len mackave photo ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON NOV. 29, 1985 By Steve Newton "People are very surprising," says Hawk, lead singer/songwriter/rhythm guitarist from Big Medicine. "They show their true colours when you look different, you know. But friends are friends in spite of what you look like, and the same goes for music too--if people enjoy … Continue reading Big Medicine’s Hawk loves fellow Vancouver bands the Villains, b-sides, and Red Herring
Category: from the ‘hood
Vancouver rockers Crisis find steady club work but want to record and take over the world next week
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 8, 1983 By Steve Newton "It was actually pretty simple," says Gary Langen, describing how he came to be the newest member of Vancouver's hard-rocking club act Crisis. "I just picked up the phone, called the booking agent, and said 'Hi, does anybody need a drummer?'" That phone call has proven … Continue reading Vancouver rockers Crisis find steady club work but want to record and take over the world next week
Ron Haywood and Stripes bring the funk–and a Vegas-style showband vibe–to Vancouver
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MARCH 9, 1984 By Steve Newton What do you get when you combine a singer from Nashville, a saxman from New Orleans, a drummer from Montreal, a bassist from Comox, and a guitarist and keyboardist from San Francisco? Well, in the case of Ron Haywood and Stripes, you get a tight and … Continue reading Ron Haywood and Stripes bring the funk–and a Vegas-style showband vibe–to Vancouver
H.B. Concept’s Henri Brown was more into basketball when his cousin Jimi Hendrix took flight
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON SEPT. 30, 1983 By Steve Newton In one of the songs from his latest album, Eddy Grant sings "Forget your troubles in dancing, singing and playing funky rock and roll." It would appear that bassist/vocalist Henri Brown of H.B. Concept has taken that message to heart. At a recent local gig the … Continue reading H.B. Concept’s Henri Brown was more into basketball when his cousin Jimi Hendrix took flight
Richmond’s Shadowfax hits the high seas with its sights set on Ocean Sound
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON SEPT. 23, 1983 By Steve Newton "I love 'em," shouts Damon Karjala over the din of howling partiers and steady chug of the S.S. Britannia as it courses through Vancouver Harbour. The guitarist/vocalist for Richmond's Shadowfax is talking about boat cruises--this being the band's third. "Casey and I got sick of doing … Continue reading Richmond’s Shadowfax hits the high seas with its sights set on Ocean Sound
Dragon Fly guitarist Zakat Zahir cut his teeth on Santana, raves about the Headpins’ “Too Loud” MacLeod
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON NOV. 11, 1983 By Steve Newton Patrons of Frams Cabaret experienced a club act of a different sort last week. It isn't often that you'll come across a nine-piece, all-Black band doing heavy metal. But there they were, stirring things up with rowdy, riff-riddled covers of songs by Night Ranger and Judas … Continue reading Dragon Fly guitarist Zakat Zahir cut his teeth on Santana, raves about the Headpins’ “Too Loud” MacLeod
Vancouver’s Benedict and the Insomniacs seek expression in the notorious Top-40 town
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
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