Who: The Hounds of Buskerville
When: Monday, Feb. 13
Where: Boot Pub
What used to be the biggest thorn in the side of Whistler bylaw in the early 1990s is coming off the streets once again with the Hounds of Buskerville skanking it up at its old stomping ground one last time Monday, Feb. 13 at the Boot Pub.
"One thing you’ve got to do on a stage is to get people to dance and ska music is such a great dancing music," said Hound Peter Vogler of the infamous Whistler Vogler brothers.
"It’s all original tunes. Over the years it has become more jazz and instrumental with a nice fiery punk energy."
As the name implies, the Hounds of Buskerville had humble beginnings on the Village Stroll until the bylaw department finally forced the local ruffians to find a home. The group first started out as Route 99, a roots-driven band spanning a variety of instruments, including everything from an accordion to banjos and mandolin. The band hosted jam nights at the locals’ living room with lineups out the door.
Now it’s all about spreading the ska gospel with shows extending down the Sea to Sky corridor and across Canada.
Although the Hounds have played with Men at Work, one of the most memorable shows to date was sharing an Edmonton stage with Fishbone.
"We got a phone call from their manager asking if they could come over and play with us," Vogler said, explaining Fishbone’s gig at a football stadium was cancelled last minute. "They still wanted to play and they saw that we were a ska band and joined us. We had a great time together and we joined them in Calgary for sort of a mini tour."
Anyone who has gone drinking with the Vogler brothers – Peter and Stephen – knows the boys’ philosophy on life is all about having a goodtime and their music is no exception.
"We always have a blast," Peter said. "That is the whole point. It’s all about funny adventures. We want to make the world jump up and down in beer-drinking happiness."
The Hound line up is always changing. It’s a good thing Peter owns a recording studio, Rhythm Recording in Vancouver, where there are always plenty of musicians to draw from. This show Stephen is on bass, Peter on guitar, Mr. Silverslide on trombone and Peter can’t even remember the last name of the newly-inducted stray, Mark the drummer.
"We are kind of a rolling party where you never know who is going to show up," Peter said. "We’ll be trading off on instruments just for the sheer fun of it (as we) go down memory lane."
