Mongoose CD
Friday, December 20 2002
Posted by brockp

The new Mongoose CD, White Plastic Deer is back from the plant and rc has kindly dropped off a few copies for the store where it is available now. Some samples to stream and download are forthcoming. Canadian orders feel free to send CDN$15ppd. checque or well concealed cash. Credit Card orders, just click the button.

The Weakerthans with Complete & the Beekeepers
Saturday, December 7 2002
Posted by brockp

I was awakened this morning pretty early for having been out at a show last night. The boy was feeling sick and couldn't sleep, so I pointed out his new red Weakerthans t-shirt from the gig (he had to stay with the babysitter), put on Left and Leaving and got back in bed. I think it says a lot about a performance when you come home and immediately listen to the record in its entirety. The last time I did that was after seeing Elliot Smith for the first time at the Velvet Elvis in Seattle. This time was so blissful for me because I hadn't been able to listen to Left and Leaving for almost a year, since I'd borrowed it from Chris.

The show at Richards on Richards was sold out, and only 25 tickets remained for purchase at the door by the time we got there. The obligatory line was formed up. Many people, including Todd, did not get in, and it was strange because the room still had plenty of space when the Beekeepers began the first set of the eve. This was a likeable band in a strange way. All three up front wearing nerdy glasses and a mustached fireman shirt clad drummer driving in a precise but stiff awkward manner. The gal playing the Mustang bass reminded me of someone dear to me, and one of the guitarists was somewhat Hashimoto-like. His song, Thing With Three Souls was my favourite of the half dozen or so they played.

Thing with three souls
One for creating
One for procrastinating
One always searching for its twin

The band seemed to gather a bit of momentum as they went along in their slightly self-conscious way, singing bizarre harmonies and sounding at times something like Elvis Costello.

Complete was up next after the changeover, a band Simon told me he had planned to audition for but canceled at the last minute. He said he just didn't see himself getting up for more of the same nondescript pop-punk particularly when he was not writing the songs and I saw why he decided that straight off. True, we agreed, there is nothing terribly wrong with Complete, but there is not anything particularly compelling either, unless you are in the almighty 18-25 group and want to root for someone local. If so, go right ahead !

Complete sound like your average Warped Tour band and if they have not already done so, are bound to be appearing on that bill soon. It didn't sound to me like they'd figured out that two guitar bands are most effective when each one plays something different and has a distinct tone. Both guitarists for this group had the Gibson/Marshall sound and, before anyone corrects me, Gibson/Mesa Boogie is close enough to yield the same result. The drummer was the strong point here, and managed to distinguish himself from the wall of mid-range by dextrous and energetic attacking of his toms and cymbals - no small feat considering the endurance required. These guys seem determined and serious, nevertheless, and will no doubt gather steam with their forthcoming self-titled release. Work on the vocal melodies and guitar tones, guys - you've got the rhythm section happenning.

As I mentioned, I hadn't heard Pamphleteer in almost a year, so I may have been particularly happy when those first few chords thrummed in, but judging by the look on John Samson's face (I hope I've got the names right), I would say that joy was in the room when the Weakerthans began. It didn't really go away either, even after a few songs of encore and house lights up, smiles all around. Throughout the band's set audience members sang along solemnly but happily, at times audible from the back of the room where I stood by the FOH board.

There were some beautiful moments, and some funny ones too, like John forgetting how to play This is a fire door never leave open and having to skip it after two tries. The band has been hard at writing their new record and excitedly hummed through a couple of new songs, one about a cat only written two days prior. Another was preluded by some hockey talk, triggered by John Sutton's Winnipeg Jets t-shirt with Selanne on the back. It included a line about falling asleep in your new winter coat, which had Heather and I turning to laugh at each other, because our boy did just about that a day or two ago. John S eventually did remember This is a fire door... later in the encore - it looked to me like it was the capo on the wrong fret accounting for the earlier "mental block". It was satisfying as part of the encore though, the audience sharing John's glee at getting the right guitar part out of his hands.

Other high points for me were Stephen's whirly-wind solo (remember those plastic hose-like things that glowed in the dark and made coold wind sounds when you twirled them over your head like a lasso ?) and pedal steel parts in general. This is a band that knows how to let the music breathe. Or maybe they know how to let themselves be played by the music. Whatever the case, it seems Music has made a habit of hanging around them, and I, for one, am gladder for it. Judging by the warm response from the audience after the last notes of My Favourite Chords faded, I would say I am not alone.

The Weakerthans play an all-ages show tomorrow night in North Vancouver at Selwynn Hall on Mountain Highway. Doors are at 7pm. For those of you who were turned away on Thursday, you get a second chance. Don't miss i t !

Mongoose rears its head
Monday, December 2 2002
Posted by brockp

I spent a few hours in punk pop land tonight with Mongoose, a new band born out of summer recording antics by Shock and Rob Clark. Rob played me this tape one day in my kitchen while we were taking a break from overdubbing 500Head vocals. I had to laugh, it was so good and told him if he ever decided to put a live thing together for this project that I'd be up for it.

Sure enough, I got a call from Rob not long after and tonight was the first date at the space. Shock and I were listening to the tape in the car as we drove over to West 7th, where we met Rob and Rob. Yes, this is another one of those bands where everyone will need nicknames in short order, although Shocker at least has one already.

I have to admit that even in the eighties playing on bills with scads of hardcore bands, I never did that thrash hardcore beat so Last Party was probably not the best first song choice. I'm not sure if I can do it with a straight face, but thankfully, it only appears briefly in that one song. Playing the rest was pretty much like putting on an old coat which you haven't worn in a long time but used to wear all the time. At least for me. I think bass player Rob (you see, we need a nickname here) was suffering like me doing the hardcore beat much of the time though. Most times when I looked over at him he had this grimace on which I recognised from the end of the first Dough tour when my hands were all chewed up. Actually, there is the face I mean over to the left. Notice the taped fingers.

Well you get the idea. We'll see if bass player Rob can get used to the fast and furious right hand stuff. I suggested he try applying some gaffer tape to his body somewhere for inspiration. He mentioned a friend of his who made an emergency guitar strap out of gaffer tape when I said that. Now there's ingenuity for ya !

Anyway, Singer Rob is really gung ho for Mongoose to get out there and I think the kids will love stuff like Let's All Go to the Restaurant and Better You Than Me, so I hope the gigs are forthcoming. CDs are apparently on the way so I will make sure to get some for the store here in case any of yous are interested.

Oh and much thanks to Rob Mullin (yes, another Rob) for the photo. He has kindly supplied a dozen or so old ones for the forthcoming Boss 7".

Myles of Beans
Sunday, December 1 2002
Posted by brockp

Well I started babbling about this blog last night while on the stage at Myles of Beans so I figured I'd better write something about that event.

Firstly, it seems that Shock and I have an unfortunate habit of winding up in a double booked situation when we play togther. The last time was the 500Head Marine Club show with Roadbed, which was perhaps the quintessential bogus double booking complete with like ten bands arriving at the club expecting to play (and be paid !)

While last night was not of that proportion it was still a surprise to find out that a duo of nineteen year old singer-songwriters had snaked us. (For those of you non-skaters, that's when someone drops into the bowl or whatever ahead of you when it is your turn. Usually it is BMX bikers...)

Anyways, we got to the café to hear the twin gals called Fera harmonising away in front of a video camera and a family audience. It was hard to be grumpy because the café owner was apologetic and the gals could sing damn fine. I figure someone will sign them to a deal and get a bunch of Nashville writers to come up with hits for them to lay on all the country stations of North America.

Last night was the debut for me with my new bandmate, the Boss RC20 and I must admit, it did not go entirely as planned. That is maybe part of the charm that you never know what you are going to get because its different every time.

Things started off pretty well with Dear Friend John but when i went to do the vocal harmonies at the end of Real Road I looped the first part after 3 bars instead of four bars, so that pretty much became an a capella part since there was no room for the last bar of guitar in there ! Also, "my play the drumbeat on the guitar and loop it" didn't work in Numbered Days 'cause my acoustic was plugged into the PA, not my amp via the RC20. That one I didn't figure out until driving home later. All in all it was a good chance to go f#%k up in front of an audience and get some practise with doing this kind of solo gig. I am looking forward to more, I must say, because even though it bites when I make a mistake, when it works, it really works.

Shock was playing drums for the night, and Super was on guitar instead of bass. Smash, from Stoke was doing the bass, and I must admit, when I saw he had a Music Man Stingray, my opinion of him (already good because of the Bad Brains shirt) increased. I'll have to get Shock to remind me of what the band was called last night in this lineup.

Super's songs were cool and quirky, sounding at times like Modest Mouse. The audience was completely won over by I am a Failure and I Know It and even sang along. I guess this was one universal theme for a song ! I am looking forward to hearing more from Roadbed, and The Shocker's various other projects and will have a chance tonight when I join him for a punk rock jam with RC and Mongoose.

I better go learn some songs...