Ernest Hemingway once claimed, “I drink to make other people more interesting.” It’s a great quip, but keep in mind that Hemingway was a myopic alcoholic. And he was wrong. Other people are inherently interesting, and you don’t need to be pissed to the gills to appreciate that. The folks we find most fascinating are musicians, the most mercurial and capricious breed of all. (Apart from writers.) There’s just something about musical types. Maybe it’s the fact that they seem to be baring their souls all the time while rarely revealing all that much about themselves. We want to know all their dirty secrets, like what they do when they think no one else is looking, what sort of ginch they wear, and whether they prefer to have the lights on or off when they’re, uh, you know, “doing it”.

However, we’re not actually nosey enough to inquire about all that, so instead we reached out to a bunch of our favourite local musicians and asked them to share their favourite summertime libations and what they like to listen to while enjoying them. As for all the other stuff, we’ll just have to imagine what goes on behind closed doors, with a little help from Dorothy Parker: “I like to have a martini/Two at the very most/After three I’m under the table/After four I’m under my host.”

Jordan Jongema plays drums for Venocide, a quintet whose level of devotion to the grind-metal cause is proven by the fact that the group’s main musical influences include Nasum, Revocation, Magrudergrind, and Pig Destroyer.

Killer cocktail: “There was a drink I made with an ex-girlfriend two years back called the ‘Bartsicle’. It consists of a copious amount of Finlandia Vodka, followed by Monster Energy, 7UP, cranberry mix, and orange juice blended up with ice. Honestly, you’ll want to suck back these things until the fucking motor in the ice-machine is fried. It has the sweet taste of a bubbly, caffeinated European soda. I have trouble explaining it to bartenders—whether I’m sober or hammered—but usually they’re spot on. Not a cheap request, though.”
Spinnin’ while sippin’: “I’m often clicking all over the place on iTunes when tanked, never letting a song finish, but I seem to rape the replay button for Alice in Chains’ classic ‘Would?’. It’s the kind of track where, after one too many, you just want to fall to your knees during the chorus, imagining your bottle is a microphone. Whether a sombre, obnoxious, or regular drunk, it kind of converges all those feelings into one. So if you’re with me during some karaoke and that track comes on, look the fuck out.”

Rachel Deines (keyboards) and brian ypma (guitar) sing for Ocean Noise. They’re actually from Victoria, but they make such sweetly earnest indie pop that we’d be heartless bastards to leave them out.

Killer cocktail (Deines): “We’re normally total winos, but there’s nothing refreshing about a big bold red at room temperature, so in the summer we switch it up to something you can put ice cubes in without it being weird. When we were in Cuba we discovered that a rum and Coke sounds more distinguished if you call it a Cuba Libre, so we’ve had some good times with those—we highly recommend the seven-year-old Havana Club, and make sure you give it a good squeeze of lime!”

Spinnin’ while sippin’ (Ypma): “Have you heard the new one from the Joy Formidable? Wolf’s Law rocks, and it has some really pretty moments too—it’ll keep you from completely mellowing out while you’re hanging out getting some sun.”

Candace Chase is very open about the fact that depression and grief have fuelled many of the songs she makes as Violet Height, but her arrival should give those who appreciate the rough-hewn sounds of Cat Power and the Velvet Underground reason to rejoice.

Killer cocktail: “I am of Russian descent, therefore vodka is essentially a form of hydration. It’s the fucking best. I can drink it straight up out of the freezer, or mix it with something. It’s clear and clean; in my experience, drinking vodka with plain old club soda or water, a bit of ice, and some squeezed lemon and lime—or whatever fruit is in your fridge—equals virtually no hangover. Then again, you are talking to a Russian. The best vodka cocktail is for sure a Greyhound, which is just two ounces of vodka and four ounces of grapefruit juice, garnished with a lemon or lime wedge. Easy-peasy. I call it ‘mama juice’. But buyer beware: I once quit vodka for a year because of an incident. After running down Granville one night kicking down every clapboard sign in front of every bar—needless to say the cops showed up—somehow I still managed to continue the party that night, but I think I switched to beer after that.”
Spinnin’ while sippin’: “Lately, all I can listen to is Kanye’s Yeezus or Yo La Tengo’s new record, Fade. Two extremes. When you’re drinking your summer drink and feeling tipsy, put on Kanye’s ‘Bound 2’. When you’re drunk and about to make out with someone, put on Yo La Tengo’s ‘Before We Run’. Perfect balance. Yin and yang, baby.”

Matt Layzell fronts the Matinée, whose retro-rocking debut sounds like the work of guys who’ve never met a ’70s-themed Laurel Canyon house party they didn’t love.

Killer cocktail: “Despite being known for our pilsner-pounding ways, we actually do have an appreciation for a good-old whisky drink. Our new summer favourite is the Blackberry Bourbon Fizz, courtesy of the folks at Thug Kitchen. Toss five blackberries in a glass and mash them up, add five ice cubes, then pour in a shot of bourbon and three-quarters of a cup of ginger ale. Refreshing, very drinkable, and gets the job done.”
Spinnin’ while sippin’: “Years ago, we were fortunate enough to meet a fabulous local artist named Cameron Latimer. He’s associated with the likes of Dustin Bentall and Ridley Bent and the Grand Cariboo Opry. Anyhow, one of his songs had us whetting our lips for a whole summer, and while it’s not a song about whisky, it will keep you on the gin train for a few solid rounds. His tune is aptly called ‘Gin Train’.”

Graham Pence is practically royalty. That’s because, in the party-hearty rock ’n’ roll world of Whoa! She’s a Babe, he who wields the six-string is king. In other words, Pence totally fucking rules. 

Killer cocktail: “Cocktails often lead to hangovers, which can seriously jeopardize a solid drinking week. Bourbon and chipped ice has everything the body needs. If I’m planning an ambitious daytripper, I’ll mix it up a bit, but I’m not going to grow my own herbs or hit up eight different boutiques and imported spices from Kathmandu. Keep your drink simple—women are complicated. Summer drinking requires strong and clean, so a mojito or mint julep is the spirit. Icy cold pewter-glassed mint juleps are the pride of the South, yessirree.” 

Spinnin’ while sippin’: “The best drinking song ever written is ‘The Blarney Stone’ by Ween, but since they broke up it brings a tear to my eye. Nothing says beards, babes, and heavy drinking like ’70s rock, so Led Zeppelin III needs to be loud.”

Johnny LeDouche sings the praises of a boozing Jesus, horny cuntry girls, the clap, and his impossible-to-resist balls as one half of Badasskatoon, a down-home duo that’s every bit as inappropriate as Ween’s 12 Golden Country Greats.

Killer cocktail: “Personally, my favourite drink is one that I created myself. It’s one part Jack Daniel’s, one part Smirnoff, one part Viagra—I call it a Jack-Off. It’s enjoyed best as a chaser after a Blowjob or Sex on the Beach. However, I also invented a drink just for the ladies. It’s one part balsamic vinegar, one part triple sec—I call it a Bal-Sec. When I meet a woman, I’ll give her a taste of my Bal-Sec, and if she can choke that down, then I know we’re in for a good night.”
Spinnin’ while sippin’: “The first thing I do when I wake up is have a Jack-Off, and there’s nothing better to listen to while Jacking—that’s industry jargon—than ‘Wasn’t That a Party’ by the Irish Rovers. That song always takes me back to a simpler time when I was just a lil’ LeDouche and would skip school to go Jacking with my dad.”

Andrew Phelan plays guitar and sings his heart out in the acoustically inclined the River and the Road, whose rustic Americana is so thoroughly convincing that you’d never guess the guy is from New South Wales.

Killer cocktail: “I’m a smoky drinker, and I like my whisky. When I was working back in Australia behind a bar, we were making a cocktail called a Dirty Ol’ Bastard. You get yourself even parts Ardbeg 10 Years Old scotch, Campari, and sweet vermouth (Dolin is usually the poison of choice), stir it over ice, and double strain with a lemon twist. No messing around with sugar and juice, and if you stir it without drowning it, it’s the kind of drink that will put you on your ass while you say thank you.”
Spinnin’ while sippin’: “If I’m sitting with a Dirty Ol’ Bastard, I think I would probably be listening to Pokey LaFarge and the South City Three. More specifically, ‘Hard Times Come and Go’. That combination makes me feel like I should be sitting in a speakeasy somewhere down south in the ’40s and getting ready to make a bit of a mess. I think a lot of nights should feel like that!”

Aaron Wylie is one of the singers (along with his brother Ben) behind the wide-screen atmospherics and dark-side-of-the-street rock of Au4, whose latest album, …And Down Goes the Sky, is the years-in-the-making follow-up to its 2006 debut, On.

Killer cocktail: “When it’s time to imbibe, we can get the rounds started with an infusion of Lord Nelson’s Blood: spiced rum (always festive), Southern Comfort (classy through and through), lemon (gotta have a food group), and soda (to keep it healthy, slimming, and ‘urban chic’). There are other highbrow ways of putting this drink together—bitters, brandy, port—but keeping it simple opens up many more opportunities to enjoy it around the city. I prefer this one in a beer-bong hat while tackling the Grouse Grind.”
Spinnin’ while sippin’: “Well, you can’t go wrong with a good, solid playlist of jazz masters’ tracks. Timeless. Easy. That said, I remember my first real exposure to alcoholic beverages was in a park in Kelowna during a hot summer weekend. This involved a mickey of straight sambuca. Ouch. Someone nearby was playing Iron Maiden’s Number of the Beast album. Fond, hazy, coming-of-age memories. So either direction works for me.”

Marina Bennett sings for Dubai, which has about as much interest in limiting itself stylistically as the Rolling Stones do in retiring. The group’s debut, Bring Out Your Dead, dabbles in everything from jazzy MOR to funky alt-pop to nursery-rhyme world music.

Killer cocktail: “Usually I’m a wine drinker, but if it’s an ‘I deserve this and I don’t go clubbing’ kind of night, I’m a sucker for a dirty martini. The drink is pretty straightforward: you take some vodka, a bit of vermouth, a splash of olive juice, and three to four olives, shake over ice and strain into a fancy glass, and bam! You feel special fast. Real fast. No cranberry juice or watered-down pop making things complicated. Just cold, frosty liquor. To top it off, you get olives! I mean, it’s basically two drinks in one and a meal. Wow, I sound cheap. But really, sometimes they give you stuffed olives with garlic and those are simply the best kind.
Spinnin’ while sippin’: “Hmm. I’ve been really into listening to the Roots and Erykah Badu lately, and the song that comes to mind to chill out to while having a drink would be ‘Turn Me Away (Get MuNNY)’ from her album New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh). Pretty much any song from this album is amazing, but the beat on this track is just so addictive. She has such an amazing, quirky voice. You can listen to her songs while drinking after a long day or doing dishes and end up feeling like a quirky badass too.”

Louise Burns evidently doesn’t require a lot of sleep. When not recording and playing with electro-pop unit Gold & Youth, she continues to build on her critically lauded solo career; watch for her latest going-it-alone outing, The Midnight Mass, this July.

Killer cocktail: “I despise sweet and girly drinks, and with the exception of scotch and whisky, I only really drink red wine and vodka. My favourite cocktail is a drink I like to call Darmon’s Delight. My friend Darcy Hancock—of Ladyhawk and also guitarist in my band—created it. It’s just vodka, soda, and red wine. I like saying it fast, like vodkasoda­redwine or just Darmon’s Delight. I don’t know its creative origins, but we started making it a regular thing when I started deejaying at Save-on-Meats a few months ago. Every Friday, that’s the drink special: Darmon’s Delight. It’s refreshing, like sangria without the bullshit. I highly recommend you pair it with a healthy dose of Bronski Beat.”
Spinnin’ while sippin’: “In my early 20s my friend Adele and I used to have Kate Bush Mondays where we’d make a drink and name it after one of her songs before Ice Cream Social at Shine. An example, if I recall correctly, was the Jig of Life: mint sprigs, elderflower presse, and a shit-ton of vodka. Tastes like England! We also had one called Mother Stands for Comfort, which was very rich in pink, red, and warm maternal colours (probably Powerade). Again, vodka-based. So what I’m trying to say is that I listen to Kate Bush when I drink… Or the Gun Club. Or Miles Davis. Or House of Love… I guess it depends on where I’m going and who I’m with. I also like to listen to Morrissey and drink wine alone on the floor of my kitchen, but that’s another story.”