Happy 15th anniversary, TSEP!

So, I don't expect anyone to remember this (even I didn't until Greg reminded me a few weeks ago), but it was exactly 15 years ago today that the first band I was ever in, The Self Esteem Project, played our first show.  And what an excellent show it was. Our friend Meridith was nice enough to lend out her parents basement in Deep Cove and have us, September, Plains of Abraham, and Reserve 34 come over and make noise, take our pants off, and yell and scream for the afternoon. It was awesome. Those sure were the days. So, happy anniversary Greg, Kyle, and Clayton!

Oh yeah, anyone interested in seeing the other bands sets? Let me know!

BMX

This is the other thing I'm into, and this is my all time favourite video. The deeper I get into the box of tapes the more gems I dig up!

We're Plains of Abraham, and this goes out to North Van!

   If you were there, you know, and if you weren't, stop what your doing and clear your schedule for the next 22 minutes. I have quite a few POA sets on tape, but this one goes down as one of the top 3. An intro played on a ghetto blaster, no lights, broken mics, crazy feedback, non stop heckling from some Christians who take offence to Ryan and Marty's non stop anti religious banter, the house music being intermittently turned on throughout the set, and finally having the mics turned off, only to play one more anyways. The icing on the cake however is the girl who gets on stage mid set to tell everyone that "punk is about keeping your opinions to yourself, if you don't have anything nice to say.....". You'll have to watch to see what happens. One of my favourite Vancouver bands ever. Enjoy.

I weigh 170 pounds and 70 kilograms!

Remember when you needed some kind of clunky digital recorder thing to be a solo artist with no band? I thought this was some next level shit when I first heard of Atom and his Package. My, how far we've come. No pop culture reference or band was safe from Atom and his goofy yet catchy songs, from Slayer to the Ghetto Boys to Fugazi and even his friend Ralph, everyone got a shout out. I left a lot of the between song banter in, because not only does it provide a good time stamp, it also reminds us of why we were attracted to this quirky, funny, and slightly strange little guy named Atom.

One! King! Down!

So, I don't know too much about these guys other than they had 2 different lead singers. It always amazes me when bands have different lead singers in different parts of their career. Oh, the other thing I know is they played some hyper active solo filled metallic hardcore, and seemed to do it pretty damn well. Here's their set from the same show as the Strain footage i posted previously. I hope you get a kick out of the drama in the hallway I left in there, it's pretty hilarious. 

Come crash on my shore!

The final road test for the songs that would end up on the album If It Weren't For Venetian Blinds It Would Be Curtains For Us All. Cameo appearances by some memorable local characters. What a show!

thisisthesparkmarkerpost

What can I say about Sparkmarker? Besides maybe Joy Division and Propagandhi, they were probably the most played band in my walkman from grades 10-12, and are to this day one of my top ten all time favourite bands. Below I've scanned all my posters and converted some footage of them playing Punk Strikes Back, which was a yearly affair with this particular installment ( I believe it was the first one) benefiting the BC Persons with Aids Society. I cut the 3rd video long on both ends so you can have an idea of the drama from that night, and at the end hear Jay Clark reference the Town Pump. Actually, with the exception of the two suburban halls, sadly every single venue from these posters is closed. If you have a special Sparkmarker story please share it in the comments. Enjoy!  

Here and Now (then)

                                         

                                         

Holy crap, it's an entire Strain set! I filmed this at a hall in Fleetwood BC in the late 90's. I had originally titled the videos as if the show was in Cloverdale, but I found the flyer that proves it was in Fleetwood late last night after I had already uploaded all the vids and made the post. Interestingly enough, I found 2 copies of the flyer. The first one is more cleanly laid out and states that it is Burden's first show, while the second one made room for the late addition to the show in the form of an on tour One King Down.

The video eagle has landed.

So, my video transfer equipment arrived yesterday. It's hilariously easy to use, even for someone like myself who's not all that computery. The first tape I transferred had a couple of interesting things on it, namely a dbs/moneen/def poets society show in Langley. This is kind of a fun look back in time to see where everyone was at 11 years ago. Hard to believe it's been that long!



Moneen. I once saw Kenny hurl his telecaster across the stage at the Brickyard and explode as it hit the brick pillar on stage right. Their performances are truly, truly epic.



Def Poets! Not even sure where to start with these guys. When your buddies that you didn't know rapped spend a year making a rap record in the back room of your house and it turns out this awesome, you gotta give it props.



North Van legends. If anyone remembers, it was kind of a "thing" to start a mosh pit after the breakdown in Your Apathy... as you will see in this video.

Enjoy!

Classic venues!

I don't know about you, but I loved being able to score a poster for an awesome show. There are many elements to what would make a poster collectible (to me): the band lineup, the location, the artwork, or maybe something like the price ($6.66 comes to mind) or date (halloween show!). Being a bit of a pack rat I still have almost every poster I ever carefully rolled up and tucked in the pouch of my hoodie, and now that this little project is off the ground my collection has been justified! Here are some posters of some significance or other. Anyone at these?

Java Joint. What a place. Seems like a bit of a stretch to have an all ages punk venue in the heart of Walley on the King George Hwy, but it was actually pretty central. The owners were committed to growing with the popularity of the venue, eventually moving the "stage" from the front of house into a bigger back room, and even expanded on that. The value village across the street also made for some good entertainment if you showed up early and had time to kill. I rode by it yesterday and I think it's a Polish sausage shop now. Good times.

Not exactly Vancouver, but still west coast, and arguably the most classic punk venue on this side of the continent. The few times I was lucky enough to play there are some of my more memorable shows. A truly magical, disgusting, and awesome place to spend a night.

Ms. T's Cabaret. RIP to a truly amazing venue. A victim to one of Vancouver's many suspicious and unfortunate fires, Ms. T's was a long dark stage in the back bar to the right kinda place. Easy load in through the lane, shitty/simple sound, easy going management, located downtown, and classic as all hell. Vancouver dies a little bit more with every venue it loses.

Seylynn Hall. Got damn. If you went to punk shows in Vancouver in the 90's then you surely made the trek over the bridge to Phibbs Exchange to catch a show at Seylynn. This was THE meeting place for all the suburban punks. Remember when you used to go to shows to see all your friends?

Finally, the Submission Hold House. 2024 E 1st Ave. HQ of revered band Submission Hold, and over the years home to dozens of local movers and shakers, folks passing through with nothing but a backpack, and many a traveling band. A huge shout out to residents Holly, Jen, and Andy for keeping it real for so many years and offering everyone from suburban brats to Modest Mouse a place to be themselves and do their thing.

I think we need to patch things up.

I used to be really into patches and belt buckles and bracelets. These days, not so much. As I dig deeper into the archives I find more and more hilarious accessories. I think it might help me to understand and appreciate the fashion choices that the youth of today make. Maybe. Anyways. Here's some patches I dug up.

Bouncing Souls huh? I seem to recall seeing them at the Town Pump? I also know I had and quite enjoyed an album of theirs, although I can't remember which one, and the last time I opened the case the cd wasn't there. Oh well. Doesn't look like this one was ever sewed on, but it's message is fairly applicable to this day.

Local punk heroes, hand screened by the band of course. This one doesn't appear to have been sewed on either, but I do recall having a dbs patch on a sweatshirt at one point.

From New York, touring mates of dbs, which is how they were introduced to all of us in Vancouver. I remember them being fast, snotty, and uhh, political. Anyone know what that writing at the bottom says?

A long running zine out of the suburbs documenting all things pop punk. Produced by a trio of girls with a penchant for huge backpacks.

I have no idea who The Jocks are, but I seem to think they were from Calgary. I must have not known who they were at the time either as it doesn't appear to have ever been sewn on. I collect things.



Render Useless, one of the islands finest. I was definitely a fan, and footage of them will surface on here, I guarantee it. This one was obviously sewn on something. The imagery was an extra bonus for me.

What do you say about these turkeys? One of Vancouver's finest who still get love today. I just heard that a band from Australia is covering a song off their last release. This is another band who I can guarantee footage of. Old, hilarious, footage. That is all.

Tickets! Who's got tickets!?

Found a huge stack of ticket stubs from back in the day. Lot's of long gone but not forgotten venues, bands, ticket prices, and production companies. Was anyone at any of these shows? Remember anything about them?

Posters! Pictures!

I found some photos of Strain that I took for that photo 11 class I mentioned. This was a show at the Langley Civic Center I believe. I'm standing beside/behind stage left which is why there's no Sean Lande. Sorry Sean. Hopefully John's killer shred face makes up for it! Also, please note Happy Kreter in the last shot.


Secondly, I dug up a few posters. 2 from the Red Light Sting's summer tour in 2001, and a Reserve 34 set list. Not sure when the R34 set is from as there's no date, but please note that it's on R34 letterhead. That's pro.

This is from Calgary, I think.

Somewhere in California. I remember there being a show in an actual living room on that tour. Maybe this was it.

Can anyone date this?

Public Enemy number 1!

We were lucky enough to share stages with the legends of rap music known as Public Enemy. Tazmania, new years eve.

Upside down, a year ago.

Last year I was lucky enough to spend 2 weeks in Oz with the band I have been with for the last 3 years. Usually I am the TM, but since this run was going to be a hectic mash of festivals, trains, planes, automobiles, rented back line, and 20 minute changeovers I was going along with the strict responsibility of back line only. The wizards staff would be wielded by the one and only Gavin Tempany, who, by offering us a daily Tempany Report made sure the wheels never once came off the track. Great job, boys!

First festival started out with a long drive out of Melbourne up (down?) the coast. As Dave Chappelle would say, this was a ill house.


My friend Nik Cee tipped me off to the fact that if you return these inside the first half hour that no additional costs are incurred. Only problem is that it gets harder to watch the clock as the night progresses. Thanks for the good times mate!


New Years Eve 2010/11 in Tazmania. Our people took us to the harbour in Hobart where a sail boat race was finishing. Nothing like starting the last day of the year by checking out some cool boats and eating fish n chips for breakfast.

Only thing cooler than the harbour itself was the view of it from the top of this mountain. The drive up is not for the faint of heart.

NYE from the crows nest at the Falls Festival. That's Peaches wearing a whole bunch of boobs.

2am shuttle back to the hotel, 430am lobby call to fly to Perth. View from behind the sunglasses.

There's some things you don't imagine doing, like going for a dip in the Indian Ocean on 01/01.

The S1W's holding down the fort.

Gruesome threesome.

Nice to be back in a club where we can have a command center again.

Brisbane, the calm before the storm.

Nothing will make you feel like Jeff Goldblum like a couple of lizards coming at you.

Last show of the tour, Sydney.

As delicious as it looks, and just like the picture! While everyone else went to an after party, our driver (ex Rose Tattoo roadie!) took Gavin, myself, and our local promoter rep on a scenic night time tour of Sydney. Apparently no sightseeing tour is complete with out Pies 'n' Peas!

Sydney Harbour. I think the Opera House was to my right?

Tempany and the gang.

Well, yeah!