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3521205

I am here for Friends and Networking

About Me

I've been a cartoonist since my boyhood, a writer since my tweens, and a serious musician since high-school ended, and I even tried acting in community theatre for a while. There was a time when I wanted to be a soldier, but I got over that and became a musician instead.These days I've been playing bass for a number of Vancouver bands: The Feminists, the Gentle Infidels, Anger Power Fury and the Filth, Duvallstar, Black Smoke Rising, Stone Cold Crazy (Queen tribute), Wred Scarlet, Three on the Tree, Uncle Woody, and the Skywriters.I'm also an active music journalist covering the Vancouver scene (Nerve Magazine, Skinny Magazine, Georgia Straight), as well as a concert promoter who helms Arctic Front Productions.I moved back to beautiful Vancouver in November 2003, and will remain here - despite the yuppie horror of the impending Olympics. In the meantime, I find my friends and peers in Vancouver's arts/music community to be utterly fascinating people, of depth and warmth and heart and much colourful joy - and I am proud to be included among them.I'm intelligent and funny and very giving to those I know and love, and some say I have eyes to fuck for. You be the judge.

My Interests

I'd like to meet:

Musicians, writers, artists, cartoonists, filmmakers, events promoters, journalists, community activists, bartenders, cat lovers, poets, dancers, book readers, wistful dreamers, kind-hearted jokers, sweet introverts, larger-than-life extroverts, long-haired heshers, outdoor enthusiasts, those who stare thoughtfully out their kitchen windows on rainy days, and all sorts of non-violent individuals who are more than comfortable to live outside of the false reality of the American Dream.

My Blog

John K Samson (Weakerthans) interview

THE WEAKERTHANS:Weaker Than Who? Stronger Than Ever! By Ferdy Belland  "I'm proud of how Reunion Tour turned out in the end," says the mild-mannered and easy-going John K. Samson from his home in...
Posted by on Tue, 11 Sep 2007 14:10:00 GMT

Gig Review: Furies / Dishrags Reunion!

The Furies / The Dishrags / Duvallstar / Bug Nasties / Search PartiesRichard's on Richards, Vancouver BCSaturday August 18th, 2007  This JEM Productions event was hailed by many as the 30th Anniv...
Posted by on Thu, 23 Aug 2007 21:05:00 GMT

Mark Mothersbaugh (DEVO) interview

MARK MOTHERSBAUGH: DEVO-ted to Art, Music, and his ChildrenBy Ferdy Belland Born in Akron OH in 1950, the one and only Mark Mothersbaugh was an eccentric art student at Kent State University, whe...
Posted by on Sat, 28 Apr 2007 01:48:00 GMT

Alex Harvey remembered 1935-1982

ALEX HARVEY REMEMBERED: Still Sensational, a Quarter-Century Gone By Ferdy Belland   Alex Harvey was one of the most enjoyably dynamic rock performers of all time, and is still revered today as...
Posted by on Mon, 29 Jan 2007 05:39:00 GMT

CD Review: The Co-Pilots

COPILOTSS/TindependentVancouver folks normally know Mr. Skye Brooks as the fantabulous drumming sensation for bands like Fond of Tigers and Swanvista, but with the Copilots he comes out front to showc...
Posted by on Fri, 19 Jan 2007 19:40:00 GMT

Pointed Sticks reunion show! (review)

Pointed Sticks FestivalRichard's on Richards, Vancouver BCFriday January 6th Let's start this off right and bear witness to the fact that rarely does such a glowlingly perfect day of rocknroll fun and...
Posted by on Mon, 08 Jan 2007 20:18:00 GMT

Interview: John Armstrong (Buck Cherry) of the Modernettes!

JOHN ARMSTRONG! BUCK CHERRY! THE MODERNETTES! PACHUCO! There's New Life in the Old Beat-Beast Yet! by Ferdy Belland      One of the more exciting bits of news crackling forth from the ...
Posted by on Sat, 25 Nov 2006 00:15:00 GMT

Feminists Tour Diary: Excitement, Existentialism, and Epiphanies in Kingston.

This was one of the more gruelling stretches of our tour thus far - deadheading from Sudbury to Kingston. There isn't a real beeline route between the two cities. One has to haul ass south on the free...
Posted by on Sat, 07 Oct 2006 20:57:00 GMT

Feminists Tour Diary: Canadian Shield Trilogy

Hello Everyone -I believe I love Northern Ontario the same way Allyson loves Saskatchewan. The terrain suddenly becomes hillier and more thickly wooded, and the highways begin to curve on you before y...
Posted by on Thu, 05 Oct 2006 14:29:00 GMT

Feminists Tour Diary: Weathering the Prairies

Hello Everyone - One of the strongest tests of our collective emotional mettle began on our way into Edmonton. We drove through the teeth of an endless torrential storm that lashed the Gray Mare's (TM...
Posted by on Wed, 04 Oct 2006 00:41:00 GMT