Last Saturday, I introduced you to the venerable Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver’s finest concert venue. In the comments, a question was asked – “Hey Beerguy, why you no mention any Canadian bands you saw there?” Well, the short answer is that I usually went to the Commodore for visiting acts. There were plenty of other places in Vancouver to see quality Canadian bands. Plus, Loverboy, April Wine, Triumph & Bryan Adams were all in the arena phase of their careers. Rush always played arenas.

Going to university between 1986-1992, there were some fine local acts available. A Vancouver standard was punk band DOA.

You had to see them off campus, because they managed to get themselves banned from the Student Union after a particularly bad 1982 show.

They still occasionally perform today, or do things like cover old Terry Jacks (“Seasons in the Sun“) songs for charitable causes.

The leader of DOA, Joe Keithley (aka Joey Shithead), ran for provincial election in 2017 as a member of the Green Party. He came a respectable third.

One band that was always available & willing to play UBC was 54-40.

Named after the famous “54-40 or fight!” speech of James Polk, they have been an institution on the West Coast since the early 80s. Most Americans don’t know who they are, but “Friends” and Hootie & The Blowfish still earn the band residual payments to this day.

The actual song is from 1986, which made it part of my grad soundtrack & first year at university.

They remain a quality show to this day.

A third band I have an affinity for is the Odds.

They used to also be a cover band at Vancouver’s finest pickup bar, The Roxy. They were known there as The Dawn Patrol. One of the guys in my fraternity was related to the bass player, so we would occasionally rent them on off-weekends to play our parties. They would agree to do three 45-minute sets – two as the Dawn patrol, and one as the Odds, where they would try out their new music. During my time, we got to hear songs off their Neopolitan album,

and “Bedbugs”, which had a song I think some people have heard before.

Anyway, that’s just a taste of what I got to experience during the six years I spent pursuing a four-year degree. None of the classics like Loverboy or Chilliwack, but they were just a little before my time. But given who I had access to, I had myself a good time.

Tonight’s sports:

• AAF:
  • Orlando at Salt Lake – 8:00PM | NFLN
• NHL:
  • Sabres at Leafs – 7:00PM | CBC / NHLN
  • Pens at Habs – 7:00PM | Sportsnet
  • Sens at Bolts – 7:00PM | City
  • Wild at Flames – 10:00PM | CBC
• NBA:
  • Warriors at 76ers – 8:30PM | ABC
• NCAA:
  • *North Carolina at Clemson – 6:00PM | ESPN
  • Bradley at Loyola (Chicago) – 6:00PM | ESPN2
  • Utah at Colorado – 6:00PM | ESPNU
  • Baylor at Kansas State – 8:00PM | ESPN2
  • Memphis at Cincinnati – 8:00PM | ESPNU
  • Gonzaga at St. Mary’s (Cal.) – 10:00PM | ESPN
  • Arizona at Oregon – 10:00PM | ESPN2
• Futbol:
  • MLS:
    • Whitecaps FC vs. Minnesota – 6:00PM | TSN
    • Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Chicago Fire – 8:00PM | FS1
    • Seattle Sounders vs. FC Cincinnati – 10:00PM | FS1
•  MMA:
  • UFC 235 Prelims: Jones vs. Smith – 8:00PM | ESPN / TSN5

Really, small venue music is usually good music, you just have to find the place that plays the genre you enjoy. Plus, GETTING OUT OF THE HOUSE IS FUN!