(NOTE: THREE ADDED VIDEO CLIPS AT THE END from the shows written about here)
When I sat down to interview John Werner for the Georgia Straight a few years ago, I didn't realize the half of what he'd done. I think I knew he was the brother of former Skulls member Simon Werner (the Skulls being the immediate precursors to DOA); and I had certainly seen him providing, with Taylor Little, a steady platform for Chris Arnett's furious guitar onslaught with the Furies (Vancouver's first punk band, albeit the Lou Reed-meets-garage version of punk; see here for more, and may they ride again soon!). But even though I knew a little Theatre of Hate, I don't think I realized until a few weeks before the interview that John was in the Pack with Theatre of Hate/ Spear of Destiny frontman Kirk Brandon, or that he had been involved in the writing of a prototype version of "Legion," my favourite Theatre of Hate song (the last two links are to the two different versions, if you want to compare!). And did I know that he had been in the Straps, a proto-psychobilly UK band? Nope! Did I know that he had spent some time in the States as frontperson of a rootsy/ country project? That he played bass in the Graham Brown Band? ...actually, I might have known that last one, not sure; I've certainly seen him with them since. Mostly I just I knew him as a man of style and wit, a skilled punk bassist with better-than-average taste in clothing (always good hats!) and would say hi to him if I ran into him around Main Street; doing that article was a real education, and not just for the people who read it!
Sudden Darts L-to-R: Don Betts, George McWhinnie, John Werner, and Scott Fletcher
Anyhow, I must have impressed him with that piece, because John asked for a contribution to the website for his new band, Sudden Darts, playing this Saturday at the Princeton. I still haven't SEEN Sudden Darts -- and my impression of them is maybe that they are more roots-oriented than psychedelic (which is how Art Perry describes them), though maybe with a Paisley Underground vibe overlaid -- but I've enjoyed their songs (such as "Stop and Smell the Roses" and "Strange New World"), and am happy, after years of seeing John in a support role, that he's stepping into the foreground and singing his own songs! Saturday's show at the Princeton will feature a host of guests, more on whom below. The night is kicking off around 9 with a set by the Gravel-Aires, with Sudden Darts doing the first of two sets at about 10:15 and closing the joint. Finally I get to see Sudden Darts! Yay!
John tells me that the album release, on CD and streaming, will be May 28th, with a different take on "Strange New World" than you hear on the video (that song will be released March 31st); I know that he'd like to see vinyl made but it will depend on how things go ("our budget is limited"). Personally, I'd love vinyl with a cover as fun as that -- shamelessly loud, playful, and designed by Werner himself and his partner Rebecca, with help from a graphic artist they know. The logo was designed by Shon Midnite and the cover art includes a few references to the songs on the album, like a "herald rabbit" -- a Lewis Carroll reference -- which connects also to the song "Down in the Rabbit Hole." John tells me that the band is "getting a bit rockier from live playing," and getting "very positive audience reactions," as well as phone calls to join other bands on this-or-that bill. Sounds like things are going well!
John Werner with the Furies at Richards on Richards, Feb. 10, 2007 (billed with DOA and the Rebel Spell -- first time I saw either band!); photo by bev davies, not to be reused without permission
So what about the name Sudden Darts? It's no reference to the UK pastime of "dart culture," which Werner tells me he knows naught about ("Sorry, we don't play darts"). He illustrated it to me once when we bumped into each other shopping for books, explaining that the name pays tribute to an eccentric way of Simon's of greeting someone, jabbing them in the chest and proclaiming, "sudden darts!" -- which I'm glad John spared me the full force of, as "Simon's Sudden Darts game was always played with the index fingers, and always as rapid and painful as possible!"
Any other news from John? He tells me that he and his partner of five years, Rebecca, are "going strong," and bought a "lovely old house" in New West; that Sudden Darts "keeps developing creatively and intuitively," with all members really enjoying the experience; and further, that he is "still playing regularly with Graham Brown Band, and about to release a new record. Just did another tour with the Pack in August/September 2024, with Danny Farrant of the Buzzcocks on drums. It went very well, great crowds and responses. We played the opera house at Rebellion Festival to about 1000 people. And we sold out the 100 Club in London on a Sunday night. Then in February we got some sad and tragic news - our brilliant guitarist
Woz Wilson died fairly suddenly of cancer. So right now, the Pack's future is uncertain."
This is sad news -- I had secretly hoped, having seen Spear of Destiny and Theatre of Hate, that maybe some version of the Pack would make it to Vancouver. As for Sudden Darts, however, John tells me that for the first set at the Princeton, "we will play our regular songs, and maybe a new one. For the secnd set we have Al Mader, Graham Brown, Joe Burke's
Community Standards, and Shelley Preston. Towards the end, Sudden Darts will play two or three brand new, never played live, originals, 'She Feels My Pain,' 'Something's Happening,' and 'I Spent a Dream With You.'" I'm looking forward to seeing them for the first time...
...But I'm also glad they're playing late, because hey, look, Jim Cummins is having an art show at his house, where there will be another chance to see the newest incarnation of the Braineaters (AKA
I, Braineater). I'm working on something with Jim at the moment for a certain US magazine, which I have not yet transcribed, but I had a great time wandering around Cummins' space last art show, and assure you that the prices that day were shockingly reasonable -- and that the new band, who I've seen twice now, is very much in the vein of classic
Artist-Poet-Thief Braineater, with plenty of songs
from that era in the set (and some new ones, like the funny little bunny one... I forget the title... "Bunny," perchance?). The band had done some demos already but are going to re-work them in June at Rain City Recorders for a new album. Jim tells me he has "a few more tricks" up his sleeve, as well, but, like I say, it's gonna be in a magazine, so... more to cum, so to speak...
Anyhow, I think the timing will work to do the whole Braineater show, then make the Princeton for the whole Sudden Darts show. Can't beat that. There's probably
other cool stuff going on in Vancouver on Saturday -- like Devours at the Rickshaw, if that's more your scene (subject of a guest blog post
here) -- but these are my picks. Maybe I'll see you there...
POST SHOW UPDATE: the new Braineaters: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UyIc9A-7ag
Sudden Darts new song "Aisha" with Shelley Grace Preston: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmHApnNJrRY
"Stop and Smell the Roses" live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZk-tX2qw6Q&t=6s
And the Gravel Aires: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8crbkzqAcuo
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