Sign up now for a FREE Citygigs listing. No strings, no bull, just free unlimited self serve access to your info on the site.

New User? Click here!

By Sam Spade
Staff Writer

303 Live, formerly the Columbia, a long time staple of the indie rock scene and launching point for many local bands closed it's doors for the last time March 29th and went the way of too many Vancouver clubs - quietly into the history books.

For those who were there on Friday night the build up to the end was made even more poignant by a great lineup of rising local talent including Faces Of Eve, Davis Trading and power trio Superpop.

The evening kicked off with a blistering set by Junedog who hit the stage loud and fast and dished a selection of well honed tunes to an appreciative early audience. The emotional Eddie Vedder vocals worked well with the high speed Stevie Vai riffs and created a tight well balanced sound that kept the focus at center stage. Highlights included a rock solid makeover of Cory Hart’s schmoltz pop classic "Sunglasses At Night"

Faces Of Eve took the evening up a notch with a sophisticated performance that walked an energetic path from U2 to Roxy Music and underscored the intensity that vocalist Miguel Staunton and guitarist Kevin Bosch have brought to their collaboration.

Miguel’s soft Brian Ferry vocals carry some serious weight and hold their own against Kevin’s rolling guitar riffs. The band played a collection of memorable songs including their first single "It’s About You" which was released a few weeks ago and is currently getting airtime on local radio. Beyond the music the band has great stage presence and kept the room hopping - from the barmaids to the bikers.

They’re currently in the studio recording their first independent release. Should be a keeper.

Next up A Virgin In Holywood were underwhelming with a self inflated and lackluster performance. An up front announcement declaring themselves "art rockers" followed by various insinuations that no one in the room was likely to understand them was quickly substantiated by, yes, an unintelligible mix of surfer tunes, country style polka and straight up punk that never really gelled.

Sloppy drums, forgettable vocal and jangly guitar riffs that set the teeth on edge like a musical personification of their awkward player who wobbled across the stage like an epileptic. Yikes.

Following the ebb and flow of fans from one set to the next was an exercise in itself and the room settled way back as Davis Trading hit the stage with his own brand of "laid back chillin’" music that fit just right as the evening ticked over to Saturday morning. The band just about boiled over with a funky, white boy rap that balanced smooth guitars, humming bass lines and an easy going vocal that radiated out of the monitors.

They took a moment out toward the end of their set to play a melancholy ode to strip clubs "Brass Paw Monkey". Some irony perhaps given that the 303 is closing shop to make room for one more titty bar on the Hastings strip.

Headlining the evening was power trio Superpop who turned up the amps and hammered the room with a no nonsense barrage of straight up rock that felt more like a conveyer belt of bricks than a set list. Green Day without the youth, attitude or, more importantly, the hooks. Time for bed.

Three great bands out of five is a pretty good night but the number of stages in this town that actively foster upcoming talent is quickly falling. I was wondering as I headed to the car what Vancouver is going to do when the last small venue turns out the lights.

See Todd Kerns Band, A Virgin In Hollywood, Superpop, Junedog, Davis Trading Bookmark Todd Kerns Band, A Virgin In Hollywood, Superpop, Junedog, Davis Trading Go to 303 LIVE Bookmark 303 LIVE

POSTCARD Send this page to a friend