Vancouver Buzz: The Evaporators Are Coming To Langley And Rich Hope Gets Back To Work

Let's start things off with the hilarious local music story of the week. On July 1, an event billed as "East Vanada Day" at The Underwear Farm was busted by a couple of cops who allegedly suspected illegal drinking on the premises. The Doers were just finishing their set when the "incident" took place. The best part is that one of the bands on the bill that didn't get to play were called Fake Cops.

Ahh, sweet irony.

Matt Good is spending plenty of time around his old haunts lately. He played a private show for 99.3 Fox FM contest winners at Richard's On Richards this past Canada Day and just announced an upcoming show at The Commodore on August 5.

For some cheap beer and loud tunes, punk it up a little and check out Surrey lunatics Lupus tonight at The Cobalt with Kill Allen Wrench. Ex-Grape of Wrath Kevin Kane drops into town tonight for a headlining show at The Main with opening act Patrick Brealey. Age Of Electric/Static In Stereo alumni Todd Kerns is headlining at The Media Club July 10 with Superbeing, Ten Ways From Sunday and Shiver. Billed as "The Glam Rock Revival," this fundraiser for the Make-A-Wish foundation should be a wacky night.

John Ford, Thee Shams and Swank play Mikes Tavern July 13. It's good to see John Ford back in action. They're one of Vancouver's most underrated live acts. Ford frontman Rich Hope is also playing a solo show at The Main, July 15. Hope is a surprisingly strong solo performer whose one-man shows are all too infrequent.

Honeysuckle, one of Vancouver's hardest working bands, play The Cellar July 11 with The Retreads. This venue rarely puts on live rock acts, so get out there and show your support to convince the management to kick-out the jams more often!

Like a fine wine, Sonic Youth just keep getting better with age. Their Wednesday appearance on Conan O'Brian demonstrated how great their new material sounds live. When Youth guitarist Lee Ranaldo was in town a few weeks back, he played a surprise solo show at Spartacus Books, which burned to the ground just a few days later. Hopefully his incendiary music doesn't prove equally as dangerous when The Youth come to The Commodore Ballroom on July 13.

Olympia indie kids The Gossip are playing an all-ages show at Mesa Luna July14. Following their show, check out the Suicide Girls live Burlesque show at the same venueâ... hubba hubba.

Facefest 2004 takes place July 17 at The Railway Club. This odd fundraiser is apparently being held to raise money for a band practice space called FacePlant. The shindig features a myriad of lesser known local acts including Evan Symons, Slowpoke, Uber Sissy, Motorama, Betty Kracker, Wet Exit, Reverberators Remix, Pax, Filthy Rocket, Salmon Arm, Emergency, The Hunter Cometh, Walkerband, Azul Salvaje, Richard Forham, Bughouse Five, Seventh Image, Vancouverland Rangers, The Rain And The Sidewalk, Al Contraire, Huskee Dudes and Seventh Image.

The Fitness are coming to Vancouver with Scissor Sisters for a show at Richard's On Richards July 21. This show is worth attending merely in hopes that the Fitness will play their brilliant song "Chauffeur."

Good news for music fans in the valley. The Evaporators are playing in town! Good ol' Nardwuar and his wacky band are playing with The Fleshies from Oakland, Toys That Kill from San Pedro and Short Circuit at a venue called Endoplasmic Entertainment (Unit A-6011 196A St., Langley). Expect things to be a little crazy as this is actually a music production facility, not a proper venue. Be sure to stock up on gouda and cheddar to toss at Nardo when he sings his latest hit single "Addicted To Cheese."