After a couple years’ break, Alvvays are reviving their holiday hometown stand tradition – from two nights at the Danforth in 2015, up to five nights at the Mod Club in 2017, another five at The Danforth in 2018, and back down to two nights at the much bigger History – starting tomorrow. Similarly, I will continue my own tradition of reluctantly missing all of these shows for various reasons.
Softening the blow somewhat is another tradition of sorts for the band – stopping in at Seattle’s KEXP for a session and interview while on tour. They just released this one, recorded a couple months ago when the band was on the road behind this year’s excellent Blue Rev. It’s been a minute since I’ve seen them live – eight years and a bit – and know band have toured a tonne in that time, but I’m still pretty stunned at just how good they sound live, even with the new rhythm section.
Going back exactly five years less five days, here’s the band again in the same studio dropping a session while they were touring Antisocialites:
And then back in December 2015, they were there again (I’m certain that’s not grammatically accurate since it was their first time) while working their self-titled debut:
I love this band. I really should go see them live again.