Music

The Best Shows Hitting Vancouver December 2014

Catch hometown heroes Mother, Mother and other international stars on stage with this month's hottest concerts

By Megan Forsyth /

Credit: Flickr/Ayla Newhouse

Mother Mother at The Orpheum Theatre – December 13

Local indie rock favourites Mother Mother close out their cross-Canada tour at home in Vancouver this month. Touring to support their fifth and latest studio album (and first on a major label), Very Good Bad Thing, Mother Mother will showcase their unique indie rock songs at The Orpheum Theatre on December 13. Known for their charming vocal harmonies and eccentric sense of style, Mother Mother have gained a dedicated following in Vancouver and beyond since starting out nearly a decade ago. Since this is the final show of the tour and a homecoming for the band, it is bound to be an exceptionally fun party perfect for closing out 2014.

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Credit: Flickr/Candice Linkie

Phantogram w/ Dear Rouge and Mounties at The Vogue Theatre – December 14

Electronic rock duo Phantogram create entrancing, psychedelic songs. New Yorkers Josh Carter (guitar) and Sarah Barthel (keys) share vocal duties on their space-like, ethereal songs. With appearances at many major summer music festivals and on late night television shows, as well as a song on the Hunger Games: Catching Fire soundtrack, Phantogram is a band undoubtedly on the rise. The duo performs at The Vogue Theatre on December 14 along with support from local darlings Dear Rouge and Canadian indie rock supergroup Mounties (Hawksley Workman, Steve Bays of Hot Hot Heat and Ryan Dahle of Limblifter). A stellar lineup like this is not to be missed.

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Credit: Flickr/Michelle Edwards

Current Swell at The Commodore Ballroom – December 28

Victoria-based band Current Swell mixes folk, rock, roots, blues, and even a little reggae and ska to create its signature island sound. Making music together since 2005, the group has released five full-length albums to date, and in 2011, won Vancouver’s competitive Peak Performance Project. Currently promoting their latest album, Ulysses, Current Swell performs at the Commodore Ballroom on December 28. These catchy summer jams are bound to warm up any music fan, even in the middle of December. 

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Credit: Flickr/Michelle Edwards

Bend Sinister, Gay Nineties and The Tourist Company at The Imperial – December 27

102.7 the Peak and The Georgia Straight are teaming up with some of Vancouver’s most fun local bands to put on their “Relax, It’s Not Another Christmas Party, Party.” Fresh off their European tour, Bend Sinister will be headlining the show with their special blend of piano-rock and catchy pop. Joining them are Gay Nineties, whose debut full-length album, Liberal Guilt, is set to be released in January, 2015. If the catchy lead single, “Letterman,” is anything to go off of then the rest of the album should be set to take the local music scene by storm. Indie-folkers The Tourist Company will also be lending their talents to the night, and rounding out the show with some genre-blending tunes. 

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Credit: Flickr/Michelle Edwards 

Reignwolf at Venue – December 29

Saskatoon’s Jordan Cook, better known by his stage name Reignwolf, has had a rather eventful year. Even without a record label or a full album of songs, the hard blues-rock performer has been garnering attention from many sources, including Rolling Stone, which featured him in its “10 New Artists You Need to Know” list. Earlier this year, he opened for Black Sabbath on the band’s Canadian tour. Given how passionate and electrifying his rock ‘n’ roll performances are, it is no surprise that Cook would be selected for the high-profile opening slot. See what the hype is all about when Reignwolf headlines his own show at Venue on December 29. 

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