HEADS UP: A “Most Curious” Oyster Bar & Auction House Popping Up On Friday Night

We’re big fans of the awesome Gastown pop-up shop, The Found & The Freed (207 Abbott), so it’s hard for us to imagine it being better, but then our fun-loving friends at Curious Oyster told us about this event going down there this Friday night (April 26th at 7pm).

Branded as “A Most Curious Event”, it’s a combination antique auction (with a pro auctioneer, paddles and everything) and freshly-shucked oyster bar complete with 4 different types of Outlandish Shellfish oysters plucked fresh from the pristine waters of Desolation Sound and 2 types of granite made by Genevieve Mateyko of Sunday Morning Ice Cream. Organisers have also selected two cocktails, wines and a single malt scotch to pair with the oysters. Tickets are $45. Tickets grant access, 1 drink ticket for the cash bar, granites, canapes, and a customized auction paddle. The ladies of The Found & the Freed will be auctioning off 10 of their unique finds during the course of the evening, and Megan from Olla The Urban Flower Project will be adding some green inspiration. So a fine and tasty way to spend a Friday night!

There are only a handful of tickets, so pounce today. If you don’t recall a thing about the pop-up, click here for a photo refresher.

GET YOUR ASS OUTSIDE: On Exploring Up The Indian Arm With A Tent And A Paddle

by Ariel Taylor | I thought I’d try switching things up just a bit this time and share with you a spot that’s become an annual tradition for me and about half a dozen friends. You won’t need hiking boots to get there, but life jackets are usually a good idea. Indian Arm is a familiar name to many Vancouverites, but it took years of living here before I finally made it to Deep Cove with a canoe. Four years later, this paddle marks for me the beginning of another summer spent outside.

The Spot

Sandwiched between Mount Seymour Provincial Park and the Coquitlam Watershed, the Indian Arm spans 18km of largely protected waterway from Deep Cove (or Belcarra). Though highly developed with waterfront residences, it doesn’t take long before the mansions thin and give way to modest cabins and rugged shorelines. A few tiny islands help to mark your path and provide some level of protection against the wake of passing motorboats. At the far end of the Arm, Granite Falls thunders with spring runoff, the Estuary provides peaceful mating grounds for aquatic birds, and the Wigwam Inn brings Royal Vancouver Yachters off their boats and onto dry land. There are three campgrounds to choose from depending on how far you’re willing to paddle. Fires are prohibited, but all campsites are free of charge.

Twin Island is your first option. Less than an hour’s paddle from Deep Cove, there are two outhouses, five wooden tent platforms, a floating dock, and plenty of forest canopy. Though well set up and maintained, most continue on further up the Arm to sites at Bishop Creek or Granite Falls. The former is located just west of Crocker Island and provides flat grassland and pebble beaches at low tide. There is an outhouse, but no tent platforms so be prepared to sleep on the (potentially wet) ground. In contrast, Granite Falls is located on the adjacent shoreline just a little further north and provides a spectacular roar of falling water. A bit of advice – camp as far south of the falls as possible as spray and shifting winds can make for cold, damp conditions (a rain jacket is never a bad idea).

The Route

From downtown Vancouver cross the Lion’s Gate Bridge and merge onto Marine Drive heading east. Turn left onto Capilano Road, staying right to merge onto Hwy 1 east. Take exit 22 toward Lynn Creek/Capilano University and turn left onto Fern St. Then there’s a quick right onto Mt. Seymour Pkwy and finally left onto Deep Cove Road. If you’re over in East Vancouver, hit up Hwy 1 via the Iron Workers Bridge and take the exit for Mt. Seymour Pkwy. If you’re riding public transit take bus #210 to Phibbs Exchange and transfer to the #212 for Deep Cove.

The Advice

For those of you without wheels or who don’t care to transport a canoe/kayak to the public launch at Deep Cove, not to worry. There is a convenient, albeit over-priced, alternative. Deep Cove Canoe and Kayak is located on the pebble beach just beside the boat launch and would be happy to take your money in exchange for a seaworthy vessel. As far as I know, they have a monopoly on rentals in the area, so if you’re able I would suggest hitting up Mountain Equipment Co-Op (or possibly a friend) and saving some of your coins in the long run. Also note that Deep Cove’s Honey Donuts make a pretty nice treat after a day (or two) spent on the water. Can’t miss it in the wee village.

Once you’ve launched, head left out of the cove sticking to the shoreline. If stopping on Twin Island is your prerogative, cross the channel directly, staying out of the middle and avoiding larger waves. If you stick to the western shoreline, keep an eye out for Silver Falls located about halfway up the Arm. You’ll also pass a summer camp and two power stations dating back to the early 1900s. They were designed to pump water down from Buntzen Lake – approximately 150m above you. If you plan to paddle all the way to the end remember that it’s about 18km one way and will likely take anywhere from 3-5 hours.

Just because you’re sitting down doesn’t mean this isn’t exercise – expect sore arms and maybe even a blister or two. It’s always smart to bring a basic first aid kit, lots of water, a life jacket and some yummy, restorative food. You may even want an extra set of clothes in case you get wet (you probably will). And lastly, if you’re anything like me, maybe you’ll even wishfully pack your bathing suit. Is it summer yet or what?

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Ariel Taylor is a writer and professional student living and working in the West End. Though never short on opinions, she approaches most things in life with an open mind and a grain of salt. She suffers from acute wanderlust (hence her Get Your Ass Outside column) and as a result can be packed for most adventures in 10 minutes or less.

HEADS UP | Klee Larsen Of Le Marché St. George Showing New Work At “The Shack”

The Larsen family are a talented bunch. Sisters Janaki and Klee do plenty more that just make Le Marché St. George this city’s most one-of-a-kind corner market. Janaki makes stunning ceramics and Klee take beautiful photographs. Lately Klee has been playing around with printing photos on vellum and adding layers of gold foil and resin (the results literally glow). Clear some space on your schedule to attend the opening reception for her first solo show – Oro (Spanish and Italian for gold) – at The Shack Art Collective in East Van this Saturday night. The majority of pieces are small and – in keeping with the mandate of The Shack – priced well within reach (in the $80-$110 range). Bring a little cash in your pocket for art (and a drink) and enter through the alley to check out this cool little gallery and the amazing artist exhibiting within!

Sat, April 20 | 7pm | The Shack Art Collective | 4364 Prince Albert (enter through alley) | DETAILS

VICTORY GARDENS: On The Glories Of Purple Sprouting Broccoli (“Garden Candy”)

by Lisa Giroday, Sandra Lopuch and Sam Philips | At this time of year, we get particularly excited about purple sprouting broccoli, aka “garden candy”. There’s nothing like raiding your garden in early Spring and finding these sprouting delectable shoots in all their purple glory just waiting to be harvested!

These little crowns sprout continuously typically between February and May. Purple sprouting broccoli produces multiple shoots for a period of time, which is different from producing a large crown that is harvested once. Pair an earlier maturing purple sprouting broccoli, Purple Sprouting Red Spear, which typically matures February to March, with the slightly later-maturing Purple Sprouting Rudolf, which typically matures March-May, and you have a longer harvesting period. It’s a welcome treat after winter, so harvest or find some while you still can. Eat them raw and fresh from the garden or stir fry them with some kale shoots (the flowering part of the kale plant that you may be seeing right now).

Interested on growing some for next spring? Check back with us in July – we’ll hook you up with some starts for the garden. These veggies need to “overwinter”

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Victory Gardens is a team of local urban farmers for hire. Lisa, Sandra and Sam help transform tired or underused residential and commercial green spaces into food producing gardens. Their goal is to challenge the way communities use space and to participate in the change needed to consume food more sustainably. For the rest of the growing season, they’ve hooked up with Scout to share some cool tips and tricks on how to get the best from of our own backyards.

READ IT (AGAIN): Pair Capote’s “Breakfast At Tiffany’s” With A Gin Sour At 900 West

by George Giannakos and Robyn Yager | Slowing down a little and breaking out a good book is never a bad idea. But what to read? You could walk into any bookstore and roll the dice on a recent release, but here’s another option: pick up a book that you last put down 5, 10, or 20 years ago. For the next book in Scout’s Read It (Again) series, we’ve picked Truman Capote’s Breakfast At Tiffany’s.

“A girl doesn’t read this sort of thing without her lipstick” – yup, Holly Golightly speaks the truth. Most of the time. If you loved the movie you’ll dig the book. Truman Capote’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s is a testament to the writer’s relationship with the women in his life. Written in 1950 – with a slew of girls claiming to be the inspiration behind the quirky and glamorous playgirl, Holly Golightly – the story follows Fred and Holly in their year-long friendship.

Why you should read it again: It’s a story about that person who appears to have their shit together but on the inside they have just as many insecurities and worries as the rest of us. The effort they put into keeping up appearances is a symptom of their insecurity. That’s Holly Golightly. The novel demystifies the movie and helps buffs to better understand where and under what circumstances the film was created. “It was the most miscast film I’ve ever seen,” said Capote. “Holly Golightly was real – a tough character, not an Audrey Hepburn type at all. The film became a mawkish valentine to New York City and Holly, and, as a result, was thin and pretty, whereas it should have been rich and ugly.” Who knew!?

Pair it with: Truman Capote’s story calls for what he refers to as a White Angel: one half vodka, one half gin and no vermouth. Well, since Holly Golightly is not one to play by the rules I’m going to go ahead and change things up a bit and suggest a different gin cocktail, a Gin Sour. That’s gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup, and no vermouth. Sip yours and read a chapter in a cozy seat at the 900 West Lounge (in the Hotel Vancouver, just across the Burrard St. from Tiffany’s).

(If you have seventeen minutes of free time, listen to Truman Capote reading from Breakfast at Tiffany’s. One of my favourite parts is 3:35; Holly’s thoughts on Hemingway’s age. It’s a treat.)

OTHER CLASSIC PAIRINGS

COOL THING WE WANT #384: “Grand Hotel” Book Pairing For Awesome New VAG Show

The Grand Hotel: Redesigning Modern Life exhibitionopens tomorrow at the Vancouver Art Gallery. The show “charts the evolution of the hotel from an isolated and utilitarian structure to a cultural phenomenon that figures prominently around the world.”

The scope of the project is global, an acknowledgement of the pervasive presence of a commercial network that is architecturally formed, geographically distributed and socially defined. The title of the exhibition is in part a reference to the influential 1932 Hollywood film Grand Hotel, in which the lives of individual guests interweave during a brief hotel stay. The film depicts a thoroughly modern condition and demonstrates the potency of the hotel as both a real and symbolic nexus of human movement, interaction and ideas. The exhibition’s four main themes—travel, design, the social and culture—consider the vital role of travel and design in the development of the hotel, as well as the hotel’s important role as a site of social interaction and cultural production. Each theme speaks to a critical force that has given shape and meaning to the hotel. Together they tell the collective story of this important built form, elucidating its prominence in the public consciousness and reflecting the nature of the hotel itself: engaging, innovative, provocative, ephemeral. Quite simply, the hotel is a veritable laboratory of modern life.

We were given a sneak peek at the exhibition yesterday and it was amazing. So many layers. So much going on! Equally impressive are the companion website, blog, and publicationof 336 pages and 452 illustrations edited by Jennifer M. Volland and Bruce Grenville with Stephanie Rebick. Since the only feasible takeaway is the book (and it’s a beautifully put together tome), we wants it.

Grand Hotel: Redesigning Modern Life | Publisher: Hatje Cantz | Available in the VAG Store | $60

EVERY COOL THING WE WANT

VANCOUVER WOULD BE COOLER IF #200: It Used Sheep To Replace Noisy Lawnmowers

 (photo: Bertoz) The City Council of Paris, France is launching a pilot project that might eventually see sheep mowing the lawns of the City’s many parks and public green spaces:

Four sheep from Ouessent Island, off the coast of Brittany, were selected to take over a gardener’s job, and also for their small size—they stand barely over two-feet tall, and are considered hardy and too small to be eaten—which makes them easier to transport between sites.

Over the next six months, the grass-guzzling living ‘lawn-mowers’ need to keep a 2,000-square meter grass patch neatly trimmed, as a trial. And if the low-tech program (known as eco-grazing) is successful, sheep will be seen replacing mechanical lawnmowers throughout the French capital’s public spaces.

The black shaggy sheep are seen as an environmentally-friendly alternative, as they reduce cost, noise and air pollution, and the use of pesticides and fuel—and they help fertilize plants as well.

“Motorized lawn mowers make a lot of noise, and they also consume fossil fuels and sometimes electricity,” Fabienne Giboudeaux, Paris City Hall’s director of Green Spaces told BBC. “It’s not very rewarding work for gardeners, pushing these machines around. It’s tiring.”

When reached for comment on the local viability of such a project, Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson simply said “Baaaaah.” (ok, not really)

OTHER CIVIC IMPROVEMENT SUGGESTIONS

SMOKE BREAK #1030: “Quiet City” Short Film Shows A Wintry Paris Without Tourists

(via) Here in BC, the start of tourist season starts right after Easter, so right about now. The restaurants re-up on staff and unleash their patios, the Kabuki Kabs and Tally Ho carriages start slowing down traffic, the campgrounds and whale watching vessels get booked fast, cruise ship passengers get lost on the DTES and milked by chain restaurants, and all the winery tasting rooms dig in until harvest. In Paris, however, it’s tourism season all the time except for a thin window in the dead of winter…

Claire and I recently took a trip to France, and I filmed this during our time in Paris. Until this trip, I had only ever experienced Paris in the summer and I was struck by just how different the city is when most of us tourist are gone. We were equipped with our metro and museum passes and were able to easily access most places of interest without even waiting in line. It was incredible! We were even given a private tour of the École du Louvre [...] The weather wasn’t always perfect, but our experience was totally different and unique.

TAKE ANOTHER BREAK

YOU SHOULD KNOW: About The 2400 Court & Vancouver’s Idyllic Post-War Car Culture

by Stevie Wilson | On a Kingsway drive out towards the ‘burbs, it’s easy to miss the scattering of unique older buildings – particularly because there aren’t too many of them left. One vestige of the Kingsway Corridor’s heyday (before it was simply a conduit to and from Metrotown) is the familiar 2400 Court, conveniently located smack-dab en route to The Big City. Boasting a freestanding vintage neon sign, famously plain stucco exteriors, and manicured lawns straight out of the ‘60s, this Streamline Modern oasis reflects the booming car and motel culture that pervaded many cities in the middle of the last century. Built in 1946, the three and a half acre site houses 18 detached buildings with 65 single units. It was originally envisioned as a home-away-from-home for tourists and visitors keen on taking advantage of their newfound motor mobility.

In its prime, 2400 Court featured hot water heating, a “chesterfield suite”, writing desk, mail service, Simmons mattresses, electric range, and more; basically “everything that goes to make your visit inviting, pleasant, and enjoyable”. Flash forward a few decades later and it’s a landmark for many generations of Vancouverites, an icon of post-war travel culture that is seen by many but recognized by few. It’s situated on what used to be the primary route into the city, and has, fortunately, received some significant care and upkeep over the years. A few famous guests (including special agents Scully and Mulder) have helped maintain the former Ma-and-Pop-run establishment as a point of interest for heritage buffs and tenants alike.

As a byway, Kingsway dates back to the 1870s, when it was then known as Westminster Road. Its abundance of gas stations, restaurants, and parks built from the 1920s into the 1940s presented it as an ideal thoroughfare to and from major destinations in the Lower Mainland. The completion of the Patullo Bridge in 1937 paved the way – so to speak – for a new crop of accommodations along a stretch that united towns and facilitated travel south to and from the US. For families living in the relatively comfortable post-war economic boom, a trip to nearby Wally’s Burgers and a stay at 2400 Court was likely a really swell time.

By the early 1960s the term “Motel” was introduced in place of “Court” to reflect a trend towards single, multi-unit hotel buildings as opposed to open, bungalow-style auto courts. As many historians and heritage experts have noted, the site is a truly pristine example of post-war car culture aesthetic amidst a sea of lackluster modern developments. A few years back, the future of 2400 Court was threatened by the development of the Norquay Neighbourhood Centre Plan. As of March 2013, it appears as if City Council will be moving forward with new zoning which will repurpose the entire area as “a medium density centre of shops, services and community spaces”, including high-density housing. Currently, the Motel sits in the Vancouver Heritage Society’s Top Ten List of Endangered Sites, with plenty of public support for its continued maintenance. The City purchased the area in 1989, so it remains to be seen what will become of it (hey, remember the El Dorado?).

The truth is, the sprawling design of the 2400 Motel can’t compete with more space saving modern developments. Inside, it’s outdated without much to offer any luxury-seeking tourists. Despite its visual appeal to mid-century enthusiasts and value as a reflection of post-war architecture, it’s simply not a contender in the hotel game these days – and it sits on prime real estate. And so the eternal question remains: what do we do with heritage that stands in the way of development? Is something “old” worth saving if we don’t have a use for it? That’s a tough call to make, to be sure. In the meantime, read more on the site’s heritage values in Birmingham & Wood’s Statement of Significance for the City, and maybe take a closer look next time you rush on by!

YOU SHOULD KNOW EVEN MORE

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Stevie Wilson is an historian masquerading as a writer. After serving as an editor for the UBC History Journal, she’s decided to branch out with a cryptic agenda: encouraging the people of Vancouver to take notice of their local history and heritage with You Should Know, a Scout column that aims to show you the things that you already see. Just nod your head and pretend you’re paying attention.

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SWAG: Say Hello To Pecha Kucha Speaker Kim Peacock (And Win A Pair Of Tickets!)

Pecha Kucha Night Vol. 27 goes down tomorrow night at the Vogue Theatre. We have a pair of tickets to give away right now. Here’s what you need to do…

1) “Like” this post (and Scout on Facebook if you haven’t already).

2) Follow @scoutmagazine on Twitter and retweet the following: I’m fixing to win two tickets to #PKNVan via @scoutmagazine http://wp.me/plxHU-hlU

The winner will be chosen at random after breakfast. And now…

As always, there’s a phenomenal line-up of fascinating speakers. Among them is our old friend Kim Peacock, who loves solving problems, developing brands through storytelling, and travelling — affections that made her former position as Director of Global Marketing for HootSuite a great fit, and her current position as General Manager of the Western Division of Edelman (the biggest PR + communications company in Canada, and the world) just about perfect (it also satisfies her bossy tendencies). She loves her rescue dog Lucy, and doing just about anything on a mountain or an ocean, which makes Vancouver her ideal home base.

Can you explain briefly what you do at Edelman West? I’m accountable for the strategic and operational success of the Western Canadian business.

You used to be the publisher at Vancouver Magazine (and Western Living). Following that, you were with Hootsuite. How is the culture at Edelman different? What similarities do you see? There are more similarities than differences in my mind. All three are creative communications companies filled with really smart, hard-working, passionate people. HootSuite and Edelman are both privately owned, which creates a specific culture of entrepreneurship I really love. At HootSuite, though, I could get an email at 5:30pm on Friday that said, “Human curling starts in 10 minutes in the upstairs lounge”. That never happened at the magazines, and it hasn’t happened yet at Edelman.

Where are you from? Tough question. I was born in Edmonton, but have lived in seven cities in Canada. So I guess the answer is Canada.

What neighbourhood do you call home? Why do you love living there? South False Creek. I can’t imagine living in Vancouver and not being on the water.

What inspires you? The simplicity of my dog’s emotional life and her expression of it.

Default drink/cocktail of choice? Guinness.

The Vancouverite that you admire most and why? There are many, but at the moment, it’s Elaine Lui. She’s totally awesome – her TEDx talk says it all.

Your favourite sound? My dog’s woo-woo-woo howl when I come home. She’s always happy to see me.

Your least favourite sound? Children crying. Especially in a restaurant or airplane.

The strangest talent that you possess? I took up the ukulele last year, but talent is a strong word to describe what I do.

Your three favourite films? Of the ones I saw in the last year, Argo, Beasts of the Southern Wild and Rock of Ages.

What’s the thing that you eat that is bad for you that you will never stop eating? Big Macs. I love them, especially after a night out drinking.

Describe your favourite photograph. My dad on a hot air balloon in Africa. It was taken a couple of years before he died, and he looks so healthy and peaceful.

If you had a motto, what would it be? Live curious.

Your favourite word? Puppy. It was also one of my first words. I learned it before daddy.

Your least favourite word? I like all words, just some more than others.

Your favourite curse word? Fuck.

One thing of no monetary value that you own and will keep dearly until you die? It’s actually of significant value, but my engagement ring from my marriage. I wear it almost every day because it reminds me of love, and wisdom earned the hard way. And also because it’s beautiful, and after all, it’s not the ring’s fault.

The strangest road you’ve ever travelled? I’d say the road of life qualifies.

Your first memory? Visiting my mom in the hospital after she had my sister. I was rocking an orange and brown herringbone print polyester pant suit. I mostly remember the pant suit.

The first album that made you love music? The Jungle Book.

Your go to, no-frills place for dinner in Vancouver? Salsa & Agave.

Last place you traveled? Calgary.

The strangest place you’ve ever been to? Disneyland Paris.

If you could board a plane this afternoon, where would it be taking you? Toronto. My partner, Gary, is there as I write this, and I wish I was with him.

OTHER INTERESTING VANCOUVERITES

SEEN IN VANCOUVER #439: Remembering The Battle Of Vimy Ridge At Victory Square

by Andrew Morrison | In front of veterans, city officials, and a large crowd of the curious and the cold, roughly 300 young members of Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps were on parade in the rain at Victory Square yesterday. They were marking and remembering the First World War’s Battle of Vimy Ridge. The three day fight in April, 1917 claimed the lives of some 3,598 Canadian soldiers, including that of my great-great uncle, a Private who wasn’t much older than the kids pictured above. It was a moving day, especially with a bugler on hand for The Last Post and a piper piping the Lament. The Mayor’s Office proclaimed it Vimy Day and many wreaths were laid, including one by the Consul General of France.

EVERYTHING SEEN IN VANCOUVER

GOODS: East Of Main Cafe To Host “Monday Night Live” Film Trade Storytelling Tonight!

East Of Main is located at 223 E. Georgia (between Main & Gore) in Vancouver BC | 604-899-2777 | eastofmaincafe.com

The GOODS from East of Main Cafe

Vancouver, BC | East of Main Cafe and Project Limelight Society proudly present Monday Night Live, a unique evening of storytelling featuring actors, directors, producers, agents, casting directors, and other film industry professionals. East of Main Cafe provides a topic and 7 minutes for film industry professionals to tell their story. Enthusiasts, fans and colleagues are encouraged to fill the audience. Admission is free but donations will be accepted to Project Limelight Society, a free performing arts program for children living in Vancouver’s DTES. Head to East of Main early for drinks and tapas in order to secure a seat for the 7pm start time. This intimate evening will conclude with a candid Q and A with the storytellers. 100% of the profits from East of Main Cafe benefit Project Limelight Society. Get all the details and find out who tonight’s storytellers are after the jump… Read more

SOUNDTRACKING: Five Minutes With Angel Olsen When She’s Not Making Sandwiches

by Daniel Colussi | Angel Olsen has a commanding voice. Even through the crappy pinhole speakers of my Macbook Pro her voice comes across like a wave. The Chicago singer has done time in Will Oldham’s Babblers (a pick up group that covers Kevin Coyne and the Mekons at house shows/pajama parties) and she’s released some small run cassettes and 7″s. But it’s on her recent full length, Half Way Home, that Olsen really shines. The songs on this album possess a sincerity and directness that not all singers are capable of, much less without crossing into schmaltzy bathos. This music almost sounds beamed in from a previous age. The effect is transfixing, as if Olsen is playing a private set for you in your living room. That’s her over there on your couch, with a guitar and a bottle of wine, just telling it like it is. She’s is actually totally nonchalant in conversation, seemingly just happy to have a break from her day job of making sandwiches at a cafe counter. Her first Vancouver show – at the Media Club later this month – should be a good one. Readers, I give you Angel Olsen…

Tomorrow is the start of a pretty big tour for you. You’re touring up the West Coast, over to the UK, and then back to the East Coast. Have you toured a lot? For my own music, not really. I went on an East Coast tour in November and then I went to the Netherlands in September when the album came out. I’m trying to plan more tours on my own, for my own music. But for the last few years I’ve toured a lot with Will Oldham, which is a totally different experience.

Back in Chicago what are the cool spots you like to play? My friends own a cafe in Chicago and I’ll play there, just solo sets or whatever. I like the smaller bars. I think they have way more charm. There’s a place called The Burlington in Chicago that’s been around forever and they just opened up a back room that’s awesome. It’s really mellow. There’s another place called The Hideout that’s really cool. But yeah, I like playing in bars, which is a bit weird because you’d think that someone who plays solo a lot would like intimate situations. But I think that bars can be intimate. You go see someone play and you buy a drink. I’m not turned off by it.

I’ve been listening to Half Way Home and it’s really nice. You have a really strong voice. Something that I appreciate in particular is that your voice is pretty much unadorned. So much music today masks the singing in dollops of reverb and delay. My first album was super lo-fi and not really well done, and going from that to working really hard on making things sound good has been a really good step for me (laughs). But I prefer playing live. It’s just more…I feel like I’m having fun, too, and I’m not just giving my record to people and saying, “See ya!”

So it’s a little more immediately satisfying? Yeah, totally.

When did you start singing? I dunno. I’ve pretty much being doing it since I was a little kid. But trying to seriously write songs, I didn’t start that until I was 15 or 16. I think I’ve always wanted to be a performer, definitely.

Your singing is really strong and it’s got a really classic quality, almost like someone from the 50s or 60s… I think I draw from a lot of different singers. I really like Spanish music. I really love Amalia Rodrigues. There’s just something about it that really moves me. And I also like The Miracles and The Everly Brothers. I like a lot of old music and I know my music has a kind of nostalgia to it and I don’t really mind that it does because I don’t think I’m writing in the same way that they would’ve written back then.

What was the first cassette or cd you bought when you were a kid? I think it was a Mariah Carey CD or maybe Boyz II Men (laughs).

How does it feel to have your music get this much attention? Interviews, kind words from The New York Times, etc. Is it unexpected? It kind of feels weird. It’s kind of unexpected. We were talking earlier about how Half Way Home is really kind of dry and you can hear my voice, versus my first album which was drenched in reverb, a rainshower of reverb. I wasn’t sure if everyone was ready to hear something so dry because everyone likes that comfortable distance, you know? I don’t really want to listen to what someone is singing about. I’d rather listen to this zoned out music. And I was just kind of like, well I don’t know if people are going to like this at all but we’ll see. I mean, I played a show in Los Angeles last January and I didn’t expect anyone to be there. And it was full of people and I thought, “Who are these people? I have no idea why they’re here!” It’s a strange experience, but not a bad one. Before I was just over here making sandwiches, living my life. It’s surprising but it’s good.

So it gets you away from the sandwich counter for a little bit. Yeah, I can stop making sandwiches for a minute!

Angel Olsen plays the Media Club on Sunday, Apr. 21st. Tickets at Zulu, Red Cat and the venue.

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Daniel Colussi is the Music Editor of Scout Magazine and a contributing writer to Ion Magazine. A veteran employee of Zulu Records and tuneage aficionado, he DJs on an infrequent basis (about four times a year) and is a musician around town who plays in several ensembles.

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