issues & id@as_ wrorsmev moms THE VOICE, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2012 7 Vancouver — music city limits While a return to vinyl keeps record shops thriving, bands struggle to find places to play @wA 3 SY Five Alarm Funk is one of the many independent bands vying for space to perform their music. Not enough stages in the city There’s a surpus of indie bands in Vancouver, but bylaws and high rents limit the number of venues By GILLIAN HAMES Ihe evolution of Vancouver’s mu- sic scene is being dictated by the lack of live music venues. Dylan Weightman, drummer in band Pardon My Striptease, agreed that venue choices in Vancouver have a large influence on the success of local bands. “Most of the time you'll find your- selves cramming two to four bands on- stage between nine and 11, because af- ter 11 there has to be a DJ,” he said of the bigger venues. “There is too much supply and not enough demand for live, independent music.” According to Discorder Magazine editor Laurel Borrowman, venues are limited to either clubs that seat several hundred people, or underground plac- es that most have never heard of. This makes it harder for independent bands to reach a larger audience. A lot of these small places aren’t li- censed and end up getting shut down, Borrowman said. As a result, more bands end up playing free house shows where rather than “doing keg stands”, people are attending specifically for the music. More established bands may have an easier time in Vancouver. “Definitely the music scene has been good to us. Great crowds ... it’s a great place,” said Gabe Boothroyd of Five Alarm Funk. However, Boothroyd believes that certain regulations in Vancouver have a negative impact on the local scene. “The liquor laws are pretty repres- sive for live music,” he said, and ex- plained that the liquor board can even put restrictions on how loud a show can be. Though they might not have a place to play, there is no shortage of talented bands in Vancouver. Ben Beckett and Robert Tunold, a Langara grad, founded Napkin Records in February, and run it out of their home in East Vancouver. They have al- ready signed roughly a dozen local bands to the label, like Girl Dracula and Night Detective. Borrowman ultimately believes that, because of the vast talent pool, the Van- couver music scene will continue to be strong. “I could go out every single night of the week,” she said. “There’s always something going on.” Vinyl buyers crave a warm sound A resurgence in the popularity of vinyl record albums supports several record shops. By BRANDON KOSTINUK vinyl sales afloat, and it isn’t DJs, says Nick Bragg, manager at Zulu Records. Vancouver record stores claim it is the aesthetic appeal and sound quality that makes vinyl popular nowadays— plus the cost doesn’t hurt. The cost of records can range from $1 bargain bin pickups to $30 new re- leases, said Bragg, and most genres are available on record, but in limited quantities. “Sometimes we even give away re- cords for free,” added Bragg. Geoff Barton, owner of Commercial Drive record store Audiopile, said, “Re- cord sales have doubled every year for the last five years.” He believes the trend is a rebellion to the coldness of digital technology. Barton said that there is aesthetic warmth to records that make them ap- T= is a niche market that keeps pealing. “A record is tangible, it’s in my hands,” said Barton. “Playing a record requires more interaction.” Second-year English student Guang Liu agreed to the tangibility of the mu- sic-playing medium, and cited the col- lectability of records as a reason for their popularity. “It’s a bragging right because you ac- tually own a physical collection,” said Liu. “There’s a physical quality to having something as opposed to just a data file.” But what makes records worth col- lecting is their sound and artwork. Ben Frith, manager at Neptoon Re- cords, said, “Vinyl just sounds better than MP3s. There is a noticeable differ- ence in quality.” Barton explained that it comes down to the storing medium. Music is stored using analog signals. Audio translates best onto the grooves of a record and the result is a precise sound that listeners describe as warmer. More compressed files like MP8s have more potential for distortion of the original sound, said Barton. Bragg also added that, “The [album] artwork is tangible and provides more charm and value over digital albums. “Vinyl listeners are participating in a counter-culture, and they know it,” said Bragg. There is now a wider base of custom- ers who visit record stores, from teen- agers to retirees, and representing both genders. “The vinyl buyer is not necessarily mainstream anymore,” said Barton, “[and] where it used to be a male domi- nated market, it’s now a 50/50 split be- tween male and female.” But he admits, “Vinyl won’t be as big as it ever was because you have to be a music freak to always want to find a re- cord player to listen to music.” photo courtesy of GABE BOOTHROYD 66 The liquor laws are pretty repressive for live music. GABE BOOTHROYD, FIVE ALARM FUNK Unfair venue regulations under review End in sight for venues struggling to be permitted. By SIMONE PFEIFFER mitting regulations for live music venues, says city councillor Heath- er Deal. “The city has improved our process- es internally and brought a staff focus to making our external processes more manageable for people seeking permits,” Deal said in an email. She was commenting on public com- plaints about restrictive bylaws. “We have also been testing a far more streamlined and less onerous sys- tem—there have been several pilot projects.” The Live Performance Venue Regu- latory Review is a city initiative meant to improve venue-limiting bylaws. The review acknowledges issues such as outdated policies, costly fees, and lack of communication from city staff. David Mattatall of Zhoo Zhop, a re- cord shop that hosts live music, blames a rotating roster of council members who can’t carry the issue forward at city hall. “Tt’s not an issue with traction .. . people who want to hold public events in non-event spaces may not.” “If the city wants to shut you down, they can at any point,” he continued. Ryan McCormick is on the board of directors of the Safe Amplification Site Society, a non-profit group seeking an accessible, affordable all-ages venue in the city. He says people who wish to open live venues face both legal and fi- nancial challenges. For the last few years, the group has been raising funds to rent a permanent venue for live performances. But it’s taking time. “Vancouver is the most expensive city in Canada,” he said, and it’s going to be a while before the group has enough money to afford such a space. T: city is working to improve per- a Dc ‘+ photos courtesy of NEPTOON AND ZULU RECORDS Record stores thrive with growing interest in vinyl.