Jodie Ponto Photography

I was recently told the worst part of living in Vancouver is that when you introduce yourself elsewhere you have to endure the inevitable, “You live in Vancouver? Eckhart Tolle lives in Vancouver! Oh my God, do you know him? The Power of Now changed my life … It’s my Bible!”.

Although I haven’t yet had to face that, I have seen the best Vancouver has to offer.  For example, a Tuesday night soiree in a storage-warehouse-top apartment where the order of the eve is quality feasting, jamming, and watching old 1930s cartoons projector-style.

You may recognize some of the fine musicians in the following photos as they include various members of Miss Quincy & The Showdown, The Broken Mirrors, High Society, and C.R. Avery.

You can dress her up …

But you can’t take her out.

Meet Miss Quincy’s new all-girl trio The Showdown.

Featuring upright bass and drums, these ladies are armed with attitude, killer musicianship, and are without a doubt the hottest all-girl rhythm section around. Miss Quincy doesn’t fit the classic girl singer/songwriter mold and The Showdown isn’t your average all-girl band. You won’t find them singing pretty pages out of their diaries, instead you’ll find them getting down and rocking out with raunchy electric roots & blues.

Behind The Scenes

Miss Q caught leather-handed trying to escape the photoshoot into the bar.

Don’t worry Mom, it’s just a prop.

Miss Quincy simultaneously strips and provides a cover for Shari as she pees standing up.

Miss Quincy & Holly stroking each others’ heart-ons.
Photo by Russell Eggleston

The ever-badass Showdown.

This mustache smells like hippy.
Photo by Russell Eggleston

Miss Quincy & The Showdown molesting their favorite redhead, Russell Eggleston.

The Showdown Family Portrait
Photo by Russell Eggleston

Here are a few new gems straight from my cellular device’s inbox.  To check out past Tales From The Text Box see:  “I Ate an Entire Box of Kraft Dinner Because I was so Depressed You Didn’t Call” or “Vomit and Urine Right in Your Face”.

• “Btw, I fully support the oral sex wench idea.” – 5:33pm, November 30

• “I’ve been tossing out come hither looks all day but no one’s taking the bait.” – 1:05pm, December 9

• “Good morning! I’m sick as fuck. Feels like I deepthroated the dick of Death himself.” – 9:27am, December 17

• “A lady just asked me if the scarves were made out of sherpa. That’s not even an animal.” – 8:45am, December 18

• “Did I go too far? Your silence in unnerving.” – 10:33am, December 18

• “And other fab news … Christ’s album arrived today. The perfect gift for friends or family!” – 12:43pm, December 21

• “We r at church.” – 1:05pm, December 29

• “GP!!! And that does not stand for giant poop.” – 1:04pm, December 30

• “DC. And I do not mean dilation and cuterage. Rest assured, no one has had an abortion today.” – 3:07pm, December 30

• “My thread count and sperm count are very high.” – 8:08pm, January 6

• “Hmmm … A cute pair of fishnets frozen in the driveway noted after your departure.” – 11:59am, January 8

• “Take it slow? Maybe she should take it up the ass and shut the fuck up.” – 9:30pm, January 17

• “Good news is my pants are still on. And now we’re drinking caesars.” – 1:02pm, January 21

What better way to christen your new HQ in Vancouver than by throwing a Pantsless Potluck?

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – The Tequila Mockingbird Orchestra is one of my favorite gangs of gents, both on & off stage.  They play the kind of infectious hard dancing music that I’m sure has forced many a crowd member into bed for days of post-show recovery.

Photos below are from TMO’s recent show at The Media Club in Vancouver, BC on their Migration East Tour.

Yes you read that title correctly … It’s January, we’re in Canada, and we had a beach day.

I’d say Miss Quincy, The Showdown, and I are adjusting nicely to Vancouver’s winter. Or lack thereof, rather.

If you look closely into these fortune telling sunglasses you’ll see reflections of a Vancouver beach. That’s because come next week I’ll be spending a couple months living in Canada’s loveliest coastal rain-hole with Miss Quincy and her new all-girl band The Showdown.

That’s not all, the man behind these sunglasses has been crazy enough to let us all invade his 2 bedroom basement suite on Commercial Drive.

Yes, you read that right. 4 girls + 1 boy + 2 bedroom basement suite.

Make sure to check back over January & February for what will surely be a Vancouver photo adventure and a half.

Perhaps Best Canadian Live Music Photos of 2011 isn’t as accurate a title as It’s New Year’s Eve’s Eve and I’m Slightly Under The Influence of Homemade Pear Hooch and I Photographed a Whole Hell of a lot of Music This Year and I Want To Share My Favourites.

The Tequila Mockingbird Orchestra
The Royal – Nelson, BC
Check out more photos from the show here
www.thetequilamockingbirdorchestra.com

Jesse Dee & Jacquie B
The Vat – Red Deer, AB
Check out more photos from the show here
www.jesseandjacquie.com

Miss Quincy
The Farncombe Cavern – Farncombe, UK
Check out more photos from the show here
www.missquincy.net

Noah Walker – Mojo Factory Blues Revue
The Libra Room – Vancouver, BC
Check out more photos from the show here
www.facebook.com/TheMojoFactory

Scott Cook
House Concert – Nelson, BC
Check out more photos from the show here
www.scottcook.net

Royal Wood
The Royal – Nelson, BC
Check out more photos from the show here
www.royalwood.ca

Sarah Harmer
The Royal – Nelson, BC
Check out more photos from the show here
www.sarahharmer.com

Gentleman Reg
The Royal – Nelson, BC
Check out more photos from the show here
www.gentlemanreg.com

Sasquatch Prom Date
Foxy’s Cabaret – Whitehorse, YT
Check out more photos from the show here
www.sasquatchpromdate.com

The Sheepdogs
The Rickshaw Theatre – Vancouver, BC
Check out more photos from the show here
www.thesheepdogs.com

The Rural Alberta Advantage
The Royal – Nelson, BC
Check out more photos from the show here
www.theraa.com

Maria in the Shower
The Rickshaw Theatre – Vancouver, BC
Check out more photos from the show here
www.mariaintheshower.com

Meet The Resurrect Christ Foundation, my favorite post-voodoo shock-folk band that is also a not-for-profit society advocating for the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. They’re just about to release a new album called Lest Ye Sin.

Their website lives here, check it out or burn in hell: www.theresurrectchristfoundation.com

Josh Giesbrecht

“One day, while practicing tantric long division, Josh had a musical vision that would push the boundaries of contemporary music to their absolute limit. A true multi-instrumentalist, he felt that by combining all of the instruments he owned, borrowed, stole, or created, he could produce the ultimate, boundless soundscape. That didn’t work, so he recorded the ‘Little Sins’ album instead…”

Jared Giesbrecht

“Jared rides entirely on the coat-tails of his brother Josh. He has no discernible musical talent, yet somehow manages to make a contribution. His caustic wit, along with his effervescent personality and nearly unmanageable sex-appeal, keeps him in the band. When asked what he does, he simply points at the guitar and says ‘that’. Talk about the strong silent type…”

Mark Bodner

“Mark refuses to play live with the band, calling them a ragtag collection of talentless hacks. He prefers the studio sessions, whereby he can be in complete control of all the elements required to lay down the exquisite tracks necessary to propel the simplistic tunes into the extremes of sexsonic greatness. His technique varies between dulcet and intoxicated…”

Behind The Scenes

Now that’s a res-erection.

Walking with Christ.

Let your hair down if you love Jesus.