casbah!

11/09 - STOLEN BICYCLES GANG + THE WHODOS

2007-11-07T21:30:00.000-08:00

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 9, 2007
LIBRARY SQUARE PUBLIC HOUSE

CASBAH!
ROCKNROLL CLUBNIGHT

featuring

STOLEN BICYCLES GANG
http://www.myspace.com/thestolenbicyclesgang
A band for girls who like to dance to boys who like to play music that girls dance to.

The WHODOS
http://www.myspace.com/thewhodos
A minute ago they were called The Flashbacks, except now they don't have an organ player.

HOSTED BY DJ JOHN COUGAR

Late Show - Doors 11pm - 3am

Library Square Public House - 300 Georgia St

10/26 - HALLOWEEN DANCE PARTY! w/ PRIMES + HRDVSION + ARTEMIS JACKSON

2007-10-22T20:12:00.000-07:00

FRIDAY OCTOBER 26, 2007
LIBRARY SQUARE PUBLIC HOUSE

CASBAH!
ROCKNROLL CLUBNIGHT

HALLOWEEN DANCE PARTY!!!
featuring
PR1MES
HARDVSION
ARTEMIS JACKSON

not just another cheesy halloween night...

PR1MES

Machines at night, staccato bleeps and crashes. Bass guitar, analog synths, samplers, percussion, and electronics.

“Forged in the shadow of the neo-urban sky dwellings of Vancouver, B.C., PR1MES have has emerged. Band members Tanya Pea, Jack Duckworth (JJD), Erik “The Weekend Warrior” West make music with an uncanny future industrio techno-punk worldview. Jagged-edged music that would sound at home in sets by Optimo, Justice or other such eclectic music DJs.” XLR8R – Monty Luke

http://www.primes-music.com
http://www.myspace.com/primes

HRDVSION

Hrdvsion’s obsession with morphing sounds and musical hardware continues to be the main inspiration his musical explorations. Growing up in a musical home, filled with a harpsichord, guitar, an electric piano and a mob of bush band instruments; brought Nathan Jonson into the world of Hrdvsion. Now 10 years later he has began fusing Techno with experimental music to create something both dance friendly and adventurous. With releases on Wagon Repair, Itiswhatitis, Subpop, Traum, and Plak, he has received much acclaim, including being charted/played by such artists as Dominik Eulberg, Laurent Garnier, and Mathew Jonson, and with such publications as de:bug, atome and stylus. As he continues to focus on both his studio production and live performance, releases to come on Plak, and Wagon Repair are all in the works for the imminent future.

http://www.myspace.com/hrdvsion

ARTEMIS JACKSON

United in the darkest hours of the longest nights of Vancouver, Artemis Jackson was born to the need of people all over the world with ass to shake and booty to break. Rocking parties and panties, Artemis is an unstoppable force. Bringing crazy beats and out of control personality, Artemis Jackson take over the stage and dominate the unsuspecting dancefloor populations wherever they are called to bring it.

http://www.myspace.com/artemisjackson

HOSTED BY DJ JOHN COUGAR

Doors 10pm - 3am

Library Square Public House - 300 Georgia St

As a teaser here is some great footage of Primes performing live at Wanted at Lotus Lounge in Vancouver.

Enter to WIN double advance screening movie pass for CONTROL

2007-10-18T18:15:00.000-07:00

The reviews have been amazing for the new Ian Curtis bio pic, so I am so excited to have some passes to give away to see Control next Wednesday in Vancouver for the special advance screening at Tinseltown.

Enter to WIN double advance screening movie pass

Name the book CONTROL was based on. Send your answer along with your contact info to john@2guerilla.com

CONTROL to open exclusively at FIFTH AVENUE CINEMAS (2110 Burrard Street) on October 26.

Contest ends October 22

http://www.controlthemovie.com

10/19 - ONEYEDJACKS + MARBLE RYE

2007-10-17T20:24:00.000-07:00

FRIDAY OCTOBER 19, 2007
LIBRARY SQUARE PUBLIC HOUSE

CASBAH!
ROCKNROLL CLUBNIGHT

ONEYEDJACKS
MARBLE RYE

ONEYEDJACKS first set sail in 2004 and have been plundering the Vancouver music scene since. With a guitar in one hand and a jug of ale in the other, this rag-tag crew of four pumps out cardio fueled ROCK N ROW! January 2005 marked the release of their debut album "YARRR!" on Cardeo Records which was well received by Canadian College Radio Stations. The Jacks followed up their debut release with tour of Western Canada which included stops at Warped Tour in Vancouver & Calgary. In the past Oneyedjacks have also shared the stage with touring acts like The Horrorpops, Crowned King, and Warped Tour.Fast forward to 2007, the Jacks have added and lost an accordion player, played several shows around BC and add a Blues Harp into their live show.

http://www.oneyedjacks.ca
http://www.myspace.com/oneyedjacks

MARBLE RYE were born in a living room with 60's records tightly packed on the walls, and have created a unique blend of alt-rock, classic rock, and more recently, a hint of Motown. Amdist this mix of styles, Marble Rye add layers of soaring male and female harmonies; this only enriches the sound that the band has developed. The four members, Shannon Marshall (bass/vox), Mike Durrant (drums/vox), Brandon Woudzia (guitar/vox/keys), and Jared Manierka (vox/guitar/keys/sax), have been honing their stage performance by playing shows all over the Vancouver scene and across Western Canada. Marble Rye has built a reputation of having an exceptional live show which is both intense and playful, with enough room for head-banging and dancing.

http://www.myspace.com/marblerye

HOSTED BY DJ JOHN COUGAR

Doors 10pm - 3am

Library Square Public House - 300 Georgia St

THIS FRIDAY - SHOUT OUT LOUDS AFTER-PARTY

2007-10-11T13:19:00.000-07:00

WhoHoo check it out tomorrow night it's...

FRIDAY OCTOBER 12, 2007
LIBRARY SQUARE PUBLIC HOUSE

CASBAH!
ROCKNROLL CLUBNIGHT
presents

THE OFFICIAL SHOUT OUT LOUDS AFTER-PARTY

We are very excited this Friday to have one of our favorite contemporary bands play an exclusive DJ set at Casbah!

SHOUT OUT LOUDS (DJ set only)

Yes it is Stockholm, Sweden's the Shout Out Louds! Frequent Peter, Bjorn and John collaborators, Shout Out Louds, share their friends passion for drums and rhythms to create moods. They will be fresh off the stage from their sold out appearance at Richards on Richards in support of the bands's sophomore effort and Merge debut 'Our Ill Wills', which is a collaborative effort between the group and producer Bjorn Yttling (of Peter, Bjorn and John). This band is all about the rush, the emotion, and the infectious melodies that along with youth, good hair, and the endless pursuit of love, make up the foundation of all great pop music.

http://www.myspace.com/shoutoutlouds
http://www.shoutoutlouds.com/

Plus Vancouver's finest new pop band... THE GOOD NEWS

A DJ, a substitute teacher, a fashion designer, a lovechild, a geo-scientist, and an immigrant walk into a bar. After much debate and rhetoric our motley crew of mouth-breathers assign roles. The DJ makes it beat, the teacher makes it prompt, the fashionisto makes it glossy, the lovechild makes it work, the geo-scientist digs for fire, and the immigrant makes it gorgeous. Confined between four walls that drip with the sweat and history of Vancouver melody past, these six heroes join hands and voices and strings and sticks to craft the Voltron-esque megabot known to those who love them as “this band”. There's a bravery in showcasing verses and choruses of the tender variety. Luckily, a band wrapped in laughter and pastels will never shrink under its own sheepishness. Have you heard The Good News?

http://www.myspace.com/wearegoodnews

HOSTED BY DJ JOHN COUGAR

Doors 10pm - 3am

Only $5 with Shout Out Louds or Patrick Wolf ticket stub

Library Square Public House - 300 Georgia St

//////////////////////////////////

plus tonight it is the BLACK LIPS + VANCOUGAR + my fave local band SUN ARISE at Richards on Richards. Don't miss the show! If you didn't get to see the Black Lips on Conan O'Brian earlier this week. Here you go...

CRANK THAT SOULJAH BOY

2007-10-10T00:27:00.000-07:00

If you have turned on the radio, been to the club, or know anything about contemporary music then you are well aware that the anthem of '07 is 'Crank That' by ATL's Souljah Boy. It has one of the crispest electro beats to ever come out of the dirty south, but also some of the stupidest lyrics this side of Kris Kross. Have fun with this one.

Pete Dohetry & The Libertines

2007-10-04T20:17:00.000-07:00

If you have ever been to a Casbah! night then you well know that The Libertines are one of my favorite bands of the last 10 years. Sadly since they have broken up both Pete and Carl have put out shite albums respectively as Babyshambles and Dirty Pretty Things. Well, I am happy to say that this week with the release of 'Shotter's Nation', our boy Pete has returned with a stunner of a record. Perhaps not as good as the original Libertines, but still it puts the Arctic Monkeys and the rest of the great pretenders to shame. Here is a brilliant video from one of the album's best songs.

10/05 - THE HAPPENING + TRESHELL + MAKE THE LION

2007-10-03T18:50:00.000-07:00

FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2007
LIBRARY SQUARE PUBLIC HOUSE

CASBAH!
ROCKNROLL CLUBNIGHT

THE HAPPENING
TRESHELL
MAKE THE LION

THE HAPPENING

http://www.myspace.com/thehappening

TRESHELL

The Ride

Add to My Profile | More Videos

http://www.myspace.com/treshell

MAKE THE LION

http://www.myspace.com/makethelion

HOSTED BY DJ JOHN COUGAR

$5 only! Late Doors 11pm - 3am

Library Square Public House - 300 Georgia St

http://rockthekasbah.blogspot.com/

2007-09-28T00:16:00.001-07:00

Song and video of the week. Hope to see you busting as fresh as moves of these at Casbah! this week.

Also a couple weeks back The Straight ran as short profile on me.

You can check it here.

09.28 - TAXES + SUN ARISE + DJ DOUGGERNAUT

2007-09-24T19:40:00.000-07:00

Awesome show again this week and it is now 3 weeks in a row where we have been close to capacity. Thanks to everybody who came down and to Sex With Strangers, London Spy, and The Ludvico Treatment. You can check out the photos here

Now for this week we have one of my favorite bands Sun Arise. I have been waiting for this show for some time.

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 28, 2007
LIBRARY SQUARE PUBLIC HOUSE

CASBAH!
ROCKNROLL CLUBNIGHT

TAXES
SUN ARISE
plus special guest DJ DOUGGERNAUT

TAXES

"Taxes could probably get by on Sean Orr's stage banter alone (he even brought an ice pack), but happily the music's pretty damn good too. They have that same dancey, post-punk feel that two of my former local favourites - the Red Light Sting and Blue Grey Dots - had, albeit without the keyboards and they're a little more sprawling and experimental than the latter. I can see these guys quickly becoming one of my favourite local acts, so
do yourself a favour and check them out soon." FROM BLOWN SPEAKERS blog

http://www.myspace.com/taxesisnew

SUN ARISE

Amazing local Psych-Garage band featuring ex/members of Nasty On, Vancougar, Anemones, and more. Catch them before they open for The Black Lips at Richards.

http://www.myspace.com/sunariseband

DJ DOUGGERNAUT

Quality tunes from a quality brother.

http://www.myspace.com/douggernaut

HOSTED BY DJ JOHN COUGAR

Doors 10pm - 3am

Library Square Public House - 300 Georgia St

Pics below from last Friday...

2007-09-14T00:15:00.001-07:00

Thanks to Hung Jury, Fake Shark Real Zombie, and Elizabeth for a real fuckin rock show

boys will be boys will be zombies...

Malcolm from Hung Jury

Fake Shark Real Blood Bath

Elizabeth not quite live at the beeb...

ELIZABETH - WAR IS BEAUTIFUL

09/14 - THE PUBLIC OR THE PRESS + CULTE DU CARGO + STREETLIGHT

2007-09-11T21:45:00.000-07:00

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 14, 2007
LIBRARY SQUARE PUBLIC HOUSE

CASBAH!
ROCKNROLL CLUBNIGHT

THE PUBLIC OR THE PRESS
CULTE DU CARGO
STREETLIGHT

TPOTP are easily one of Vancouver's best kept secrets. Primarily influenced by the UK post-punk sound of the late Seventies, there is also a strong current of NYC scruffiness to their music. For fans of local faves like Elizabeth,The Book of Lists, and Radio Berlin. Check their track "The Silence" on their myspace player for one of Vancouver's best songs of '07.

http://www.myspace.com/thepublicorthepress

With influences ranging from David Bowie to The Rza to Sixties French Pop, Culte Du Cargo, sift through the back catalogues of our musical heroes conjuring new life into existence. Definitely one of Vancouver's most ambitous new bands. This will be only their second performance locally.

http://www.myspace.com/culteducargo

STREETLIGHT

Guitar-pop romantics featuring current/former members of The Beans, The Solarists, Saul Duck and Self Exchange.

http://www.myspace.com/streetlightband

HOSTED BY DJ JOHN COUGAR

Doors 10pm - 3am

Library Square Public House - 300 Georgia St

Check out this track: Culte Du Cargo - Ms Poppin

TREACHEROUS MACHETE + WHITE OWL + THE HAPPENING

2007-08-28T20:14:00.000-07:00

FRIDAY AUGUST 31, 2007
LIBRARY SQUARE PUBLIC HOUSE

CASBAH!
ROCKNROLL CLUBNIGHT

TREACHEROUS MACHETE + WHITE OWL + THE HAPPENING

TREACHEROUS MACHETE
Post Millenial Blues Garage Punk

http://www.myspace.com/treacherousmachete

WHITE OWL
distorted post-punk gothic howl

http://www.myspace.com/thewhiteowls

THE HAPPENING
live debut

http://www.myspace.com/thehappening

HOSTED BY DJ JOHN COUGAR

Doors 10pm - 3am

Library Square Public House - 300 Georgia St

08/ 24 - SUSPIRIA + 16MM + ADJECTIVE

2007-08-23T00:08:00.000-07:00

FRIDAY AUGUST 24, 2007
LIBRARY SQUARE PUBLIC HOUSE

CASBAH!
ROCKNROLL CLUBNIGHT

a night of post punk with...

SUSPIRIA

http://www.myspace.com/suspiriaband

16MM

http://www.myspace.com/16mm

ADJECTIVE

http://www.myspace.com/adjectivethenoun

HOSTED BY DJ JOHN COUGAR

Doors 10pm - 3am

Library Square Public House - 300 Georgia St

2007-08-01T00:15:00.001-07:00

FRIDAY AUGUST 3, 2007
LIBRARY SQUARE PUBLIC HOUSE

CASBAH!
ROCKNROLL CLUBNIGHT

JPNDRDS + HEPATIDAL WAVE

JPNDRDS (Japandroids) started in 2006 and consists of Dave and Brian's post-teenage angst and some shitty gear. Originally intended to be a trio, the boys decided to forego the logistical nightmare of having a 'lead singer' and do it themselves. Japandroids' sound can best be described as post-nothing. They consider themselves 2 sweethearts still naive enough to think they'll never sell out.

http://www.myspace.com/japandroids

HEPATIDAL WAVE
Jazz Not Jazz. No wave. Infinite noise. Contains members of the Doers and Shearing Pinx.

http://www.myspace.com/hepatidalwave

HOSTED BY DJ JOHN COUGAR

Doors 9pm - 3am

Library Square Public House - 300 Georgia St

Saturday Night - July 28, 2007

2007-07-31T23:26:00.000-07:00

It was the Western Canadian premiere of Electroma, Daft Punk's film. The showing was put on by our friends at Salbourg along with Vice Magazine. The venue a little hole in the wall in Chinatown. The crowd was as expected, young, hip, bored and mostly chatted throughout the film. Really who could blame them as the film was a torturous exercise in meaningless angst wrapped up as some powerful existentialist dissertation. It had it's funny moments but by the end it had lost all but the most ferverent Daft Punk fan. It was to be followed by an after-party but the space was hot and they were letting no in and outs, so most of the crowd just left and with a 10 dollar cover charge for newcomers to join the party, not very many did. All and all the kids and Salbourg didn't seem very much into this one, probably due to the fact they were all going to the Daft Punk show in Seattle the following night.

After the showing I headed to The Modern, the opening of Vancouver's new "flash" nightclub in Gastown. The Saturday night is being held down by our promotions company 2guerilla and will be Electro/House with residents Luke McKeehan, Timeline & Jay Tripwire. Touting itself as an exclusive spot for those with a little money to throw around, the owners at least put the effort in to make the room sound and look nice. Not to be loved by all for sure, but it is a big leap forward for Vancouver in terms of having a proper club to go out to, that would rival those from Miami Beach to Tokyo. Just don't expect it to be a cheap night out.

stream or download the latest mix from Timeline

Casbah! grand opening thanks!

2007-07-31T00:29:00.000-07:00

Many thanks to everybody who came out to the Casbah! grand opening this Friday at Library Square. So great to see so many familiar faces in the room as well as a few new ones. Also big shout out to Hallmark and Certain Breeds who both put on fantastic performances.

HALLMARK live at CASBAH!

photo credit: Barbe Bowen

CERTAIN BREEDS live at CASBAH!

photo credit: John McFarland

Check out this track: Certain Breeds - 2am

The weekend is almost here...

2007-07-26T18:04:00.000-07:00

In anticipation of tomorrow nights Casbah! Grand Opening party I dug up this video of Canned Hamm performing live on Vancouver cable show Urban Rush. Canned Hamm is Robert Dayton of Hallmark's karoake duo, that has brought him fame around the world but not much fortune. A shame as they really are amazing. Don't forget Friday night at Library Square Public House it is Hallmark, Certain Breeds live and myself John Cougar spinning the best in indie dance and retro.

As well this weekend in Vancouver there will be a private party showing the future cult classic film 'Electroma'. Better known as the Daft Punk film. Keep your ear to the ground to get an invitation to what is surely going to be one weird pretentious movie. Here is the trailer:

Saturday Night - 07/21/07

2007-07-25T00:40:00.000-07:00

Interesting Saturday night in Vancouver as there was suddenly an excess of electro style events in town. Started out at the Century to check out San Francisco's Land Shark at a private party. Currently signed to Om records and where as a studio project they naturally have a electro house feel, Land Shark performed a raw set much more reminiscent of LCD Soundsystem. Led by House producer Lance DeSardi on vocals, Land Shark previewed a short set that was unfortunately slightly bogged down by technical problems but showed great promise. Definitely keep an eye out for these guys if they are coming through your town.

Check this track: Land Shark - Shake Me (Sweetlight Remix)

Later it was off to The Royal Unicorn for Salbourg where East London's Radio Clit were laying down their patented Techno Jihad. This is mainly techno splattered with repetitive shout along vocals in various foreign languages that somehow match perfectly for dancefloor bombs. A smaller crowd then I would have expected shook it up on the floor enthusiastically but I was a little surprised by the lack of energy behind the decks from the boys themselves. But still based on the their remixes of Bonde Do Role plus collaborations with Sinden and crew these guys are bound to be blogged about until at least the end of 07.

Check this track: Radioclit - Mature Macho Machine (Solid Groove and Sinden remix)

I decided to skip Chopstick from Berlin and then hit a warehouse party further on the east side where I arrived to realize I missed the band I had hoped to see, local post-punkers Adjective. Instead though I was surprised to find a sweaty dancefloor filled by young hipsters getting down to a set of ironic pop, dance rock, and retro gold by the Sex Attack! crew. Nice work guys! Keep it happening as I hadn't see that many smiley faces in a long time.

2007-07-19T22:21:00.000-07:00

FRIDAY JULY 27, 2007
LIBRARY SQUARE PUBLIC HOUSE

CASBAH!
ROCKNROLL CLUBNIGHT

GRAND OPENING with HALLMARK + CERTAIN BREEDS

Hallmark

Led by the enigmatic, one and only, Robert Dayton of Canned Hamm fame, Hallmark explore such forgotten genres as romo pop and glam rock. Other influences include 70's era Oui Magazine, Ada by Nabokov, and art deco (?). Destined to become of Vancouver's most talked about new acts.

http://www.myspace.com/hallmarkgroup

Certain Breeds

Sweet synth pop meets psychedelic musings, Certain Breeds are the latest band signed to Global Symphonic. The previous home for such west coast success stories as Frog Eyes, Radio Berlin, and The Organ. This is for the fans of great mid-nineties UK bands like Laika and Seefeel.

http://www.myspace.com/certainbreeds

HOSTED BY DJ JOHN COUGAR

Doors 9pm - 3am

Library Square Public House - 300 Georgia St

Here we go again...

2007-07-19T22:05:00.001-07:00

Yes the rumours are true, Casbah! returns to the Vancouver club scene. After doing one off events this past year or so with such bands as Beach House, Anemones, Woodhands, The Bicycles, Fake Shark Real Zombie and more, Casbah! finds a new weekly home at Library Square, every Friday. We already have a wicked line-up of bands confirmed through to September, so watch out. I have convinced the powers to be at Library Square to give us a home, so it means no dirty bathrooms, good beer at a decent price (can't go wrong with $4 pints on a Friday night!), a proper set up for DJs plus a real dancefloor and the best of all great sound provided by the same professionals who handle Richards on Richards.

To start things off this Friday I am picking up a few friends and we are going to play some tunes to get a feel for the room and acquaint ourselves with you again in a casual atmosphere. It will be like house party styles. Good drink specials, a dancefloor, plus an unlimited guestlist. So hit me up. We will be taking pictures for our facebook and blog, so put some decent clothes on before you leave the house.

Next week will be the grand opening and I have called upon two of my favourite new Vancouver bands to help us with the honour. Check it and I hope to see you on the dancefloor or holding up the bar over the next couple of weeks.