Rich Hope says that Gordie Johnson found where the rock was on John Ford’s Bullets for Dreamers

The lyrical themes on John Ford’s latest fluctuate between politics and partying, but the music itself is consistently raucous and raw.

Vancouver’s rough ‘n’ tumble Twisters take the Long Hard Road

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 29, 2002 By Steve Newton When the time comes to track down Brandon Isaak and get the scoop on his local blues band, the Twisters, the red-haired guitarist with the monster tone is not around. He’s up in the Yukon, where his parents own the only blues bar in Whitehorse, the … Continue reading Vancouver’s rough ‘n’ tumble Twisters take the Long Hard Road

Removal doesn’t need no stinkin’ vocalists, and no song titles either

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 9, 1999Local rock trio Removal doesn’t do things the way most recording groups do. For example, on its new CD, Hello, My Name Is Irrelevant, the band doesn’t have any actual song titles, per se. All I can say is that my favourite tunes are “Irr 2.06”, “Irr … Continue reading Removal doesn’t need no stinkin’ vocalists, and no song titles either

Pluto met through a Straight ad but isn’t quite cover material yet

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 26, 1996 Ian Jones gets right to the point. The second question the Pluto singer-guitarist asks when calling from a roadside Saskatchewan pay phone—directly following “How are you?”—is “Is this for the cover?” I sheepishly explain that, since I’m not the editor, it’s not my call which story … Continue reading Pluto met through a Straight ad but isn’t quite cover material yet

Scooter’s gutbucket brings a hillbilly vibe to the Deadcats’ surf-punk

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, MARCH 28, 1996 There’s a warning label on the back cover of the new Deadcats CD, Bucket O’ Love, but it’s not there to caution potential buyers about any explicit lyrics or backwards satanic messages. It’s more just a declaration of the kind of music the local quartet proudly … Continue reading Scooter’s gutbucket brings a hillbilly vibe to the Deadcats’ surf-punk

Russian hockey stars and broken legs inspire Vancouver’s Noise Therapy

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, SEPT. 28, 1995 Besides beer and back bacon, there’s nothing more Canadian than guitar rock and hockey. The Pursuit of Happiness combined those two Canuck ideals recently in its tribute to the Great One, “Gretzky Rocks”. Now local hard rockers Noise Therapy have answered with a pucky anthem of … Continue reading Russian hockey stars and broken legs inspire Vancouver’s Noise Therapy