Greetings from the West Shore,
I’m going to spare you another top 10 list in favor of my typical longwinded and scattered musings on what filled my cup this past year. Maybe fill your own cup with libation before settling in.
Whereas 2009 was a year highlighted with amazing albums and 2010 was a year stacked with singles, 2011 was lousy with live shows. I was lucky to see and hear so, so much this past year.
In terms of veterans I hadn’t seen in over a decade, there was Guitar Wolf, Slayer, The Muffs and Man or Astroman? (glad that Victor Vector is on the mend, btw!).
In terms of veterans I had never had a chance to see previously, there was The Pixies, Barrington Levy, Allen Toussaint, Pierced Arrows and The Buzzcocks.
In terms of newish bands that I was all like “where the hell ya been my whole life?” there was Chains of Love and The Moby Dicks
In terms of experience that defies category, there was Rob Zombie (I’m serious, this was maybe the dumbest and greatest thing), dj’ing a Reverend Horton Heat/Nashville Pussy show with one working turntable (ok, maybe this was the dumbest and greatest thing), and the Gene Simmons photoshoot at the local View Royal casino (ok Demon, you win).
Finally, my two favorite shows of the year: Charles Bradley and Prince. Charles Bradley for a voice that penetrated deep scar tissue. And those goddamn tears. Prince for his Princey-ness. And for bringing Maceo Parker on tour.
I also got to interview a lot of fine folks. Indian Wars, Peter Case, Diamond Dancer, Hello Polly, Stuart Mclean, Neil Osborne, Kathryn Calder, Needles//Pins: it was a delight speaking to you all. Vicious Cycles get special mention for being the spark to my plug when I most needed it. Get their full length—a 2011 highlight—if you haven’t already.
DJ nights? East Van Soul Club is a juggernaut. Seriously. Our Favorite Shop will be sorely missed. Seriously.
The lowpoint of the year? Without question, the brutal, senseless murder of Colin Allin. Colin played in a band called Skin Barn in the late eighties/early nineties, the exact window of time I myself happened to spend living in Calgary. In those years, I had the great fortune of seeing Colin open for the likes of Nirvana, Fugazi, All and Big Drill Car, as well as headlining countless shows at The Westward Inn and all-ages halls around the city. Honestly, the only bands I have seen play more often in my life are Huevos Rancheros, The Smugglers, and The Evaporators. Here’s a news article from this past summer and here’s the Facebook tribute page. Rest in Peace, Colin.
On the homefront and the happier front, it was fun being a juror for the Times Colonist “Best of the city” music awards. Congrats to Open Relationship!
Rock n’ roll reading you’re after? Might I suggest Adventures in Solitude by Grant Lawrence and I Have Fun Wherever I Go, by Mike Edison. In both cases, music is the accompaniment to some incredibly entertaining memoir.
A couple 2011 records worth your purchase: if you’re reading this, then you probably already have the Needles//Pins single. But the single that I feel was criminally overlooked was that Korean Gut 45. “If You Want” is a damn-near perfect song. If you’re doing some mail order from Mammoth Cave this new year, do yourself a favour and snag it.
Somewhere in this mess, I gotta shoehorn in a toast to the many independent record stores in Vancouver and Vancouver Island who kept on keeping it on this past year. Again, apologies for oversights, but Audiopile, Beat Street, Zulu, Highlife, Red Cat, Scratch, Neptoon, Beat Merchant, Ditch, Black Raven, Gordie’s Music, Talk’s Cheap, Turntable, Lyle’s Place, Sound Heritage, Fascinating Rhythm: chin chin. Your value is immeasureable.
Saving the best for last: thank you to The Maxines and The Ballantynes for being so rad to work with, for two tremendous singles, for a couple strings of out-of-the-park release shows, and for revitalizing, reinvigorating, and redefining this little label. I got a hunch that 2012 is going to be pretty damn generous to both of you
What does 2012 have in store for the rest of us? A new Maxines single on K Records, for starters. There’s also full lengths by bands like Fist City (Black Tent), The Ketamines (Southpaw), Needles//Pins (Mammoth Cave), The Pygmies (Sloth) and Budokan (Northern Electric). You got that to look forward to. Hell, 2012 might even be the year we all get to experience the long awaited Suite Sixteen record!
We got a couple treats in store as well. Can’t wait to share. Happy New Years everyone!
Luv,
Ti
