Rich Hope in the Straight (and at Green Auto Saturday) plus vintage Evil Doers photos!

Courtesy Rich Hope

Not everything I wrote about Rich Hope made it into the Straight piece I just did... and not everything in the piece is, in fact, mine: the anecdote about seeing the Beat Farmers live at the Town Pump is 100% Mike Usinger, livening up the piece with some eyewitness testimony. (I've only ever heard stories; thanks, Mike!).

Some of the outtakes include my asking Hope about the more memorable shows John Ford, his four piece band with Mack, Read, and Jones, played during their early 21st century heyday. He immediately went to the year 2000, opening for the Tragically Hip at the Commodore. “It was a secret charity show and we got the call to open. We were pretty thrilled to play in front of them, to say the least. Their audience would famously shout ‘Hip! Hip! Hip!’ over the openers, but we shut them up halfway through the first song.”

And (revered, departed Hip vocalist) Gord Downie dug them, too. “Gord really liked the band and complimented our cover of the Rolling Stones’ ‘Sway’. He wore our T-shirt the next night at the Pacific Coliseum show and gave us a shout out. He really championed bands he dug. He was a kind man and I was very fortunate to have crossed paths with him.”

The band name, which Chris Read came up with, may have been a contributing factor in John Ford’s relative obscurity, alas. If you’re a film geek, you get the reference to one of America’s earliest auteurs, but many people would misunderstand. “People literally would come up to me after shows and say ‘Hey Johnny, great set!’” Hope recalls, adding that his own favourite John Ford film is The Searchers.

Not that anyone is keeping track here but I'm more of a The Grapes of Wrath/ The Hurricane/ The Fugitive kind of guy, though The Searchers is one interesting (and pretty-to-look-at) film.

John Ford tunes figure in Hope’s setlists to this day, like “Ocean” and an unreleased song called “Fallen Angels and Cowboy Kings,” which Hope says may be the best song John Ford wrote together. Yet another unreleased song from the band factors in the new live album, “3 Minute Song,” which Hope dedicates to his wife, Nicole.

People might recognize that one from a cover of it done by Big Sugar. In fact, Gordie Johnson of that band--who has an enthusiastic blurb for the new album on Hope’s bandcamp, produced Bullets for Dreamers.

“We became friends and he covered a few John Ford songs in the early 2000’s. ‘3 Minute Song’ was recorded by the band but never released. This version is a return to the tempo I had originally conceived the song in.” It's a cool tune either way, though I had to toggle back and forth between the versions, because they're remarkably different.

Of course, it was Adrian Mack, initially, who got me into Rich Hope, when he was an Evil Doer, sometimes the only other member of Hope's band. I first saw the two of them at Richards on Richards, opening for the Modernettes almost 20 years ago, in 2007. Cindy LeGrier took photos:

It is Mack that deserves credit for that crazy video for "Golden Clouds," which, by the by, includes cellphone footage I shot at a Keithmas. Mack liked it because the zoom on my cell phone reminded him of Jess Franco, I think. (I miss Mack! He's off on Salt Spring these days... haven't talked with him in awhile).

I asked Rich if he had any favourite "WTF Mack?" moments in the video. This was his reply!

“The whole thing was ‘WTF Mack?’ In the best way though. I didn’t have any money for a video so he just cobbled that together and what the fuck are videos anyway? Something to look at when you’re listening to music. Too much information anyways. We could all use less of it, to be honest!”

I don't think that made the Straight feature, so there it is here. See you Saturday at Green Auto!

By the way, if you want to make a shareable link for the Straight piece, Pebmac works:

https://r.pebmac.ca/https://www.straight.com/music/rich-hope-gets-ready-to-rip-up-green-auto-with-a-live-at-anza-club-release-party

Or you can just share this blog link!

https://alienatedinvancouver.blogspot.com/2025/11/rich-hope-in-straight-and-at-green-auto.html

Federale is great; Brian Jonestown Massacre, I have mixed feelings about

Edit: if you're not sure who Bev Davies is, see here. 

I went to Brian Jonestown Massacre last night pretty much only because of Bev. She isn't getting out to many shows these days, having had a health scare (but she's doing okay: in fact, if my body is holding up in 20-odd years as well as hers is now -- hell, if I'm even alive 20-odd years from now -- I'll count myself blessed). I wanted to see her, and I wanted to make sure she got in and out of the venue all right. Plus I know she really loves the band (she went both nights!), and that she comes to shows with increasingly less frequency now; at some point, we will arrive at "the last show I see with Bev," and maybe that was last night? 

Sorry to say that I did not really dig BJM. I had actually quite enjoyed the previous show of theirs I saw (also with/ because of Bev), and do occasionally listen to their music, but numerous factors interfered at the Pearl: it was crowded. It was hot. I was tired. I had made the mistake of making a merch run to the Federale table and then couldn't get back to my spot. And then, having ducked to an area where I could sit and read for a bit, listening to the music in the background (which was just fine with me!), I had to go on a grocery run in the pissing rain mid-way through the band's set because my wife had texted me that the bag of bananas I thought we had in our freezer, necessary for our morning smoothie, did not in fact exist, so about halfway through, I was tromping down to Nesters, getting peed on from the heavens, and buying bananas (and some frozen mangos), after which I was fucking soaked (I had not brought a hat and my jacket, though rainproof, had no hood). 

So it's not really a judgement on them that I left early (with Bev's blessing). They did seem a little low-energy, like they weren't having that much fun, but it could be that I just wasn't on the right drugs? And they apparently were doing two hour sets, longer than they'd been scheduled for, so maybe they were just conserving their energy or something... I did not give them a fair shake, and do not mean to criticize them now. 

(photos by me)

I do have a judgment, here, however, that also kinda colours my reaction to the band, that has nothing to do with what they did onstage last night. I think Anton needs to get over his feelings about Bev's photo on that book cover. He should own that he behaves like this sometimes (and that his fans accept it, enough so that the band still sells out the Pearl two nights in a row, despite that venue being in the same fucking block, even, as the one where this photo was taken); that Bev did not choose for the book to have this cover, or have any input into that choice; that it was in fact this very photo that made me interested in this band in the first place ("Holy fuck, who is that?"); and that, also holy fuck, it's a great photo and even moreso, the perfect photo for a book of this title. If I ever buy this book (haven't as yet) it will be FOR BEV'S PHOTO on the cover; I probably won't even read it! I do have a button of this image. If I'd thought about it, I would have worn it last night! 

Note: in an earlier version of this paragraph, I had said that Bev "sold" them this photo. She addresses this in the postscript at the bottom. 

And Anton, if you are worried that people will judge you or something because of this image, you should know, man, that my judgements about you have more to do with the fact that you've hurt my friend, who loves you, than that you've melted down at the occasional show.  I mean, I melt down occasionally myself. Not quite as spectacularly as you do, of course, but that's only because I usually do it in customer service contexts, not, like, onstage or on-camera. But, fuck, you're only human! 

If it still bothers you that much, I invite you to consider the company you are keeping here: 

Anyhow, I enjoyed Federale a lot more, though again, conditions were working for me, at that point: I was right up front (having held a spot for Bev, arriving a bit before her, so she would have a stage to lean on); I was still dry; and I hadn't even realized how crowded it was getting behind me. Fronted by former BJM man Collin Hegna, Federale were personable at the merch table, and played rock that was infused with spaghetti western soundtrack sensibilities (mostly Morricone, and a few tracks have passages that remind me of the score for The Big Gundown, especially the main theme, which to me is the absolute peak of Morricone's spaghetti work; they make use of motifs, their bassist told me, such that that theme repeats a couple of times in their work, including in their set last night). I don't know/ understand why they're moving in a rock direction with their newest album, which you hear in the one clip that I shot, but I have no comment on that as yet. It may present differently than live (where it sounded like a western take on late-phase Cure, kinda). The two records I bought don't sound much like what they did onstage, too, even for the tracks that are on those albums), so I think it's by their records I will best get to know them. But I personally am totally into the spaghetti. 

And they do seem PROUD of that earlier stuff. Collin had recommended I buy All the Colours of the Dark (and then texted the band members to come sign it for me!), which title also riffs on my favourite giallo. After I heard them play, I went back to the merch table and added The Blood Flowed Like Wine to my purchases, based on another song they played, and they all signed that, too! (If you want a taste of what they did -- and love Morricone -- those seem to be the perfect two albums to start with). 

Oh, and Collin gave me their setlist: 

It was further pleasing to see that Collin was wearing a Neptoon shirt. I texted Rob a shot of that; he'd gone the previous night, and had both bands in the store over their time in Vancouver. I guess they all know the Sir Paul story by now! It will be cool if Neptoon becomes a destination -- if every touring band who reveres the Beatles makes a pilgrimage there or something to meet the man who found the lost Beatles masters and then GAVE THEM to Paul McCartney, in person.

Of course, Neptoon has the added bonus of having a fuck ton of cool records, too! 

I gather BJM also went to Beat Street yesterday, too, which is real smart; that rare psych/ prog section they have has some real gems in it. Hope they found good stuff!

Meantime, Anton, one more message for you, in all kindness. Be nicer to the people who love you! 

Or to put it another way:  

(photo by Erika Lax)

POSTSCRIPT BY BEV DAVIES:

I did not sell them the photo, I had sent some photos for the book about 10 years before the publishing and signed the release before publication. no one asked or told me it was going to be the cover

I was paid one copy of the book, no money.

BEV ALSO ADDS:

Chuck Biscuits at the Smilin' Buddha by bev davies

Not to be reused without permission

Blue Jay Valley's first show at Fink City label launch tonight!

Never have I seen so many piggyback rides at a gig. Normally a piggyback ride at a gig, in my concertgoing history, has involved either a) an adult female who wants a better view and gets her boyfriend to give her a lift and/ or b) an adult female who wants to flash her tits at the band (if you are the girl who flashed her tits at Shane McGowan when the Pogues played with Joe Strummer filling in on guitar, at the Commodore back when, please find me on Facebook! I remember your tits vividly, and Shane's reaction to them!). 

None of that kinda thing tonight, though. Tonight it was 10-year old kids on their Dad's shoulders, or sometimes climbing up onto each other's shoulders, as Blue Jay Valley played their inaugural gig at the Fink City Records launch (the new label run by Clampdown Records/ Vicious Cycles man Billy Bones). Here are some photos and comments from that night (sorry, Rempel, I didn't make it to your set).

Most of the piggyback rides (and some playfighting) happened before Blue Jay Valley want on, though. You can read about them in Mike's article; Mike was there. 

Billy was a fine MC and the audience filled with youthful friends of the band, and their parents, and the bands' parents, and a bunch of people who just wanted to support the show (which also involved Cryptyds, a fine local rock band whom Billy tells me he first read about here! Sadly, they are not on vinyl yet).

Another detail from the night I had not seen at a gig: confetti cannons, loaded by Grant Lawrence (proud Dad to the band's blonde guitarist) with the help of Nick from the Vicious Cycles/ Tranzmitors and the bearded guy from the VC's most recent rekkid. This was blown at strategic points. During Blue Jay Valley's song "Snow Day," about the delights of having a snow day instead of having to go to school, the singer counted down "making it snow" in Vancouver in November. Which helped me capture the moment: 3...2...1...:

The merch tables were fun. I would have bought a Fink Pack for $100 but money is a bit tight this month (it was loose last month, so...).

It was fun to see 10- and 11-year old kids getting Blue Jay Valley merch signed by their friends in the band. Rob Frith, in attendance, told me a story about playing in a band when he was in Grade 7. I told him a story in turn of seeing Rob Nesbitt (of BUM) the first time he took the stage with a "band," kinda, in Westview in Maple Ridge, back in Grade 9. I'll tell that story someday... 

I am sure that parents and school chums will post video of this gig presently, so I will not rush to put all mine up, but I did shoot a couple, including "No School," which the band has an official video for. It was very enjoyable -- as Rob Frith quipped to me later, "I bet you've been to way worse punk shows!" I have, I have! If these kids ever become rock stars, we'll have a real fun "I saw them when" story to tell. 

I actually think this is a better-written anti-school song than that one by the Replacements (which has a catchy chorus but crappy verses!). 

I cannot say who was more enthusiastic, the kids playing AND GOING TO their first gig, or their parents. Even onlookers like me had a lot of fun. Kids didn't exactly mosh, but I did see someone scoop up confetti and smush it into their friends' hair. The cannons fired a few times, from either side of the stage. Then the confetti was swept up by the same man who had fired it.

I need to spend more time with the Smugglers. Grant seems like a very nice, good man. Good thing, because a lot of confetti was produced. 

The bathroom didn't have much grafitti but I liked this one, and suspect the author is right: 

Billy offered merch for raffle prizes; Grant Lawrence claimed this t-shirt, I think! 

Cryptyds, up next, didn't even try to compete with the 10- and 11-year olds, they just did their thing, which rocks. They seem to be evolving in a little more punk, Ramonesy way, away from the garage/ psych thing, but remain tight and charimsatic and tuneful. I shot a clip there too, but I might offer it to the band, in case it can be edited in with their "official video" for a few different angles. I mean, maybe not, but they had a friend documenting the whole night, it seemed...

By the way, thanks, Billy, for getting the band to clarify that it is Cryptyds, and not THE Cryptyds. I may well have "the'd" them. Really pleased my blog was of service to ya! (And them). 

I was happy that some of the kids stuck around for Cryptyds, but a lot of people had ducked out. Which I eventually did, myself, but unlike them, I have seen Cryptyds twice before. 

I tried to duck out of buying merch, but Billy effectively convinced me that the Etters album is a must-hear. I believe it is the one being written about here. It had swanky one-sided coloured vinyl, which I paid $5 more for, because it was so fun. 

I am stealing this photo of the Etters. I hope no one minds. Apparently they sing in Dutch and do what Billy described as San Francisco garage trash, if I got that right. He says it's going to be an album he'll be listening to years from now. 

This is the record; see the cool colours?

The art on the back of the b-side has a funny caption. I recommend enlarging it!

These photos of me were taken by Erika Lax, who was very tolerant of her high-as-a-kite husband and let him finish this blogpiece before he joined her in bed (she's already asleep). 

Welcome to the Vancouver music scene, Blue Jay Valley. And welcome as well, Fink City! Fun night!