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

Norman Armour

Who are you

I’m a curator and sometime theatre artist. Right now, I have on offer the annual PuSh Festival. Fantastic… Well, heads up one of the world’s great live arts festivals. Oh, and you can find me in odd X-Files reruns, and acting with Philip Seymour Hoffman in Capote.

First concert

The earliest I can remember is being at Lighthouse, outside at the amphitheatre at the Canadian National Exhibition, at the end of a summer in Toronto where I grew up. My brothers Robert and Douglas took me, though I’m sure they were reluctant, as it would have cramped their dope- and girl-festooned evening.

Life-changing concert

Heck, the legendary Jerry Jeff Walker at the legendary Horseshoe Tavern on Toronto’s Queen Street. Again, with one of my brothers, but this time I was old enough to drink and such. I can still remember Walker banging the head of his guitar by mistake against the ceiling as he was getting into the swing of the evening. The bar scene in Toronto in the ‘80s was extraordinary. Grossman’s Tavern on Spadina was another place I frequented for jazz, $5 jugs of draft beer, and the weirdest mixed-up menu of food to stick in your stomach.

Top three records

Joni Mitchell Blue Aching melodies, aching songs, achingly beautifully complete and true to itself.

Neil Young's Zuma A period of Neil’s career where he could do no wrong, with albums like this and On the Beach and Tonight’s the Night. “Cortez the Killer” is one of the finest and most beloved guitar-solo-driven anthems in all of rock and roll.

Keith Jarret’s The Köln Concert Fell in love with this as a teenager smoking Hashish oil (where did that go), escaping whatever sense of estrangement I had at the time. To this day, I find it mesmerizing and comforting.

All-time favourite video

Sorry—never been a fan of music videos. They always struck me as a bit of a gimmick, something that exists to sell something else.

What's in your fridge

Newman’s Own All Natural Chunky Salsa. Not only is it chunky and scrumptious…all sales got to charities.

Goat Brie. Yum, yummy.

Maille Cornichons Croquants Doux Crunchy Mild Gherkins. The name alone is tasty. Try pronouncing it. Do...try it. And the experience of savouring one of these little devils in your mouth is equally rewarding.

The PuSh International Performing Arts Festival runs at various venues around town until February 5.