What's in Your Fridge: Jon Bryant

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      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

      Jon Bryant.

      Who are you

      I am a Nova Scotia import to British Columbia. I write dream-folk music and in a few days I’ll be releasing my third full-length album entitled twenty something. I worked with some amazing producers in the process of making this album and I can’t wait for people to enjoy it. 

      First concert

      I am the son of an Elvis-impersonating southern gospel singer. Though I can’t remember, it’s pretty likely that his concert was my first. As a child, I was awe-inspired by the power of his pitch-perfect voice. No matter where I sat in the church, I could always hear his voice and often it was the only voice I really heard. He usually sang in a sick third harmony that brought the music all together. Every Christmas Eve, my dear old dad, Alvin Dennis Bryant, would take the stage and would obliterate people’s minds with his rendition of “O Holy Night”. To this day, he still sings it on Christmas Eve and he continues to bring chills with the angelic wall-of-sound that is his voice. 

      Life-changing concert 

      It was the year 1998. No one I knew owned a cellphone. I played the drums in a terrible cover band with one of my hockey teammates and a few friends from junior high. (Our band eventually got banned for singing Rage Against the Machine's profanity-saturated classic “Killing in the Name”.) In terms of songs, our weapon of choice was actually to play Lynyrd Skynyrd's classic “Freebird” at a battle of the bands which we won. (This was also the first time I remember singing publicly… My parents showed up that night and I asked them to leave out of embarrassment.) That same year, Skynyrd announced their tour and one of their stops was through Halifax. So I mowed a few lawns, went down to the local Sobeys and bought my single $35 ticket. I was over the moon. A month later, I showed up at the Metro Center and took my seat. The lights went dark and suddenly I was transported, along with everyone else, to a time long before I was born: 1973. I was 12 at the time and my eyes were completely opened. Every baby boomer, hippie child, redneck, and skinhead showed up denim clad and with enough weed to kill Willie Nelson. (This was also probably the first time I was ever high—on music, of course.) The moment I remember best was when they played “Tuesday's Gone”. Three or four metal/thrasher-types with long black hair standing behind me began head-banging to the song. By the end of the night, the back of my shirt had a new design comprised of sweat, mucus, and saliva. To me, that was rock and roll… That was what it was to feel the music… That is what I want for my fans. Maybe not spit and sweat all over each other, but to feel the music enough that it moves them and makes them uninhibited—surrendered to the sounds. For weeks after the concert, I would write music all day long and make home recordings on tapes in my best friend’s basement. 

      Top three records  

      Jeff Buckley Grace  I first heard this album when I was in high school and was immediately transfixed by his vocal ability and the raw emotion his voice possessed. Before then, I had never exposed myself to the kind of music he made and he completely changed my musical sensibilities. Like most people, I heard “Hallelujah” first, but as I dug deeper into his discography I discovered a wealth of music that unfortunately was limited to a few albums. 

      Paul Simon Graceland  This was my first tour soundtrack. I took a train across Canada with my friend Gabrielle Papillion in the summer of 2010. Going through the Prairies was never as colourful and vibrant as when I put on “Gumboots” and “Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes”. His writing and creative production exemplified on the record set the bar for my own music going forward. 

      Bon Iver Bon Iver  This record gave me chills the very first time I heard it. And it still does. For me, Justin Vernon pushed the boundaries of folk music on that record and set the bar very high in regards to creativity and production. In the music I create, I want only to put out the very best. I believe that’s why his music resonates with me so much. 

      All-time favourite video

      The Verve "Bittersweet Symphony"  I loved "Bittersweet Symphony". I’ve always been drawn to its beauty in simplicity and timeless sound and the video's visuals. The video, much like the song, has attitude, grit, and Richard Ashcroft doesn’t give a shit when pedestrians disregard his existence and rudely bump into him. As a young teenager, I identified with his lanky frame, awkward mannerisms, and his perceivable struggle to fit into his surroundings. In school, I was often bullied because I never really fit into a mould. I was musical, artistic, nerdy, spiritual, and athletic. I suppose that seeing someone like me made me feel like I was okay and that I was not alone. 

      What's in your fridge

      Trader Joe's Green Dragon Hot Sauce. I’m very passionate about most Trader Joe's products and I also love Mexican food. When I was living in Seattle, I was down the street from a Trader Joe's, so I always looked forward to grocery shopping. When they unleashed the green dragon last year, I instantly became victim of it. It’s got some serious bite but doesn’t overpower the other food flavours. I would suggest putting it on tacos, huevos rancheros, and most everything else.  

      The leftover carnage of a birthday cake. My birthday was a month ago and I was sick most of the day. My girlfriend bought me a birthday cake and set up a party for me with balloons and streamers at Rodney's Oyster House, and she invited a bunch of my friends. Unfortunately, I never made it to the party, so I didn’t get to enjoy the celebration. Each night, I whittle away at the cake piece by piece.

      Bob Loves Thai Food leftovers. I had the chance to visit Thailand a few years ago and I got hooked on the food. When I moved to Vancouver, I felt it was important to be around lots of great restaurants. I live close to Bob Loves Thai Food. It’s probably the best green curry I have ever had. I LOVE green curry. The only downside of living so close to the restaurant is that I get distracted when I walk out my front door or leave my window open.

       

       

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