A no messing around guide to the coolest things to eat, drink and do in Vancouver and beyond. Community. Not clickbait.

10 Minutes With Local Musician And Ex-League Bowler Zaac Pick

ZaacPickProfile0910-1med

Zaac Pick and his band played at Pecha Kucha last month. It was one of those situations where you just knew that someone very cool knew someone else very cool and somehow they got together to get Zaac up on the stage to perform prior to the main event and you were lucky enough to have landed a seat in the audience.  I whipped out my phone after his first song to bookmark his Myspace page. Check him out…

Zaac is playing at Frederico’s on Commercial Drive next week (November 3, 8pm, $10), so we thought this would be the perfect time to pose him a few questions…

Scout Q&A

Town you were born in: Medicine Hat, Alberta.

Three things about your neighbourhood that make you want to live there: At present, Cloverdale, in the Valley. I’m often in the city, but the Alberta in me appreciates going home to the wide-open spaces, having a garden, and that you can still walk or bike to pretty much anything. Oh, did I mention rent is cheaper?

The thing that you eat that is bad for you that you will never stop eating: Doritos, yes.

Default drink: Coffee.

Three things about Vancouver that make you feel like a kid: Aquarium, False Creek water taxi and the SkyTrain chime (strange, but true).

Favourite Vancouver bridge: Lion’s Gate – passing through those stone lions always feels like you’re setting off on some epic adventure…

Best Vancouver patio: Havana on a midsummer’s night.

Favourite place to see a band: Orpheum. The place is like a time-machine.

Cheap place for dinner: The Foundation, or the Long Table series, hosted by The Irish Heather if you’re feeling fancy and/or friendly.

Book you’re reading: Dubliners, by James Joyce.

Last place traveled: Tofino.

If you could rename yourself: I did think about it seriously once, but I’m ok with it now. And yes, it’s my real name.

Best sneaker in the world: Do Toms count?

Your ancestry: Russian & Norwegian.

Your paternal grandfather’s personal story: He once met Johnny Cash while working as a mechanic at a gas station, and he kept the signed credit card receipt.

Best bar stool in the city: Hmm…Alibi Room?

Dumbest purchase ever: A bunch of old film reels, projectors and cameras. I had hopes of having vintage movie nights outside, but most all of them are broken, mis-matched, or missing parts. Any takers?

What are you proud of: Being Canadian.

The thing that makes you the angriest: Cruelty.

The view from your favourite window: Evergreens and the ocean.

Favourite ice cream flavor: Whatever kind has brownies in it.

Most beautiful body of water: The Pacific.

Food your mom makes better than anyone: Spaghetti with home-made sauce.

The trend you wish you never followed, but did: In grade six I had a pair of acid-washed jeans with elastic ankles. I’m told they’re coming back.

Musical instrument you long to master: Pedal steel.

Sport you gave up: League bowling. Enough said.

Best place to think: On the ferry to Vancouver Island.

Mac or PC: Macs make more sense to me.

The number of fist fights you’ve been in: 1. I lost. I was also in grade 6.

The scariest situation you’ve ever been in: Driving with friends through Baja South Mexico in a 60’s Volkswagen at night, when a huge black SUV pulls up and tries to run us off the road. We thought they were going to kill us, but they had seen the Canadian flag on our rear window, and one of the guys was a former Mexican boxing champ whose hobby was collecting signed flags from travelers. They just wanted to invite some nice Canadians back to their bar for drinks. Whew.

Local person you admire most: There are so many brilliant, incredible, and inspiring people from Vancouver – from activists like David Suzuki, authors like Douglas Coupland and artists like Jeff Wall to friends of mine working in the DTES who are helping put a human face on the myriad of issues there.

Best concert experience ever: Patty Griffin, at the Stanley.

Best people watching: Gene Coffee or English Bay, weather permitting.

Best record label: Not really a follower of labels, just music.

Describe your tattoos: I don’t have any yet.

The dish you’re proud of: After many failed attempts, I can finally make a proper omelette.

The thing that makes you the most nervous: Worrying about remembering lyrics, which leads to forgetting them.

Old television shows you can tolerate re-runs of: Seinfeld.

What are you listening to as you answer these questions: Mavis Staples, You Are Not Alone (produced by Jeff Tweedy!)

Album that first made you first love music: Well, the first record I remember buying with my own money was Michael Jackson’s ‘Dangerous’.

Default junk food: Ice cream.

The career path you considered but never followed: Architect.

Thing you miss most about home when you’re on the road: Quiet.

Three websites you visit every day: Twitter, Facebook, Globe & Mail.

The first three things you do every morning: Stretch, make coffee, read.

The thing you’re addicted to: My iPhone. It’s a love/hate relationship.

Biggest hope: That music can still change the world.

Favourite book as a child: Jelly Belly, by Dennis Lee.

Luckiest moment of your life: Agreeing to the blind date where I met my wife.

OTHER INTERESTING LOCALS

There is 1 comment