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Articles by Adrian Mack.

Vancouver Design Nerds and eatART roll out their Gramorail at New Forms Festival

Vancouver Design Nerds and eatART roll out their Gramorail at New Forms Festival

By Adrian Mack | September 7, 2010
The Gramorail is a fully functioning, pedal-powered, four-person locomotive built from scrap, coupled to a second car described by Design Nerd Natalie Ethier as “a big couch on wheels”.
TaiwanFest's indie artists are rocking in the free world

TaiwanFest's indie artists are rocking in the free world

By Adrian Mack | September 2, 2010
Let’s start by flashing back to late February at the Justice for All outdoor concert in Taiwan’s tropical city of Pingtung.
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Ted Leo and the Pharmacists embrace humour

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists embrace humour

By Adrian Mack | September 2, 2010
Ted Leo and his band the Pharmacists have been leading the antiauthoritarian charge with wiry, polemical punk for seven albums now, along with the odd detour into ska, soul, and power pop.

Live at Squamish festival aims for sustainability

By Adrian Mack | September 2, 2010
Given the strength of the bill, it’s amazing that organizers only decided to throw this weekend’s two-day LIVE at Squamish festival in March.

No Fun City documentary is a global phenomenon

By Adrian Mack | September 2, 2010
Vancouver is exporting No Fun to the U.K.
Margaret Choâs focus on toilet parts radiantly funny

Margaret Cho’s focus on toilet parts radiantly funny

By Adrian Mack | August 30, 2010
Margaret Cho’s August 28 performance at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre was a good night for the veteran comedian.
MTV's Youth Electric reality show gets nude and crude

MTV's Youth Electric reality show gets nude and crude

By Adrian Mack | August 26, 2010
The Youth Electric contains coarse language, wild parties, and nudity. There, now you’re interested.
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Chris Young builds a buzz with privately built guitar equipment

By Adrian Mack | August 26, 2010
Two years ago, Chris Young decided to start privately building equipment after failing to track down a rare ’60s fuzz pedal by Kay.
Monologist Mike Daisey takes aim at Apple with The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs

Monologist Mike Daisey takes aim at Apple with The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs

By Adrian Mack | August 26, 2010
Provocative monologist Mike Daisey travelled into the troubling heart of China’s high-tech factories to research his new show.
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Lady Gaga is actually the new Mae West

Lady Gaga is actually the new Mae West

By Adrian Mack | August 17, 2010
Quit with the Madonna comparisons, already.
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Parlour Steps taking steps toward victory

Parlour Steps taking steps toward victory

By Adrian Mack | August 12, 2010
Head to Victory Square on August 14, when Georgia Straight faves Parlour Steps headline a free afternoon concert with Waltz Darling and the Van Eyes 3.
Stars will align for Stellar Band of Neighbours

Stars will align for Stellar Band of Neighbours

By Adrian Mack | August 12, 2010
The roots-rock supergroup kicks off their first tour at the WISE Hall.
Bonnie Ste-Croix makes cross-Canada road songs

Bonnie Ste-Croix makes cross-Canada road songs

By Adrian Mack | August 12, 2010
For most musicians, touring Canada means boredom, sleep deprivation, bitch fights, and ill health.
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The Crow Quill Night Owls embrace old weird America

The Crow Quill Night Owls embrace old weird America

By Adrian Mack | August 5, 2010
Kit “Stymee” Stovepipe fell in love with early-20th-century American jug-band music after dabbling in Swedish metal and crusty punk. And who among us hasn’t done that?
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Busking D. B. Buxton returns to Vancouver

By Adrian Mack | July 29, 2010
There’s been a little less free entertainment in town for the last month.
Multitalented Kinky Friedman relishes his cult status

Multitalented Kinky Friedman relishes his cult status

By Adrian Mack | July 22, 2010
Most likely, Kinky Friedman is the only Biltmore Cabaret headliner who ever went mano-a-mano with George W. Bush.

SHOREfest surfaces again at English Bay

By Adrian Mack | July 22, 2010
After a hugely successful launch last year, the SHOREfest concert series gears up again this week.

Local boy Ben Sherazi enjoys Tool time

By Adrian Mack | July 15, 2010
There was a strong Vancouver connection when Tool played at Rogers Arena on July 9.

Original Grapes of Wrath regroup

By Adrian Mack | July 15, 2010
The Grapes of Wrath reunite for a performance at the Surrey Fusion Festival on July 18, when they’ll join Blackberry Wood and bhangra superstar Lehmber Hussainpuri, among others, at Holland Park.
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Mount Pleasant goes live with the Mile Long Jam

Mount Pleasant goes live with the Mile Long Jam

By Adrian Mack | July 14, 2010
On July 17, the streets of Mount Pleasant will play host to 66 musicians as part of a linear audio art installation.

Vancouver musicians ready to roll on two-wheel tour

By Adrian Mack | July 8, 2010
With Thom Yorke predicting the end of the music industry and everybody else pointing to a looming energy crisis, a bunch of local musicians are adapting early to our probable Mad Max–like future.

22nd Century eyes Band on the Run to India prize

By Adrian Mack | July 8, 2010
Local band 22nd Century might be off to Mumbai’s Independence Rock XXV Festival in August.
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Chin Injeti lands on Slim Shady’s Recovery

By Adrian Mack | June 30, 2010
Chin Injeti couldn’t reveal any names when he told the Straight last year about some upcoming work with one of hip-hop’s biggest stars.

Hardcore legend Ron Reyes back in action

By Adrian Mack | June 30, 2010
Former Black Flag vocalist and long-time Vancouverite Ron Reyes is celebrating his 50th birthday at the Rickshaw Theatre on July 24.
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Sanctuary stars on hand for Friends of Folk Charity Concert

By Adrian Mack | June 30, 2010
Fans of locally shot sci-fi series Sanctuary will want to head down to the Biltmore on July 8.
For soul singer Sharon Jones, success equals delicious revenge

For soul singer Sharon Jones, success equals delicious revenge

By Adrian Mack | June 17, 2010
Not too long after being told she didn't have the right look for the music industry, vocalist Sharon Jones hooked up with a small independent label and its house band the Dap-Kings to kick-start a sizzling and righteous soul revolution.
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Hellhole helped by Hardcore Needs a Home benefit

By Adrian Mack | June 17, 2010
The Hardcore Needs a Home benefit at the Rickshaw on June 19 to aid promoter wendythirteen’s bid to open a new venue after the loss of the Cobalt last year is sure to be well-attended.
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Under the Volcano festival set for one last blast

By Adrian Mack | June 17, 2010
The Under the Volcano Festival of Art & Social Change celebrates its 20th anniversary on August 8, but artistic director Meegan Maultsaid said this year’s festival in Deep Cove’s Cates Park is also the last.
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Is it wrong to ask to bring back the Nickelback hate?

By Adrian Mack | June 17, 2010
You sign the music section up for the Hedley fan club, and we reward you with a Payback Time T-shirt and two tickets to a Live Nation club show of your choice taking place in Vancouver within the next four weeks. Here’s this week’s winning whinge.
Sook-Yin Lee stays bold in Year of the Carnivore

Sook-Yin Lee stays bold in Year of the Carnivore

By Adrian Mack | June 16, 2010
Sook-Yin Lee insists that she didn’t set out to shock people with Year of the Carnivore.
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Connely Farr hits the big time with Mississippi Live and the Dirty, Dirty

Connely Farr hits the big time with Mississippi Live and the Dirty, Dirty

By Adrian Mack | June 15, 2010
Connely Farr’s boat came in when he relocated here from America’s deep south.
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Extras needed for rockumentary being filmed at the Cultch

By Adrian Mack | June 10, 2010
Filmmaker Chris Marshall hopes to get the finished product—which will feature footage of Mark Petersen, Brickhouse, and Marshall's own band—onto the independent film festival circuit.

Loverboy's essence to benefit Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

By Adrian Mack | June 10, 2010
Loverboy has a close relationship with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, beneficiary of the TELUS Walk to Cure Diabetes taking place at Nat Bailey Stadium and Queen Elizabeth Park on Sunday.
Onward, Voyageur makes a decisively melodic self-titled debut album

Onward, Voyageur makes a decisively melodic self-titled debut album

By Adrian Mack | June 10, 2010
Onward, Voyageur (Independent)
The Molestics get the last word on A Farewell to Hokum

The Molestics get the last word on A Farewell to Hokum

By Adrian Mack | June 10, 2010
A Farewell to Hokum (Independent)
Nickelback tears the roof off of GM Place in Vancouver

Nickelback tears the roof off of GM Place in Vancouver

By Adrian Mack | June 4, 2010
Nickelback was tight to the point of arthritic, more masculine than balls on a monster truck, and still bigger than God.
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The Phonemesâ Magali Meagher is happy to play anywhere

The Phonemes’ Magali Meagher is happy to play anywhere

By Adrian Mack | June 3, 2010
She has some impressive friends and associates, and her résumé is nothing to sneeze at—but Magali Meagher isn’t in it for the glamour.
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Railway Club focuses on local lens jockey Femke van Delft

Railway Club focuses on local lens jockey Femke van Delft

By Adrian Mack | June 3, 2010
For the month of June, the Railway Club’s North Bar is featuring the work of photographer Femke van Delft.

The Strange Magic unearths legendary acid-folk pioneer Martin Cockerham

By Adrian Mack | June 3, 2010
The Strange Magic will play backup band to an acid-folk pioneer during its current trip to England: Spirogyra's Martin Cockerham.
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Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage hits Vancouver

By Adrian Mack | June 3, 2010
Having received the full cooperation of the legendary Canadian three-piece, directors Sam Dunn and Scot McFadyen have come up with a massively entertaining bio, featuring a feast of old material.
The Town Pants understand the value of brevity on Shore Leave

The Town Pants understand the value of brevity on Shore Leave

By Adrian Mack | May 27, 2010
Shore Leave (Independent)
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Serena McCarroll and Tyler Brett make small big

By Adrian Mack | May 26, 2010
So what do Julie Doiron Day and the smallest venue in Canada have to do with Vancouver?
Red Vienna's self-titled debut full of chemistry

Red Vienna's self-titled debut full of chemistry

By Adrian Mack | May 26, 2010
Red Vienna (Independent)

The Vicious Cycles kick-start rampage

By Adrian Mack | May 20, 2010
The Vicious Cycles celebrate more than just their debut 45, “Momma”, when they open for Knucklehead at the Rickshaw next Friday.
The Brought Low soars high on Third Record

The Brought Low soars high on Third Record

By Adrian Mack | May 13, 2010
Third Record (Small Stone)
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Dan Mangan's nice, nice, very nice at the Vogue

Dan Mangan's nice, nice, very nice at the Vogue

By Adrian Mack | May 13, 2010
Dan Mangan is such a classy guy that he handed the most explosively crowd-pleasing moment of the night to another performer.

Berlin's bohemians boost Trike's output

By Adrian Mack | May 13, 2010
If you've been following the duo's saga, then you know that the pair did 150 shows across Europe last year, had all their money stolen in Berlin, and never made it back to Canada.
The Beige's El Angel Exterminador is a flat-out gem of sweeping melancholia

The Beige's El Angel Exterminador is a flat-out gem of sweeping melancholia

By Adrian Mack | May 6, 2010
El Angel Exterminador (Independent)
Turin Brakes returns from the soft-rock wilderness

Turin Brakes returns from the soft-rock wilderness

By Adrian Mack | May 6, 2010
Yacht Rock might be the gateway for hipsters to indulge a secret fetish for soft rock, but Olly Knights and Gale Paridjanian of the Turin Brakes aren't so insecure.
At IGNITE! Youth Festival, teens eat up spoken word

At IGNITE! Youth Festival, teens eat up spoken word

By Adrian Mack | May 6, 2010
Spoken word has become an enormously popular creative outlet for young adults and this year’s IGNITE! Youth Festival marks its growing influence with two nights given over to live wordsmithery.
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