3:01 Pick Me Up: Dan Mangan

Let’s face it: 3 p.m. is the cruellest time of the workday. The morning latte has worn off, and the post-lunch crash has you staggering around like an extra from a George A. Romero flick. That’s why, each weekday at 3:01 p.m., we present you with a video hand-picked to kick-start your heart.

Today’s offering: January is a time for starting fresh, because what the hell else is the worst month of the year good for? Other than, that is, contemplating the fact that the holiday season is sadly in the rearview mirror, and the Visa bill is going to take until September to pay off.

We’ve made some big promises to ourselves around the Georgia Straight offices, including, but not limited to: only drinking on days of the week with vowels in them; responding to any and all requests to join folks on LinkedIn; and marrying Taylor Swift. Oh, and we’re also determined to make sure to give you a reason to live every afternoon by treating 3:01 Pick Me Up as a priority, not an afterthought that slips our minds nine days out of 10.

What better way to start fresh than by spotlighting two-time Georgia Straight cover boy Dan Mangan. Things have changed a wee bit for one of Vancouver’s favourite sons since he first surfaced in the mainstream with “Robots”. Not only has Mangan graduated to venues like the grand old Orpheum, he’s cemented his full-time backing band--Blacksmith--for Club Meds, his fourth full-length due this January 13.

Hopefully, you are on the treadmill as you cue up today’s 3:01 Pick Me Up, “Vessel”. If you aren’t, don’t feel bad. After all, New Year’s resolutions were made to be broken, preferably in the first week of January.