Anchor Guitars – Rich Hope “reason to believe” from Anchor Guitars on Vimeo.
Nice little treat for you this February day. This is Rich’s rendition of Bruce Springsteen’s “Reason to Believe”. As per the link:
‘Reason to Believe’ was originally recorded on the album Nebraska in 1982. The haunting songs on Nebraska were all stripped down, and recorded with a vintage 4 cassette reel to reel. They were recorded as demos, and the intention was that the band could use them as a foundation to record the full album. The album was never recorded by the E Street Band, and the songs was sent to press from the demo tapes. ‘Reason to Believe’ is a fitting title to the final song on the album Nebraska, a timeless classic that inspires just as it is named.
We were so excited about Part II we nearly missed Part I. Thanks Green Couch Sessions!
Green Couch Session – Rich Hope from Green Couch on Vimeo.
I love the Boss. Always have. I remember the day my dad brought home The River and we listened to Hungry Heart. Born in the USA was the soundtrack to my 14th summer. I couldn’t get enough of that record and I began to work backwards through his discography over the years and I still discover new things about his work that moves me. I have seen many concerts in my life but the top three are all Bruce shows. His solo show at GM Place a few years back was simply the most unreal performance i have ever seen. So what’s the point?? Well, when someone calls up and says they’d like to have me play a few good Bruce songs for a little soiree, I’m in.
Robert J. Wiersema has written a book, called Walk Like a Man, which will be celebrated at Red Cat Records this Saturday night at 8pm. It’s presented by our friends at The Tyee. C’mon down to Lucky Town, it’ll be great.
I’d been planning it for a month. Seeing Charles Bradley that is. Chris had sent me the youtube vid for his version of “Heart of Gold” a few months back and it was ON. Then I heard that Hall & Oates were hittin’ the PNE for a set on THE SAME NIGHT! WHAT? How often can you manage to squeeze in not one, but TWO sets of incredible music. One from the Philly duo who have written nothing short of standards for a generation and one from a man who should have, but somehow has escaped the public ear until now. Answer: NOT OFTEN. So, it was a given. Let’s make it happen.
Me and Dustin bolted from my East Van digs on our bikes and arrived at the PNE grounds only to find out we couldn’t get as close as we’d imagined to the legendary H & O. No surprise there, of course as they’ve some of the greatest songs of the 70′s and 80′s. I was a Willie Nelson/Joe Strummer/punk rock, rock n roll kid but you know, the song is the thing and Hall & Oates have written some great ones. I always liked them. Naysayers would call it pop shmaltz but you tell me the last time you wrote a song as good as “Rich Girl” or “Out of Touch” . That shit is untouchable. There is a formula for perfection out there, people, and they have it. But i digress.
The show was a pitch-perfect run through their greatest hits without a touch of “we’re doing this for the money” vibe and i’ll tell you, the people were eating it up. By the time they hit their encore with “You Make My Dreams Come True”, we were dancing our way back to our bikes and on our way to see the legend in the making, Mr. Charles Bradley.
The Biltmore was as packed as i’ve seen it and Bradley stepped onstage to the adulation of the seething crowd. He soaked up our energy and threw it back at us with a voice not heard since James Brown hit the airwaves. The gratitude and passion this man exudes is palpable and i was nearly brought to tears at one point during the show when he expressed his thankfulness at being here in Canada despite his shaky border crossing. (Seems he mighta had a little trouble with the law at some point). And then there’s the band. Holy shit, can i get with that. PHD’s from the University of Groove. So tight that i thought i actually was at a James Brown show. It was like seeing something that was just meant to happen. A 68 year-old man gets put with 7 kids that can play like MF’s and it’s magic. That shit is ordained.
I was humbled, to say the least. It made me want to be better. I love that feeling.
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So they asked me to write a weeklyish blog about what i listen to. I told ‘em that listening to kids crying is no subject for a blog post. But then last Sunday morning as i shuffled about with my coffee, the fever hit me. It’s summer, and finally sunny and when that happens, there are certain LP’s that call out to be played. One of those is Straight Up, by the legendary Badfinger.
I was originally introduced to “The ‘Finger” by my friend and bandmate in John Ford, Paul Kehayas, who insisted that i “get down to Commercial Drive IMMEDIATELY, as there are Apple Label vinyl copies of all the Badfinger records for $10.00 each”!!!!! (I was glad i did, for it wasn’t even two years later when the vinyl neophytes discovered it and the average price rocketed to over $30.00)
The album was recorded for the Beatles’ Apple label at Abbey Road studios. It was a couple of years in the making as the original producer Geoff Emerick was replaced by George Harrison who was then replaced by Todd Rundgren after Harrison lost interest in the project due to his Concert For Bangladesh commitments. It spawned the hit, Baby Blue, which would be a staple on classic rock radio for years to come – and is still one of my favorite songs. Frequent comparisons to The Beatles plagued the band though i would suggest that the moniker “the 70′s Beatles” is a fitting one. Their albums are pure pop masterpieces, featuring great songwriting and arrangements and fantastic vocal harmonies. They are one of those bands that existed right when rock’n'roll was getting fleshed out and fancy, but before it got too fat.
The band’s tragic (understatement!) end would come a few years later as troubles with the label and and management led to Pete Ham’s suicide. The details of the band’s demise are lengthy and worth at least one really good documentary (there are a few out there). So grab Straight Up and knock it back.
Tuesday, August 16th: Timbre Productions proudly presents Rich Hope and his Evil Doers as special guests of the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion at VENUE (881 Granville). Doors at 8pm, show 9:30pm. Tickets $22.50 in advance at Red Cat, Scratch and Highlife Records or at TicketWeb.
If you responsibly rocked out this coming Friday night (and even if you don’t) then the right place to be on Saturday morning (July 23) would be at 4th & Vine at 11:30 am to see Rich Hope & His Evil Doers. He will be acting as your wake up call at the Khatsalano: 4th Avenue Music Fest. There is guaranteed to be rock n roll on The Peak Main Stage at 11:30 and just because he’s a nice guy, Rich is gonna see what he can do about the sunshine.
Rich Hope & His Evil Doers have been announced as part of Canada Place’s celebration of our nation’s birth. Truly as majestically Canadian as maple syrup and hockey, Rich will be bringing all the rock n roll you can manage on a holiday Friday afternoon on the Shore 104.3 Stage. Rich Hope & His Evil Doers will be kicking out the jams around 5pm, the event is free and there’s lots of local Vancouver talent to take in, so mark your calendars and press your finest reds and whites accordingly.
Tour dates!
Thursday April 7 – The Elite Diner, Penticton BC
Friday April 8 – The Palomino Smokehouse, Calgary AB
Saturday April 9 – Scalliwags, Camrose AB
We’ll see you all there!