Guitar
In 1989 I played my first gig. I performed with two bands that night (subbing in one, full member of the other), opening for Montreal psychobilly legends Deja Voodoo.
I had just finished my first (and last) year in college, I was nineteen years old and I was about to fulfill one of my lifelong dreams: doing a real rock'n'roll show. Since I'd heard "Travelin' Band" by CCR and seen the Beatles movies back in the early 70's, I had wanted to jump aboard the rock'n'roll train.
Deja Voodoo had been a favourite listen for my best buddy and I in high school. They were the original alt-rock duo back in the eighties, a sludgy psychobilly guitar/drums duo (no cymbals on the kit, natch) that mined the unholy combo of monsters and food for their subject matter. Favourite song from teen years: Raised By Wolves. Sample lyric:
Not much to do in the Canadian North
Not much to do, not much to see
But we learned how to howl
Hoooooooooowwwwooooo!!!
It was quite an honour to open for a band I'd adored and listened to endlessly. It was also quite an honour to play as a sub with the Smugglers, a role I would take on both bass and guitar in the ensuing year or two. Although most of them were still in high school when I met them, they would go on to enshrine themselves in indie rock history. I loved 'em at first sight regardless, playing Muddy Waters' Can't Be Satisfied (with the proper slide bit) in a West Vancouver church basement. They had a wonderful rough-hewn chutzpah that just drew you in right from the get-go. They were opening for another Montreal band, the Gruesomes (who recorded on Deja Voodoo's Og Records label) as part of one of Nardwuar the Human Serviette's early productions. I don't recall if Nardwuar's band the Evaporators were on that gig as well, but I suspect they were. The Evaps were always ridiculously entertaining; Nard will stop at nothing to get across, like a goofy, childlike Iggy Pop.
Nardwuar hadn't quite established his empire at that time, but he was putting on all the shows that mattered as far as Vancouver's garage rock scene was concerned. I met the Nard and the Smugglers that evening, and became both buddy and acolyte. When I got together with the Nightstalkers (my first real band/songwriting/recording experience) I went straight to those guys to connect for shows, and, Bob's your uncle, I ended up getting us on the bill for Nardwuar's Deja Voodoo show at the Backstage Lounge Seymour, then a popular venue, now long forgotten.
I hooked up with the Nightstalkers via Vancouver's venerable Georgia Straight musicians' classifieds. Rieuwert Buitenga (bass, vocals, main songwriter, also of the Worst) had put together a version of the band previously, and only drummer Colin Raesler stuck around after one abortive gig. Rieuwert (pronounced like Stuart with an R) found myself and co-guitarist Chris Pilling (Big Yellow Taxi) and after a couple of months of rehearsing and arranging we were itching to get out and play. Nardwuar was kind enough to put us on the Deja Voodoo gig in an early opening slot (first or second of five, don't quite recall), continuing his tradition of introducing new unknown talent to the world.
Around the same time Nick Thomas (Smugglers, Tranzmitors) graduated high school and set off to Europe for a little "find myself" time. I got the call from Grant Lawrence (Smugglers singer/mastermind, CBC Radio personality/author), who enquired if I thought I could cover for Nick in his absence. I informed Grant that I had already watched them enough times that I knew all the songs, guitar parts and all. At the first rehearsal (of two, if memory serves) I blew the band away by covering Nick's stuff pretty much note for note; they'd never yet recorded, so I'd learned it all in the front row.
The day of that gig I could not relax to save my life. I thought and over-thought about every aspect of both bands' set lists. I changed my outfit about five times four hours before the gig. I paced. I noodled on my guitar. I was nervous as a kitten, but in the "I'm about to get laid for the first time" kinda' awesome way, not the crippling "blind terror" way.
The gig itself is a bit of a blur to me. I know I played well, jumped around like a madman, and had a blast with both bands. I was too elated to really pay attention to Deja Voodoo after all that, although I did get them to sign some vinyl. It was a truly great beginning to my career in music; I instantly knew I was hooked on playing live. I began my long tradition of being a reliable walk-in sub. I played with my baby and one of my favourite bands opening for a band I loved. I had a groovy haircut and threads. I was nineteen years old. It was my first gig, and the world was my oyster. I've pretty much been a fixture in the Vancouver live music scene ever since, 23 years and counting...
Ed.'s note: I'm afraid the only photos I have of the Nightstalkers are lost in long-term-storage-land and were not available to be scanned for this article. There was only one photo-shoot of that band, and to my knowledge, no images were ever published, like, anywhere. I only found out that one of our songs was released on a Stomp Records compilation (Time Machine, history of Canadian 60's garage rock and surf 1985-1995) by researching this article. I have heard a rumour that our stuff was issued in Germany, but I have seen no evidence to back that claim up. You can check out the compilation (also featuring the Smugglers) at: http://tyme-machine.blogspot.ca/2010/07/va-time-machine-history-of-canadian-60s.html
The Smugglers, Deja Voodoo and Nardwuar are all well documented in the Googleverse so I'll let you find your own damn links...
- Peavey T-40 And T-60 Users And Literature. .
Peavey were keen to let it be known that their guitars were being used by major artists, at the time - perhaps the most famous, was Ross Valory of the band, Journey. There was also Leon Medica of Le Roux and Banner Thomas from Molly...
- Yuri Landman Ensemble And M185 At The Siluh Records Label Night At Waves Vienna
I've had a pretty good time last Friday, as I joined the Yuri Landman Ensemble for a concert at the Waves Vienna festival. The Yuri Landman Ensemble is an ever changing band project created, directed by, playing compositions...
- Tony Robertson- Six Strings Down
Tony Robertson. We'll miss you, buddy. It was with a heavy heart that I learned my old friend Tony Robertson had passed away this past weekend. Tony succumbed to a bone marrow illness after a long and brave fight. I first met Tony...
- Last Minute Gigs-or The Ballad Of Dwight Frye As Told By Rachel Davis
Oh lord, I love getting last minute calls for gigs- one second you're contemplating what you might watch on the telly that evening, the next you're off to a gig. Even better, many last minute calls are due to sickness, border trouble,...
- Prinny, Six Years In- Update!
Just a little post to remind those readers in the Vancouver area that Sandybone and I are celebrating our sixth year anniversary of hosting the End of the Line Jam at the Princeton Pub (1901 Powell St.), on Tuesday, June 19th! Who'da'...
Guitar
My First Gig
 |
| One of the best album titles ever, period. |
In 1989 I played my first gig. I performed with two bands that night (subbing in one, full member of the other), opening for Montreal psychobilly legends Deja Voodoo.
I had just finished my first (and last) year in college, I was nineteen years old and I was about to fulfill one of my lifelong dreams: doing a real rock'n'roll show. Since I'd heard "Travelin' Band" by CCR and seen the Beatles movies back in the early 70's, I had wanted to jump aboard the rock'n'roll train.
Deja Voodoo had been a favourite listen for my best buddy and I in high school. They were the original alt-rock duo back in the eighties, a sludgy psychobilly guitar/drums duo (no cymbals on the kit, natch) that mined the unholy combo of monsters and food for their subject matter. Favourite song from teen years: Raised By Wolves. Sample lyric:
Not much to do in the Canadian North
Not much to do, not much to see
But we learned how to howl
Hoooooooooowwwwooooo!!!
 |
| Growing up Smuggler...(well Mutiny in Stereo, really) |
 |
| The maestro, Nardwuar the Human Serviette |
Nardwuar hadn't quite established his empire at that time, but he was putting on all the shows that mattered as far as Vancouver's garage rock scene was concerned. I met the Nard and the Smugglers that evening, and became both buddy and acolyte. When I got together with the Nightstalkers (my first real band/songwriting/recording experience) I went straight to those guys to connect for shows, and, Bob's your uncle, I ended up getting us on the bill for Nardwuar's Deja Voodoo show at the Backstage Lounge Seymour, then a popular venue, now long forgotten.
I hooked up with the Nightstalkers via Vancouver's venerable Georgia Straight musicians' classifieds. Rieuwert Buitenga (bass, vocals, main songwriter, also of the Worst) had put together a version of the band previously, and only drummer Colin Raesler stuck around after one abortive gig. Rieuwert (pronounced like Stuart with an R) found myself and co-guitarist Chris Pilling (Big Yellow Taxi) and after a couple of months of rehearsing and arranging we were itching to get out and play. Nardwuar was kind enough to put us on the Deja Voodoo gig in an early opening slot (first or second of five, don't quite recall), continuing his tradition of introducing new unknown talent to the world.
Around the same time Nick Thomas (Smugglers, Tranzmitors) graduated high school and set off to Europe for a little "find myself" time. I got the call from Grant Lawrence (Smugglers singer/mastermind, CBC Radio personality/author), who enquired if I thought I could cover for Nick in his absence. I informed Grant that I had already watched them enough times that I knew all the songs, guitar parts and all. At the first rehearsal (of two, if memory serves) I blew the band away by covering Nick's stuff pretty much note for note; they'd never yet recorded, so I'd learned it all in the front row.
The day of that gig I could not relax to save my life. I thought and over-thought about every aspect of both bands' set lists. I changed my outfit about five times four hours before the gig. I paced. I noodled on my guitar. I was nervous as a kitten, but in the "I'm about to get laid for the first time" kinda' awesome way, not the crippling "blind terror" way.
The gig itself is a bit of a blur to me. I know I played well, jumped around like a madman, and had a blast with both bands. I was too elated to really pay attention to Deja Voodoo after all that, although I did get them to sign some vinyl. It was a truly great beginning to my career in music; I instantly knew I was hooked on playing live. I began my long tradition of being a reliable walk-in sub. I played with my baby and one of my favourite bands opening for a band I loved. I had a groovy haircut and threads. I was nineteen years old. It was my first gig, and the world was my oyster. I've pretty much been a fixture in the Vancouver live music scene ever since, 23 years and counting...
Ed.'s note: I'm afraid the only photos I have of the Nightstalkers are lost in long-term-storage-land and were not available to be scanned for this article. There was only one photo-shoot of that band, and to my knowledge, no images were ever published, like, anywhere. I only found out that one of our songs was released on a Stomp Records compilation (Time Machine, history of Canadian 60's garage rock and surf 1985-1995) by researching this article. I have heard a rumour that our stuff was issued in Germany, but I have seen no evidence to back that claim up. You can check out the compilation (also featuring the Smugglers) at: http://tyme-machine.blogspot.ca/2010/07/va-time-machine-history-of-canadian-60s.html
The Smugglers, Deja Voodoo and Nardwuar are all well documented in the Googleverse so I'll let you find your own damn links...
- Peavey T-40 And T-60 Users And Literature. .
Peavey were keen to let it be known that their guitars were being used by major artists, at the time - perhaps the most famous, was Ross Valory of the band, Journey. There was also Leon Medica of Le Roux and Banner Thomas from Molly...
- Yuri Landman Ensemble And M185 At The Siluh Records Label Night At Waves Vienna
I've had a pretty good time last Friday, as I joined the Yuri Landman Ensemble for a concert at the Waves Vienna festival. The Yuri Landman Ensemble is an ever changing band project created, directed by, playing compositions...
- Tony Robertson- Six Strings Down
Tony Robertson. We'll miss you, buddy. It was with a heavy heart that I learned my old friend Tony Robertson had passed away this past weekend. Tony succumbed to a bone marrow illness after a long and brave fight. I first met Tony...
- Last Minute Gigs-or The Ballad Of Dwight Frye As Told By Rachel Davis
Oh lord, I love getting last minute calls for gigs- one second you're contemplating what you might watch on the telly that evening, the next you're off to a gig. Even better, many last minute calls are due to sickness, border trouble,...
- Prinny, Six Years In- Update!
Just a little post to remind those readers in the Vancouver area that Sandybone and I are celebrating our sixth year anniversary of hosting the End of the Line Jam at the Princeton Pub (1901 Powell St.), on Tuesday, June 19th! Who'da'...