The Veronicas

June 27, 2009

Venue

By P. Lim 

 

Australian imports The Veronicas returned to Vancouver last night for a sold out show at Venue. The pint size twins with the big voices and synth pop tracks, had legions of ladies lined up along Granville Street anxiously waiting for the show to start.

The Veronicas brought special guests LA based band Carney and The Pretty Reckless –fronted by Gossip Girls little J, Taylor Momsen. The Pretty Reckless – pretty skeptical of at first because as history has proven actresses don’t always make the best singers- were really good. Yes, Taylor does have this trashy Courtney Love –esque image and sound going on, but the band pulls it off well. Tracks were catchy, punchy, upbeat, and fun (“Good Girls go to Heaven”) and Taylor’s got that scratchy scream down pat. This band’s got so much buzz and they don’t even have a record out yet (slated for release sometime this fall). Hope they can keep the hype going before little J gets in over her head and fires all her previous band mates for not being ‘good looking’ enough.

The Veronicas kicked off their set with “Untouched”. Lisa and Jess, dressed in over sized t-shirts and short shorts, owned it onstage – charming, charismatic, and sweet. (Jess even bent down, mid set, to hug a fan upfront who brought the girls gifts). The band preformed tracks off their latest record including “Hook Me Up”, “Take Me on the Floor”, and the break up song that takes a dig at Lisa ex-boyfriend Ryan Cabrera, “Revenge is Sweeter”. Lisa and Jess also sat with an acoustic guitar for a stripped down version of “This Love”.

The girls kept the banter short but Jess did mention her love for the city- in particular how good looking Vancouverites are- and how once long ago, she told an interviewer that on the streets of Vancouver you can close your eyes and would probably run into someone “hot”.

 The band also threw in a cover, Tracy Bonham’s “Mother, Mother” as well an a couple of older tracks off their debut album before ending their set short set with “4Ever”. The band retuned moments later for their encore “This is How it Feels” before saying goodbye to a loud audience eager for more.

 The Veronicas continue to tour across America before hitting up Japan in early August. 

www.theveronicas.com

www.myspace.com/theveronicas