Best of bands 2013: Ben Rogers

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      There are gold-rush killers, jailbirds in ’Nam, and jealous men with murder on their mind in Ben Rogers’s Lost Stories: Volume 1. But the man’s dark charisma is something you need to experience live to fully appreciate. He’s like a gravity well pulling you into a black-and-white picture from a different century.

      Best local release other than yours:
      “Rob Butterfield’s [self-titled] new record. I like Rob’s writing a lot, and he’s got a distinct sound. It doesn’t seem like he sat down and said, ‘Okay, I wanna make this sound like Harvest,’ or whatever, like a lot of musicians do.”

      The year’s best gig:
      “Call me biased, but my brother’s [Luka Rogers’s] set, Sisters of Seance, on December 4 at the Astoria was really incredible. It was really beautiful and scary. I’m a big fan of bands like Earth, and drone-doom, and Animal Collective—more noise-oriented stuff.”

      Your house is on fire. What album are you saving?
      “I’d have to say Time Out of Mind by Bob Dylan. When it came out in ’97, I hadn’t heard anything that was produced like that, with these strange arrangements, and I thought his voice sounded so beautiful and murky. And the songs were very simple, but the way they came out—they left an indelible mark on me. I listen to it every week, pretty much.”

      Chip Wilson’s paying, so where’s dinner?
      “Salmon n’ Bannock Bistro [7–1128 West Broadway]. I’ve never been there, but I’ve read the menu. And to me nothing tastes better than game meat and bannock. But I can’t afford it, so that’d be nice if somebody could treat me.”

      We’re reshooting the video for Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines”. Who’s your topless costar?
      “I dunno if she’s gonna like this, but Evy Jane. She’s a friend of mine and she’s just beautiful, and I think she’s got a gorgeous voice, and her cohort Jeremiah Klein is just brilliant, as well. He can be topless too, if he wants to come along.”

      Let’s make this city more fun by opening a venue. Where?
      “It’s recently closed down, but the Artbank [1897 Powell Street]. I think what Vancouver could you use is a honky-tonk bar. It’s right next to the train tracks, throw some sawdust on the floor, dogs allowed inside, a big picture of Stompin’ Tom hung over the bar, library of liquor floor to ceiling, jukebox playing 7-inches by local bands, live country, folk, bluegrass, blues, and then maybe an old man with a shepherd’s crook at the side of the stage if the acts sucks. Good spot for it.”

      Comments

      1 Comments

      McBig

      Sep 18, 2013 at 6:48pm

      The MACK ATTACK has very good taste, you guys.