LIVE WIRE: Tech N9ne invites you to suck more than his tongue.

(Tech N9ne controls the power of Fire. With the rest of the Planeteers, global warming doesn't stand a chance. © 2010 Dustin Wood.)

The crowd chanted "Tech N9ne! Tech N9ne!" as the number one independent rapper in the world sprinted onto the stage and gave his sold-out show at The Commodore Ballroom his trademark scowl. Shortly after, Tech's right hand man Krizz Kaliko joined him. The pair wore red prison jumpsuits sporting the infamous 6688846993 barcode. For those of you not familiar, if you look at the digits on a touch-tone phone, this is Tech's calling card (NNUTTHOWZE). Also, the sum of these numbers added together is 67, numerically implying that Tech is both good and evil. There are many rumours circulating about the significance of these numbers, though as Krizz Kaliko will tell you, "That's just Tech messing with you."

The atmosphere in the room was unlike any other hip-hop show. Aaron Yates (Tech N9ne) would say it's because, "We got gangsta motherfuckers, metal motherfuckers and all types of music lovers under the same roof." Part of the crowd wanted to mosh, another part wanted to crip-walk. Regardless of how you chose to move, if you were at Tech N9ne, you were having a blast.

(Tech N9ne explaining to the crowd how large his... well, you know. © 2010 Dustin Wood.)

Opening with a song from Tech's 2008 album Killer, "Everybody Move" enticed an already enthusiastic crowd to get even more excited. Tech didn't play a lot of songs from his new album K.O.D. like most touring acts promoting a new album, and chose instead to play a barrage of classics, like "Einstein" from his 2001 album Anghellic.

As the show progressed, so did the crowd's interaction with Tech. One front-row female audience member had a surprisingly large sign for Tech reading, "Let me suck your tongue!" Tech responded by asking the young lady's age, to which he replied, "You're legal, baby! You can suck a lot more than my tongue!" This caused a flurry of objects to be thrown onto the stage, a joint and multiple bras among them. Tech further provoked the crowd with, "Bras are easy. I want to see some panties!" Within seconds, a black lace thong appeared onstage. Tech, ever the gentleman, picked up the thong laughing and said, "Damn! That's what I'm talking about!" Going in for a sniff, he then commented, "It don't smell bad!"

Tech N9ne's live performance brings an atmosphere that any concertgoer can respect and appreciate.

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Tech N9ne played The Commodore Ballroom on March 23rd, 2010. Special thanks to Live Nation.

LIVE WIRE: Tokyo Police Club arrests their audience.

(Tokyo Police Club keyboardist Graham Wright tickling his ivories. © 2010 Dustin Wood.)

Just two days after completing the tracking on their forthcoming CD Champ, Tokyo Police Club couldn't contain their excitement to be playing in Vancouver during the closing days of the Olympic Winter Games. Despite the rain and February chill, the Newmarket, Ontario foursome took the stage Saturday night before several thousand fans and celebrants at Surrey's 2010 Celebration Site. Dedicating their set to Canadian curling gold medalist Kevin Martin, the band was ecstatic to contribute their small part to the Lower Mainland's biggest party ever, and the audience loved the nod to Martin and his team.

Schooled in punk, pop, surf guitar and grunge, TPC lit up their audience with clean and catchy guitar hooks and keyboards while still remaining lyrical through their signature uptempo hipster-friendly catalogue. Indie darlings for sure, TPC were able to break beyond to their diverse audience to build upon an already elevated and celebratory mood. New songs from Champ were well received while better-known tracks like "Your English Is Good" had the audience singing and dancing with hands and red mittens high in the air. TPC played like a house party band on fire; energetic, loud and full of smiles and heavy riffs from each of the four members.

(Dave Monks undercover as a nondescript black umbrella. © 2010 Dustin Wood.)

Vocal lead and bassist Dave Monks, looking very fresh-faced and straight out of high school, danced and swung his bass around while keyboardist Graham Wright brought the humour, letting the audience know that he is single and looking.

Being new to Tokyo Police Club beyond radio singles, I was really impressed with the cohesion and skill of their playing and songwriting. The fit and finish of every song was that of a much more experienced group offering a great live experience for new fans or the many at the park not specifically there to see TPC.

With an audience high on gold medal victories and a band geared up to play in an Olympic host city, Saturday's Tokyo Police Club performance was well-timed and well-received. Indie pop, post-punk or garage - no matter how you might hear TPC yourself - they broke through the rain to bring an upbeat high-energy show that both satisfied fans and surely won new ones over.

(Josh Hook taking a break from shredding to pursue his true passion: tambourine solos. © 2010 Dustin Wood.)

It was a truly arresting performance.

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Tokyo Police Club played the Surrey 2010 Celebration Site in Holland Park on February 27th, 2010.