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I've been listening to dark wave for a long time now, but truth be told I had never actually been to a show by a dark wave band. I had gone to industrial shows, but industrial and dark wave are not the same thing (an essay to write for another time). So, how fitting that the first one I go to is fronted by one of the foremost groups associated with the genre, VNV Nation.

So on a cold December night, I headed to Club Soda to see what happens when goth kids decide they want to "dance", which translates to shuffling back and forth. I'd love to tell you about the first band, Straftanz, who hail from the beautiful country of Germany, but alas, due to poor planning on my part and a lack of parking around the venue, I missed them entirely.

So I waited until 9, when VNV Nation triumphantly took the stage, and they didn't end up going offstage until after 11. Two hours of songs is pretty impressive, being that most bands you go see play for like an hour and half tops. Not only that, but they managed to play a set consisting of various songs from their eight albums spanning their 16 year career.

However, I do have some issues to address with the band (if they happen to read this review), so let me conclude this review by writing a short letter to them:

Dear VNV Nation,

Hey, long time listener, first time letter writer. Though I thoroughly enjoyed your show in Montreal, I have a couple of suggestions that could make your show possibly be a bit better for the future, so without further delay, here's my list:

1. I like that you say the name of every song you do before playing it. It lets people who may be unfamiliar with the song know what's coming up. However, is it really necessary to come to a complete stop between every song? Surely you can program your computer machines to just continue with a loop or start a new song right off the bat. It really breaks up the flow of your set if between every song you stop everything before going into the next.

2. This is not just a suggestion to you, but to every band ever: stop telling me what to do when I come to your show. I know it can be frustrating if people aren't moving to the degree you want, but again, if in every song you instruct the crowd to "move" or "dance" it becomes quite tiresome. I don't want to play an engaging game of Simon Says, I want to see you perform.

3. No "Darkangel"? Seriously?

4. Your light show is impressive and didn't cause me to think I might start having an epileptic fit. Don't change this.

5. Perhaps I don't understand the finer points of merchandise, but if you try to sell me a CD inside a slipcase and ask that I spend 15 dollars for it, I'm not buying. Especially when going through your website I can get it for cheaper. I already paid the money to see you in concert, cut me a break on buying your music. And also, 25 dollars for a T-shirt?! And not even a tour shirt? Surely you can do better than that.

6. No, seriously: where the hell was "Darkangel"? I mean, you released it as single and you didn't put it in your set?

In closing I was deeply satisfied with your show, even considering the aforementioned points of contention. Please bring your ironically peaceful lyrics sung over dark music back to Montreal soon so we may have another night of enjoyment – perhaps at Mutek this year?

Thanks.

Signed,
Andrew

P.S. Next time I expect to hear "Darkangel," because seriously, come on.

-Andrew Wixq hosts Grade A Explosives on Thursdays from 3-5pm

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird announced on Thursday voluntary evacuation of Canadian in Syria. 

The department has been urging Canadians to leave since October.

An uprising began against President Bashar Assad this spring. More than five thousand Canadians have been experiencing violence in the country since then.

The United Nations’ Security Council held an emergency meeting this month to consider a draft resolution on Syria.

At least twenty-seven people were killed Thursday by the Syrian army defectors as violence escalates. More than five thousand people have been killed since the uprising began nine months ago.

Baird says the Foreign Affaires department can’t guarantee any help to those who find themselves in trouble if they stay in Syria.

There will be negotiations for a draft resolution in the coming days.

Voting will take place next week.

I first heard The Tea Party in 1993 when my high school friend Sheila bought me their album Spendor Solis. It was open when she handed it to me; "I already listened to it and didn't like it very much," she told me. Having already heard "The River," I thought my fate would be different.

It was instant. I felt a connection to the album similar to when I first heard my dad's Led Zeppelin vinyl records. It was dark, psychedelic, progressive rock with elements of world music that re-united me with my mom's Arabic heritage. The lyrics reminded me of those sung by Jim Morrison of The Doors, to which lead singer Jeff Martin is often compared.

Inside of the Spendor Solis album sleeve was a free ticket to see their show. I was 13 years old and could never get permission to see a rock band by myself, so I missed their show. The Tea Party have since then returned to Montreal, even with an orchestra, which, according to my friend Tanya, was their best show ever! I missed that too. Finally after 18 years, I had the opportunity to see The Tea Party live!

During the entirety of the show, Jeff Martin would tell us stories about the songs we all loved so much. One in particular was "Shadows on the Mountainside" from their 1995 album The Edges of Twilight. He starts by stating, "I met a girl in Calgary." It was during their first Canadian tour. She offered him tea. He thought "well tea, we are The Tea Party, I thought it was cute, she was cute..." So, on the way to Vancouver he had this tea then he realized what she had told him, "It is tea from a vegetable, tea from a special mushroom." Needless to say, after his "trip" to Vancouver, he wrote this song with starting lyrics "We are spirits passing through the doors of time."

Also during the entirety of the show, Jeff would switch instruments. From different electric guitars with single and double necks to a beautiful 12 string, his roadie would be ready. It was time for the 12-string electric guitar as they kicked into "Sun Going Down." At a break during the song Jeff tells us to "make our own church... a rock n roll church...you can do anything you want, I do" and continued with the lyrics "looked at the heavens above and I said a little prayer." Suddenly, he cut off the song with a loud "Can I get an AMEN". Once again, another instrument, this time a beautiful double neck guitar. One neck 6 strings the other 12.

It was not only Jeff Martin that would switch instruments. Stuart Chatwood, longtime Tea Party band member, bassist and keyboardist, also played the mandolin and portable harmonium. He was incredible. Not to forget the fantastic drumming and percussion played by original band member Jeff Burrows in the back. This rock trio has not lost their touch.

Although The Tea Party have a hard and dark side with rumours of drugs and black magic, they do have a soft side to them. They are activists of "White Ribbon Campaign" to end men's violence towards women and dedicated their next song "Release" to all of the beautiful Montreal women.

Rumors has it that they are working on a new album for January 2012! But for now, Jeff Martin tells us that, "the old ones will have to do." "Not a problem for me", I thought to myself, and the show continued.

-Sugarface Nene hosts Beat The World on Saturdays from 12-2pm

Winter is a busy time for Ste. Justine`s and Montreal Children`s hospital while they care for children with fevers, coughs, and colds.

Montreal Doctor`s have stated that most of the children who are taken into the emergency room do not need to be there.

They feel that children who are sufferring from the flu or influenza should be taken to the ER.

They have also suggested that parents call Info-sante at 811 to confirm their children`s condition before sending them to the ER.