Vancouver Buzz: Shindig Is Back And The Flairs Rock Indonesia

Where does the time go? It's already time for the annual CITR battle of the bands, Shindig.

What is that, you ask? Why, it's the annual band fight to determine the coolest of cool. Many acts apply and, after a complex judging process, the best of the best get in.

After 13 weeks of Tuesday night competition at the Railway Club, the winning bands receive a host of prizes — including recording time, pre-paid rehearsal space and free CD pressing for their impending album.

In the past, winners have included such awesome acts as Blackrice, Vancougar and Three Inches Of Blood. Runners-up have included the likes of They Shoot Horses Don't They? and My Project Blue.

I recently caught up with longtime Shindig organizer and all-round indie cool-cat Ben Lai to get the skinny on this year's event.

"This year's Shindig is exciting because Shindig is always exciting," deadpans Lai. "Basically I had about 90 entries this year, which is quite a good number, considering we can only pick 27. This is also the first year we accepted online submissions from MySpace sites and such."

The best thing about Shindig is the random mish-mash of bands on the bill each week. You never quite know what to expect.

For those with their ear to the ground, there are several acts swinging in this year with a little buzz behind them. Be sure to check out The Choir Practice with Coco Culbertson (of The Gay and Tennessee Twin), Shane Turner (of Love And Mathematics), Larissa Loyva (of Mint Records act P:ano), and Fond Of Tigers, whose lineup boasts Stephen Lyons and Jesse Zubot. Frequent local giggers The Organ Trail and Better Friends Than Lovers are also competing, as are a mysterious act called Huge Manatease that are rumoured to boast a crazy live show.

And last but not least, you should be aware that if you're too cheap to buy your own drinks at Shindig, you can always earn a few free ones with the longtime Shindig "jokes for beers" tradition between bands.

In other news, I recently spoke to Flairs frontwoman Dawn Mandarino to find out what's been happening in camp Flairs. Not only have they been spreading their tunes across Canada, but they've been carrying their tunes to foreign shores.

"We just got back from a 13-week tour, including two weeks in Indonesia," explains Mandarino. "We played several massive festivals, one of which had INXS on the bill."

It seems things were a little complicated, but the band made it work.

"Our drummer Jen had some family issues and wasn't able to come along for those last two weeks, so Jake from Elixir filled in on drums for us," Mandarino says.

"Our latest video, 'Sorry 4 Lovin' You,' is just starting to get airplay, and you can see it on our MySpace page. David from Todd's band has a role in it."

As far as music goes in coming weeks, there are a few choice shows to catch above and beyond the Shindig chicanery. Heart are at the River Rock Show Theatre on Friday and Saturday. Why attend? Because Nancy Wilson is a super rock babe, and "Barracuda" is a kick-ass song.

Great Aunt Ida is freshly returned from the U.K. for a show at the Railway Club on Sept. 21.

Bella, Viva Voce and In Medias Res are at the Media Club on Sept. 22.That about covers things. See ya in two weeks. Stay off da pipe.

Send your Vancouver music news, show info, CDs or Funky Cold Media to vancouverbuzz@hotmail.com, or by snail mail to: Attn: Trevor Hargreaves, #408, 65 1st St., New Westminster, B.C., V3L 5K9.