What’s in Your Fridge is where the Straight asks interesting Vancouverites about their life-changing concerts, favourite albums, and, most importantly, what’s sitting beside the Heinz Ketchup in their custom-made Big Chill Retropolitan 20.6-cubic-foot refrigerators.

On the grill

Megan Bradfield

Who are you

I’m the bass player for Limblifter, and we are about to release our fourth album on April 7 called Pacific Milk. I also do online communications for the ultra-effective national environmental law charity, Ecojustice. I’ve been playing double bass, electric bass, and clarinet for a couple decades with bands and orchestras like the West Coast Symphony, the VSO, A.C. Newman, the Salteens, and the Ryan Dahle solo band.

First concert

In 1988, when I was in elementary school, my best friend’s stepdad took us to see the INXS Kick tour at Pacific Coliseum. My two favourite memories of the show are when we waved our mini Bic lighters during “Never Tear Us Apart” and when we drove extremely fast to the venue in a 1969 Beaumont Coupé.

Life-changing concert

It’s a toss-up between Public Enemy at the Orpheum in 1990 and the Flaming Lips at the Town Pump in 1994(?). PE was touring Fear of A Black Planet complete with on-stage hip-hop soldiers, and genius DJ Terminator X on turntables. The Flaming Lips were touring the Transmissions from the Satellite Heart album, so it was before they had furry mascots and the big stage show. Instead, they had Christmas lights strewn throughout the club, the drummer played keyboards and drums at the same time, and they had Ronald Jones on guitar who simply made weird noises the whole night. 

Top three records

Charles Mingus Ah Um 1950s hard-bop jazz storytelling packaged in a series of concise compositions.

Beastie Boys Paul’s Boutique It’s perfect, humorous, and will never be replicated.

Sebadoh Bakesale Although low-fi and released in 1994, this album is timeless. I love Nirvana, Mudhoney, and early REM, but Sebadoh had a softer, melodic angle on the emerging low-fi,  grunge scene. Also, the electric bass tone on Bakesale is really good.

All-time favourite video

I want to pick something unique, so how about Midge Ure’s “If I Was?” It’s pop-song perfection, sung by a great voice, complimented by Morrissey-esque moves, all represented by a simple visual concept of Pinscreen toy art impressions.  Oh, I also love the original “Headphones” video by Steve Bays of Mounties.

What’s in your fridge?

Too many kinds of mustard. It’s the paramount condiment to make a sauce or dressing, eat a veggie dog, or add to an omelette.

Beer and Lillet. I keep mugs in the freezer in preparation for frosty beer consumption. The current in-house favourites are Howe Sound Lager and Vertical Winter Ale by Tree Brewing. Lillet is a French apéritif wine that officially works to stimulate your appetite. It’s in a classy bottle too, so your friends will be impressed when you serve it before dinner.

Eggs. I’m working on my theory that I can subsist entirely on frittatas and soft-boiled eggs. A perfectly cooked egg yolk is the greatest culinary achievement.

Find Megan Bradfield on Twitter: @thingsbradfield.