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

Graham Madden.

Who are you

I’m from the jangly indie pop band Leisure Club. We’re releasing our debut album today and celebrating with a pizza party on November 24 at The Biltmore Cabaret.

First concert

I got my first guitar when I was 16 and listened almost exclusively to classic rock. After countless hours learning "Smoke on the Water" I shelled out $50 to see Deep Purple and Thin Lizzy at the Orpheum with my friend and his dad. We stood down in the front soaking up the guitar solos and I was left in disbelief that I had wasted the last 16 years of my life not going to rock concerts. I’m not sure if I even knew who Thin Lizzy was at that point, but one thing was for sure; the boys were back in town.

Life-changing concert

I was standing in line for the beer garden at the first Pemberton festival when I looked over and saw Wayne Coyne of the Flaming Lips roll off the stage in a hamster ball into a sea of outreached hands. That looked like a hell of a lot more fun than waiting in a line so we ran over to get involved. I’d heard that the Lips put on a great live show, but this was wayyyyy more than I expected. A man was in a giant inflatable ball crowd-surfing with a wireless mic to start off the set; Teletubbies were dancing on stage; confetti was raining down; hundreds of 10-foot-wide balloons were bouncing everywhere; it was pure chaos. They spared no expense with the stage antics and walked the line of being gimmicky but never fully crossed it. It drew everyone in. We were all there but not there, while being soaked by firehoses.

Top three records

Tame Impala Currents I was waiting at the Osheaga main stage for The Shins to come on when all of a sudden out comes Tame Impala. I don’t think I’ve listened to any other album more since it came out and the fact that he did it all himself really knocks it out of the park for me.

Wilco Sky Blue Sky Nels Cline is by far one of my biggest guitar influences and has led me to develop a serious whammy bar addiction. I’ve heard this album get some negative reviews compared to the rest of their catalog but it keeps me coming back for more everytime.

Chet Baker Chet Baker Sings I stumbled upon this one right after having the rug pulled out from under me by a girl. Even though they’re all covers it perfectly sums up the arc of a relationship and it hit me hard. If I’m ever in a mood this gets thrown on.

All-time favourite video

Battles "My Machine" The idea of endlessly falling down an up-escalator really paints a picture. I still have no idea how they shot this. It seems like one seamless shot but I don’t even know if that’s possible. On first watch you’re thinking “Okay what could possibly happen next?”, but he just keeps flailing. I just want him to stop so badly and ride it to the top. Maybe that’s a metaphor they’re pushing for.

What’s in your fridge

Pesto. Arguably the most versatile sauce of all sauces. Potatoes, pasta, veggies, salad—it just works too perfectly.

Hey Y’all! Southern Style Hard Iced Tea. The cure for nearly any ailment, this elixir of iced tea and vodka has a cool spot in my fridge any day. Goes down easy, stays down easy.

My roommate’s rotting vegetables. While I appreciate the intention to save money and eat in, this just doesn’t ever end up happening for my roommate, which leads to the inevitable pungent stench of juicy cucumbers and wrinkled Costco packs of bell peppers. End rant.

You can check out Leisure Club here, and see the band at the Biltmore on Friday (November 24).