Stephen Hamm played in Vancouver bands starting in the early 1980s, including Slow, Canned Hamm, Jungle, Tankhog and Nardwuar And The Evaporators. The Georgia Straight once called him ‘semi legendary.’ His current solo show is based around Theremin and Synthesizer. This conversation was recorded on April 16th 2024.

John Barley’s, at 23 W. Cordova Street, has been a music venue under many names (including the Cruel Elephant and the Hungry Eye) until as the Hindenberg it closed in 2018.

Bands discussed include Death Sentence, Another Kind of Blues, House of Commons, NoMeansNo, Shanghai Dog, Agent Orange, the Reptiles, The Nerve Tubes, Dayglo Abortions, Mission of Christ, Green River, July fourth toilet, Sea hags, Flaming Lips, Goo Goo Dolls, Change of Heart, Young Canadians, DOA, the Gits, Skinyard, the Dwarves, The Faith No More, Peaches, Mojo Nixon, the Replacements.

Other Venues visited: the Savoy (2 Powell Street), the Town Pump (66 Water St), Ms Ts Cabaret (339 West Pender), the Marine Club (573 Homer St), The Backstage Lounge (1181 Seymour Street).

Other venue discussed: Stalag 13, Luxury Bob’s, the Penthouse, the Smilin' Buddha, the Waterfront.

Music clips used with artist permission.

Slow: "I Have Not Been the Same" from Against the Glass (Zulu, 1986)

Stephen Hamm Theremin Man: "Valentina" 2021

Tankhog: "I Woke Up in Love This Morning" from House of Beauty (Zulu, 1992)