The swinging and passionate country-tinted Celtic rock of Joseph Blood’s For Friends and Family is like a welcome fist in the face at an epic piss-up, but it’s on-stage where the ever-dapper Mr. Blood really thrives. His band of “castaways and misfits”, the Bluetick Houn’ Dogs, consistently delivers the sweatiest jamboree in the city, and, as anybody who’s witnessed their furious cover of “Born to Run” knows, they’re both crazy and talented enough to actually make it work.

Best local release other than yours
“Hard Drugs, by Hard Drugs. It’s totally my style of music—a big ridiculous band, lots of stuff coming in and out, really raw, and story songs. Did it make me jealous? No, it made me inspired!”

Most mind-blowing concert of the year
“Very Good at the Havana Theatre [December 14-15]. Sean Cronin is like a mad scientist in Vancouver. It was like somewhere between Supertramp, the Beach Boys, and Béla Bartók.”

 We just found Bruce Allen’s platinum card. Where are we eating?
“Chambar [562 Beatty Street], although we’re probably mostly drinking. I was getting into the bourbon last time I was there and, you know, I racked up quite a bill. We also go there for the people-watching and feeling sophisticated.”

With apologies to Katy Perry, who would you like to wake up in Vegas with?
“I don’t think there’s any answer I could give that won’t get me into trouble with my girlfriend or somebody’s boyfriend, but I’m gonna say Shiloh Lindsey, because we’d probably wake up in the drunk tank after a hell of a time that neither of us would remember.”

We’re going to a desert island. What record are you bringing?
“Darkness on the Edge of Town, Bruce Springsteen. There are some huge hits and the album cuts are even better. ”˜Adam Raised a Cain’ is the best track. I hated the Boss for a long time, and then he put out that Pete Seeger record and all of a sudden, I was like, ”˜Okay.’ ”

The city has given you a blank cheque. Where are we opening a live-music venue?
“In the spirit of being completely unrealistic and ridiculous, I’d have to say the Vancouver Art Gallery [750 Hornby Street]. Move the art somewhere else, because I think they’re overdue for a bigger venue anyway, and it would be like a rock ’n’ roll castle, right in the middle of the city.”