I, Braineater, the Scammers, and the Repossessors: photographic evidence and notes

I had never really watched the development of a major Jim Cummins live painting before. I've seen photos of them in action -- including a classic Bev photo of Cummins doing a painting behind the K-Tels with Wimpy and Jello visible in the pit. And I watched one Bowie Ball portrait being done. But it was nothing on the huge canvas that Jim was working behind the merch table at LanaLou's this past Friday, when I, Braineater headlined a gig with the Repossessors and the Scammers. 

It was interesting to watch him work, to check in on the painting -- a tapestry of the cartoonish damned -- over the course of the evening, in-between trips to the bar or the bathroom: how he did a fast sketch of the entire foreground, working left to right, then worked right to left doing a second pass, adding details, adding background faces, adding shadow and detail. The initial pass was crude and cartoonish, but very expressive and free. Things got more vivid each time I went by... 

These three detail shots were about half an hour in-between. I'm used to seeing Cummins' work quite worked-on, glossy and polished and "finished," but was surprised how much I found myself gravitating towards his "sketch." It got cooler by the hour. I don't know if the finished work is actually finished, but it's really delightful. Maybe it will be on display at his next home gallery show, August 16th? 

Of course, there were also the opening bands to enjoy: the Scammers were a trio of South Korean street punks who were so enjoyable they merit their own article, which I will link here when it's up. I'd see them again in a minute! They did originals and covers ranging from the Varukers to Rux and Crying Nut. I shot a clip of their last two songs here, but it doesn't capture the hints of reggae or rockabilly that crept into their music. Everybody I talked to was pleasantly delighted. The photos here are mine, but Art Perry was there, too, if anyone is looking for professional-level images...

Then the Repossessors -- who I was surprised to learn are a two-piece -- took the stage. Aaron Brown and Dave Bowes could be heard to joke that it was a hell of a name for a band to take in a live music context, suggesting guys from Long and McQuade showing up to confiscate your amp. The singer's Repo Man shirt was fitting and fun to see -- wonder where he got it? They did a few flavours of punk, and even a cover of Link Wray's "Rumble." Then near the end of their set, after a brief bass-drum snafu, they launched into the most hardcore song of the night, called "Hardcore." Talesha had been up front dancing and was quickly shunted to the side by the Koreans and their entourage. Exuberant moshpits are not usually a feature of the LanaLou's experience, so that was real fun to see. Talesha observed later that it was "rude" to suddenly have her territory taken over but she still thought the Scammers were excellent, when they weren't colliding into her. I documented the whole episode here. 

By the time I, Braineater took the stage, I was satiated and aware that my wife hasn't been sleeping well; I wanted to get home by 12:30, which meant sneaking out around 11:45... which I did. But -- peering over Talesha's shoulder -- I shot my favourite new Braineater song before I went: "Bunny." I've seen I, Braineater more in the last year than in the course of some 40 years prior. It's interesting to realize that -- since I have no memory at all of the Bags of Dirt, which makes me think I may have missed them -- Jim is quite possibly the first punk performer I ever saw, back when he opened (along with Bill of Rights and House of Commons) for the Dead Kennedys on the Fall of Canada tour, October 20th, 1984. 

We talk about that time in the issue of Big Takeover I mentioned in the previous post (now with added Art Bergmann). Alas, I won't be able to be at Jim's space on the 16th -- I'm booked up! -- but if you haven't done a Braineater show, he's an integral part of Vancouver's musical history. (He'll also be sharing a bill with JOHN OTWAY next March, when Otway returns to Vancouver! More to come on that). 

Now I better get my Scammers feature squared away... someone book that band again soon!