jeff sutherland photos By Steve Newton Everybody’s favourite Canadian guitar-rock band from the ’90s–well, mine anyway–kicked off its 15-date Canadian tour with a show at the Commodore last night. Last April all four original members of the Age of Electric–singer-guitarists Todd Kerns and Ryan Dahle, bassist John Kerns, and drummer-vocalist Kurt Dahle–reunited for their first … Continue reading The Age of Electric kicks off Canadian tour with killer Vancouver gig
By Steve Newton Some rock bands from decades past really push it when it comes to authenticity. Often you’ll see a group that’s touring under its old moniker with only one or two original members. Or maybe there’ll just be one—who also happens to be the drummer. (I’m talkin’ to you, Foghat!) It’s a rarity … Continue reading Todd Kerns feels like the Age of Electric are on a mission from god
adrian o’brien photo By Steve Newton Let’s face it: straight-up, melodic, guitar-driven rock ‘n’ roll has been taking a shit-kicking of late. In the age of evil EDM and the dreaded DJ it’s hard to find a guitar-bass-drums combo that’ll knock you out with a show that’s electrifying from beginning to end. It happened at the … Continue reading The Age of Electric reunites in a blaze of guitar-rock glory and brotherly love
photo by Rebecca Blissett By Steve Newton You know that stereotype of the lazy rock musician who sleeps till noon, then sits around the rest of the day waiting to play a gig at night? Well, it sure as hell doesn’t fit Ryan Dahle. For most of his 44 years, the singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and … Continue reading Limblifter’s Ryan Dahle developed his skill set out of survival
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, MAY 11, 2000 By Steve Newton In the CD booklet for Bellaclava, the new disc by local power-pop trio Limblifter, there’s a black-and-white photo of the unkempt band members casually posing beside a wall. They look like typical young Canucks, the kind you might see enthusiastically hoisting brewskis in … Continue reading Limblifter’s Ryan Dahle gets his T. Rex on for Bellaclava
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JULY 4, 1996 Most rockers would be happy being in one major-label recording band, touring around the country and heading into the studio when the time is right to make another album. But after spending seven years in Age of Electric, and getting signed to MCA Records in Canada … Continue reading One band ain’t enough for Limblifter and Age of Electric’s Ryan Dahle
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, JULY 25, 1996 The folks at CFOX radio have been jubilantly claiming that “the Fox rocks!” for quite some time now, but as any Vancouverite with cable hooked up to their tuner can tell you, it’s really the stations out of Seattle that can rock you like a hurricane. … Continue reading Even Limblifter has trouble topping the Odds’ power-pop at Foxfest ’96
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, MAY 8, 1997 By Steve Newton Age of Electric is a unique band, in more ways than one. First off, it’s comprised of two sets of brothers: you’ve got your Kernses (singer Todd and bassist John) and your Dahles (guitarist Ryan and drummer Kurt). The only other band with … Continue reading Age of Electric blasts pure pop on Make a Pest a Pet
If the setlist from Slash‘s show in San Francisco two nights ago is any indication, his Vancouver fans are in for a whole lotta GN’R action tonight. During his show at the Fillmore the top-hatted guitar hero led his group the Conspirators, featuring vocalist Myles Kennedy, in no less than six Guns N’ Roses numbers, including … Continue reading Slash’s Vancouver gig tonight promises plenty of Guns N’ Roses–and the return of Todd “Dammit” Kerns
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, OCT. 7, 2004 When Limblifter leader Ryan Dahle drops by the Straight office for an interview, it’s almost as if he knows more folks at the paper than I do. While fixing himself a cuppa joe in the kitchen, Dahle runs into the paper’s effervescent promo queen Christine MacKay, who he apparently knows … Continue reading Limblifter Gets User-Friendly
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, SEPT. 2, 2009 WHEN THE Straight calls up former Age of Electric and Limblifter member Ryan Dahle to chat about his debut solo album, Irrational Anthems, the musical jack-of-all-trades (singer, songwriter, guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, banjo player, producer, mixer, mastering engineer) is hanging at his buddy Steven Shearer’s Vancouver studio. Shearer’s the visual artist who … Continue reading Ryan Dahle does it all, with a little bit of help
INTERVIEWS WITH VANCOUVER TALENT AGE OF ELECTRIC blasts pure pop on Make a Pest a Pet (1997) Guitar idol DON ALDER finds one fan at a time (2012) ANNIHILATOR’s Jeff Waters is getting into the “old hard-rock stuff” again (1990) LONG JOHN BALDRY on Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Davie Bowie–and Images in Vogue (1985) ART … Continue reading from the ‘hood
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, SEPT. 19, 2007 By Steve Newton Rock musicians aren’t known for giving away their last beer, so it comes as a bit of a shock when Matthew Good offers up his lone Pilsner Urquell. It’s a muggy Friday afternoon, though, and I’m just parched enough to accept it. “I gotta leave … Continue reading Dark times inspired Matthew Good’s Hospital Music
