Latest News
Mon Mar 26th, 2012 5:31 pm
The first gig of the first month of the new year was at a new hotspot in East Vancouver called Toby's Bar and Grill. The bar itself isn't that new but live music on Thursdays is the latest addition to live music on Commercial Drive. It was our second time playing there and it rocked, a nice precursor to our first mini tour of 2012.
Yet another winter tour. As usual we forgot the roads are going to be snowy, dangerous and very slowwwwwwww.......We left Wednesday, January 18th bound for Coleman, Alberta with a sleep stop in Penticton. Tom's mom ... (Read more)
Wed Dec 21st, 2011 4:37 pm
You read right folks, the damn new album is done done done! The project officially started October 2009!
We've been playing most of the songs live for a few years. So now you can hear the recorded versions!
We are hoping to play the festival circuit in 2012. We played only one festival this year, called Parks Alive in Kelowna, BC. It was a fun one. You see, we in the Pernell Reichert Band have day jobs. Sometimes the day job can really get in the way of life and the music. We were scheduled to play Parks Alive July 15th, 10:00pm. ... (Read more)
Mon Nov 7th, 2011 7:24 pm
Like the title says summer is over. Not the most amazing summer I ever had but at the same time not the worst. I think back to my late teens and early twenties. Mixed Up Confusion and No Direction Home. One time, in the spring of 1995 I drove my 1985 (yes that's '85) Ford Ranger from Surrey, (where I grew up) out to Langley, another suburb of that great area of the GVRD (Greater Vancouver Regional District) called suburbia. An old hitch hiker was hitching from an on-ramp that in later years I would myself be hitching from a ... (Read more)
Thu Sep 1st, 2011 4:40 pm
To quote the Supersuckers, being in a band has it's up and downs. Sometimes thing just work out and other times things just don't. We started the new album in October of 2009. Since then we've had a massive line up change, a recording studio change, some good local shows, a tour van has come and gone, a rainy summer....and, some financial difficulties. The cd is the focal point but man, it just takes time.
This year we've tried, I think successfully, to re-establish our road contacts. I did a solo tour in March. I recently saw Steve Martin play with ... (Read more)
Tue May 3rd, 2011 9:40 pm
A new year is here and with it some new and improved Pernell. So much to tell! First of all we have a new addition to the band: Lewis Holloway on accordian and keys/piano. Last year we focused on getting the new album recorded. Along the way I met Lewis through our drummer Tom and asked him to play some piano. After a few notes I was hooked. He brings an energetic edge to our already totally energetic show. One of his first shows with us brings me to the next subject: our first ... (Read more)
Mon Nov 22nd, 2010 12:48 pm
Once again there has been a huge gap between entries. Trying ito make it in music can be trying, discouraging, rewarding, up, down and all in-betweens. It get's annoying hitting brick walls. But, brick walls are man made and self made, all can be negotiated.
The summer has come and gone. One of the first summers that didn't involve a lot of time on the road, either strummin' a tune or plantin' a tree. The experiences on the road are always amazing. I think of small things that I'll tell people about and they won't really get it. In August ... (Read more)
Wed Jul 28th, 2010 5:46 pm
Well it's been a-while hasn't it? Much to report but not sexy road story stuff! Been off the road for a-while recording our new CD! We started it in October of 2009! Can't rush art I guess, not to mention day jobs hampering EVERYTHING!
Wrapped last year up with a great show at The Blarney Stone, opening for the Town Pants, a wicked alt-celtic band from right here in Vancouver. The event was called the New Years Eve EVE party, held the day before New Years Eve on December 30th, and is designed to be a party for all the suckers ... (Read more)
Wed Dec 9th, 2009 5:57 pm
The last tour of the Summer was in the Kootenays. See, last year I was on the road a wee bit too much. I grew tired as well as broke. This year I thought I'd take it easy with the road, build up a bigger fanbase here in Vancouver, maybe get some bigger gigs. Therefore any tour I've done were three to four day ventures that were fun and cost effective. I did a three gigs in the Kootenays that centered around a festival I was asked to play called Arts on the Edge. SO: Thursday August 6th was my ... (Read more)
Tue Sep 15th, 2009 7:06 pm
This summer has been productive, more so than I was anticipating. See, most summers I'm out on the road with music, oil rigs, treeplanting or the usual travelling I like to do: no direction, just killing time on the road. But this year I thought I'd spend more time in Vancouver trying to build up our fanbase. Of course I've been hitting the road for various one or two nighters such as Kelowna, BC's Parks Alive Music series, which I played solo on July 8th. Bussed up, played the show, then missed the damn night bus back and had to ... (Read more)
Tue Jul 14th, 2009 6:45 pm
So far this year has been going well. I feel the name change has had a small impact on our career. Once I was back in Vancouver my first order of business was to organize some shows either in town or on the road. My second order of business was to organize a job-o-work. As much as I'd love to sleep in everyday I have a small penchant for back busting work, ie treeplanting, oil rigs and construction. I can't take slackers very seriously. Down time can be deadly for me. I get fat, drink too much, eat crap, watch ... (Read more)
Tue Apr 28th, 2009 7:45 am
I'm back in Vancouver and ready to get on with this year! We're playing our first show of 2009 at Falconetti's East Side Grill right here in East Vancouver Canada! The winter blues are over and the roughneck blues are gone! Finished a hitch on a rig near Dawson Creek BC, (not Dawson City Yukon or Dawson's Creek the TV show) March 19th. Hitched into town and bussed it down to Vancouver. Got on the bus in the snow and woke up in the rain, nothing sounded sweeter.
But first, on the music front, BIG NEWS: WE ARE CHANGING THE ... (Read more)
Sun Dec 28th, 2008 7:40 pm
It's been a weird month and a half! I bussed it out to Calgary in mid-November looking for work on the black gold rush, only the rush is over. I was staying with some friends here in Cow-town, passing the time in the bars of the Redneck Mile. After two weeks of waiting for a drilling company to call me I got restless and phoned a few moving companies to get some hours and structure! Then it hit and I mean hit: freeze up. There was no in-between period, it went from moderate to freezing f@@king cold in one day! ... (Read more)
Thu Dec 11th, 2008 10:25 am
The November 10th show at the Railway Club in Vancouver rocked! Thanks to all those who came. We've been a band for four years and it was nice to finally get to play there. Five days later I was on the move: Eastbound to Alberta to become a lonely old roughneck! My rock-n-roll career (amongst other bad habits) can get a bit costly so I'm in Calgary waiting for my ship to come in. I've been waiting and waiting for a rig to call me up, killing the time by walking the streets and occasionally hitting a pub for an ... (Read more)
Sun Oct 26th, 2008 12:31 pm
The South Africa tour was fun....a wee bit costly....in fact the rock-n-roll life style is a wee bit costly, bad on the wallet and the liver but what the heck, only live once right! RIGHT?! I landed in Johannesburg September 28th after three flights, Vancouver to Montreal, Montreal to Paris then down to SAF! The owner of the booking agency (Roadshock) picked me up and we drove to a B & B. located in the neighbourhood of Melville, Jo-Burg. After such a long trip I needed a beer so I went to a pub and got carried away. The next ... (Read more)
Fri Sep 12th, 2008 12:31 pm
Your reading the roster right folks!!!!! We are going to South Africa! In February of 2007 I travelled down there for fun. While there I was able to play two shows and people loved it. I noticed bands tour Canada, the USA, Europe, Australia, and Japan, but rarely does anybody go to South Africa. I figured we can't miss! I contacted a whole bunch of South African bands via the web and asked if they could help me out. They pointed me in the direction of a booking agency called Roadshock. I contacted them and told them my great idea, ... (Read more)
Fri Sep 12th, 2008 11:44 am
We have had a line up change! Jonah is on his way to bigger and better things and submitted his resignation in mid July while I was in Peterborough. We wish him all the best and welcome Mr. Tom Tischer to the fold! Our first show with Tom was at Rooster's Country Cabaret in Pitt Meadows on August 14th, after only two practices. Then we hit the road for a small tour. We left town via Highway 1 eastbound at 5:00am August 26th. Two nights in Banff at the Rose and Crown. Played to a packed house of Australian Contiki ... (Read more)
Fri Sep 12th, 2008 5:34 am
The UAE. Ever heard of it? It stands for the United Arab Emirates and Dubai is the major city there. A hot hot hot place of over consumption. An amazing socio-economic phenomenon. My Mummy lives there. Actually she lives in the neighbouring country of Oman but spent the summer in Dubai. Why is she there? She is learning Arabic so she can join or start a relief and development organization somewhere in the Middle East. Pretty cool huh! I meet a lot of activist types but her and her people have taken it to quite a different level. I hear ... (Read more)
Mon Sep 1st, 2008 5:17 pm
Southern Ontario. People in Vancouver love to make fun of the people back east. Not once did I hear an Ontario-ite say anything bad about the Westcoast. However, they do seem to have this idea that Vancouver is all about fitness, activism and environment. Today I woke up to find the dumpster behind my apartment surrounded by a ton of rotting garbage. The other day there was a fatal shooting on Commercial Drive. Last week a man in a pick-up truck drove into a sushi restaurant, killing two people. I think Vancouverites should cool it when making fun of Torontonians. ... (Read more)
Wed Aug 27th, 2008 5:15 pm
The Western Canadian tour ended June 8th. I played a few solo shows in Vancouver (including a birthday show at the Main, my birthday) and one in Victoria. I have decided I am tired of playing empty room for pass-the-hat-pay. Actually I'm tired of playing empty rooms. Hit the road via Highway 3 to Penticton on June 26th, the start of my micro Kootenay tour. I realize that Penticton is not in the Kootenays but thanks to everyone who pointed it out. It was a fun show but not a packed house. Of-course every show has a highlight: an older ... (Read more)
Thu Jun 12th, 2008 5:11 pm
We are back in Vancouver after 31 gigs on the road. Played our last show of the tour June 8th at Doc Willoughby's in Kelowna to a near packed house. Played the Penthouse on Sunday June 9th as part of the Vancouver Artists' Collective Association. Played it with Rob Fillo and Taylor Harp, two songwriters worth checking out. Then on Monday I played a few tunes on CO-OP radio, a show called the Rational.Now I'm gearing up for my micro Kootenay solo tour. Then southern Ontario. Then.....
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Sun May 18th, 2008 5:10 pm
Our Western Canadian tour has so far been a complete success! We've finally left Alberta and played Regina last night! Tomorrow we're hitting Saskatoon to play Lydia's. I spent a winter in Saskatoon once, it's a rockin' city. Betty, our tour van, gave us problems after Nanton. The alternator went but our good friend in High River lent us her truck so we could make the Twin Butte and Black Diamond shows. Thanks to all the cool cats in Twin Butte! What a fun place to play! I've never seen a cowboy dance on a table like that!Later this summer ... (Read more)
Mon Apr 21st, 2008 5:07 pm
Back from 'Berta early this year! Made my bread and got out with my sanity. Started on a rig in Rocky Mountain House, AB, moved on to Ft Nelson BC, then Coronation AB, then Amisk AB, then quit and hitched to Edmonton to see Steve Earle in concert. Hung out in Edmonton playing a few open mics and drinking a few beers to celebrate my release. Finally the cold started doing my head in so I flew back to Van. Played Tree's Cafe on April 4th, fun show, it's nice when the audience is listening. Actually it's nice when there's ... (Read more)
Sun Jan 13th, 2008 5:04 pm
It seems that my rock-n-roll lifestyle isn't as profitable as I hope it will be someday. I'm back in Alberta working the rigs until April. If you ever get bored of the website you can check out the Myspace profile, I just put a new song up. Our May tour is coming together. It took a lot of work, so if anybody has a place for us to play we'd be more than keen!
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Tue Nov 27th, 2007 4:59 pm
Just returned from an 11 gig tour. We did 11 gigs in 10 days plus one day of driving! Made some bread, established some contacts, had a lot of fun. We left November 14th, Wednesday night. Drove as long as we could, stopping in Revelstoke and sleeping in the van. Thursday we gassed up in Golden and was delighted to see we made the paper. Thursday night played the Sue Bar in Calgary. Friday played High River at Gitter's, formerly Dudley's. Saturday we played Wayne, they love us there. Sunday we played Lethbridge's new hot spot The Slice. Played an ... (Read more)
Sat Oct 20th, 2007 4:55 pm
Haven't been diligent with this blog but I am alive and rocking out next month on tour with the band. We are almost done our CD and it will be out next year. Be patient as you won't be disappointed! In the mean time check me out at the Railway Roots Jam at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oib_lejJV2gIf you can't click on it go to you tube and search for Railway Roots Jam 2007.I'm the one singing and playing acoustic guitar. And to think the organizer was worried I'd bore the crowd!
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Sun Jul 22nd, 2007 4:43 pm
The micro Kootenay tour rocked hard. I took a bus to Christina Lake BC. Jimmy, the owner of Jimmy Beans picked me up at the bus station. I played a fun show using a harmonica mic taped to a broomstick and plugged into an old tube amp as a sound system. Spent the night in a huge room in a huge house. All the musicians who play at Jimmy Beans get to stay there. Woke up to a view of the lake and a large breakfast! I knew playing music would pay off!Hitched to Winlaw: Highway 3 to Castlegar, 3A ... (Read more)
Thu Jul 5th, 2007 4:41 pm
Did a sort of Island hopping tour, hitting Powell River, Saltspring Island, Victoria then Hornby Island. Powell River rocked, Saltspring was a Canadian Cancer Benefit and was fun. It ran all night and the highlight was the very bad cover band shredding Smells Like Teen Spirit. I was in my tent sleeping and thought it was a bad dream! Keep practicing boys, but lay off the screaming!Next day hit Victoria to play the open jam at Logan's during the day and a solo show at the Ocean Island Lounge in the night. Played the afternoon jam as planned but drank ... (Read more)
Tue May 22nd, 2007 4:40 pm
Went on a three gig but five day tour. Left Vancouver Thursday May 17th at 6:00am to make it to Field for 8:00pm. Everything went well until the Rogers Pass area, delays and stoppages. Rode my brakes all the way from the top of Rogers pass, they were smoking when I hit the bottom! None-the-less, got to Field on time and played a fun show. Thanks to all those who were there including Neil Young ;). You guys rock and I hope to see you in Golden on May 27th at the Golden Taps! Stumbled into Betty and headed to ... (Read more)
Tue May 22nd, 2007 4:37 pm
Lets see, left Vancouver Friday May 11th at 5:50 am. Got to 100 Mile House to play the Farmers Market but got shy and didn't play! Kept heading north, Hwy 97 to Williams Lake for the Relay For Life. Quite a big affair and my show went over well. Slept in Betty (my 1992 Caravan) then headed to Chetwynd. Broke down in Prince George, had to rent a vehicle, a 2007 Dodge Nitro! Smooth ride but doesn't really fit my minimalist manifesto, oh-well...made Chetwynd just in time, set up, played then hit the road. Back to PG, then headed east ... (Read more)
Thu Mar 29th, 2007 4:35 pm
Our four day tour was a complete success! Left Vancouver Wednesday, March 21st, in my 1992 Dodge Caravan, took the Fraser Canyon enroute to Calgary. Got to Golden about 3:30 in the morning, our faces white after hitting Rogers Pass in near blizzard weather! Slept in the van in a Tim Hortons parking lot. Up and at'em on Thursday and drove to Calgary. The show was fun and thank-you to my Calgary friends for coming! Spent the night in the back-packers hostel.Friday March 23 we drove to Drumheller, eating up the Alberta Plains listening to a little Richard Cheese. Found ... (Read more)
Tue Mar 20th, 2007 4:33 pm
Well folks I lost the darn songwriting contest! I was first on at about 6:00pm. Only one song and then waited until close to midnight to hear the results. No dice.In other more exciting news I now have a new tour van, a 1992 Dodge Caravan named Betty. We're hitting the road for a few days on Thursday, so look for us in Calgary, Drumheller, High River and Golden......darn contests...but I'm not mad, knowing that everyone pays in the end.
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Mon Mar 5th, 2007 4:29 pm
Folks you're not going to believe this but I AM IN SOUTH AFRICA. South Africa is a country, and I've been here a month! With very little effort I've had two gigs! Plus I was on the very popular University of Pretoria radio, called TUKS FM. You can listen to that station online at www.tuksfm.co.za. I recommend anyone trying to make it big, come here! They love live music and don't get enough underground live stuff, ya know? See you all soon!
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Wed Jan 31st, 2007 4:27 pm
Well people I made it to the next level in the songwriting contest out in Port Moody. As noted in a previous blog, I mentioned that the next level was in February but I would be unable to make it. The organizer said he would get back to me and he did! March 18th, the finals, be there OR DIE! Just kidding...
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Fri Jan 26th, 2007 4:25 pm
OK people here is a piece of advice, that if adhered to, could make the world a better place for everyone. DO NOT STAND IN FRONT OF THE STAGE WITH YOUR FACE TWO INCHES FROM A BAND MEMBER AND START SWEARING AND BEAKING OFF!!!! I suppose since the beginning of live entertainment there has always been at least one jerk in the audience. Sorry to The Main in Vancouver for trashing your place, sorry to the drunken patron who got a wee bit of a whoopin'! Next time show some manners! Other than that the show was fun!
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Thu Jan 25th, 2007 4:22 pm
Worked 17 days in Rimbey , Alberta on a rig. Finished Dec 18th-ish and went to Golden BC for a few days. Drank a bit too much...that's my idea of R-n-R! Overnight bus to Vancouver. Next day we played Victoria. The shows were fun...thanks to Lindsay for organizing it, thanks to my Island friends for coming! Then on Sunday Jan 21st I went to a songwriting contest in Port Moody. The audition was last fall and I made it to the next level which was on the 21st. The guy phoned me yesterday to say I had came in 2nd ... (Read more)
Sun Dec 3rd, 2006 4:18 pm
I now have a Myspace page. Thanks to Alexis for fixin' er up for me! If you get bored of my website, there are other songs and pics on Myspace. Also check out www.vancitybands.com and www.newmusiccanada.com for even more Pernell.I am hoping to find someone to book a tour for me and make me famous by next fall. If that doesn't happen I am hitching to Halifax. Why? On the road on the run, that's how it has to be...
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Tue Nov 21st, 2006 4:15 pm
My solo show at Bean Around the World was fun but weird for me. I prefer to play in dark places where everyone is wasted! Next time I'll have to bring a few Colt 45s to pound in the alley! I went to a songwriters competition in Pt. Moody on Monday. (Nov 23) I haven't heard back yet but I think I will qualify for the next level, what ever that is.If you're in Vancouver, check out the Vancouver East Cultural Crawl this weekend. It is a three day event featuring artists from East Van. I'll be singing songs while ... (Read more)
Tue Aug 8th, 2006 4:12 pm
For those of you who check my website frequently, sorry I have been off the air for so long...I was freezing to death and busting heads in Grand Prairie, Alberta all winter roughnecking on a double jack knife drilling rig...came back to Vancouver in April then shipped out again in May, Vanderhoof BC, busting my back and breaking my hands planting trees, enjoy them....back to my rig mid June, tanning a bottle of rye on the bus from Ft. St. John to Calgary....quit after four months...told my boss I'd had enough, I'm out, I'm on the road, on the run ... (Read more)
Mon Feb 27th, 2006 4:11 pm
Swinging tongs and spinning chain...I am in Ft. St. John BC working the rigs and living in Calgary on my time off. Cow town, just waiting for time to pass so I can hit the road again with the band...look for us coming to a town near you!
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Mon Sep 26th, 2005 4:08 pm
Hello to my international legion of fans......I am in the process of making a new CD... I received a cd review in September's issue of Exclaim!....this year has been my best year for concerts....Arlo Guthrie..Country Joe and the Fish..Bob Dylan..John Prine..Corb Lund...The Be Good Tanyas (twice including last night at the Commadore Ballroom with the amazing Jolie Holland) (I wonder if she's got a boyfriend!) I am going to try and go on tour again in April...I just need to find someone to book it! Keep your eyes and ears open for Pernell Reichert and the Hard Drinkers!!!!!!!!!!
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Wed Aug 3rd, 2005 4:06 pm
...the tour is OVER....OVER!!! We couldn't make it to the darn Prince George or Wells show...Cara (our van) broke down on the Duffy Lake Highway between Pemberton and Lillooet...but to all my fans up there have no fear! We'll be back on the road in a few months...this was our first tour, and my first tour as a band...addictive lifestyle...;)
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Thu Jul 28th, 2005 4:05 pm
the show in High River rocked....just Jonah and I ...next was Nanaimo, BC @ the Cambie...they kept the first $200.00....no free drinks...good show with Justin Young as a fill in bassist...now Chris is back and we're on our way to Prince George.....!I received a call from a friend of mine in Lethbridge who said a friend of hers found one of my CDs on a highway outside of Nelson!!! I guess somebody thought I blew!!!....sorry LOSER
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Mon Jun 27th, 2005 4:02 pm
I am now on the road......my buddy and songwriter Shane Douglas and I drove to Kelowna June 22nd....hiccup.... next day drove to Nelson....Luther Wright played that night at the Fluid Lounge, which I found interesting as the Fluid Lounge had "tentatively" booked me that night. I phoned several times to make the show official but never recieved a straight answer....next night Cranbrook, first show of the tour....fun...free booze...next night, Golden... Moberly Pub, way up a hill outside of town, fun...got into the Golden Newspaper...free booze...free place to crash ....now I must relax and let my liver heal up until Canmore, ... (Read more)
Thu Apr 21st, 2005 3:59 pm
Yes the splash page is correct, I'm going on tour and the Hard Drinkers are coming with me. I saw Arlo Guthrie in concert the other night and he rocked. He said he hasn't stayed in one place longer than six months since he was born. Always on the move with his pa, ma, or step pa. That's the way to live. On the move, on the run. I always come home to beautiful East Van. Hang around then back out somewhere, my next journey is Quesnel, treeplanting, more bugs and booze. Look for me at the Quesnel Legion on ... (Read more)
Thu Jan 27th, 2005 3:55 pm
To quote Corb Lund (who I love) I am now the Roughest Neck Around. I'm roughing it in Edson, Alberta, working on the oil rigs. Back bustin' hard workin' hotel livin'. Spent New Years Eve in a motel room alone and sober. Cheapest New Years I've ever had...
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Sat Sep 11th, 2004 3:49 pm
Well well well..... to quote RL Burnside, one of my favourites... I have put together a rythm section of bass and drums to accompany me on stage. I have named them The Hard Drinkers. Half of a 45 minute set will be with them, the other half on my own. The band songs will be both new (unrecorded) and stuff from my two (2) CDs! Our debut show is at the Purple Crab in Vancouver, BC, on September 24th....Come!!!!!!!!!
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