2018-04-01: April Fool's with Aaron J. Shay

Briefly emerging from a long hiatus to revisit the very same venue as our most recent gig, way back last September, some small (that means tight, right?) configuration of the Creaking Planks plans on staying out at least long enough to see its shadow and try to tell it a terrible joke. ("Honestly I think shadow jokes are kind of dark.") It's curious, given our humorous (well, absurd at least) bent why we haven't made more of an annual celebration out of April Fool's -- our "Ship of Fools" cabaret (gulp) nine years ago was great fun but maybe we opted not to dilute the joke in the retelling. (If so, we we have apparently re-evaluated that position, as the gloves are off!)

We'll be at the WISE Lounge from 8-11 pm Sunday, April 1st (don't fear the Monday morning -- it's the Easter long weekend!) supporting a touring folk-punk musician. Suggested donation $10, 19+. Facebook really wants to know that you're attending.

Seattle's Aaron J. Shay (The Mongrel Jews) is a folk-punk singer-songwriter and inter-dimensional traveler, documenting his experiences in story and song while accompanying himself on banjo and ukulele. A longtime enthusiast of both literature and science, he has participated in several quantum-poetic experiments, including Project [REDACTED] and Operation [REDACTED]. Shay's performances are highly interactive, encouraging the civilians in the audience to stomp along and sing along to further study rhythm and melody deviations between universes. Be prepared to smile and ponder!

East Vancouver's "jug band of the damned" the Creaking Planks has made its name as purveyors of musical cognitive dissonance, performing sad songs like they're happy, elevating the profane to the sacred, and playing Nine Inch Nails covers for children. As one does. On this most Puckish of occasions they will be walking the metaphorical tightrope and angling to represent both the most foolish fun and the funniest folly in their repertoire. Now, more damned than ever!

Laugh until you cry or, in contrarian Planks fashion, vice versa! We'll be hooting it up downstairs at the WISE Lounge (1882 Adanac Street at Victoria) from 8 to 11 pm. $10 suggested donation, 19+.