The Vanishers

by: Tosha Pigeau
photos: Pretty Idiot Productions

Called “Ontario’s next big thing” by John and Amber of Shaking Katz Radio, The Vanishers are definitely working hard to live up to that expectation. After attending their show on Saturday night at the El Mocambo in Toronto, I don’t think it will take them long to get there.

There was quite a mixed crowd at the show, some older folk sat in their chairs tapping their feet, some young ladies danced the entire night away while singing along to every song, and an unusual large group of photographers swarmed the stage when the Vanishers came on.

The set list consisted mainly of songs from the bands first album— The Biggest Hand, but they also gave fans a sneak peak of their new album— Hagersville Dance Party, by playing a couple tracks from that. Lead singer Paul Pengelly belted out vein-popping vocals all night long with songs like “4 AM”, “Hitgirl”, and “Family Plot”.

It was pretty interesting to watch each band member’s unique presence on stage. Guitarist Paul McGrath exerted an insane amount of energy, jumping around and interacting with his band members, while lead guitarist Gary Kuiper seemed to be more focused on his guitar, sort of standing in one place, but getting really low to the ground as if he were slowly sinking into it. Lead singer Paul didn’t slow down at all, except once during a groovy cover of Prince’s “Kiss”. Spider definitely did his thing on the drums while Darrel bopped along on bass smiling the entire night.

If you ever feel like shaking loose and kickin’ up some dust, a Vanishers concert is just the place to do so. - Lithium Magazine

I am not normally easily swayed by cold call e-mails or alcohol. These are, in fact, two things I always do without. But I was compelled to act upon a message I received recently from Burlington, Ontario rock(abilly?) outfit, the Vanishers. I hadn't heard of them before this note but it turns out that they've written a new single for the holiday season called "Christmas Wish at the End of the Bar." It's for sale on iTunes and the Vanishers are giving 100% of the proceeds it generates to the Hamilton Food Share. If that isn't heartwarming enough, the song itself is really irresistable--a cheery boy/girl call-and-response love song with playfully sordid imagery and a spirted, timeless feel.

So, in the spirit of the holidays, let's hear it for the Vanishers and their song, "Christmas Wish at the End of the Bar," a winter holiday classic in the making? - CBC 3 - Vish Khanna

Slimkillers were a very small blip on my radar back in 2001 or so.
When the old pop punk band broke up amicably, Paul McGrath
(guitar), Brian Kuiper (drums), and Gary Kuiper (guitar) set out to
focus on the music they really loved and to play it for no other
reason than for fun. “After a few lineup changes over the past
years, we finally found us a stellar vocalist and bass player to
match,” he adds. “We are all on the same page and have been
writing in collaboration without any tension, which in a band
environment makes it all the more fun which really is the point of
this whole thing.”
While fun is the key, the business side of things got ramped
up when the band’s music was incorporated into a recent
commercial.
“Really, commercials — if you can score one — are a really
good way to get some exposure,” reasons Kuiper. “More bigger
bands are doing it now. The theme was Route 66, and what better
than a 30 second throat punching country rock song?”
A loose amalgam of influences taken from Mike Ness, Brian
Sezter and the like, The Vanishers, out of Burlington, take a gritty
country twang but snarl it up with some rock bombast. Their
name was stripped from the Dean Martin popularized Matt Helm
spy book series, and, while The Vanishers seem to focus on facets
of a disappearing era, they do hope to reignite some of that
original purity and inspiration in the future with an aggressive
rock party that brings it all back.
“Our rockabilly influences are really coming out in the newer
material we are writing. It’s just really fun to play! Our influences
range from The Stray Cats and Johnny Cash to The Living End and
U2. I dig hearing music that hasn't been tainted by the major
labels which I guess is why I enjoy rockabilly so much,” smiles
Kuiper.
“We love writing and performing high energy music,” he adds. “This is a great band with great guys and I see with my
magic eight ball nothing but a throat kicking, head butting good
time! Really, it actually says that. Don't forget your rock helmet.”

The Vanishers play this thursday July 17 at The Casbah with The
Dirty Nil, the Goddamn Goddamns, The Barettas, and the Please kill mes. - View Magazine

The Vanishers - 4 AM
New Music Canada Track of the Day. Craig Norris: "They're amazing and they do what I love....and that is: harmonies right as soon as the song starts. And I love it."

*****************************

New Music Canada Track of the Day for May 13, 2009: The Vanishers "4AM"
Posted by Craig Norris at 12:01 AM

"It's 4am, the phone is ringing and you don't have to ask. It's me again and I'm calling you from the bottom of my glass."

Amen, brothers! Who hasn't made (or received) one of those calls? The Vanishers know what I'm talking about. Out of Burlington, The Vanishers are equal parts "toe-tapping rock" and "throat-punching country". Either way, you will move. With "4AM", they manage to make late night/early morning degenerate drunken phone calls sound OK - even danceable. I can only assume that live, these guys get as close to the edge as they can.

You can catch them live at their album release party this weekend in Toronto!
- CBC Radio 3

6. Folk/Roots Recording of the Year
Fred Eaglesmith - Cha Cha Cha
The Caretakers - Unfinished Thoughts
Harlan Pepper - Young And Old
Pe-Ro - Old As An Ocean
The Vanishers - The Biggest Hand - Hamilton Music Awards Website

John's Top 10 Starting at Number 10:

#10 Band...Let There Be Theremin...Self Titled CD...Curse of The Camel Toe...Regina Saskatchewan, Canada (surf, ska, punk & rockabiily)
http://www.myspace.com/lettherebetheremin

#9 Band...Oscar B...CD La Mort Aux Trousse....Gin & Cigerattes...Montreal & Gatineau Quebec, Canada (psychobilly)
http://www.myspace.com/oscarboscarb

#8 Band...The Blue Demons...Self Titled CD...Baja...Toronto Ontario, Canada (surf, garage & rock)
http://www.myspace.com/thebluedemons

#7 Band....Kim Lenz and The Jaguars...CD It's All True...Rambling Feelings...Los Angles, California, Untied States ( Rockabilly)
http://www.myspace.com/kimlenzrockabilly

#6 Band...The Quakes...CD Negitive Charge...Just Rock...Buffalo New York, United States (psychobilly & rockabilly)
http://www.myspace.com/thequakes

#5 Band...Big John Bates...LP Bangtown...Bangtown...Vancouver British Columbia, Canada (rockabilly, blues & garage)
http://www.myspace.com/bigjohnbatesandthevoodoodollz

#4 Band... Bone Rattlers....CD 13 to Life...12 Bar Bruise...Hobart Tasmania, Australia
(psychobilly, rockabilly & punk)
http://www.myspace.com/bonerattlers

#3 Band...The Vanishers...CD The Biggest Hand...Irene...Burlington Ontario, Canada
(cow-punk & rockabilly)
http://www.myspace.com/vanishersonline

#2 Band...RayGun Cowboy's...Self Titled CD.......Devil's Son...Edmonton Alberta, Canada (rockabilly & psychobilly)
http://www.myspace.com/rayguncowboys

John's # 1 Band Release of 2009
The Rocketz....CD We are...the Rocketz....Slow Down...LA & Orange County, United States (punk, psychobilly & rock)
http://www.myspace.com/therocketz

Honourable Mention"s of 2009

16. Talk Shit..Get Hit...Devils Hot Rod...CD Dirty Rocks(can)
17. Never Enough...the Tigersharks...CD This Ain't a Boat Accident (can)
18. If You Love My Women...The Greasemarks...DEMO (can)
19. Worst Nightmare...the King Beez's...EP Weird Noises (can)

Amber's Top 10... Starting at Number 10

#10 Band..Los Straitjackets...CD The Further Adventures of Los Straitjackets...Blowout...Nashville Tennessee, United States (surf, garagerock & surf)
http://www.myspace.com/losstraitjackets

#9 Band..Revenend Horton Heat...CD Laughin & Cryin with the Revenend Horton Heat...Death Metal Guy's... Dallas Texas, United States ( psychobilly & rockabilly)
http://www.myspace.com/reverendhortonheat

#8 Band...Christian D & the Hangovers...CD Shake it or Leave it...Baby Jane...Toronto Ontario Canada, (rockabilly & country)
http://www.myspace.com/christiandesmond

#7 Band...Bone Rattlers...13 to Life...Psychobilly Boogie...Hobart Tasmania, Australia
(psychobilly, rockabilly & punk)
http://www.myspace.com/bonerattlers

#6 Band...The Brains...Self Tilted CD...Gone...Montreal Quebec Canada, (psychobilly,punk & rockabilly)
http://www.myspace.com/thebrains

#5 Band...The Vanishers...CD the Biggest Hand...4AM...Burlington Ontario, Canada
(cow-punk & rockabilly)
http://www.myspace.com/vanishersonline

#4 Band...Let There Be Theremin...Self Titled CD...Frankenstein Twist...Regina Saskatchewan, Canada (surf, ska, punk & rockabiily)
http://www.myspace.com/lettherebetheremin

#3 Band...Buzz Deluxe...CD Songs for the Hangman...Zen...Toronto Ontario, Canada (rockabilly, psychobilly & rock)
http://www.myspace.com/buzzdeluxe

#2 Band...Rezurex...CD Psycho Radio...Restless..Los Angeles, California United States (psychobilly, punk & garagerock)
http://www.myspace.com/rezurex

Amber's #1 Band Release of 2009
The DeadCats...CD Look Like Hell...Tailfeather Shake
Vancouver British Columbia, Canada
(rockabilly, psychobilly & surf)
http://www.myspace.com/deadcats - Shakin' Katz Radio - London, Ontario

It doesn't matter if it's one of their original tracks such as "4am" or a cover song like Prince's "Kiss" this group knows how to make music and entertain the masses. One of the best parts to The Vanishers is that what fans get is Country music meets Rock music with an attitude. Add to the band's style and good time lyrics, fans will be doing the Texan Two-Step in no time. Check out this recent interview that I completed with The Vanishers. - Junior's Cave