Classical favourites bump up against rock n roll in the eclectic repertoire of the sprawling, 45-piece, Vancouver-based Plastic Acid Orchestra. 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 Vogue, 7pm. $20-$30 (H, RC, NT).Andrea Warner
