Devils in the Cathedral- a life's dream

I was talking to Burcu from Something about Reptiles the other day, and she said that playing in the cathedral was a life long dream of hers. As am atheist muslim, she promised not to declare a jihad.





My dream of playing in the church goes way back to my teenage years, when I debated on my 3 dream jobs- being a lawyer, a preacher, or an actor.


I have not followed through on any of those, but in a strange way, I have absorbed many of the aspects of these vocations into my life.



I have been called to the bar many times. I've even drunk from the cup. And while I didn't break my leg, I had a heart attack.

Close enough. On June 13, I have the honour of performing once again with the Jazzmanian Devils (25 years and still burning in hell) plus the honour of playing with one of the most exciting collections of musical talents ever to grace a Vancouver stage since.....well.....Hardstock 08.

We sold out the Commodore Ballroom at 990 people to raise almost $25,000 for the Scotty Hard Trust. We were told that we would not succeed. We were warned to move to a smaller venue. We refused to take no for an option.

Once again, we are faced with an uphill challenge. I have found the rock, I have found the hill we need to push the rock up, and now I need your help and the help of all the good people in Vancouver. Together we can enjoy the beauty of community and love and music.
Together we can raise our hopes and our sense of belonging, and together we can continue to help Scotty Hard in his challenges. Challenges that are far greater than any that we are individually going through. We can make a difference here. All we need to do is to show up.

Jim Byrnes-a truth that doesn't come overnight

When we did the original Hardstock in April, we asked Jim Byrnes to play. Right away, he said yes, but then had to wait for Holy Hardstock due to a scheduling conflict in St. Louis.

Jim knows firsthand some of the challenges that Scott will face in the years to come as he lost both his legs when he was hit from behind by a car while helping push a stalled truck on a highway. After recuperating, he pursued work as a musician, and the career in acting which he has also prospered. How has that journey gone?
In his own words, "from callow bohemian to weary pilgrim, here’s a little of the journey so far.
The city streets of my boyhood; steam heat rising off the Mississippi; the railroad; grits and gravy; the Cardinals and the Dodgers on the radio; summers in Kentucky and the Ozarks; Jimmy Reed at The London House East, Bobby “Blue” Bland at the Cosmo Hall; Muddy at the Moonlight Lounge and Slick’s Lakeside; the High Plains of east Colorado on a winter morning; the Charlie Company Boogie; all those nights in all those rented rooms; the wind off the ocean; the winter storms; the tough break and the heartache; the dust of Mexico; twilight on the Seine; the evening breeze, the distant thunder, the sweetness of the rain; the light and the laughter in my children’s eyes; the constant struggle and infinite joy of love…"Jim Byrnes
Jim Byrnes and his first love is the blues. His evocative, smoky vocals are found in a truth that doesn’t come overnight. This is why the Toronto Blues Society announced in January 2007 at the 2006 Maple Blues Awards, that Jim won male vocalist of the year, as well as recording of the year.

Growing up on the north side of St. Louis, Jim was surrounded by the likes of Chuck Berry, Johnny Johnson, and Ike and Tina Turner. Over the years Jim has appeared with a virtual who’s who of musical history including Furry Lewis, Henry Townsend, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Albert Collins, Taj Mahal, Robert Cray, and Ray Charles.
That's pretty big shoes to even walk beside, but Jim Byrnes is one of the few in Vancouver who we can mention in the same breath, and can even come close to filling them. It is an honour to have him perform at Holy Hardstock!!!

Something About Reptiles- kissed by the hands of the devil

Turkish pop & folk songs of yesteryear a la Marlena Dietrich by lusciously eccentric diva Burcu & her trusty band Something about Reptiles.

Kitsch meets classic with traditional Turkish music "warped into something east of cabaret and west of gravity."



Listen to their recording From Instanbul To Orangeville (2000) on their myspace page -- Vancouver, Canada -- http://www.myspace.com/reptilesband



But for the personal, we visit the blog East Van Chronicles- blog written by accordionist Alison Jenkins

http://eastvanchronicles.blogspot.com/2007/12/jet-lagging.html



From their recent trip to Istanbul:

"We ended up by mistake in a Gypsy area one day called Kustepe, and were
mobbed by kids who led us to an internet cafe and asked us questions and sang
songs to us and made us laugh. We were so lucky to have Burcu with us as she was
born in Turkey and is still fluent in Turkish. Having a translator got us into
places that we wouldn't have otherwise visited (or survived). We also all
learned a lot of useful phrases from her, so by the end of the week we could all
order food and beer, ask how much something cost, and say our hellos and
goodbyes.Oh, and our 2 gigs went very well. I wondered how Turkish audiences
would take to 1 ex-pat Turk and 4 foreigners playing their songs, but we were a
hit.

As one Gypsy man put it when we busked in Kustepe: "The hands of the Devil
play pretty well." Bush & Blair may be seen as "2 devils", as our Aya Sofia
guide put it, but we were treated very well.I think all of our appetites were
only whetted by this trip: none of us was ready to come home yesterday,
especially Burcu, whose family, as well as most of her heart, is still in
Turkey.

I'm already plotting how I can return."

My personal connection is through Gord "The Love God" Berry, who told me,"Denny, you have to book the Reptiles. Burcu is amazing." Well, on his recommendation I went to her vintage store, Burcu's Angels, and tried on a gold suit. Unfortunately, it did not fit. And if the gold lame suit doesn't fit, we must acquit.

Simon Kendall - "outstanding, effortlessly hypnotic"

Simon Kendall started out many years ago in Ireland, but anchored the musical vision of Doug Bennett in Doug and the Slugs until Doug's untimely death. In recent years, he has written for the theatre, and solo composition, as well as playing in Sharkskin with some of our local geniuses in the Odds. This is what john beaudin from qm. fm says about Simon:

“………..i don’t miss bill evans nearly as much since hearing ’sweet compulsion’……. outstanding, effortlessly hypnotic…”

I know Simon since the early 80's when Doug and the Slugs had my band AKA open up for them on a short circuit of shows in Victoria, Chilliwack and Courtenay. Why is that special? If you were there, you would know. Doug and the Slugs were an easy going fun lovin' band with the big hit Too Bad. AKA were an oddball bunch of music misfits that defied description. A sense of humour?

I think so. Check out the photo from his website. Always trust a man who can laugh at himself.

Brian W. Roy Goble - A Man without his Band

In this cropped photo from Bev Davies, we see the quintessential punk rock front man Brian Goble aka Wimpy Roy from the subHumans.

Holy Hardstock!!! will see the virtual debut of Brian W. Roy Goble solo- a man without his band.

What can we expect? The unexpected.

Where can we expect it? Holy Hardstock!!!

Why should we be there? Don't even ask.

John Korsrud's Latin Jazz Quartet

By Greg Buium Vancouver Sun from John Korsrud.com

"If it feels a little easier to pin a label on John Korsrud, he'd probably understand. Just go ahead and try.The Vancouver composer, trumpeter and bandleader has spent more than a dozen years zapping musical stereotypes, clearing away a spot on the city's arts scene that hadn't really been there before.He's best known, perhaps, for his Hard Rubber Orchestra, a 17-piece group that's become a kind of calling card nationwide. Yet the question remains: Is it a contemporary music ensemble, or a jazz big band? The Canada Council calls it new music, although the Hard Rubber Orchestra's two CDs are on a Quebec label (Victo) specializing in musique actuelle, a French-Canadian strand of the avant-garde. But then how do you characterize their projects with local singer-songwriter Veda Hille or punk legend Joey Keithley?"

Besides being a composer of note, for many many years now, fans of the Jazzmanian Devils have also known Mr. Korsrud as the ubiquitous Johnny Reno. He is a charming, stand-up guy, who is funny and good looking, and one of the most talented trumpet players in town. His Latin Jazz Quartet plays regularly Every Sunday with Johnny Montuno at the Libra Room 1608 Commercial Drive 8pm. The Latin Jazz quartet features Michael Simpson, piano; Chris Trinidad, bass; Miguel Benevides, drums.

Beatrice Smartt

Beatrice Smartt is the new stage name for Shelley Campbell, formerly known as "AUBURN" (Canada). She has been highly acclaimed in her musical career, also performing in a variety of projects over the years, including internationally acclaimed band Radiogram. Her discography includes Auburn's "Misfit Cafe" as well as "Blue Ridge Reveille", which was later licensed to Nettwerk (home of The Be Good Tanyas). The Georgia Straight says this about her:

"...loaded with that intangible quality - call it honesty - that separates pretenders..."

This is another quality that binds the many artists of Holy Hardstock!!!

"Campbell's spellbinding voice is a sweet, soulful instrument in its own right. Whether she's lamenting the loss of a lover or raising a glass to a fallen comrade, she nails each track with requisite charm and intelligence." Colin Smith-Canada.com

"'She began absorbing the lessons of life in rural southern Ontario. Her parents encouraged her to explore the woods and fields outside their home. But they also immersed her in Native American culture and evangelical Christianity, a contradictory baptism that owed to her father's missionary work. Together they would visit the Mohawk nation, where he was known by his honorary chief name (in English "enlightener"). Like his father before him (and generations before, their relative and famed missionary David Livingstone), Shelley's father worked in rural Tennessee as well, adding to the musical influences Shelley was exposed to including gospel, soul and African influences. They spent time together at revival meetings, where her father's preaching, the worshippers' responses, and her own performances exposed Shelley to a different kind of spirituality. "I was there as The Child," she laughs. "I came to appreciate the emotions I saw. But I've always been drawn to a more universal acceptance of people instead of making them feel guilty. I'm not putting down anybody's beliefs, but mine come more from wonder at the individual journey and the ties that bind us all. And one of the ways that I learned to celebrate this connectedness is through music." http://www.isound.com/shelley_campbell_formerly_auburn_canada

Who is Bernie Boulanger?

What can we say about Bernie or is it Bernard? I feel it may be too formal to use the Nard when the Nie is just below the hip. I have always filed guy under the musical category: Bow-tie wearing Django Bongo Love Boat Beat.

However, he is as talented as he is diverse in his interests. One site calls his Trio music as "original acoustic music evocative of 60’s British Folk (Nick Drake) and 50’s bossa nova (Joao Gilberto) in the singer/songwriter style." They describe his playing style as " sparkling finger-style guitar, Chet Baker-esque vocals and soaring harmonies combined with strong and varied original songs produces a soft bittersweet nostalgia, innocent, yet cynical."

We are no closer to knowing the real Bernie Boulanger. Some say he now adheres to a roots country esthetic. He was once the dashing foil to Lindsay Davis (now Lily Frost) in the Colorifics. Now they have a new vocalist (another one) and will be playing June 17 at the Media club. Tom Harrison calls them "Always entertaining, often riveting, the Colorifics combine the best elements of strong catchy song writing, flawless musicianship and energetic stage presence to deliver engaging performances unparalleled by an other band."

Frankly, I love the guy, and have always thought him one of the great talents of the Vancouver music scene. Like the rest of the Holy Hardstock!!! lineup, this is a personal choice of some of Vancouver's most interesting and diverse performers. Don't miss Holy Hardstock!!! and don't miss Bernie Boulanger.

Update: check out and listen here

http://www.myspace.com/bernardboulanger

"Perhaps best known for his songwriting and guitar work with Vancouver’s swing latin ensemble The Colorifics, Bernard’s first and foremost love has always been the acoustic guitar. Along with the idiosyncratic originality of the self-taught artist, Bernard’s guitar playing resounds with the flavours of his musical heros, from Jaoa Gilberto to Nick Drake. Using alternate tunings, melodic fingerstyle, bossa and jazz stylings with vocals reminiscent of a young Chet Baker or Paul Simon, Bernard explores and mixes many genres into interesting new ones. As a solo artist with a career spanning over 10 years Bernard has been involved in a variety of musical endevours. Including the Rattled Roosters, Clam (with his sister Annette Boulanger and the Brothers’ Creegan), The Widdershins (with members of the Colorifcs, The Paperboys, and the Bare Naked Ladies) Bernard has recorded over 14 original albums, 4 videos, toured across North America countless times, and played over 1000 shows.

Bernard has written 5 soundtracks for film, radio and circus, and 15 songs used in different films and TV shows (Boy Meets Girl, Better Than Chocolate, Madisons, etc). He has recorded and performed music for live circus performances, written and recorded the score for the CBC radio play “Stanley Park”, and contributed a song to the Douglas Coupland film “Souvenir of Canada”. Most recently he collaborated with his circus performer brother, Peter Boulanger, in the Underground Circus‘s production The Necklace. This theatrical/ circus/ live music event was conceived around Bernard’s music and performed live with The Colorifcs and Bernard’s solo act. Presently he’s finished a new album and is performing live about town solo, with a small trio, and with the Colorifics. "

I Braineater

I was walking down the street in Montreal one summer night a few years ago with my family when a shirtless man came up to me shouting Jimmmmiiiii, Jiiiimmmmmi! Which sounded with his accent like j'amais, which was in the air.

He then pointed to my Jimi Hendrix t-shirt and said, Are you Experienced?

Then he pointed to the tattoo on his chest.

Well, you had to be there, I guess.

Those who saw I Braineater ( Jim Cummins) at the Commodore for Hardstock also might have said Jimmmmy! He was dark, and sexy and mysterious, and integral. He calls his music Pornobilly. Don't be afraid. Be very afraid. He wants to play Holy Hardstock!!! to show off some of his newest songs, which he says are in a completely new direction. We can't wait.

On your knees, we praise you Oh Master of Paint and Pornobilly.

The Spirit is in the House with Sandy Scofield

About Sandy Scofield from an interview with Alexander Varty :

"I can’t explain my process," she says. "My process is really an intuitive one; I just know what works and what doesn’t. It’s like making a painting: what you envision in the beginning and how it ends up in the end are different; you’re going along and you’re just using your intuition as to what colour to put where. For me, that’s what it’s like, doing these projects: I just trust my intuition, It’s like the ancestors on your shoulder are whispering in your ear, and I’m listening."

From a western psychological perspective, it could be said that the way Scofield works allows her subconscious mind time to process her source material, whether that be past musical experiences, her Metis heritage, electronic music, or the urban anthems of hip-hop.
"Exactly," she says, "That’s the western psychological spin, but from an aboriginal perspective that is listening to the spirit world, and the spirit world is all around us."

Trevor Jones Arntzen

Trevor Jones Arntzen...is the twin brother of arnt, and one of the many talented people who are named Arntzen. He is a singer, songwriter, storyteller, playground designer/builder. Assorted record covers, performance photographs. Co-lead the Braineaters, a seminal vancouver based art-punk rock band in late seventies early eighties. Other bands: the naked edge, trevor jones, trevor2000, sacred hearts.

Breaking a twenty year vow of silence, Trevor has moved back to the city and is ready to take his rightful place among the Canadian music royalty that is the Arntzen family.

Who is Clare Love and why do we Love her so?

"After listening to Clare Love
you’ll want to know her,
after seeing her play live,
you’ll feel like you do.
Soaring raw
emotion, immense
talent, touching and thoughtful
lyrics, unforgettable."
-Sean McMaster
Sean McMaster (Aug 1, 2007)
"Clare Love released her latest EP "Finding Home" in August 2007. Recorded on Staten Island NY by Chris Cadawas, live off the floor in April of the same year.
This charming recording strikes a nerve. The songs are beautiful and touching while at the same time house an attitude one could easily associate with punk culture. Pockets of listeners from all over the world are beginning to embrace the music of this unique yet classic performing artist.

The "See Love" tour is scheduled to start on January 1 2008 throughout North America.
Check the website www.clarelove.com for listings.

One girl, one guitar, a voice orchestral.
Madaline Courtney - World View Music Newsletter (Sep 1, 2007)

From the beginning, Clare Love called and said "what can I do to help Scotty Hard." After listening to her beautiful music, I said, play for us June 13.

Spread the Love and come see Clare Love at Holy Hardstock!!!

Bob's Lounge

What is Bob's Lounge? Lederhosen and billiards?

Musical comedy? Fruit terrorism? Bob's Lounge is the latest creation from the artistic provocateur David McIntosh and Battery Opera. In your dreams, they will sink all balls in one shot.

They will croon like Steve McQueen crossed with Frank Booth in Blue Velvet. One never knows exactly what to expect from Mr. McIntosh, or Dave Mac as friends call the former ringmaster from Kentucky by way of Kuantan and Kota Baru. God only knows what rarified airs will pervade when we enter Bob's Lounge. We must remind all patrons that

Holy Hardstock!!! is not intended to be a sappy sentimental tribute to Mr. Hard. We promise an evening of inspiration, which is much more than breathing heavy.

Holy Hardstock!!!

Bonerattle Music and Hardstock Productions
Present

Holy Hardstock!!!

A Benefit Concert for Scott Harding
June 13 2008
Christ Church Cathedral
690 Burrard Street
Vancouver BC

Featuring:
The Jazzmanian Devils
Jim Byrnes
Simon Kendall
Something About Reptiles
John Korsrud's Latin Jazz Quartet
Brian W. Roy Goble (from the Subhumans)
Sandy Scofield
I Braineater
Beatrice Smartt (featuring Shelley Campbell w/ Jon Wood)
Bob's Lounge
Clare Love
Bernie Boulanger
Trevor Jones Arntzen
DJ David Love Jones
ALL AGES WELCOME
Doors 7:00pm
Music 7:30pm
Advance: $25.00 min. donation
Door: $35.00 min. donation
100% of net proceeds to The Scotty Hard Trust
Tickets available at BoneRattle Music, Red Cat Records, Christ Church Cathedral Parish Office, Zulu Records, and Noise2Go

Get 'em while they're hard!!!