VCL interview podcast with Andy Cotter

I chatted with East Coast touring musician, Andy Cotter, after his Vancouver City Limits Showcase at the Railway Club, April 28, 2010.  He's in town for a few shows with his bass player, Richard Gloade.  They were also touring with their drummer but...well, he'll tell you all about it in the interview! ;) 

If you happened to miss his VCL Showcase at the Railway, there's still time to catch him before he heads East again!  Vancouver City Limits is hosting another Showcase at The Rowing Club in Stanley Park on Friday April 30.  (We figured he'd come all this way, he could play 'em both!)  Andy will be in good company, along side performers Sara Ciantar, Cory Hawthorne, and 21 Tandem Repeats.

Now, just look at his itinerary!  This is one hard-working musician!  I found him to be confident, with a ready smile, and some of his answers surprised me...




3 Apr 2010 10:00

The Troubadour Toronto, Ontario

6 Apr 2010 8:00

Green Archers of Wabigoon Wabigoon, Ontario

7 Apr 2010 8:00

Park Theater Winnipeg, Manitoba

8 Apr 2010 8:00

The Haven Social Club Edmonton, Alberta

11 Apr 2010 7:00

The Slice Lethbridge, Alberta

14 Apr 2010 8:00

Dickens Pub Calgary, Alberta

15 Apr 2010 10:00

Atlantic Trap and Grill Calgary, Alberta

16 Apr 2010 10:00

The Canmore Hotel Canmore, Alberta

17 Apr 2010 10:00

Explores Lounge Lake Louise, Alberta

18 Apr 2010 8:00

Lake Louise Hostel - Jam Night Lake Louise, Alberta

19 Apr 2010 10:00

Stables Pub Lake Louise, Alberta

20 Apr 2010 8:00

Whistle Stop Pub Jasper, Alberta

21 Apr 2010 8:00

Rockwater Bar and Grill Golden, British Columbia

22 Apr 2010 8:00

Rockwater Bar and Grill Golden, British Columbia

23 Apr 2010 9:00

The BrickHouse Fernie, British Columbia

24 Apr 2010 9:00

The BrickHouse Fernie, British Columbia

25 Apr 2010 9:00

The Brickhouse Fernie, British Columbia

27 Apr 2010 8:00

Cafe Deux Soleis Vancouver, British Columbia

28 Apr 2010 10:00

The Railway w/ Nat Jay, Cassandra Bangel, Chantel Upshaw

Vancouver City Limits Showcase, Vancouver, British Columbia

29 Apr 2010 8:00

Wired Monk Coffee Bistro Vancouver, British Columbia

30 Apr 2010 9:00

The Rowing Club w/ Sara Ciantar, Cory Hawthorne, 21 Tandem Repeats
Vancouver City Limits Showcase, Vancouver, British Columbia


1 May 2010 8:00

Lorenzos Cafe Ashton Creek (Just outside Enderby), British Columbia

2 May 2010 6:00

Truffle Pigs Cafe Field, British Columbia

6 May 2010 8:00

Blacksheep Inn Wakefield, Quebec

7 May 2010 10:00

Grumpy’s Bar Montreal, Quebec

8 May 2010 10:00

Pape Georges Quebec City, Quebec

9 May 2010 10:00

Wilsers Room Fredericton, New Brunswick

10 May 2010 10:00

Snooty Fox Fredericton, New Brunswick

23 Jul 2010 4:30

Evolve Music Festival Antigonish, Nova Scotia



Find out more about Andy Cotter and hear some of his tunes here:  http://www.myspace.com/andrewcottersounds


submitted by Lucie Walker

VCL Interviews: Adam Gibbs & Illiteratty

Friday nights are rockin' at The Vancouver Rowing Club!  Downstairs in The Carver Room, an English style pub, folks enjoy appetizers, hearty meals, and drink specials to go along with the stunning view of Coal Harbour. 

They also enjoy an evening of live entertainment courtesy of Vancouver City Limits!  From 7:30 - midnight,  VCL Producer, Bruce Gerrish, takes the stage and hosts a talented line up of emerging local artists.

I had the pleasure of interviewing two of those artists for the April 23rd show... Adam Gibbs and the band Illiteratty.

ADAM GIBBS

Adam Gibbs is an intuitive singer-songwriter originally from London, England and now living in Vancouver. He is unsure about many things, but one thing he is sure about is he loves a good melody. He spends many hours hunting them down on his guitar and when he thinks he's found one, he likes to share it with people.

I'm so glad Adam Gibbs was at The Rowing Club last night to share his songs with us.  His melodies are indeed infectious, and his delivery, unassuming.

 

I sat down with Adam after his performance and found him to be a really nice guy.  Humble, even.  He's been writing songs about 5 years, and only performing for 2, but his quiet assuredness on stage makes that seem impossible.  He calls his music Folk Pop, and a stand-out song in his set was the radio-friendly 'Shades of Grey.'

A new Father to 8 month old Poppy, the 30 year old singer/songwriter finds time to write and perform, but has had to put plans for a band on hold for now.  Something tells me it won't be for long.  After listening to his CD, Songs from the Bunker, I get the feeling that having his songs fleshed out with full instrumentation is how he hears the songs when he writes them.  Just a hunch, based on how melodic and catchy they are.  I particularly enjoyed the lilting 3rd track, This Abandoned Place.

When asked about his writing inspiration, Adam revealed that living an authentic life and trusting his inner voice and intuition are what matter to him.  In his writing, he uses imagery, metaphors, and is sometimes really direct.  Drawing from his life experiences, he writes from the heart, while managing lyrics relatable to all. 
http://www.myspace.com/adamgibbsband

Lucie Walker, Vancouver City Limits

************************************

ILLITERATTY  

It seems that the members of Illiteratty were destined to play music together.  23 years ago, Songwriter/Vocalist/Guitarist Earle Peach and Mandolin player Albert Klassen played in a band called Natural Elements.  A couple years ago, they reunited musically, and 6 months later, Bass player Wanda Mundy joined in.  And just a few weeks ago, the 'newbie' in the band, Percussionist Revellie Nixon, hopped on board, not having seen Wanda since their days in a local band together some 20 years ago.  

Together they breathe new life into Earl's beautiful songs, with a rich, warm sound that wins over audiences...from the listening crowd to the pub crowd.  They call their sound "Hypno Folk", or "Psycho Folk", depending on who in the band you ask!  Whatever you call it, they had 'em going Friday night at the Rowing Club during their Vancouver City Limits Showcase.  Up and dancing and yelling for encores.  (They really are that good.)

Earle, who currently directs 3 choirs, has been writing songs since he was 12 years old, yet feels he is still learning.  He has written more songs than he could ever perform in one show, and as a group, Illiteratty has a night's worth of tunes.   He crafts his songs with imagery, sometimes using humor, sometimes yearning, sometimes just a good story, to reach people. 

He'd always envisioned a band with 2 men and 2 woman, saying it keeps the energy light, and indeed the harmonies balance out just perfectly. 

Illiteratty will be embarking on tour to the North end of Vancouver Island at the end of June 2010.

Recently, a band from Cincinnati, Ohio, contacted Earle, saying they were going to be in town, and that they really liked Illiteratty's sound, and asked if they would like to share a show in July.  Earle told them he would consult his fellow Illiterats!

I sure look forward to hearing Illiteratty again, and look forward one day soon to buying their CD.  Earle Peach's CD, By the Flood, is a beautiful 15 song collection, available online at CD BABY
Hear more songs on myspace:  http://www.myspace.com/illiteratty

Lucie Walker, Vancouver City Limits