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

Andrew Phelan

Who are you

I play loud sad songs in the Americana Rock ballpark, with the next show this Wednesday (October 25) at The Biltmore Cabaret. I've got some new music coming out really soon to prep for the LP in Spring 2018!

First concert

My Mum was a big folk festival fan, and when she realized that was something I might be into around 12 or so, she got some scalped tickets for Byron Bay Bluesfest in Australia. I really wasn't a fan of big crowds then, so when she was looking for the guy to pick them up from, I saw him first and almost didn't let her know. After feeling really guilty about that, we got the tickets, and I crammed into the crowd to watch Ben Harper and The Innocent Criminals close things out. I was so pumped by the whole atmosphere, and was instantly in love with music festivals. I've got a good feeling it didn't hurt I was, without a doubt, second-hand high off a bunch of weed floating around. 

Life-changing concert

There used to be an event called "The Great Escape" (Not the UK festival) held out on an old armoury base in Sydney harbour. I saw Sigur Ros close out the night in 2005, and it changed how I watched performances for the rest of my life. The whole show started with a giant projector screen with all of the players back lit, showing up 40 feet tall on the sheet. After the first song, the screen was dragged back, and they continued to do what they do: make beautiful noise. The moon was out, they were singing in a made up language with bowing guitars, a string section, and huge drum parts. It was all a lot to take in for one brain.     

Top three records

Gillian Welch Time, The Revelator  Without a doubt, my favourite collection of songwriting. Gillian Welch captures an emotion with songs that I have never experienced from anyone else. It's also a total masterclass in harmony with David Rawlings.

Meshuggah Nothing  When I was in high school, I asked my drum teacher to give me something challenging to learn, and hit hard while learning. He called my bluff. If you want to listen to something challenging, and hit things really hard, this is your guy. Listen to this before you jump out of a plane. Or drive across the Prairies.

 The Weakerthans Reunion Tour  Growing up in Sydney, Australia, hearing John K Samson sing about the Canadian landscape was so foreign to me. Not much else to say about it, other than it makes me feel good. That's the end goal, right? 

All-time favourite video

Lisa Hannigan “Little Bird” Aside from being a beautiful song, the film clip is incredible in its simplicity. The whole video is a single shot that has been slowed down as Lisa Hannigan is underwater in a bath. They sped the song up so that she could sing the entire song while staying underwater, and then slowed it back down to normal speed. The clip ends with her coming up for air. It kind if stresses me out to watch, but it's such a clever concept for a great song.  

What's in your fridge

Right now, I am in the middle of a tour, and in between Chicago, IL and Fargo, ND. The motel I am in doesn't have a fridge, but it's just starting to get cold enough that the outside window sill is keeping things plenty cold. 

Nuts. A few years back, I decided that eating healthy on the road meant just trying to not eat burgers every single meal of the day. A handful of trail mix every few states these days is about as good as it gets.

Bud. In the middle of trying to not talk about hunting and live bait, a cashier in the Midwest told me his favourite local beer was Corona...... I figured it made more sense that the locals were probably drinking Bud as a local in Minnesota instead.

White Castle slider. This was my first White Castle experience, I got a little over excited about the idea you buy four burgers per meal. I bought six. I bought too many. Here's hoping half a slider for breakfast in Fargo, North Dakota is as romantic as it sounds.