artist Culture Reject

We are two bands who play as one. For the next three weeks Poorfolk and the Mohawk Lodge will be on the road, travelling from Vancouver to Toronto with the former backing the latter. We, Poorfolk, are on the road to promote our sophomore album “Our Burning Street” and Ryder – of the Lodge – is with us for both practical and party reasons. The party excuse is just that - he has never been the type to pass over an excuse to spread his manic and intense roots rock across the the country. The practical is that he has decided to relocate his label, ‘White Whale Records’, and his band to Toronto. Be afraid Ontarians for he does not plan on tolerating Apathy- he will be in your face, making you listen, care and dance. Resistance is futile. If you cooperate you will be transported to both an original and familiar place where more than your toes move. You will find yourself, shaker in hand, at the front of the club and you will be one of us. Friday the 18th of September: The Biltmore We arrived on Thursday to a flurry of errands and prep work for the tour. Among our tasks is to simply rehearse with Ryder. Friday will be the original Mohawk Lodge line-ups last show together for an indefinite amount of time. With no animosity, they are to remain in Vancouver while Poorfolk take over their duties on the road. We are from Ottawa and have been practicing our own material at home so a shotgun rehearsal means learning a lot of material in about four hours. I have already played bass for them before, but the remainder of the band was forced learn the catalogue via the album and in record time. They’ve done their homework though and the practice, with the help of Lodge member Cory Price, goes well and Ryder, felt sweet relief. The Show: We missed sound check that night while tying up last minute details for the road: equipment, insurance, condoms, antiseptics etc- Just minutes after we haul our gear in the show begins with the beautiful textured sounds of ‘Lakefield’. The Biltmore echoed with song for only seconds before the audience, hanging around the side bars or smoking outside, dampened the sound with their bodies on the floor in front of the stage. Up next, Brian and Dave of ‘Japandroids’ attacked us with gut shots and sonic upper cuts. We learn later that we’ll be playing a show with them, Collapsing Opposites and Brasstronaught at the Friendship Cove in Montreal during the Pop festival. This excites us for two reasons. First, I was somewhat occupied during their set and want to see them see them rock out again. Second, these boys can drink and we’re looking forward to partying with them. It was Dave’s birthday eve that night and we watched him put back a healthy dose of Whiskey while not missing a beat. As we set up for Poorfolk I scanned the audience with awe at how jovial and positive everyone was there (yes- we have played to some depressing crowds over the years). It’s clear we’ve got a lot of friends in Vancouver. People chanted and partied all through our set and made up for all the intensity that preceded this trip. First night and I’m already satisfied. We end with ‘Stupid as a Tank’, joined by the audience on stage chanting along with us. As we start to leave the stage someone calls out ‘Motor Away’ by Guided By Voices, and Arch from the Lodge sings it out to put a cap on this great experience for us. Finally The Lodge are up. I haven’t played with these boys for a year and am so happy to share this ‘last show’ with Arch, Cory and Rob. These are possibly the funniest men I have ever met and before I have a chance to have a smoke between sets my stomach already hurts from laughing. Ryder gives Vancouver a goodbye they ought not forget. For an hour and a half he dances and belts out the songs like a man possessed and I’m pleased to follow along- the only difficulty is staying out of his way as he spins around and destroys the stage. For everyone involved with this night I would like to personally thank you. I would have in person, but about ten seconds after we left the stage Ryder and I got into a... Well... let’s just say that drama ensued. Sometimes the booze gets our ire up and we let ourselves say things we later regret. The negative, however, always turns around for us and as I woke the next morning, pain in my head and on three hours sleep, I call Ryder and we just start laughing. Water under the bridge. We pack up and head out for Kelowna.