ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JAN. 6, 1984 By Steve Newton "It's because I'm up all night," says singer/songwriter/guitarist Benedict Patrick of the name Insomniacs. "I'm usually right here at the piano," he adds, glancing at the turn-of-the-century Hansen in the corner of his East Van living room, "and I'll just keep going till six in the … Continue reading Vancouver’s Benedict and the Insomniacs seek expression in the notorious Top-40 town
Category: from the ‘hood
Vancouver’s K.T. Rouge aren’t interested in wearing spandex–except maybe on a good night
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JAN. 20, 1984 By Steve Newton On the walls are album sleeves from Bryan Adams' Cuts Like a Knife, Queen II, and Led Zeppelin IV. Headphones, cords, and guitar-string packets are also hung up here and there. And a single red spotlight in the middle of the room shines its gaudy glare … Continue reading Vancouver’s K.T. Rouge aren’t interested in wearing spandex–except maybe on a good night
Vancouver bar band Billboard Heroes finds covering obscure Gamma songs to be very effective
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON DEC. 2, 1983 By Steve Newton "The thing we like to do the most is rehearse," says 23-year-old Colin Wiebe, keyboardist for Vancouver's Billboard Heroes. "To take a week or two weeks and just get in a hall and write songs and learn new tunes--learn them just for the sake of learning … Continue reading Vancouver bar band Billboard Heroes finds covering obscure Gamma songs to be very effective
Jim Croce’s “Time in a Bottle” helped bring Silverlode soft-rockers Geoff Gibbons and Ken Kirschner together
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON APRIL 29, 1983 By Steve Newton "We first met," says Silverlode's Geoff Gibbons, "during a solo audition at the Hungry Pilgrim restaurant on Hornby. It was five or six years ago--we were 18 at the time--and we'd both come with our dads. I was sitting there, kinda nervous about it, and he … Continue reading Jim Croce’s “Time in a Bottle” helped bring Silverlode soft-rockers Geoff Gibbons and Ken Kirschner together
Vancouver power trio Elvin Screamer is breaking the rules in its quest for success
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON OCT. 28, 1983 By Steve Newton "We kind of call this the 'breakin the rules' project," says Rod Black, aka Elvin Screamer, after his band's performance at a local club last Saturday night. The power trio--comprised of guitarist-lead vocalist Black, bassist Dave Keown, and drummer Kim Masse--had already shattered the first Cabaret … Continue reading Vancouver power trio Elvin Screamer is breaking the rules in its quest for success
44 would rather cover Ten Years After than John Cougar, but Vancouver bars want Top 40
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 26, 1983 By Steve Newton "That's part of the reason I went for the Strat," says 44 guitarist Dave Filchak, "just to have the different sound. It blends well with Tom's Les Paul, but they stick out too." "He's using an American amp and I'm using an English one," injects Tom … Continue reading 44 would rather cover Ten Years After than John Cougar, but Vancouver bars want Top 40
Jack Lavin left the Powder Blues to create more devilish sounds with the Checkered Demons
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON SEPT. 16, 1983 By Steve Newton There were a number of reasons for his leaving the Powder Blues, says bassist Jack Lavin, younger brother of that group's lead vocalist/guitarist Tom Lavin. "For one thing," he says, "touring was very hard on me. And there was the fact that I had written a … Continue reading Jack Lavin left the Powder Blues to create more devilish sounds with the Checkered Demons
Maurice and the Cliches found inspiration for C’est La Vie in the seamy side of Vancouver life
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON OCT. 14, 1983 By Steve Newton "I've always had a love affair with whores," says Maurice Depas, lead singer for Vancouver's Maurice & the Cliches. He's responding to the suggestion that hookers and social outcasts were the main inspiration for several songs on his band's most recent album, C'est La Vie. "I … Continue reading Maurice and the Cliches found inspiration for C’est La Vie in the seamy side of Vancouver life
The Guy Jones Band does quite well putting on super-duper Alice Cooper shows in B.C. bars
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON SEPT. 2, 1983 By Steve Newton Jim Stafford once did a song with the line "I don't like spiders and snakes"--but you'll never hear local rocker Guy Jones singing it. He loves them both, and the bigger the better. Tarantulas and boa constrictors are lovely creatures in Jones's books, and when he … Continue reading The Guy Jones Band does quite well putting on super-duper Alice Cooper shows in B.C. bars
Rick Scott says that Pied Pear is still pretty solid, despite the lack of folk venues in cosmopolitan Vancouver
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 12, 1983 By Steve Newton "One thing about us," says Rick Scott of Pied Pear, "is that we write in all styles. We don't stay in one groove, and that's one of the reasons we haven't achieved the commercial success that people say you should be going for. Where the music … Continue reading Rick Scott says that Pied Pear is still pretty solid, despite the lack of folk venues in cosmopolitan Vancouver
Five of Vancouver’s top musicians become Unsung Heroes to have fun in the clubs
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JUNE 10, 1983 By Steve Newton "I think we're exactly what our name signifies," says singer Nancy Nash of Unsung Heroes. "Not to be pompous, but the name Unsung Heroes refers to the people who are always doing the work behind the scenes. To me any star, or anybody who makes it, … Continue reading Five of Vancouver’s top musicians become Unsung Heroes to have fun in the clubs
Spent Youth’s John Mead likes rockabilly, but his heart is in country music
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MARCH 25, 1983 By Steve Newton "Like every band knows," says Spent Youth singer John Mead, "it's really difficult to find a name. I was at the practice space one day, sweeping the room by myself, and it just dawned--like a light went on--and I thought 'Spent Youth. Misspent Youth. Spent Youth. … Continue reading Spent Youth’s John Mead likes rockabilly, but his heart is in country music
Vancouver’s rowdy Scissors tone down the housewrecking vibe and get serious in the studio
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 1, 1983 By Steve Newton "We're still pretty wild," says Bill Barker of the Scissors, chomping on a Big Mac in the Commercial Drive studio he co-owns with bandmate Ray Fulber. The Scissors' reputation as rowdies has been built over the past few years through incidents like the band's housewrecking party … Continue reading Vancouver’s rowdy Scissors tone down the housewrecking vibe and get serious in the studio