Street Pharmacy Promote Welland

Street Pharmacy and more than 500 of their fans took a stand in the name of music and shut down the biggest bridge in their hometown of Welland, Ont. last weekend.

The actual details may be a little more polite and Canadian than that sounds. The band had a special events permit to shut down the East Main Street bridge and shoot a video for their song "Welcome 2 Tha Street Pharmacy." The mayor not only endorsed the shoot, he also showed up and put on a Street Pharmacy T-shirt. The group even planned the video around local construction, ensuring that most traffic had already been diverted from the bridge and fewer people would be inconvenienced. But singer/guitarist Ryan Guay says that there was still a little rock 'n' roll rebellion involved in their takeover of the local landmark.

"In Welland, the older people are kind of against the music scene. I think some older people going to church were upset [about the closure], but who cares? You've got to do what you've got to do."

There was also some civic pride behind the decision.

"I wanted to get Welland on national TV," says Guay. "Why not showcase Welland? It's not that big of a shit-hole."

It looks like Street Pharmacy's efforts to bring the bridge to your television screen may be realized soon. "Welcome 2 Tha Street Pharmacy" is still being edited, but MuchMusic has already expressed interest in the band thanks to a lucky Street Pharmacy friend and fan.

Amy Gonyou managed to pique MuchMusic's curiosity when she won a contest to go to the recent MuchMusic Video Awards after making a home video of Street Pharmacy's "It's Better That Way." In a quintessentially Canadian indie rock story, Guay grabbed some CDs to take to Much and jumped in his car, which promptly broke down on the drive to Toronto. Luckily, he was able to finish his journey to the city via tow truck and delivered the discs before the show aired. The adventure was totally worthwhile.

"They were really stoked on the band to the point where they were blasting our music on the speakers outside at the awards," says Guay.

If that excitement dies down, though, Guay has some other musical stands he's willing to take to get the band's video on TV, like standing outside Much at the corner of Queen and John streets and peacefully protesting.

"If I have to become the first Canadian martyr and shave my head like Gandhi, I'll do it," he says. "I'll fast."

Get your music prescription filled at these Street Pharmacy shows:

June 28 Niagara Falls, ON @ 4555 Club
June 29 St. Catharines, ON @ The Mansion House
July 1 Brantford, ON @ Canada Day celebration
July 12 Bayfield, ON @ The Black Dog w/Mean Tangerine
July 17 London, ON @ The Salt Lounge w/Down With Webster, Staylefish and Mean Tangerine
July 24 Burlington, ON @ The Legendary Red Rooster w/Mean Tangerine
Aug. 3 Port Colborne, ON @ The Funky Monkey
Aug. 9 Lynden, ON @ I In The Eye Records Showcase