FUBAR, a weird and funny film

All right People, what’s going on? Summer is fast approaching and everyone’s getting ready to take their holidays, rolling out the camping gear, adding up the airmiles, or whathaveyou. As for me I’ll probably just be hanging around Vancouver for most of the summer. I’m thinking of going to Europe in August but I only get 2 weeks vacation time and I don’t know if I want to use it all up in August. Maybe a road trip down the Coast? Or maybe just some weekend camping trips? Decisions, decisions….

Anyway, I just went and saw a new Canadian film called FUBAR which you all must go see. It’s a tribute to the banger and it’s soooo weird and funny. The soundtrack, well I should say album related to the film because it’s actually not a soundtrack, actually has a few big names on it for an independent film, Sum 41, Sloan, the New Pornographers, etc. The film is a mockumentary about two bangers, one who has testicular cancer, and their battle through life. If you’ve ever wondered what a headbanger does? And what the hell “just give’r” means? Go see this film because it will enlighten you on the Canadian trailer trash, mulleted, metal-tshirt wearing, beer drinking, idiots we all love to make fun of. www.fubar-themovie.com.

Speaking of beer drinking, a few weeks ago was New Music West, Vancouver’s annual music industry festival. It was 5 day party in the city. I haven’t seen so many people out in the clubs in Vancouver for a really, really long time. Oh, and there was an industry conference as well. I saw Gene Simmons talk, woah, total loser. Sorry, but I went in there having no idea what he was really like and after seeing him talk for an hour I walked out of the Commodore disgusted. We all know the guy is extremely sexist and all he cares about is money and well, I applaud the guy for at least being honest. But he made some really inappropriate comments about sweatshops in other countries. I just don’t think that’s cool. You don’t make jokes about people who practically live like slaves. But anyway, there were much more enjoyable aspects to the festival I got to check out a whole whack of bands. Things started out Wednesday nite at GM Place for the over-the-top mainstream rock festival FoxFest with Sum 41, Gob, Sloan, Edwin, and a bunch of bad bands. Not really my thing, but I got free tickets so I went with some friends to see Sloan and Sum 41 and now I remember why I don’t like stadium shows. Lots of preteens and teens at their first shows ever just freaking out, bad bands, bad sounds, no personality. Ugh.

Thursday nite was the Endearing Records showcase at the Piccadilly. First up was my new favourite local band, The Organ. I always say if Joy Division had been girls they would have been the Organ. Total moody, new wave, early Cure type band. I love it. One criticism, they need more songs. The few people who were there blinked and missed most of their short set. I took a break from the Piccadilly and strolled down to Luvafair to check out the last few songs of the Spitfires set. The Spitfires are known as being Vancouver’s best drunk live band. I don’t know how they do it. This show was no exception with lots of sweat, booze, and rock’n’roll. These guys have a new album out on Longshot. www.longshotmusic.com; check it out!

Friday nite was the Teenage USA/ Three Gut Records showcase which my band The Ewoks was actually playing at. It was a really fun show to play. There were tons of industry peeps and scenesters there and the other bands were really, really good. The only band I would say I was sober enough to review was The Cinch. The girl singer sounds like she should have been in some modish Brit pop band back in the 80s. The Cinch’s crunchy awesome vintage-guitar rock blended with pop melodies makes one hella catchy sound. I loved the jams and grooves, totally hypnotic, but not in a hippy stoner way more garage like. This band has been around for a few years now and I can’t believe I didn’t discover them sooner! I feel like an idiot. The other bands playing that night were Juno-nominees The Constantines, London Ontario’s Weekend and Two Minute-Miracles. We had a party after the show and invited half the bar back to our house. I drove in a van with 21 people! Let’s just say our neighbours were not too pleased. They came over to our place and screamed in my face. It was 4:30AM and I was so incoherent I didn’t know what to say other than kick the last stragglers out. We wrote our neighbours an apology letter the next day and since then they have been really sweet to us.

Saturday nite was a show hopping night for me. The evening started off with Britain’s finest, the Super Furry Animals at Dick’s on Dicks. Watching the SFA set was like being inside a Chemical Brothers music video. They had a big film screen behind them with crazy footage of “trippy” visuals, curling videos, and other sorts of weird stuff. The set started off with amazing high energy with upbeat songs like “Rings Around the World” and “Respectable for the Respectable” and then gradually got into the slower side of things and didn’t pick up again until close to the end. Then it was off to the Video In for the Mint Records anti-NMW showcase. I caught Operation Makeout who were on fire tonight, especially singer, Katie Makeout. I’ve never seen Katie so powerful before I was almost intimidated by her. It was definitely the best Operation Makeout show I’ve ever seen. And up next were mod rockers from the ‘peg, Duotang. Watching Duotang is like watching an old married couple (with all the bickering between songs) but unlike an old married couple the passion is still there. Rod Slaughter sweated so much his white shirt turned flesh colored pink. They dedicated a song to me and I was happy. Then it was off to the Cobalt “Vancouver’s only Hardcore bar” for Montreal garage legends the Gruesomes, who definitely did not fit into the “hardcore” atmosphere. The Gruesomes are one of those very reliable bands you know what you’re going to get because they haven’t changed in 15 years. Bobby Beaton actually said “If you like our new stuff then you’ll like our old stuff because it sounds just the same and visa versa”. Ha! However, the band just did not match up with the venue and its crowd. The Cobalt attracts a rather rowdy punk audience who were starting fights and knocking people over during the set. The Gruesomes did not look pleased. Aw well. I went back to the Mint nite to say good bye to some friends and retreated home for some much needed sleep. ‘Til next year I guess.

But before that there’s a couple shows coming up for people to go to here. I’m unfortunately missing nearly all of them because I’ll be outta town but take my place!

June 6 – Tuuli and the Cinch @ The Pic

June 9 – White Stripes @ Commodore (sold out in 2 days)

June 10 – Andrew WK @ Richard’s

June 15 – Bratmobile, Tennessee Twin, The Organ @ Piccadilly

July 28 – Billy Idol @ the Orpheum

Werd Nerds, xoxoMar