Classical favourites bump up against rock n roll in the eclectic repertoire of the sprawling, 45-piece, Vancouver-based . Bryan Deans, the orchestras musical director, pushes his group of young composers further outside their comfort zones by pairing up with infamous East Van folk-cabaret band Maria in the Shower Feb. 25 at the Vogue.
WE spoke with Deans who began busking as a child with his cello at Granville Island and is now a music teacher at St. Johns School about his interest in experimental music.
Q: Where did you get the idea for the Plastic Acid Orchestra?
A: The name illustrates something different, whacky. Acid is a mixture of different elements, like an orchestra, and as the name has a different sound to it, so does the band. Put them together and you get an unforgettable ensemble that is new!
Q: What pieces might one hear during a Plastic Acid Orchestra program?
A: Plastic Acids originals string piano and drum song, but arranged for full symphony. Its high-energy, string-rock fusion music.
Q: Where did the collaboration with Maria in the Shower come from?
A: I met my long-time friend Martin Reisle and my now-girlfriend Mariah Mennie in Invermere. Im a glider pilot and the operations airport is based there, Martin, a member of Maria in the Shower, Mariah and I ended up collaborating in a small music event called Pinestock. Martin performed Train of Pounding Hours informally, and it became one of Marias hit songs, so I approached him with the challenge to arrange a song for full symphony orchestra, and he chose Train.
Q: What can people expect from this show?
A: We have Mariah fire poi spinning and two new works by Martin and a fresh new sound for the orchestra. Plus, in this show, people can cheer and make noise!
The Plastic Acid Orchestra performs with Maria in the Shower Feb. 25 at , 7pm. $20-$30 (H, RC, NT).Andrea Warner
