‘LOCAL COMPOSER Simple stories HIS SONGS tell simple stories. By LISA SMEDMAN who were beaten by the ele- ments that whip the northern Stories of the fishermen who worked as hand trollers for next to no pay in the _depths of the Depression. Stories of Danish settlers a Sunday May Limit 12 eCBtOSeOp. FINE PASTRY © AND BREAD SHOPS SUNDAY SPECIAL ~ HONEY & WHOLE WHEAT for the price of 5 only, Liam-Spm NaVES Per person Tea AALS ea dy iT 8, ap 2 tip of Vancouver Island. Stories of old farmers and young lovers. John Andrews McLachlan, 24, puts many Hie SEAFOOD LUNCHEON CREATIONS MONDAY THRU FRIDAY FRESH ShilMP & CRAB LOUIE SALAD. “with thousand island dressing SAUTEED SEAFOOD SALAD éhrimp & scallops over spinach and mushrooms complete with piquant vinaigrette. © of his own experiences into the songs that he writes. Born and raised in North Vancouver, he spends part of each summer on Hornby Island, where the hand troller fishermen lived in ‘shacks along the beach in the 1930s. And a visit to an un- cle in B.C.’s interior was the inspiration for McLachlan’s song about a farmer’s philosophies. ‘*He’s a very happy per- son,"" McLachlan says, talk- ing about his uncle. ‘‘He’s very content there, and he’s never gone anywhere else. Another visit to relatives in Newfoundland helped McLachlan pick up some local vocabulary which he hopes to use in future songs. Although most of McLachlan’s songs are character studies of the peo- ple he has known and met, he also. sings about little- known events in B.C.’s past. “His song of the Danish set- tlers on Cape Scott is one such example, a story that was drawn from an article in the Kaincoast Chronicles. In a_ softspoken voice, McLachlan admits that his love bailads often capture the emotions of love, but that the events described in them use a poet’s license. And rusted rails like love gone bad just slowly fade away, Time lost trains like dreams I have wiii linger on today. But nothing stays the same once rust sets in to stay. McLachlan says the writ- ing of most of his songs follows the saying ‘‘five per cent inspiration and 95 per cent perspiration. ‘] usually get a lyrical idea and a me- lodical idea, then once I get the basic form down it’s all work from there,’’ GAT CALL OUR SPECIAL ‘CAKE-LINE’ 434-5143 We'll put your Special Message on our —MOTHER’S DAY CAKE— You can pick it up at any Oscarsson‘s ° 288 Pemberton Ave., North « Denman Mall, Vancouver * Richmond Square, RESTAURANT aN & | COMING SOON i “SEAFOOD CELEBRATIONS” MAY 20 - 31 OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK FOR DINNER . Bewood Mall Richmond a : 1 . 2205 COMMISSIONER ST., VANCOUVER Boundern Burnaby Wostmincrer we: New Q InesERVATIONS 254-9606 ABER aN PHI LNT OE ESA a concn Nae ppcaconcennsovhe mattis s+ caneenea the fiancee Page 46 McLachlan says. ‘‘It’s trying to pare away the superfluous stuff to try and get it as clear and simple as possible. McLachlan says Gordon Lightfoot is among the musicians he admires, for the timeless quality of his songs. And he also lists On- tario singer Stan Rogers, who died in an airplane crash a few years ago, as one of his influences. “He wrote songs that sound like they were written 200 years ago, but they are about people of today.”’ McLachlan is in his se- cond year of voice training in the commercial music program at Capilano Col- lege. He’s a_ self-taught guitar player who picked up the finer points of his in- strument in highschool. “Music was my favorite thing in school, and that’s where al] my time went.” He now keeps in practice on his 12-string and six-str- ing guitars by performing with members cf the North Shore Folk Music Club at Presentation House. He is also a member of the Van- couver Folk Music Society, which holds concerts twice monthly. In the meantime, he keeps money in his pockets by working at Blackberry Books on Granville island, 45 - Sunday, May 5, Meeting through songs and by performing at wed- dings and private gatherings. In May, he'll be trying something a little different. McLachlan has recently put together a band, and will be performing for the first time with a back-up group at 8 p.m, on May 26, at the Van- couver East Cultural Centre. The musicians include bassist Rob Marr and singer Melanie Johnson, both from North Vancouver, and guitarist Bobby Cornejo, drummer Dale Diduck, and Capilano College instructor Blaine Dunaway on violin. Usually a solo performer, McLachlan is looking for- ward to performing with other musicians. “You get te do different things with arrangements that you’d never have the opportunity to do on your own,’" he said. Tickets will be $6 adults and $5 students. (For ticket information phone 254-9578.) McLachlan hopes to revive the spirit of a folk festival in his upcoming concert with singalong choruses. ‘‘Obviously - the folk boom is over, but when I play these songs for people that aren’t ‘‘folksey”’ when they sit down and listen to the songs they really appreciate them.”’ It’s that simple. Call us ior a.compliment ry estimate, no obligation: 18 years European and (Canadian ‘Experience... Mon...thru: Sat, 9-5: 30. and “evenings : When only the b best will do .. North & West vancouver or nenions 926-881 9 a i