14 minute read
MUSIC
MUSIC Merch is a great way to support a battered scene
by Mike Usinger
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The truly smart musicians and music-industry insiders have figured out that there’s no point limiting things to T-shirts and hoodies when it comes to spreading the gospel at the merch table. Remember how, in olden times, Grinderman showed up at the Commodore with branded tea towels, earplugs, and suitable-for-framing posters? Or the way that the Dropkick Murphys would have you standing there for a good 45 minutes after the show wondering what you needed more: the Slap Shot-inspired hockey jersey, the embroidered scally cap, or the three-ounce shot glass?
Official merch works in a number of ways. For fans, it’s a way to show the world where one’s musical allegiances lie. For bands, venues, and record labels, it’s invaluable in helping with the bottom line—something that couldn’t be more important when the COVID-19 pandemic has completely upended the music industry. If you’re a musician, you’re not touring—the problem being that’s how musicians make their money in a world where Spotify, Tidal, and Apple streams have replaced album sales. Venues, meanwhile, continue to sit empty in the name of flattening curves by stopping transmission between folks in close quarters.
Someone cue up R.E.M’s “Everybody Hurts” because that pretty much describes where the global music community is 13 or so months into lockdown.
But there are ways to help. Like earmarking a portion of last week’s LottoMax winnings for your favourite creative. No one is ever sorry to receive an etransfer. Or, for those of us still waiting for that winning ticket, stepping up at an online merch store and dropping a few dollars. Here are some ideas for those who not only prefer to think outside the box, but would also rather shop local and independent.
And don’t worry, traditionalists—there are options for you as well, with websites for the below-listed artists also offering standbys like T-shirts, patches, stickers, and vinyl.
Now get shopping, because, let’s face it, even if you’re only leaving the house to hit the grocery store these days, you need something to wear while doing your best to keep on rocking in the free world—even if that world seems like an endlessly hellish fucking mess.
RARE AMERICANS LUNCHBOX
Given where we’re still at these lockdown days, this is kind of a funny one. Essential workers have a reason to wear something outside of the pyjamas and sweatpants rotation, but many of us are spending all day, every day at home. As a result, lunchtime consists of walking from the kitchen counter to the kitchen table. Remind yourself of how things used to be by packing your sandwich, thermos, or Pink Lady apple into a Rare Americans lunchbox. The custom-made kit features illustrated halfman and half-horse Alfred, who fans will recognize from the genre-jumping group’s eponymous first album.
Should you be anticipating a return to a workplace sooner rather than later, jumping on one of these now is smart as they tend to disappear faster than Lil Uzi Vert when he sees Nardwuar holding a microphone. How can that be? Let’s just say that Rare Americans are most definitely a thing—the group’s punk-jazz-ska-hip-hop-indie-kitchen-sink songs and beautifully animated videos are piling up views in the millions on YouTube. Yes, millions. Now grab that lunch box. ($25 at rareamericans.com)
The Rickshaw merch store has everything from snapback hats to hoodies, face masks, and bandanas; a Stephen Hamm coffee cup comes in handy when reaching for the absinthe.
STEPHEN HAMM COFFEE MUG
Legend. That’s a big word not to be used lightly, but it fits Stephen Hamm, who’s been one of the Vancouver music scene’s most beloved sons for the better part of five decades. And yes, you read that right: from protogrungers Slow and Tankhog, to soul-punks Jungle to karaoke kings Canned Hamm, to Nardwuar wingman in the Evaporators, to chief collaborator with Sunday Morning, Hamm has kept busy—and not just as a bassist. The past couple of years have seen the DIY icon reinvent himself as a Thereminist, with 2019’s full-length Theremin Man mixing space-odyssey disco with blackhearted postrock and gold-dusted glam.
Mystical capes would be a no-brainer for Hamm, but until that happens he’s gone functional with coffee cups emblazoned with both his name and majestic visage. Fill with a steaming cup of Continental Dark French (or Odd Society’s Mongrel Unaged Spirit, for days when it’s all too much), cue up the towering “Listen to the Sound of the Sun”, and find yourself instantly in a better place. Mug comes in two sizes for days when you need a little extra go-go juice of your choosing—coffee, tea, absinthe—to get you across the finish line. ($14/11 oz; 19.50/15 oz at stephenhamm.ca)
RICKSHAW SNAPBACK HAT
Face masks aside, few things have been more indispensable over the past year than hats. It doesn’t matter whether your chapeau of choice has been a Jughead-style whoopee cap, J. Peterman urban sombrero, or Devo-issue Energy Dome—all have been essential items for one simple reason. And that reason is this: as lockdown days, weeks, and months piled up, showering became something done on a need-to basis. Which has been fine except for a hair game that’s been nonexistent thanks to your stylist being understandably AWOL. But that doesn’t matter when you’ve got a hat. And few things look more styling without trying too hard than a crisp snapback.
The Rickshaw’s comes embroidered with the venue’s cooler-than-the-Venom-Mob logo. The major selling point though, besides having something to cover up the fact you haven’t washed your hair since Trump was still president? That would be doing your small part to help keep the lights on at what just might be—thanks to its tireless owner Mo Tarmohamed—the most beloved venue in the city. For reasons that include unbeatable sightlines and budgetfriendly liquor prices, the Rickshaw has established itself as the place you desperately hope Deafheaven, Sharon Van Etten, Idles, and the Horrors play when they roll back into Vancouver. And it’s been an invaluable home for the musicians—think everyone from Bison to the Pack a.d. to all the good folks associated with Keithmas—that continue to make this city’s indie scene one of the most fertile in North America.
While you’re online, don’t stop with the snapback. The Rickshaw’s merch store includes everything from beyond reasonably priced hoodies ($35!) to bandanas, Ts, and, of course, face masks. You’re going to need a place to play—whether on-stage, on the dancefloor, or watching in the balcony— when this is all done, so open up that pocketbook. And don’t dare overlook the tote bag. ($24 at rickshawtheatre.com)
YUNG HEAZY SOCKS
You know what the most underrated part of any person’s wardrobe is? As much as it’s tempting to say a styling hat, custom-made facemask, or Keith Richards–inspired skull rings, the answer is socks. Think about how—any time you run into someone wearing a particularly fantastic pair of socks—you inevitably note the brilliance of them. Especially if they are emblazoned with “Cute but psycho”. Or illustrated dancing bacon and eggs. Or a simple but concise “Fuck Off!”. Help make a statement guaranteed to rake in the compliments with a pair of official Yung Heazy socks.
Post-slacker bedroom-pop fans first got to know the Vancouverite for his YouTubepropelled smash “Cuz You’re My Girl”. Flashforward a bit and the man known as Jordan Heaney is building a reputation as one of the most whip-smart songwriters in North America. Last year’s full-length I UR Boy took a deeply insightful look at the hell that is a breakup with titles like “A Genuine Attempt at Not Being a Dick”. Been a dick to someone? Show you’re sorry with Yung Heazy–emblazoned sunflower socks with pink polka dots and a baby blue heel. Because as much as you might be tempted to spring for them, those “Fuck Off!” socks
MUSIC Mix Tape Rodeo shoots quick and dirty for free
by Steve Newton
If you happened to be anywhere near drummer-journalist Adrian Mack’s property on Salt Spring Island last September 3, you might have heard a decidedly raucous noise ringing through the Douglas rs. Mack’s garage-rock quartet, Saltspringunderground, was running through a rowdy original called “City of Glass”.
And Island life was gettin’ loud.
If you weren’t within earshot, you can thank the folks from Mix Tape Rodeo for capturing the sights and sounds for all to enjoy on YouTube and whatnot. e MTR team—composed of Tyler McLeod (camera), Amber Webber (sound), Yvonne Hachkowski (photography and lighting), and Juliana Moore (writing)—has been capturing B.C. artists on video for almost a year now.
And as McLeod explains on the line from his East Van co-op, sometimes they just do whatever it takes.
“Chris [Arnett] was singing through a keyboard ampli er,” he says of the Saltspringunderground shoot. “We had two mikes, so we decided to try to mike the kick drum and the bass guitar. So there were crazily distorted vocals comin’ out of the amp, and whatever guitar sounds we got were ambient. But it turned out pretty good!
“ at was the rst ampli ed band that we did,” McLeod adds, “so we just went in there ready to blow it, but everybody’s energy was high. When we did that shoot, it opened us up to the idea that doing something bigger doesn’t have to be technical and super di cult.”
MTR is Yvonne Hachkowski, Amber Webber, Tyler McLeod, and (kneeling) Juliana Moore.
Show you’ve passed the litmus test for humanity with a Nardwuar the Human Serviette hoodie; use Peach Pit fridge magnets to make it clear that your music game is tight when you’re dating.
McLeod says the main idea behind Mix Tape Rodeo videos is to do them as easily as possible. He lms live performances mostly in one take so he doesn’t have to edit anything, and he also shoots some Super 8. He’s no prima donna when it comes to pumping out his art.
“I develop that stu in my bathroom so I have a quick turnaround,” he says. “It’s quick and dirty, and we like the look. It’s really just unmatchable in the way that it’s hand-processed and DIY and it’s very cool that way. It has an extra element of uniqueness.”
Armed with the most basic of gear, which McLeod had accumulated over the years, Mix Tape Rodeo has shot videos for more than a dozen local artists. And without charging them a cent.
“We’re just a group of music lovers and friends and artists,” he says, “and we know that there’s amazing artists in the city. And I just love lming music and being part of something, so that’s how it all came about. I wanted to do something that was a little di erent and didn’t involve money.”
McLeod—who describes himself as “just a guy with a camera”—has known musician Webber since they were kids. Over the years, he watched her musical career “go wild” with popular local bands like Black Mountain and Lightning Dust. Hachkowski is an artist and photographer who works at Emily Carr University of Art + Design; Moore is described as “a really good writer and superfriend”.
Mix Tape Rodeo took on its rst project when McLeod was approached by Webber to shoot a video for Lightning Dust’s “100 Degrees”. at’s where he got the idea to shoot live music in a living-room type of situation with minimal gear, with Hachkowski joining in to take photos.
“It was so easy and so fun,” he says. “We were like, ‘ is is it; we’re doin’ this.’ ”
And they did do it—until the pandemic started raging. Last October, they had to stop lming due to safety concerns.
“It’s a pretty intimate little series that we’re shooting,” McLeod explains, “and we don’t want to be a part of the whole COVID problem. Mix Tape Rodeo is all about no stress; it’s a social kinda thing where it’s not really justi able to get together to expose people to being sick. It’s not a job for us, so we collectively agreed to hold o until we could be able to do it again.”
e last video the foursome created was for a song called “Catlin” by Ashley Shadow, a.k.a. Ashley Webber, Amber’s twin sister. McLeod reckons that it’s the clip he’s most proud of so far.
“It just felt superful lling,” he says. “I had this vision to shoot a video with her, and it took several months to come to fruition, but I was so happy with it. It was like my initial goal was reached.
“But every single one of the shoots has been magical,” he adds, “because my heart and soul is put into each one. It’s all about the experience and the memory, right, and every single time it has just been so amazing.”
When asked to name the one artist he’d most like to lm a video for if he could pick anyone in the world, McLeod doesn’t place any international superstar on his wish list.
“ at’s a tough question,” he replies. “But I think my loyalty just remains with my favourite local artist, John Wakeham, because he is an underrated, amazing outlaw-country singer-songwriter, and he is, like, the one person that I would want to see get success. He doesn’t promote himself, so I would love to shoot him more and more. I want to promote Johnny.”
As far as better-known recording artists go, McLeod reveals that the Mix Tape Rodeo crew harbours a “secret goal” to lm and hang out with children’s entertainer Fred Penner. He wouldn’t mind shooting grizzled country legend Willie Nelson, either. “He’s like my spirit animal,” he points out. g
are just plain fucking bad for your fucking karma. ($15 at yungheazy.com)
NARDWUAR THE HUMAN SERVIETTE HOODIE
Sometimes perceptions weirdly change over time, that reality not lost on fans of Nardwuar the Human Serviette. When the North Van native rst blazed his way onto the scene as a cub celebrity interviewer, many had no idea what to make of him. Alice Cooper hung up on him. Beck told him to fuck o . Skid Row stole his favourite toque. And one of the guys not named Damon Albarn in Blur was so hostile, he shamefacedly apologized for his dickdom years a er the fact. Today Nardwuar is not only an icon in Canada but, thanks to YouTube, in any country with music fans and Internet access. He’s the one guy that makes everyone from Jello Biafra to Tyler, the Creator forget they hate doing interviews.
A wise person one described Nardwuar as a “litmus test for humanity”. Love and appreciate the Nard, as you’re likely to love and appreciate your fellow human beings. So show you’ve passed the litmus test with a heavyweight zip-up hoodie where a patch featuring the Serviette’s tam-clad head is stitched on the front, and “Doot Doola Doot Do.....Doo Doo” is splashed across the back. We know what you’re thinking, namely “How can I accessorize this with an o cial Nardwuar tam?” For now, you’re going to have to dare to dream. ($45 at nardwuar.com) PEACH PIT FRIDGE MAGNETS
ere are guaranteed ways to make a good impression when, at the beginning of a relationship, you have someone over for the rst time. A clean kitchen is a good start—no one likes to see a sink and its surrounding area piled with what looks like highlights of Seasons One and Two of Hoarders. As for the bathroom, the last thing you want is an empty toilet paper roll in the holder, and a half-dozen more strewn about the oor. In the bedroom, your Snotty Nose Rez Kids and lié Ts should either be hung neatly in the closet or folded up in a drawer—not balled up on the oor. Moving back to the kitchen, drinks, and possibly dinner, will likely be served, which makes the fridge a focal point.
Before whipping up the Peach Bellinis, chicken breasts with chipotle-peach chutney, and peach cobbler, show that someone you’ve got impeccable musical taste with Peach Pit magnets. Which, like almost all magnets, belong on your fridge. Packs feature 4” by 4” replicas of Peach Pit’s Being So Normal and You and Your Friends—both of which have established the band as goldstar purveyors of impeccably cra ed guitar-pop. Worried that, impossibly, magnets won’t be impressive enough? at’s something easily recti ed by a his-or-hers orange turtleneck and a thri -store sweater from Value Village. Or, you know, of cial merch of the T-shirt variety. Who’s your Daddy? You know the answer. at peachpitmusic.com) g ($9.99
