COUNT Exics Henderson photo singer Neko Case and Her Boyfriends are nearing the end of a North American tour. They'll be at Richard's on Richards March 31 with Carolyn Mark. Case’s new album ts Furnace Room Lullaby. ise fo Beh Mackin News Reporter bmackin@usnews.com ‘NEKO Case, Cascadia’s coun- try queen, is nearing the end of a North American tour. And she's hoping it ends better than it began. Case, guitarists Car! Newman and Bill Anderson, drummer Joel Trueblood and bassist Scott Betts were preparing to leave Vancouver March 1 when Betts ‘suffered a broken hand. He fell down a flight of stairs with his dog. The dog and Betts both survived, ~ bur the latter needed’a cast. So Case enlisted Victoria’s Tolan McNeil of Pigment Vehicle to join her her band. The tour comes to Vancouver next Friday before it ends April 1 in Seattle's Tractor Tavern. : Case and co. have been promoting her critically acclaimed sophomore album Furnace Room Lullaby on Mint Records. -Recorded in Toronto’s Gas Station and Vancouver’s Miller Block, it fea- tures a cast of more than a dozen musi- cians ranging from Ron Sexsmith to Grapes of Wrath’s Kevin Kane. The collaboration with a moveable feast of musicians was a tactic employed on her first Mint release, 1997's The Virginian. Case ctecorded that album while studying at the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design. She had drummed for Vancouver’s defuncr girl group Cub whenever it toured the U.S. and was the driving force behind Vancouver- based Maow as its drummer/singer. But country was her first love. She rew to Jove it while living with her amily in Florida, Virginia and Washington state. She considers Tacoma, Seattle’s oft-maligned southern suburb, her hometown. The 29-year-old was born in Alexandria, Va., on the same day as her late idol Patsy Cline. “1 love Tacoma completely, other people don’t like Tacoma, but I love it,” she says. When she’s not on the road or recording, Case lives in Seattle and works 2t Hartie’s Hat — a restaurant in Seattle’s Ballard district next door to the Tractor Tavern. She recorded an album in the back of Hattie’s Hat with her Corn Sisters’ partner Carolyn Mark. The Other Women will be released by Mint this summer. Case says she has anuther album’s worth of material in the can, but she’d like to explore other genres. She’s the voice on the New Pornographers’ loud and rocky contribution to the Vancouver Special compilation CD. “People, they’re busy, making rock everywhere! Rock is raining down.” Despite her burgeoning career in country music, Case is casting her eves toward an educational hiatus. She even- tually wants to augment her Emily Carr fine arts degree with a master’s degree in art or physics. “I want to pursue that in Chicago once I finally get a minute of time to do so. I figure one of these days I'l! go ‘I need to take some time off.’ Whenever it feels right, I’m not worried about it.” Wi Neko Case and Her Boyfriends with Carolyn Mark, Richard’s on Richards, March 31. Mark goes coast to coast for Party Girl @ Carolyn Mark: Party Girl (Mint) KKK CAROLYN Mark and Neko Case are good friends on and off the stage. But you can’t help but wonder if there’s a geographical rivalry going on between the duo. Mark and Case often play and record as the Corn Sisters and are fond of travelling. Case’s second album Furnace Room Lullaby was recorded in Toronto and Vancouver. Mark did berter: the 11 tracks on her Party Girl CD were cap- tured on tape in Vancouver, Edmonton, Regina, St.-Pierre de Wakefield, Que., Moncton, Kendall, Ont., Toronto and her hometown, Victoria. Like Case, Mark’s musical inspiration can be traced back to Patsy Cline. Party Girl is a tad more whimsical than Case’s, which edges into darker territory. Both wil! appear separately, and prob- ably together, at Richard’s on Richards March 31. Their Corn Sisters’ album The Other Women is set for a summer release. aff manic eerviccm | 20% off maid services Dan, eer oe cme sce tome umm tom meet maces were previously uncertain about having children A UBC researcher is interested in talking to you— please call K. Towill, wa. at savingumoney.com Coupons for just about anything for your home. Print them out. Then save on services in your neighbourhoo PRESENTAT Friday, March 24, 2000 - North Shore News - 25 Old school rock from Ray Condo @ Ray Condo and His Ricochets: The Brickyard, Thursday, March 16. Ray Condo is from the old school of crooner rock. “50s- influenced with an upbeat country feel, Great vocals, upright bass, acoustic yuitar, pedal-steel, a snare., a hi-hat and one slick guitarist. All the clements. @ Johnny Legend, John Bates: The Piccadilly Pub, Saturday, March 18. Johnny Legend was hired guns, cover songs, nothing new — but opener John Bates blazed through his set. Taking on pop/and country with integnty. Songs with 2 B-movie flavour, rockabilly groove an punk giits. Performing track off his latest 7", super Cha cascday, io weil 26 3 few tasty covers (Bates-way}: The Dead Kennedy's “Too Drunk Too F#:$” and AC/DC's “Riff Raff”. Bates has been around for a while having cranked out some guitar with Bif Naked and Annihilator. He has developed into a strong songwriter and performer with a definite niche. @ Fiona Apple: The Orpheum, Sunday, March 19. Fiona Apple took the staye shortly after 8:30 p.m. with savoury vocals and anguished lyrics. An impassioned songe-riter who can hold the floor with her tales of woe. CD Review: Crusty Comp No. 2 kkk (Crusty Records) Not just anoitier comp... The Crusty Comp 2 is punk rock. 32 bands, 32 tracks of solid punk bites. Crusty Records is all about punk rack, this is the second comp and indeed worth the See Canadian Page 21 NEWS photo Sprout www.eyetsaser.com/Sprout FIONA Apple played to a packed Orpheum iast Sunday night. March 22 to'April 2, Wed through 2000 Opm, Sat & Sun: 3:00pm matinee G0/812:005 C8 OUSE 333 Chesterfield & 3rd, North Vancouver : acer teeeinerorgsaerzet see sen ESSE