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BUDOKAN

About Me


BUDOKAN are a rock 'n' roll band from Victoria, B.C., Canada. They play hook-filled songs with loud guitars that they want people to love and remember. They draw inspiration from all the greats but feel particularly indebted to the likes of Cheap Trick (yes, the band name is a tribute to the Trick classic ‘ At Budokan’), the Ramones, Redd Kross, the Stones, the Buzzcocks-y’know, the greats.
Andrew Molloy plays guitar, sings and writes most of the songs (knows some chords on the piano as well but can’t make the changes all that quickly). He’s been obsessed with popular music since he bought Elton John’s ‘Caribou’ album for $1 at the age of 11. He’s played in a number of bands over the years, most notably BUM. The band with the really stupid name existed from ’90 to ’95, put out a slew of singles, one full-length epic, a couple mini-albs and a live album and toured Spain twice to throngs of screaming (or at least chanting) fans (seriously). After the breakup of BUM, he formed the Power Failures in Vancouver with Stephen Hamm and Terry Russell (from the amazing Slow and Tankhog). After that ran out of steam, he returned to Victoria and started up BUDOKAN with bassist Kent Bendall (Pingu), original drummer John London (Mission of Christ, Pigment Vehicle) and the man to whom we’ll now turn our attention.
Craig Vishek plays guitar, sings and writes some of the songs. He saw both Boston and Kiss with make-up live so there you go. He sharpened his teeth playing in jazzcore West Coast punk band Pigment Vehicle, releasing full-length cds on the Wrong and Sudden Death labels. A tenure with Nomeansno offshoot The Show Business Giants rounded out the guitarist’s love of rock to roll, and everything in between.
Kent Bendall plays bass and is a fan first and musician second (his description). His previous band ventures were a Misfits tribute band called The Astrozombies, and a goofball garage combo called Pingu. Being a longtime BUM fan, he was thrilled when Andrew asked him to play bass. He likes shiny things and candy.
Graham Watson hails from the Hub City-Nanaimo, B.C.-and has been banging the hell out of the drums since he left the womb, we suspect. He moved down to Victoria in the early 90’s and joined Andrew and the rest of the BUM group in ’92 just in time to record their ‘Wanna Smash Sensation’ lp for Popllama Records. After departing the group in ’94 he joined Vancouver’s mighty Smugglers and toured the world (Canada, USA, Europe, Japan), recording a number of fine albums along the way. He also kept time in the Metronome Cowboys and the Timber Kings, among others.
The BUDOKAN group released their inaugural 7” single on Magic Teeth Records in 2005. It’s on pink vinyl,is a thing of beauty and is now sold out. In January, 2008 they entered the studio for the first time in three years and recorded five new tunes (listen here). They will return for another session in a few months to complete an album and the anticipation is making us wait. -A Badge Holder
..TEES FOR SALE !!!!!!!! Enquire Within...

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 14/06/2005
Band Website: http://www.budokanrocks.com
Band Members: Andrew Molloy (BUM, Power Failures)plays guitar and sings.
Craig Vishek (Pigment Vehicle, Show Business Giants)plays guitar and sings.
Kent Bendall(Pingu, Cablevision)plays bass. Graham Watson(also BUM, Smugglers)plays drums.

Influences: Replacements,Stones, Mott the Hoople, Dictators, Dolls,Redd Kross,Buzzcocks, Wildhearts, Joan Jett, Alice Cooper, Ramones, MC5, Stooges, Raspberries, Silver Sun, Queen, T. Rex, Bowie, Thin Lizzy, Fastbacks,Cheap Trick,Nomads,Sweet,Big Star,Real Kids,Only Ones,you get the idea....
Sounds Like: You decide,Jim....
Record Label: Magic Teeth
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

T-shirts here, get yer t-shirts here !

Finally here, kids :$15 plus shipping depending where ya are......Contact us here or at [email protected] to get yours. All sizes and girly tees too ! 
Posted by on Wed, 03 Jun 2009 19:54:00 GMT

AGAIN....

 So, we had such a blast at the Cambie in March that we're back on Saturday, this time with Kent's other band, the outstanding Cablevision, and Nanaimo's own agitators, the Madonna Bangers. Hopefully,...
Posted by on Thu, 14 May 2009 12:48:00 GMT

Look Out Hub City 'cos we're ready to kill !

Big points to ya if you can identify the song that subject header paraphrases. We're back in the saddle, folks, although no one is on six-string bass at present. The Cambie in Nanaimo, B.C. is the p...
Posted by on Wed, 18 Feb 2009 17:15:00 GMT

Good gig, Good gig, Good gig, Good gig...

Had a blast at Logan's th'other week. Kent was stellar filling in and we did indeed bust out 'Shady Glade' ( a Bendall/Molloy collaboration) in his honor. Also tackled 'Never Say Die' by Sabbat...
Posted by on Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:34:00 GMT

Come on down....

....to Logan's (here in Victoria, B.C.) this Saturday, July 26th, and join us in the dance. Original Budokan bassist Kent Bendall will be filling in for Paulina who's currently studying Russian in...R...
Posted by on Tue, 22 Jul 2008 01:04:00 GMT

Rare live footage !!!!

Scroll down to check out a clip of us performing the Avengers classic 'Second to None' at Lucky Bar back in November. More to come...
Posted by on Wed, 16 Apr 2008 15:48:00 GMT

....Or Not.

The show at Logan’s was cancelled due to the club’s liquor licence being suspended-losers.Meanwhile, Sgt. Kurt Bloch has extended an invite to head south(Seattle, to be precise) so hopeful...
Posted by on Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:24:00 GMT

New Songs, Gig in March

Finally got into the studio in January with the fantastic Tolan McNeil twiddling knobs and playing a bit 'o' pedal steel. Here's the almost-final, not-quite mastered mixes...couldn't wait any longer t...
Posted by on Sun, 17 Feb 2008 22:29:00 GMT

Gigs and recording

Finally back on track, folks. We'll be recording in October with local producer extraordinaire Tolan McNeil and have lined up a gig at Lucky Bar on November 9th with two fine bands from Nelson, B.C.: ...
Posted by on Wed, 19 Sep 2007 17:06:00 GMT

Exclaim mag review of Evaps/Budokan gig

http://exclaim.ca/index.asp?layid=266&csid1=79&csid2 =33&fid1=4982
Posted by on Tue, 10 Apr 2007 20:40:00 GMT