Little Guitar Army ends debate on Vancouver's all-time best video

by Mike Usinger on November 17th, 2010 at 3:25 PM

Ever watched TMZ on television? You know, where that insufferable, smirking douche who seems to have a coffee cup surgically attached to his hand stands there lobbing questions at his staff in their veal-fattening pens.

That gives you a good idea what goes on at the Georgia Straight most Wednesday afternoons. Some jackass inevitably trundles back from the water cooler, orders the troops to stop checking their Twitter and Facebook accounts, and then introduces a guaranteed-to-start-a-war discussion topic.

Today’s conversation starter went something like this: What’s the best video ever by a Vancouver band?

Normally that would be good for at least an hour-long debate.

Do things get any better than the Modernettes' flat-out fantastic “Barbara”, an early ’80s punk artifact that’s lost none of its charm today?

For proto-grunge goodness, you’ve got Slow’s gorgeously grimy “Have Not Been the Same”. And let’s not forget Loverboy’s “Turn Me Loose”. Actually, feel free to forget that, but only if you’ll admit that you can’t resist playing air bass for the first 30 seconds every time the song pops up on Jack FM.

What we discovered today was that, up until now, the question of what’s the best video ever to come out of Vancouver has been entirely open for debate. The key words there are “up until now”.

With its brand new, impossibly high-concept video for “30 Watts To Freedom”, Vancouver’s hard-charging and riotously entertaining Little Guitar Army has just strutted away with the all-time crown. You want SWAT Teams, police brutality, blood-soaked carnage, Motorhead-strength metal-punk, Bettys in WW II finery, and, best of all, mini-guitars? Well, this is your lucky day, because it’s all here.

The only thing that we’d like to know is “Who paid for this epic exercise in excellence?”. Honestly, it’s so brilliantly done, it makes every other Vancouver video that’s come before it seem like the work of Ed Wood.

Sit back and marvel.

Comments

29 Comments

Dusty Doug

Nov 17, 2010 at 4:54pm

Thanks Mike

We are all super proud of this video. Credit must go out to the team assembled by Director and Editor David Tamkin and Producer's Tammy Tamkin and Emily Keller. An incredibly energetic, positive and talented crew - the proof is in the pudding here - whom want to help other bands get the best possible videos out there at the most affordable cost to the artists.

We in the LGA are hoping this video can be sued as a gateway to help other artists in our city and show Vancouver to be a vital and kick ass rock and roll town.

To be mentioned in the same sentence with Buck, Mary-Jo and Jughead and/or Tom, Christian, Ziggy, Hamm and Terry is a real rush for us...we want this city to shine like it did from 1978-1985...when it was second-to-none on the West Coast for vital, kick ass, rock and roll...

If we get any mileage out of this collaboration with Dave, Tammy and Emily and their crew - we hope to take the city along for the ride and build upon the efforts of those fighting to make this Vancouver Fun City again - people like David Duprey, Wendy 13, Liss James and others who showcase our town and make it rock!

Fuckin eh!

our last show til our March 2011 record release is on Dec 11th at the Princeton - with our pals the Gamelons and the Stoolies...be there...it will be quite the spectacle!

Mike S

Nov 17, 2010 at 4:57pm

LGA is playing at the Princeton on December 11th. Should be lots of fun!

Dusty Doug

Nov 17, 2010 at 5:02pm

"sued" above = USED

ha ha

jakeandkim

Nov 17, 2010 at 5:16pm

they rock. wicked live !!!!!

Tammy Tamkin

Nov 17, 2010 at 5:23pm

"The only thing that we’d like to know is 'Who paid for this epic exercise in excellence?'"

Actually... I did! And it was money well spent ;)

Arnie Keller

Nov 17, 2010 at 8:47pm

A terrific video of a terrific performance—kudos to everyone who made it happen.

Maynar

Nov 17, 2010 at 10:45pm

Rock in Vancouver is cool again!

LGA is da shiz!

Sonny Dean

Nov 17, 2010 at 10:53pm

This is a very flattering review that I am very roud of! I'm sure the whole band is proud of this!

Sonny Dean

Nov 17, 2010 at 11:27pm

Thank you Mike for this review & I & my bandmates are very proud of this video! Dave & Tammy Tamkin & Emily Keller were most helpful in making this video possible & we are most grateful to them!

Sonny