In Search of Lost Venues

• Lisa Marr at Cub house

  Lisa Marr played bass and sang in the beloved Vancouver band Cub. She started by playing in the Evaporators. She continues to play music, make films, and do all kinds of other art and activism. This conversation was recorded on January 28th 2025. Venue visited: Cub House (1992-1997) at 837 west 19th Avenue. Other venues discussed: Pop, Studio J, the Cruel Elephant, the Commodore, Notorious, the Arts Club, the Malcolm Lowry Room, the Starfish Room, Powell Street Festival, Hastings Community Centre. Musicians mentioned: Neko Case, Hard Rock Miners, Sebadoh, Rancid, They Might be Giants, DOA, Maow, the Smugglers, Modernettes, Pointed Sticks, the Bombshells, Coal.   This episode features the following music: Cub: My Chinchilla from Betti-Cola (Mint 1993?) Lisa Marr: A Bit of a Fight (2020) The Beards: Sidewalks from Funtown (Sympathy For the Record Industry 2002)

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• Phil Smith (Corsage) in Kitsilano

  Phil Smith began in the awesome Vancouver punk band Wasted Lives, whose few recordings were recently released by Supreme Echo. This conversation was recorded on December 18 2024. He went on to musical projects like Snow Geese, Blanche Whitman, Bud Luxford and the long-running band Corsage. Venues Visited: Starvin' Marvin's was a nightclub on Burrard and Broadway which closed in the late 1970s. Quintessence Records (later Zulu) opened at 1869 west 4th avenue and often had in-store performances. It moved to 1972 w 4th where it still exists today. The Indian Center was built as a church (initially the Kitsilano Presbyterian Church) in 1911, and eventually became the Vancouver Indian Centre (now the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Society) at this location (1855 Vine) from 1970 to 1979. Now called Devon Court, the building contains luxury condos.  The Subhumans played there in June and July 1978, and the hall had at least 2 additional shows. The Russian Community Hall on 4th and Arbutus has had events over the decades, but most famously was The Afterthought, where psych and hippie shows happened in the '60s before the Retinal Circus opened.  Rohan's opened at a record store at 2865 West 4th Ave (it was an old house!), and then relocated to 2723 west 4th as the venue, Rohan's Rockpile, in 1972 or 1973. According to BC Business Online The Who came to play after an arena show. The Legion Hall at 2611 west 4th avenue was known at Lion's Gate Hall, and was legion #79. There is an ad from 1963 listing it for rent for events. Bands mentioned: Alan Horowitz Band, Heart, Dishrags, Subhumans, Jonathan Richman, DOA, Modernettes, Iggy Pop, Ramones, Talking Heads, Helium, Actionauts, Pointed Sticks, U-J3RK5, Steely Dan. Other venues discussed: Luv-a-fair, Sub Ballroom, the Plaza (punk house), the Snake Pit, Viking Hall, Nat Bailey Stadium. This episode features the following music: Wasted Lives: Wirehead from s/t EP 1979 (reissued by Supreme Echo). Corsage: Royal Couple from CORSAGE (originally released on cassette 1988)  Corsage: September Song from Ancient Songs (2023)

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• Selina Crammond at Horses Records

  Selina Crammond has played in the bands Movieland, Supermoon, Kiss Painting  and currently, Midnight News and Roswit. She also runs Monotapes with Gal av Gay. This conversation took place on December 7 2024. Horses Records was an independent record and bookstore on Hastings and Nanaimo (on 2447 E Hastings Street) from 2014-2016, opened by Katayoon Yousefbigloo and Dan Geddes. The store frequently hosted music show in those years. Other venues visited:  What’s up Hot Dog (2481 E Hastings St), TD bank atm, Roy G Biv Other venues discussed: Art Bank, Nyala, Railway Club, WISE Club, Zoo Zhop, Selectors, Records, the Moontower, Deep Space, Red Gate, the Astoria Musicians mentioned: Chris-a-Riffic, Gal Gracen, Nice Apple, TV Ugly, Elf PIty, Search Parties, Dan Geddes (Peace, Lt Frank Dickens), Arbutus, connect_icut, Jock Tears, Cindy Lee, Kellarissa, Weed, lie, Apollo Ghosts   This episode features the following music: Lt Frank Dickens: Concrete from Sour Bubblegum (2017) Supermoon: Unsaid from Playland (Mint Records, 2016)) Midnight News:  Sucker Punch from Bad News Days (Monotapes, 2024)

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• Remote Report: Rachel Melas & Conny Nowe of the Moral Lepers

  In this bonus episode I talk separately with Rachel Melas and Conny Nowe, who played bass and drums in the all-female, post punk band the Moral Lepers, in the early 1980s. Rachel was also in the art punk band animal slaves among many others and Conny played in Tin Twist, and Junco Run. They now live together in Toronto where they play music in genres like cajun zydeco, swing, ragtime, folk and klesmer. This conversation took place on a video call, so you’ll notice a different quality of sound and ambiance compared to the usual episodes! These conversations took place on November 11 & December 13, 2024. In Vancouver, Rachel Melas was in The Vistors, the Moral Lepers, Animals Slaves and the Might Club. Conny Nowe started in the Moral Lepers, and also played in Tin Twist, Junco Run and The Work Party while in Vancouver. Venues discussed: City Space (343 Railway Street), the Smilin’ Buddha, the Balmoral, Odd Fellows Hall, O’Hara’s, The Windmill, the Town Pump, the Lotus, the Archimedes Club, the Japanese Hall, the Railway Club, the Arts Club Backstage Lounge, Luv-a-fair, the Egress. Bands discussed: Private School, the Zellots, K-Tels, Young Canadians, the Modernettes, Oh Susanna, DOA, Melodic Energy Commission, Images in Vogue, 54-40, Art Bergman, the Dishrags.    This episode features the following music: The Moral Lepers:  Suicide from Turn to Stone (Mo-Da-Mu 1982) Animal Slaves: Save Me From Ruin from Dog Eat Dog (Mo-Da-Mu 1985) Tin Twist: Stupid Cars (Mo-Da-Mu 1980)

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• Remote Report: Mar Sellars

  This is a remote report, a conversation conducted virtually rather than in person. In these episodes I speak with musicians who have moved away from Vancouver about their experiences and the venues they loved. Mar Sellars started playing in bands as a teenager in Vancouver, including The Riff Randells, The Ewoks  and the Engaged. She also played in bands while living in the UK, and worked at the CBC and the BBC. She currently lives in Los Angeles where she runs a Music PR, Consulting & Management Agency and is also a booking agent and label manager.  Venues discussed: The Rage, The Starfish Room, The Brickyard, The Picadilly Pub, The Good Jacket, The Marine Club, The Railway Club, The Sugar Refinery, Ms T’s Cabaret, Submission Hold House, Video In, The Waldorf. Bands discussed: Flash Bastard, The Buzzcocks, Gob, Pluto, Thee Goblins, The Evaporators, The Organ, Fun 100, Lederhosen Lucil, Pulp, Blur, Elastica, Weezer, Moist, Crowded House,  Sheryl Crow, the White Stripes, Operation Makeout, the Von Blondies, Phillip Boa and the Voodooclub, Library Eater, The Disgusteens, New Pornographers. Thank you to Kellarissa for the original theme music.   This episode features the following music:  The Riff Randells: Who Says Girls Can't Rock from Riff Randells 7" (Mint Records 2000) The Racket: British Bands Release Cult Records The Evaporators: Aside From All This, Is There Anything Else? from I Gotta Rash split 12" (Nardwuar Records, 1998)  

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