When it comes to the Trashcan Sinatras, I’m stunned by a couple of things:
a) The band has never played in Vancouver.
b) They’re not as big as they should be.
Let’s address the first thing:
The Trashcan Sinatras have been touring throughout their three decades long career, but Canada hasn’t really been on their radar. But with the 30th anniversary of their first album, Cake, the band is celebrating with an intimate North American “One Night, Two Albums” acoustic tour, including stops in Toronto, Ottawa and Vancouver.
The band played at the Biltmore Cabaret, a dive-y little venue, which used to be the basement of the old Biltmore Hotel. There must have been no more than a couple hundred fans there. Wha?!
However, that turned out to be not a bad thing as the whole gig had a MTV Unplugged vibe. Super intimate, up close and personal with the Trashcan Sinatras trio, Francis Reader, John Douglas and Paul Livingston. I can’t be mad at that!
So what’s the big deal about Trashcan Sinatras?
If you’ve never heard their music, you should fix that straight away. The Scottish band came onto the scene in 1990s with their melodic vocals, beautiful melodies and lyrics, as well as, catchy as heck jangly guitars. Bliss!
The band was often compared to The Smiths, what with the Johnny Marr-esque guitar sounds. And I loved The Smiths.
A few times during the show, they would joke about how old they were. The audience would laugh along appreciatively, because most of them were also in the 40 and above age bracket. But unlike some bands out there, the trio played 2 sets with one 20 minute intermission. Two albums back to back – their 1990 debut album Cake and their 1993 follow-up, I’ve Seen Everything. Plus they opened the night with a small selection of songs from their 100+ song catalog.
Trashcan Sinatras serve as reminders of just how awesome British music was in the 90s. I can’t even count how many times I listened to Cake.
I may not be as young as I was when I first heard Obscurity Knocks, Maybe I Should Drive, and Only Tongue Can Tell, but the 90s girl inside me was in musical heaven at their gig.
It’s really too bad that more people don’t know their music. Their songs are timeless and holds up today, which is why I spied more than a handful of hipsters in the crowd. I was happy to see that, because the band deserves to be known and appreciated.
Trashcan Sinatras will always hold a special place in my heart.
Here’s the setlist:
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