Ryan McCormick is the band Collpasing Opposites and has also played in Green Belt Collective, They Shoot Horses Don’t They? and others. He was a director of the Safe Amplification Site Society. This conversation was recorded on July 10, 2025.

Hoko’s was a sushi restaurant at 362 Powell Street that started having shows in the 2000s. It was closed due to licensing problems and is now the venue Lanalou’s.

The Zoo Zhop (223 Main Street) was a venue and record store in the 2010s.

The Prophouse Cafe (1636 Venables Ave) was a coffee shop and venue in the 2010s.

Astorino’s was the venue for the Safe Amplification Site Society (Safe Amp 2013-2015) at the site of a former Italian dining hall at 1739 Venables Street.

Other venues mentioned: Starry Dynamo Cafe.

Bands mentioned: Half Chinese, Apollo Ghosts, Kidnap Kids, Chris-a-riffic, OK Vancouver OK, Mt Eerie.

This episode features the following music:

Collapsing Opposites: Places from Microchips Implanted In Your Brain (2005).

Apollo Ghosts: Shanghai Alley from Forgotten Triangle EP (2009).

Collapsing Opposites: Non Profit Volunteer Band from Real Moving (2011).

Ana Rose Carrico is a grassroots arts administrator who co-founded The Red Gate Arts Society. She is the current Executive Director, a former Station Manager of CiTR & Discorder Magazine, and a lifelong advocate for the cultural life of Vancouver. This conversation took place on May 9th 2025.

The Red Gate first opened on Hastings near Cambie in 2004. It moved to 855 East Hastings between 2012 and 2018. The venue was evicted from both locations before moving to its current space at 1965 Main Street, one of those rare venues which has managed to survive and create a distinct, thriving identity at multiple addresses.

Other venues visited: Church of Pointless Hysteria, Dynamo Gallery, 151, Pat’s Pub, the Remington, The Secret Location, The Emergency Room.

This episode features the following music:

Koban: Down in the Well from null (the broadway to boundary), 2013.

TV Ugly: Trash Party Island from UCLA Yankee Cola, 2015.

Mourning Coup: Master from Baby Blue, 2015.

Keith Parry founded and ran the legendary record store and label, Scratch Records, which opened in 1987. He played in bands including Superconductor, Octatrackter, Twerdocleb, Kicking it with Coho, The Gay, Pink Mountaintops, and Neko Case.

Keith lives on Vancouver Island and we walked and talked on April 25th 2025, when he came to Vancouver to see some music shows. This conversation will extend across two episodes and this is part two.

Scratch Records started in 1987 at 317A Cambie St. It moved to 109 West Cordova St, 726 Richards St, and finally, the Interurban Gallery at 1 East Hastings (2010-2104).

The Cruel Elephant opened at 117 Granville St in August 1990 and lastest for a couple of years before moving to two other locations.

Other venues visited: the Marine Club, the Arts Club Lounge, Richards on Richards.

Other venues discussed: Comox Valley Curling Club, The Railway Club, the Town Pump.

Bands discussed: Yob, The Flaming Lips, Texas Instruments, Green Day, The Smugglers, Jesus Lizard, Thinking Fellows union, Surgery, Pavement, Snuff, Nomeansno, Destroyer, Devours, Drama Queen, Isocracy.

This episode features the following music:

Superconductor: Thorsen's Eleven on Hit Songs For Girls (Boner Records 1993).

Windwalker: Burning Inside on The Mint Is A Terrible Thing To Taste (Mint Records 1991)

The Smugglers: Vancouver, B.C. on The Smugglers At Marineland (Nardwuar Records 1991)