Darwin Deez

You know the way all those new condos look in Brooklyn? Giant sky blue windows head to toe, shiny, sleek… with frames of light green, some tan, some metallic grey? Possibly made of dubious/cheap materials that aren’t made to last? Yesterday I realized that Vancouver is the capital of those condos. Downtown was blooming with them, like a hundred had all been built last year, a mecca of 2011-era Luxery Loft Living architecture. And I know it sounds like I’m about to get all cynical here, but I didn’t mind. I was perfectly smiley to be in Vancouver for the first time, glad to be in British Columbia for the first time, and fascinated to be in a place to that had, hands down, out-condoed my neighborhood.

There were a fair amount of Australians that came out to the show. I get the impression that there’s a steady flow of them  flying over to Vancouver to go skiing at some legendary mountain nearby. The juxtaposition of Australians, Canada, the well attended venue, the noticeable increase in fans approaching Darwin on the street, made me wonder “hmmm does Darwin just go over better in places that are whiter?” (UK, Germany, Australia, Canada…) It’s a flawed theory, I know, but interesting to speculate upon.

Cole and Nardwuar

Darwin was eager the whole ride up because we were about to do an interview with Nardwuar (The Human Serviette). He’s this eccentric who’s been interviewing people like Jay-Z, Lady Gaga, Nirvana, etc. since forever. Part of his thing is that Nardwuar really does his research digging up obscure facts. Another part of his thing is he wears this plaid hat with a puffy poof ball. We rallied with Nardwuar when we got to Media Club. He lived up to the hype. What a weird, wild, exceptional dude.

I loved our Vancouver set. I told the crowd “I think this is our best set of US tour so far, probably because it’s not in the US.” Lotsa people, enthusiasm and good energy, quality sound on the stage, Darwin getting especially soulful.

I asked the crowd to tell me how they say the word “carbs.” My Michigan accent is a regular target of Deez van mockery, with “carbs” being the crux of the attacks. Pleasantly, in Vancouver,  my pronunciation is the favored one.

I stayed over at the apartment of our wonderful friend Angel. In the morning she made me toast in her Winnie the Pooh toaster. When the bread popped out, it bleeped the Winnie the Pooh theme song. The burners were set up in such a way that the vague image of Tigger was emblazoned on the toast. She served us strawberry yogurt and apple slices and coffee. Angel was sunny and cheerful, and I was in Vancouver heaven.

waking up at angel's apt