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The Obelisk Questionnaire: James Farwell of Bison B.C.

Posted in Questionnaire on July 29th, 2022 by JJ Koczan

James Farwell of Bison

The Obelisk Questionnaire is a series of open questions intended to give the answerer an opportunity to explore these ideas and stories from their life as deeply as they choose. Answers can be short or long, and that reveals something in itself, but the most important factor is honesty.

Based on the Proust Questionnaire, the goal over time is to show a diverse range of perspectives as those who take part bring their own points of view to answering the same questions. To see all The Obelisk Questionnaire posts, click here.

Thank you for reading and thanks to all who participate.

The Obelisk Questionnaire: James Farwell of Bison B.C.

How do you define what you do and how did you come to do it?

“I write songs for sad people to be sad”. That’s a quote from my son, George. Pretty much sums it up. I am constantly pulling myself back together with the songs I write.

Describe your first musical memory.

Watching the video for “Dancing With Tears in my Eyes”, creating my own feelings about love and death as I hid under my blankets.

Describe your best musical memory to date.

Watching Chi Pig hanging from the rafters at the Cauldron in Winnipeg (’88?)

When was a time when a firmly held belief was tested?

When we decided to leave a big label.

Where do you feel artistic progression leads?

Poverty. Solitude. Smaller rooms. Happiness.

How do you define success?

Success? There is no success. My children are inheriting a dying world. Success would be a time machine.

What is something you have seen that you wish you hadn’t?

A man bleeding and wanting to die with his dog standing by his side.

Describe something you haven’t created yet that you’d like to create.

A book of poetry. I’ve always loved poetry. Song lyrics can be poetry, but they are more put together as a puzzle, fit to the music that inspired them. Poetry is inspired by silence and the rage within. Art that has no origin, it simply has always existed.

What do you believe is the most essential function of art?

To make welcome new feelings that may be alien or jarring.

Something non-musical that you’re looking forward to?

A summer of bike rides with my sons, George and Charlie.

http://www.facebook.com/bisonbc
https://bison.bandcamp.com/
http://www.bisonmerch.com/

http://www.pelagic-records.com/
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Bison, You Are Not the Ocean, You Are the Patient (2017)

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Bison to Release You are Not the Ocean You are the Patient this Summer

Posted in Whathaveyou on May 10th, 2017 by JJ Koczan

bison

Five years after their third full-length, Lovelessness, Vancouver, British Columbia’s Bison return on Pelagic Records with the cumbersomely-named fourth outing, You are Not the Ocean You are the Patient. The band mark a decade since their first EP this year as well — their debut album, Quiet Earth, was released by Metal Blade in 2008, and Dark Ages (review here) followed in 2010 — so it’s a prolonged absence from which they return even when one factors in the 2014 One Thousand Needles two-songer. As to how that might’ve affected their sound one way or the other, the new album seems to be… gray? I don’t know. We’ll see, I suppose.

Preorders are up and they have a teaser posted now for You are Not the Ocean You are the Patient that doesn’t tell much more than the artwork, but if you want to set a mood, it seems to do that well enough. Check it out:

bison-you-are-not-the-ocean-you-are-the-patient

BISON: Vancouver Metal Veterans To Release You Are Not The Ocean You Are The Patient Full-Length Via Pelagic Records; Teaser Posted, Preorders Available + Tour Dates Announced

Vancouver metal veterans BISON are making a devastating return with their brand-new album, You Are Not The Ocean You Are The Patient.

Set for release in Europe on June 23rd followed by a North American release on July 7th, the crushing new offering follows the band’s 2014-issued 1000 Needles EP and serves as their first full-length to include bassist Shane Clark, former lead guitarist of 3 Inches Of Blood, who joined the band following their Lovelessness full-length (2012, Metal Blade).

“It was important that the songs fit together to tell a bit of a story,” relays guitarist and vocalist James Farwell, “a story of a new life and escaping the city, while still being tethered to it. Life is a constant fight, and though I have taken the fight to a more natural and beautiful place, that struggle persists. This is an album of daily living. It is for everyone.”

BISON’s You Are Not The Ocean You Are The Patient was captured in the band’s hometown with long time friend Jesse Gander at Rain City Recorders. “I wanted to also steep myself in music that was not necessarily heavy in the obvious sense,” Farwell continues, “so I was listening to lots of blues while writing the album: Peter Green, Muddy Waters, and Howlin’ Wolf. There was also lots of instrumental rock music playing on my long commutes to Vancouver for work and rehearsals.”

“The new songs still sound like ‘us,’ whatever that means,” vocalist Dan And adds, “but we aren’t concerned with shying away from whatever influences creep up. The older we get and the longer we play together, the less we give a shit about trying to sound like anything in particular.”

You Are Not The Ocean You Are The Patient will be available on CD, vinyl and digital formats. For CD preorders point your browser to THIS LOCATION. For vinyl, go HERE. For US orders go to THIS LOCATION.

You Are Not The Ocean You Are The Patient Track Listing:
1. Until The Earth Is Empty
2. Anti War
3. Drunkard
4. Kenopsia
5. Tantrum
6. Raiigin
7. Water Becomes Fire

BISON will embark upon a short run of Canadian dates next month with additional live incursions to be announced in the coming weeks.

BISON:
6/09/2017 The Palomino – Calgary, AB
6/10/2017 The Capitol – Saskatoon, SK
6/11/2017 The Windsor Hotel – Winnipeg, MB
6/12/2017 The Exchange – Regina, SK
6/13/2017 The Vat – Red Deer, AB
6/14/2017 Brixx – Edmonton, AB
6/16/2017 The Rickshaw – Vancouver, BC

You are not the ocean. You do not orchestrate a beautiful cacophony of life and death, struggle and destruction, creation and dependence. You are not the sole reason for the existence of nation of creatures to live and abide by your stark and simple rules. You are not married to the moon. You do not allow the constellations to be moon. You do not allow the constellations to be your map. You do not destroy cities and drown your map. You do not destroy cities and drown their citizens. You do not embrace land’s golden their citizens. You do not embrace land’s golden hem as your child, with calm and tenderness. You do not crash and spray craggy shores with fury and passion. You are not unstoppable. You are not powerful. You are not necessary.

You are the patient. You are controlled. You are cared for. You are maintained with medicines and examinations. You are met with cold hands and protocol. Your most with cold hands and protocol. Your most intimate self is put on a form. You are questioned about pains and thoughts. You are dependent on those with knowledge. You are helpless. You are tired and bed ridden. You do no harm and you do not help. You are monitored and caged. You are kept away from others. You are contaminated. You are sick. You are keeping yourself sick. You do not know how to recover. You do not want to recover. You do not know what recovery is.

http://www.facebook.com/bisonbc
http://www.pelagic-records.com
http://www.facebook.com/pelagicrecords

Bison, You are Not the Ocean You are the Patient album teaser

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Black Cobra European Tour with Bison B.C. and Arabrot Starts Tomorrow

Posted in Whathaveyou on May 30th, 2013 by JJ Koczan

San Francisco duo Black Cobra‘s forever tour continues. The two-piece are still out in support of 2011’s Invernal, traveling overseas once more to join forces with Bison B.C. — who seem to have finished their contract with Metal Blade after three albums — and Norwegian punk noisemakers Arabrot. They’ll start in France tomorrow, and Black Cobra will wrap the tour there as well, their final date of the Euro/UK trek being as part of the Hellfest in Clisson, where they’ll share a stage called “The Valley” (wonder where you got that idea, Hellfest) with Neurosis, Sleep and Black Pyramid, among others.

Wild times as always, but that seems to be Black Cobra‘s specialty. Here’s the latest from the PR wire:

BLACK COBRA EU/UK TOUR WITH BISON BC AND ARABROT KICKS OFF THIS WEEK

San Francisco-based sludge-mangling duo BLACK COBRA will uncoil across the UK/EU taking part in a summer tour with Bison BC and Arabrot, the shows kick off this week in Paris and culminate in the massive annual three day Hellfest extravaganza in Clisson, France. Running from June 21st through 23rd, this year’s festival includes bands as massive as Kiss, ZZ Top, Danzig and Twisted Sister, with Black Cobra playing on the first day in “The Valley” joining Neurosis, Sleep, High On Fire, Pallbearer, labelmates Black Breath and Eagle Twin and more on one massive bill.

Here are the full dates:

31/05/2013 Glazart, Paris – France
01/06/2013 Saint Des Seins, Toulouse – France
02/06/2013 TBA – France
03/06/2013 Borderline, London
04/06/2013 TBA – UK
05/06/2013 Ivory Blacks, Glasgow
06/06/2013 Exchange, Bristol
07/06/2013 Patronaat, Haarlem – Netherlands
08/06/2013 Magasin 4, Brussels – Belgium
09/06/2013 Festsaal Kreuzberg, Berlin  – Germany
10/06/2013 Bastard Club, Osnabruck – Germany
11/06/2013 Chemiefabrik, Dresden – Germany
12/06/2013 Juha West, Stuttgart – Germany
13/06/2013 L’Usine, Geneva – Switzerland
14/06/2013 Les Caves du Manoir, Martignv – Switzerland
15/06/2013 Freakout Club, Bologna – Italy
16/06/2013 Lo-Fi Club, Milano – Italy
17/06/2013 Arena, Vienna – Austria
18/06/2013 Feierwerk, Munchen – Germany
19/06/2013 Schalchthof, Wiesbaden – Germany
20/06/2013 L’Entrepot, Arlon – Belgium
21/06/2013 Hellfest, Clisson – France

Released in October 2011 via Southern Lord, BLACK COBRA‘s fourth LP Invernal was one of the most critically acclaimed releases to emerge from the metal/sludge scene that year. Recorded at Converge guitarist Kurt Ballou’s God City Studio and mastered by John Golden (Neurosis, Melvins, Weedeater), the album propelled the most diversified and matured songwriting from the duo to date forward with incredibly thunderous production, the theme to the entire record based on a post-apocalyptic trek to a nuclear infested and mutated Antarctica, inspired in part by the treks of English researcher Ernest Shackleton. The band perpetually toured through the year surpassing their 600th show mark in 2012 since the release of their debut LP Bestial in 2006.

Black Cobra, “The Crimson Blade” official video

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Bison B.C.’s Lovelessness Due Out Oct. 22; First Single Streaming Now

Posted in Whathaveyou on September 10th, 2012 by JJ Koczan

It’s okay though, because what they lack in love, Canadian road dogs Bison B.C. more than make up for in a nine-minute song that sets Napalm Death extremity off Mastodonic riffing. At that point, to ask for love too just seems greedy. Some bands just gotta have it all, I guess.

Lovelessness, recorded with the venerable Sanford Parker, will be released on Oct. 22. Henceforth treads the PR wire:

BISON B.C. to Release New Album Lovelessness October 22nd on Metal Blade Records
Tracklisting and Album Artwork Revealed

Vancouver metallers BISON B.C. have completed work on their new album Lovelessness.  The album, which is the band’s third release on Metal Blade Records, will be available on October 22nd.   Today BISON B.C. have revealed the album artwork, tracklisting and released the first single from Lovelessness.

The band worked with acclaimed producer Sanford Parker at Soma and Electrical Audio Studios in Chicago on Lovelessness. Parker is best known for his work with bands such as Yob, Pelican, Rwake, Yakuza, Nachtmystium, Zoroaster, Unearthly Trance, and more. Needless to say, Parker is more than qualified to put-to-tape the raw, furious energy that is BISON B.C.

Lovelessness
Tracklisting:

1. An Old Friend
2. Anxiety Puke / Lovelessness
3. Last and First Things
4. Blood Music
5. Clozapine Dream
6. Finally Asleep

BISON B.C. got their start in Vancouver, BC and describe themselves as “Canadian dirtbags” in addition to being veterans of Vancouver’s deep thrash and indie scenes.  Known for their aggressive and intense live shows, the band has built a strong following and has toured with bands including Baroness, Priestess and Genghis Tron to name a few. With their new effort Lovelessness, BISON B.C. will surely cement themselves as one of Canada’s finest metal exports.

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Bison B.C. Deemed a Threat to America

Posted in Whathaveyou on February 10th, 2011 by JJ Koczan

This one speaks for itself. Or at least the PR wire speaks for it:

Canadian stoner metallers Bison B.C., who were scheduled to play a special one-off show at Seattle‘s El Corazon this past weekend with NOLA sludge heathens Eyehategod, were unable to cross the border and thus, did not play the gig.

Comments guitarist/vocalist James Farwell of the ordeal: “Due to our vicious plot to undermine the American economy and to destroy the citizens of the United States of America‘s belief in freedom and baseball or whatever, we weren’t allowed to cross that fascinating imaginary line. More likely due to a fucking clerical error somewhere in Corporate America, the fine people at Homeland Security had no choice but to keep Americans secure from us dirty fucking Canadians. But fear not my fellow poser Canadians, we will get our fucking paper work in order soon enough and be down destroying things before you can say, ‘Does Celine Dion shit in the fucking woods?!,’ — and yes indeed she does. Peace on Earth.”

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Two Bison B.C. Tracks for Your Streaming and Thrashabout Pleasure

Posted in audiObelisk on November 5th, 2010 by JJ Koczan

Hey, it’s Friday. You want to let off a little steam at the office. All of a sudden, here comes your favorite stoner blog The Obelisk with two tracks from Bison B.C.‘s awesome Dark Ages, and next thing you know, you’ve got your little computer speakers turned up all the way, your shirt ripped open and you’re swinging your work chair around like a lion tamer to fend off security as they try to escort your wild-eyed ass out of the building. So it goes, my friends.

Dark Ages was released earlier this year on Metal Blade, and to support it, the Canuck four-piece has already toured with High on Fire, Black Cobra and Helmet, and on Sunday, they start a month-long European run with Coliseum that’s bound to be a blast. In honor of the tour and just because the record rules and needs sweet love, I’ve been authorized to stream the songs below. Dig ’em and try not to get too violent.

Bison B.C., “Stressed Elephant” from Dark Ages
Stressed Elephant

Bison B.C., “Melody, This is for You” from Dark Ages
Melody, This is For You

Want more info? Well, there’s a review here and an interview here. Have at it.

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Bison B.C. to Follow Helmet from Sacramento to Redondo Beach…

Posted in Whathaveyou on July 22nd, 2010 by JJ Koczan

…Of course, they’re taking the scenic route, on a tour that will go up and down the West Coast and into Canada for a couple dates. I can only imagine good times will be had by all and that Bison B.C. will demolish audiences are they are apt to do.

As you peruse the PR wire info and tour dates below, make sure you get a look at the description of Helmet‘s sound. I never thought of them as being particularly Zeppelin-esque. Am I wrong on that one? Check it out:

The Vancouver-based band Bison B.C. have just confirmed a two-week plus tour with legendary alternative metal band Helmet, who are known for fusing Zeppelin-esque riffing with a vehement post-hardcore precision, augmented by dense chords and offbeat time signatures. Bison B.C. will join Helmet when the tour kicks off on Wednesday September 8th in Sacramento, CA at Harlow’s Night Club. The tour finishes up on Sunday September 26th at BriXton in Redondo Beach, CA.

Guitarist and vocalist James Farwell comments, “I first started listening to Helmet when I was doing bonelesses and acid drops wasted in back alleys with big pants and small wheels; a long fucking time ago. Now my body is a jerk, but I still think of them when I drop tune — it is a fucking god damn honor to tour with Helmet.”

Sept. 8 Sacramento, CA Harlow’s Night Club
Sept. 10 Oakland, CA The Uptown
Sept. 11 San Jose, CA The Blank Club
Sept. 13 Portland, OR Dante’s
Sept. 14 Seattle, WA Showbox at The Market
Sept. 16 Vancouver, BC Venue
Sept. 18 Edmonton, AB The Starlite Room
Sept. 19 Calgary, AB Dickens Pub
Sept. 21 Casper, WY Downtown Grill & Venue
Sept. 23 Tempe, AZ The Clubhouse
Sept. 24 Santa Ana, CA Galaxy Theatre
Sept. 25 San Diego, CA The Casbah
Sept. 26 Redondo Beach, CA BriXton

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Live Review: High on Fire, Black Cobra and Bison B.C. in Manhattan, 04.09.10

Posted in Reviews on April 13th, 2010 by JJ Koczan

Here’s a quick New York moment for you: I’m sitting in my car waiting for 7pm to roll around so I won’t have to pay for parking off 23rd St. in Manhattan. Bison B.C. go on at 7, so once I’m in the clear I’m going to head into the Gramercy Theatre to catch their set, but in the meantime, I’ve got a book with me, I’ve got the Yankees game on the radio and I’m basically good to go.

Then all of a sudden I look up and standing next to the car in front of mine, facing me, is a dude on his phone. Not uncommon. I do a double-take, though, because on second glance, he’s got his shwatz out and he’s pissing right there on the street. It’s not rush-hour or anything, but there are people walking by for sure, and I know damn well he saw me. It was one of those things that, if I was a tourist from the Midwest, I’d be talking about it for years. As it is, I was kind of like, “Eww, wiener,” and went back to reading. Surely I’d not just spent an hour and a half of my life getting to the city to see that.

I’d done it to see Bison B.C., Black Cobra and High on Fire, dammit, and when 7pm rolled around, I busted ass across the street to do that very thing. I didn’t know the show was sold out (dude at the door told me to watch my feet in my sandals), which was a daunting prospect. This was the biggest show I’d been to in a while — venue and people-wise — and to be honest, it’s more than I generally prefer. But that’s a killer mix of bands, and if humanity is the cost of bearing witness, I’ll tough it out.

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