Timbertrain Coffee Rosters, Vancouver
14/07/26. Tom Hollister
There’s something special about waking up in a city that feels both familiar and brand new. Today is show day and before the darkness of the venue descends, myself and Chris are scooter-bound and heading to see a little of this most beautiful city. Vancouver is the kind of city that rewards the wanderer. The mountains frame the city, the ocean air drifts through the streets and there’s a constant feeling that nature is never too far away. It’s a city built around movement, cyclists weaving through neighbourhoods, people walking with dogs, cafes filling the air with conversation. But it doesn’t have the chaos of a London or New York, it has the unique calmness of a city built to highlight nature, not in spite of it; it allows you to take a breath.
After a look around Stanley Park, we reload in Timbertrain Coffee Roasters in historic Gas Town. It’s a desperately cool mix of retro furniture and hipster-hatted barristers. The coffee is good and the air conditioning gives a welcomed relief to the outside heat! As we rest, it’s impossible not to think about the last time I called Vancouver home…
Twenty years ago I lived here (more specifically, White Rock) and although it was for a brief spell, as an 18 year old, it had a lasting impact on my life. If nothing else, a car accident I had in the mountains north of Vancouver resulted in an injury that stopped my rugby career and turned my focus onto music. So, in a very real way, you all have Vancouver to blame for me boring you today! Being on tour can be pretty isolating sometimes. You spend so much time moving from one place to another that when you return somewhere with genuine personal history, it feels like catching up with an old friend. Thankfully, I actually got to do that too and I know having those guys at the show tonight will make it feel even more special. When I left Vancouver 20 years ago, I vowed only to return when my music allowed me to professionally. Perhaps in some vain attempt to prove to myself I was good enough. I’m still not sure about that…
Anyway, for now, the sold out Fox Cabaret awaits. The amps will be turned up, and we’ll get to share a room with people who have come together for the same reason we have; because music has the power to bring strangers into a space and, if only for a little while, make it feel like home.
Thank you Vancouver, it’s good to be back.
Where - Timbertrain Coffee Rosters, Vancouver
Coffee - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Vibe - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
