Playing Again

How to Host a Superspreader Event

Playing again: wow. It was just like the “old days” (i.e. 2019). We do two nights at Vancouver’s notorious Rickshaw Theatre, the first night sucks because we’re vaguely nervous and forget how to play some of the songs, the second night rules. Except this time those dynamics were amplified times a billion by the pandemic. Thanks to all who could make it; it was truly epic and sorely needed.

also OK so MAYBE some people got COVID at our recent shows. Look, we can’t help it that we’re super popular and that hundreds of Vancouverites want to see us play OK? We can’t help it that when we play, people want to move around and get their heart and breathing rates up super high, right?? We can’t help it that we told them to lick each other!

Well, right, I suppose we didn’t need to do that last thing.

I know you’re not supposed to joke about the pandemic and obviously it’s very fresh for a lot of people but this is the way we deal with the weird tension involved in playing right now. There are good arguments on all sides of this ongoing COVID “discussion” (if you could even call it that…). But regardless we can confirm that Vancouverites really needed these shows. The collective release of energy was insane. People were going out of their minds, especially on the second night after the warm-up performance from the incredible Balkan Schmalkan. So we’re glad at least to have been part of what was, for many people, their first mosh pit craziness in over two years. That is a serious honor.

And the most memorable moment came on Saturday, when a newly engaged couple, each very adept at dancing the polka, came out to center stage and danced merrily through our rendition of “Polka Never Dies”. At the apex of the song they dove into the mosh pit and crowd surfed away, sailing towards matrimony:

After blathering endlessly on Substack about how Polka builds community and strengthens relationships, this was truly a glorious moment, because, well, you know, it’s true. Dammit.

Finally, on Saturday, we had spent all day at a secret location shooting a music video for our new single “Problem”—due out soon!—, and there were some bizarre costumes left over from the whole thing. As you can see in these highly entertaining long videos, we put one of them to good use:

That, indeed, is the SSB crowdsurfing around the whole venue in a Sexy Chicken costume and destroying the “exit” sign. Just like the old days, man. Just like 2019.