A Hushed Room

Cocktail Correspondent: Weldon Gardner Hunter

Being a review of the Nicholas Krgovich/ To Bad Catholics and Dear Nora show at the Painted Ship, Wednesday, June 5, 2024.

William Hay, lead singer of The Painted Ship

Doors at 830pm.

More people than I expected at the venue. The Painted Ship (2884 West Broadway, Vancouver), is a relatively new space where Yagger's used to be. The Painted Ship is named after the great Vancouver rock band fronted by William Hay, who named his combo after Coleridge's "Rime of the Ancient Mariner."  Listen to "And She Said Yes" for one of the wildest vocal performances of all time. Iggy before Iggy. I've heard a rumour that he wrote his songs at the Dairy Queen on Broadway and Trafalgar just up the road.

I get a seat at the bar, as I planned. I couldn’t find anyone to go with me. Those I asked are planning to save their energy for Music Waste. I mean, I want to see Sleuth and Apollo Ghosts, but they're both playing Friday at midnight at different spots. I practically go to sleep from quandariness. 

Wednesday night is easier. I marked during the day. I lesson planned. I'm ready. I'm solo. Wearing a purple t-shirt saying "Stamp Out the Beatles." 

I ordered a Creamsicle Colada for strength while I waited the interminable wait for the opening act. The CC is orange-forward with lots of vanilla notes. Can't be a 15 minute cocktail* with that profile. 

Contact citrus gin, licor 43, triple sec, coconut milk, orange simple syrup, vanilla, orange bitters

It's a cute cocktail, but I'm not sure if I'll be caliing it for a second date. I never will ghost it, though. 

Nick Krgovich started his set on time. No long wait! Doing very quiet piano versions of Dear Nora songs and it was a wee bit awkward. I didn’t twig that he was doing covers until he did a song about growing up in Arizona. Still, sometimes indie pop artists take risks – think of Calvin Johnson/Beat Happening in Our Band Could be Your Life continuing to sing acappella after a hardcore brute brought blood with an ashtray to the beak. That's ideal indiepop– radical vulnerability. Hearing line cooks and cocktail shakers in the background of a quiet song. You push through.

His new album, "Ducks" is recommended. But he didn't play any songs from it.

A 10 minute intermission and then he performed as part of a duo with his sister. To Bad Catholics. Very strange music, comedy. Parts were like Jad Fair, Red Crayola, or "You know my name" by the Beatles. It won the crowd over. Including this guy.

Between acts, I ordered a "Night Market": sweet, tart. Contact citrus gin (again), maraschino liqueur, lemon, honey, basil bitters. I didn't take a photo because Dear Nora was playing.

I wonder what would happen if they used Stambecco instead of Luxardo tho. There's a pleasantly herbal, garden touch with the basil bitters. Very citrusy as you sip thru. I'm not really receiving the cherry notes, sadly. A more than 15 minute drink. Mainly because Katy Davidson/Dear Nora was playing. The drink had a great soundtrack. The first time I had a Night Market, it didn’t impress, but … it was during the day. Cocktails truly only come out at night.

Dear Nora: Think Billy Bragg, Buddy Holly, Bob Dylan. Barbara Alston? A hushed room. One American hymn after another. Seemed like mostly from Skulls Example and Human Futures. Those are full band albums and they're great. Yet a song like “Shadow” is so powerful live performed solo. A hushed room. Sometimes it's a little medieval, like Mary Timony. Dear Nora would push up their glasses in between chords. They played “White Fur” when I requested it and it was the coolest response ever: a beat, then  “Yeah, I can play that.” Fonzie. Total confidence. After the show, people were lined up to gush and get autographs. 

Outside on Macdonald Street, some UBC students singing in harmony at a bus stop. A perfect end to the set.

*Not quite the same idea as a 15-minute city, more that you should savor a drink for at least 15 minutes. Cocktail bars should be within a 5 or 10 minute walk of everyone's home.