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Music and Concerts

Coachella dress code

Lise writes:
You have such amazing style and fashion sense!! It is my first time going to Coachella this year. I’m super excited, but also lost as to what to pack. I figured you would definitely be able to help me out a little with this predicament.

Eeeeeek! Coachella! The desert, the music — it is going to be so much fun.

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And if my experience last year has taught me anything it’s that Coachella is a festival. With a lot of people. Who might vomit. Right beside you. And while that may not ruin your show, it might ruin your dress so leave your most precious pieces at home.

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Instead pack pieces that you’re going to be comfortable in. You’ll want to wear something short — a dress, a skirt, a pair of shorts, a t-shirt as a dress. As big as maxi skirts are right now, you’ll want to rock something a little less constricting when the mercury hits 95 (and it’s supposed to).

Bring your sunny G’s! You’ll wear shades all day long so pack a pair to spare.

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Rather than bringing a giant bag that’ll be cumbersome when you’re bouncing around in a crowd, opt for a cross-body bag that’s big enough to hold your camera, wallet, water bottle, and small bottle of sunscreen.

Wear flats! It doesn’t matter what kind — boots, sandals, flip flops (don’t tell the Sartorialist I said that). Just bring a few pairs so you can rotate footwear each day.

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The desert is very, very dry (shocking, I know) so bring lots of sunscreen for day and some serious moisturizer for night. I’m a fan of Riversol Revitalize Daily Moisturizing Cream.

Some festival-goers will opt for a big sun-shielding hat, but I like to get up in the middle of the action so I don’t like to wear anything that could block someone else’s view.

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It can get cool at night so I’d pack a jacket in your suitcase but I’d check the weather before bringing it to the festival. I didn’t end up needing one last year (you warm up when you’re squished up in a crowd).

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Instead I brought a rugged scarf with me. It’s great to sit on in between shows and it’ll keep you warm when the sun goes down.

And with that, I really should get packing. Hope this helps, Lise! Let me know how much fun you have.

P.S. I’ll be tweeting while I’m at Coachella so follow The Anthology on Twitter.

A concert for a cause

eva-markvoort-65-red-rosesIf ever someone lived life with passion and purpose, it was Eva Markvoort. The bright, beautiful 25-year-old lost her battle with cystic fibrosis last year, but her tireless work to bring awareness to the disease left a powerful legacy.

A legacy that is being honoured at the 65 Red Roses Benefit Concert on Friday, February 11.

BC’s own folk hero Dan Mangan will perform alongside the Zolas, and Hannah Georgas. Tickets are $34 and all proceeds go to the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. If you’re in Vancouver, come! Spread the word. Let’s sell this thing out.

And if you’re not in Vancouver, you can still join Eva’s movement.  65_RedRoses, the documentary that chronicled her battle with CF, has been picked up by the Oprah Winfrey Network, which means those of you in the States will have a chance to see it too.

I urge you to watch it. Not just because I want to support my friends the filmmakers, but because it will compel you to register to be an organ donor. And that is what Eva worked tirelessly for.

Some things are guaranteed to make you happy

Like, for example, when your all-time favourite band plays a show with your new favourite band.

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Such was the story on Thursday night. When my all-time favourite (baby brother’s) band Wizerdz played with Vancouver-based electro-pop quintet Young Liars.

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I only just discovered them. And I love them (perhaps because they sound a little Phoenix-esque).

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So much so, I trudged through a quarter inch of snow to see them. Now that’s devotion.

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I’m afraid to look at the number of times I’ve played the song Colours — it’s been on repeat ever since I’ve discovered it.

Speaking of colours — that blue/black/purple/coral necklace is from H&M. Something else that’s guaranteed to make you happy.

P.S. Read my guest post on Miss Melissa about health, fitness and hamster wheels.

See you in the desert!

I’ve been excited for Coachella 2011 since — oh I don’t know — Coachella 2010. And with the unveiling of the lineup yesterday, I’ve reached a whole new level of giddiness.

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But it’s not Arcade Fire or Broken Social Scene or the Black Keys who have me jonesing for the desert.

It’s this guy.

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Nic Offer, the short-short-clad lead singer of !!! (Chk Chk Chk). He sings, he sweats, he dances like crazy and can rile up a crowd like no one I’ve ever seen.

Have you ever seen !!! live? They are the best. Hands down. Next time they’re in your city, please, for the love of dance parties, go see them.

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Or better yet, pack your NKOTB tee and come to Coachella.

[Second photo found here.]

P.S. Join the party on Facebook.

Let the countdown begin!

Time to pop the champagne, friends! New Year’s Eve is upon us. Which means that number one on The Anthology’s top ten most ridiculous of 2010 is also upon us. After the wedding dressesstylin’ curlerslate discoverieswonderful WIZERDZcheese-loving graffiti artistsJoshua Tree impressionsheartwarming outpourings of supportpants that would make MC Hammer jealous, and gorgeous gentlemen, allow me to present The Anthology’s single most ridiculous moment of 2010…

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1. Picture this: you’re at Coachella(!), the desert sun is setting over the mountains, Phoenix is playing (and you love them). The evening could not be more perfect. That is, until the guy beside you vomits. Right beside you. You jump back to avoid the splash. And after a moment of chaos, the vomiter shakes his head, collects himself and keeps rocking out. So you keep rocking out too.

Then you tweet about the experience. And that gets you written up in LA Weekly. Which makes you realize that almost getting barfed on at Coachella is definitely ridiculous. But also kind of hilarious.

So I’m already planning my trip to Coachella 2011. You coming?

Number 7!

It’s the final countdown! To 2011 at least. And we’re recapping The Anthology’s most ridiculous in 2010. (In cased you missed them — catch up on number tennummer ni and numéro huit.)

wizerdz

7. The most ridiculous reason to be a proud big sis: my brother (on the left) dresses up as a wizard and plays music. (Less ridiculous reasons to be a proud big sis — WIZERDZ headlined the Biltmore last month. And they were just #5 of CITR’s top 30 of the week. Not bad gentlemen. Not bad at all.)

P.S. Hey all you wizards and warlocks — follow The Anthology on Twitter.

Numéro Huit

As 2010 is winding down, we’re recounting The Anthology’s most ridiculous moments of the past 365 days. (You can catch up with number ten and number nine.) Without any further ado I would like to present the most ridiculously late discovery (I’m only four centuries behind on this one).

quebec-je-taime8. This summer, I finally discovered the charming parks, picturesque riverbanks and beautiful old town of Quebec City. And I was one of the few out-of-provincers to discover the Festival d’Ete de Quebec, an 11-day showcase of artists like Arcade Fire, Santana and Passion Pit. It’s huge, it’s cheap as borsch (only $50) and very few of the attendees come from out of provice (only 5% according to the National Post).

Which means next year could be your year to discover it.

P.S. Discover The Anthology on Facebook.

Yay WIZERDZ!

I am quite possibly the proudest big sis there is. Because my brother’s electronic dance rock band has hit the big time.

WIZERDZ are headlining the Biltmore Cabaret this Monday.

In my very biased opinion, they’re the best band out there (Phoenix be damned). They’ve played sold-out shows in Vancouver and Victoria, a 30-minute live set on CITR, they opened for The Humans at the Canadian debut of their new video and they’re one of three bands currently in the finals of CITR’s Shindig.

wizerdz

Oh, and they dress like wizards.

So put on your cloak, grab your dancing shoes and don’t miss the show. The WIZERDZ at Biltmore Cabaret (395 Kingsway, Vancouver) on Monday, November 29th with The Killing Time Quartet and Vincent Parker. Tickets at the door.

Pop quiz

You’re going to go see Mayer Hawthorne. What do you wear?

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If you answered a sweater vest, skinny tie and thick-rimmed glasses, you really should be in the band. Went to see the LA-based crooner last night. And rocked out. (Haven’t heard him? Have a listen here. And while you’re at it, send the link to your mom. She’ll like his retro sound too. I’d bet my ironic v-neck sweater on it.)

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Wore stripes and plaids.

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My homemade paint-splattered cut-off Levi’s.

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And my new grey Converse All Stars.

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Which were a gift from Converse. (Thank you guys! If I had half the talent of Mayer Hawthorne, I’d write you a love song.)

P.S. Pop quiz: what should you add on Facebook? If you answered The Anthology you get 10 bonus points.

When I say “Oli” you say “O”

The second annual Olio festival is taking over downtown Vancouver this weekend (woohoo!), which means hundreds of emerging and established artists will be bringing their own breed of music, comedy, art, and film to a venue near you.
olio-festival-vancouver
“It’s such a wonderful opportunity to see the work/love/passion of 500 relevant artists both local and international,” says Dani Vachon, Olio’s director and music curator. The four-day festival promises to be even bigger and better than last year’s with 40 events and 500 artists. This has got to change Vancouver’s reputation as “No Fun City”, doesn’t it?
“I think every festival, every artist, every comedian, every musician, and every fan is changing Vancouver’s cultural scene. In fact, your blog is changing the scene, too.”

Aw shucks.

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So, of all the Olio artists in all the disciplines, which three are must sees?

 

The Very Best (pictured above) is a very exciting cross between world and indie rock. I think the comedy show that’s partnered up with Global Comedy Fest at the Rickshaw Theatre will be good laughs. And I’m really excited to see what Tunde Olaniran (hip hop weirdo from Flint who is opening for Run With The Heard at Venue) will be like on stage,” says Dani.

Oh, and I’d personally like to see the documentary No Fun City. Just ’cause.

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Time to break out the New Kids on the Block concert tee and hit the Olio circuit? I think so.
Olio runs September 23 – 26. Get your wristbands here. Photo of The Very Best found here.