Show Review: Carpenter, Northcote, & Virginia Leaves, Feb 19th at the Fairview

The Fairview was not prepared.

On Saturday night when I walked into the venue, I could tell right away that this out of the way bar on West Broadway did not expect what was about to occur.  The room was packed, it was already sweaty, and the bar lineup was deep.

I was extremely geared up for Carpenter but got a chance to see the 2 openers. I really enjoyed Virginia Leaves who were just getting going when I arrived. 

The following act called Northcote (is singer/songwriter Matt Goud) captured the audience easily with just a guitar and his very powerful voice.  I'm not too familiar with his work but after seeing him, I wanted to get a CD and dive into his music.  Here is a video of "Energy" from his current CD.  He mentioned on stage that there will be a new record shortly and I'm looking forward to it.  When he busted into a version of "Your Love" by the Outfield, everyone in the audience was singing along to every word.  I had a feeling that would be common throughout the rest of the night. 

Carpenter has rabid fans. 

I fell in love with this band's music a few years ago and can sing along with most of their songs.  Saturday night there were about 275 people that were as in love with them as me in a club that comfortably holds 200.  When the band got going the venue was at complete capacity with a mix of people that share a common love of this great band that has written songs that speak directly to them about them and for them.  These songs connect deeply with the individual.  These songs are about a person who longs to be home and who has made mistakes and wants to prove himself in this world of failed dreams.  These songs deliver messages of those people who party hard, live hard, and fear nothing.  This band is more then a punk band.  They have songs with subtle hooks that linger days after you've heard them.   The band also has an electric energy on stage that shows passion and drive and Saturday night Every Single Person in the room was singing along to Every Single Word of Every Song. 

Explain to me again how you've never heard this band or been to one of their shows (or supported your local farmer).

While Northcote was finishing his set Carpenter's bass player, Dana (who is an old friend of mine), was telling me some stories of the road and the pranks that were pulled on Dan (the singer of Carpenter & like myself, an avid Leafs fan).  I love hearing war stories about the road.  Touring is my favourite thing in life and seeing the yellow lines of the Highway 1 in Canada can be frustrating but when you're out there on the road, no one will quite understand it unless you have been.  You sleep on couches in strange towns.  You pass the time in the van laughing with your best friends.  You drink way too much to numb your mind.  You long for a warm bed with that girl you love but also you look forward to getting back on stage every night playing your favourite songs.

Carpenter exemplifies the dreams of those who have been on the road.  Dan sings about a lifestyle that is  hard to maintain, a lifestyle that in your head you know you need to quit, you want to give up, you want to walk away, yet in your heart you cannot.  You have to sing these songs, you have to speak to the people, you have to keep connecting with those that are in love with every word you sing, everything you stand for, everything you believe in. 

I don't ever want Carpenter to give up.  They are the best band in Vancouver and they proved it on Saturday.  If you missed this show, you missed history in the making.  People will talk about this show for years.  People will talk about how they remember Carpenter from when they we playing small clubs in Vancouver and how they wished they'd seen them then.  

Download "Law of the Land" by Carpenter here

Download "Sea to Sky" by Carpenter here

Love,
Marty
@martyzylstra