As co-owner of the Electric Owl Social Club, Adam Levine has overseen the growth of the Main Street room as its become one of the citys premiere live music venues.
Before serving drinks to the masses, however, Levine was in a different kind of fuel business.
Following graduate studies at UBCs Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability, he and business partner Alex Russell co-founded a biodiesel company. We became the largest biodiesel marketing group in at least Western Canada, says Levine. We started with just a couple of barrels on the back of a truck in the port in Vancouver.
But Levine and Russell hit the ground running with the Electric Owl, which opened just over a year ago. The room is unique among Vancouver live music venues in that, besides hosting touring acts and DJs, the club has both a food component (Japanese dishes prepared on-site) as well as a cold beer-and-wine store. And it has some of the best stage views in a midsize club in the city. Starting from scratch, we focused on sightlines, notes Levine.
However, its the talent that has put the Electric Owl on the map.
I think what Im most proud of is weve established ourselves as a key venue in the city for emerging artists and local musicians, says Levine. The bands that are making names and waves, a lot of them have played the Owl.
The club has hosted a diverse array of acts, including Canadian electro-pop sensation Austra, Portland art-rock band YACHT and Austin guitar maniacs Trail of Dead. (This weeks entertainment includes UK electronic producer and composer Gold Panda on July 27.) The venue has also started hosting more electronic acts and DJs, and throwing dance parties on weekend nights following live music shows, the result of the city allowing the club to extend its hours.
There have been a few other changes in the last year, including improvements to the sound system. But mostly the Owl has stayed true to its original template of top-notch talent with a side of its signature poutine and perhaps some sake.
And it seems to be working.
ElectricOwl.ca | 928 Main St. | 604-558-0928.
