Artist of the Day | VON BIEKER
ARTIST OF THE DAY
12.09.2020
VON BIEKER
LOCATION
Edmonton, AB
GENRE
Bow Tie Rock
CURRENT MEMBERS
Dave Von Bieker
Tim Lariviere
Mark Sholtz
With the current pandemic, the state of the music and touring industry has dramatically changed. Where were you when everything was brought to a halt?
I have two kids in school so that was what I was paying most attention to those early days. I remember the news that they were not going back to class after spring break taking a while to settle in. I remember thinking how my life was about to be flipped right around and how little control I – or any of us – have over so much.
Gig-wise, my three-piece Von Bieker and His Small-Tones was slated to play a gig in Red Deer mid-March to celebrate the anniversary of a friend's brewery, Red Hart Brewing. Venues hadn't shut down completely yet and we were watching the situation all week. We ended up playing the gig and having an incredible time. That was the last time my band and I played together and the last indoor gig I played with or without the band.
How has that affected your plans for the coming months? Did you have a tour planned, upcoming album release?
I planned to release an album in the spring and was working hard on it as things ground to a halt. Life took a turn. The project was put on hold and a few gigs were immediately canceled. I now have gigs slated for 2021 pushed back into 2022!
These strange days did drive me to livestream more, because it wasn't long before I was missing the experience of sharing music. It turns out I'm not the only one. Those online shows have been really special and eventually gave me the drive I needed to complete my album project. I'm doing that now, from home and mostly on my own. I plan to release my new album, Places We Can't Live, in early 2021.
What have you been doing to fill/make the most of your new-found free time at home?
Early on in lockdown mode I was making puzzles and playing games over Zoom with friends. That fun, but weird, and I've been so grateful to see people in person again, even if at a distance.
I've read some great books, like my current read, "Factfulness", from Hans Rosling. Rosling uses data to argue that the world, overall, is in much better shape than we think it is. In terms or global health and wealth distribution, we've all come a long way. Crazy right?
I've also been live streaming and recording a lot, along with learning how to be better at both. I'm trying to build up the best foundation I can to move forward from when things open up again.
What was the first thing you did/place you went to now the country is starting to slowly re-open?
I went on a bike ride with my wife and we tried to get craft beer ice cream. Which kind of worked. The only available ice cream on our route (without some advanced pre-order planning) was from a convenience store who had no spoons, so we had to walk through the A & W drive through to get a spoon. Totally worth it.
Favourite Starlite Room Moment?
Watching Foxwarren play the Starlite was magic. I went with a friend who, like me, realized that we were the only old people who wanted to be near the front AND sit down. To our delight the front booth was totally open, so we could be old and pretend to be young. The music was fantastic, of course, and we had a great view of the awesome little drum kit they had set up. Plus, my legs didn't hurt the next day :)
Do you have a message for everyone at home reading this?
Hang in there and don't forget your need for beauty. Not cheap, easy beauty, but the deep and dirty beauty that comes from real life and real art.
Don't just survive this pandemic – find ways to LIVE. Art does that. Music does that. Find it wherever you can get it. Distanced yard concerts. Weird Zoom shows. Online open mics. Anywhere.
The weather is getting cool again and I promise you if the venues aren't open yet we'll all be back on Facebook Live and Zoom and Instagram and anywhere else we can make connections around shared beauty. I know I will be.
Art matters so please make time for it, even when it feels life is too crazy to make time for it. Especially then.
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