
So good are they that Yard Act’s singer James Smith suggested that perhaps they should have been the headliner and not his band. High praise considering that Yard act is currently one of Elton John’s favourites (you read that right).
Gustaf’s performance was truly mesmerising with Lydia, bassist Tina Hill, drummer Mellissa Lucciola, guitarist Vram Kherlopian and Tarra Thiessen vocals and percussion, obviously enjoying where they have found themselves as the newest heroes of the art punk world.
Yard Act took to the stage, and in typical Canadian fashion, the room filled up and the fun began. The energy of the band consisting of bassist Ryan Needham, guitarist Sam Shjipstone and drummer Jay Russell was electrifying and although self effacing and tongue in cheek, you could tell they believed in what they were doing.
Keep an eye on both these bands, as grim as the future can feel sometimes, with bands like this to dance and sing along to the apocalypse will be one helluva party.
Cheers!
