Rob Hoover displays a complete and utter disregard for his vocal cords as the singer for hardcore upstarts Anchoress, a four-man assault squad that also includes guitarist Keenan Federico, drummer Chris Lennox-Aasen, and bassist Ricky Castanedo. If you like your punk kicked old school, you’ll love the hardcore howitzers on the band’s debut, Set Sail. Totally fucking ferocious doesn’t begin to describe things.

Best local release other than yours:

“The Jen Huangs’ EP called Rango. We’ve played a couple of shows with them, and they are just amazing. I got an early copy of the record, and I love it. They’re like a ska-ish punk band where one of the guys plays, simultaneously, accordion, trumpet, and guitar. It’s just a sight to behold.”

The year’s best gig:

“The best—and the worst—was that Blink-182 show that just happened at Rogers Arena [on August 31]. Best in the sense that I grew up loving Blink and this was the first time that I’ve seen them—it was amazing. Worst in the sense that it was just like going back to high school, including that bizarre cross section of people who all have to coexist. They were all trying their best to stand out and be cool and yet fit in and all be the same.”

We’re road-tripping. Who’s on the stereo?

“I don’t know if it would last the whole trip, but the Lonely Island, if you could take the best songs from their first [Incredibad] and second [Turtleneck & Chain] albums and get rid of the filler. That would give you one good album all the way through. I think that would be perfect—faux-rap is just ideal.”

The Straight’s paying, so where’s dinner?

“The Templeton [1087 Granville Street], hands down. I’d eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner at that place. I love it. I’m a vegetarian, and there are enough vegetarian options that I don’t even notice the meat. It’s some of the best diner food I’ve ever had.”

Vancouver needs a sex-tape scandal. Who’s your co-star?

“Dan Mangan. He’s got a luscious beard and an array of plaid shirts that the whole band can get behind. Plus he probably has some robots, which would be extra titillating.”

Jimmy Pattison’s fronting the money. Where are we opening a venue?

“I would set up a network of tower rooftops—the Wall Centre, Scotia Tower, the new Woodward’s building—that would host secret and awesomely hip and exclusive shows. People would have to follow clues on a journey of personal and sexual discovery before finding the music. And love.”