December 31 2009 in Pique Newsmagazine.
Band/Musician
It's been 10 years of Hairfarmers - and dynamic duo Grateful Greg and Guitar Doug proved once again they not letting go of their stronghold on the best band or musician category. The Apres-all-stars and cover-band-extraordinaire finished off another spectacular year with a slew of new songs to keep ski-boots tapping - including a few borrowed from Kings of Leon. And they are gearing up for a hot, hot, hot 2010, including a series of daily performances during the Winter Olympic Games.
So what keeps these men - with their 300 live shows a year and a repertoire of over 3,000 songs - going?
Simply put: it's all about the fans.
"They are very dedicated," explained Guitar Doug. "We are really, really appreciative of the gifts that they send us, via e-mail or their physical presence and the conversations in between our shows. Some fans like to take us out to dinner, or buy us a drink.
"They are preserving peace in the world by directing their energy towards listening, which is something the Hairfarmers are trying to encourage people to do. They teach us not to look over our shoulders, but to look straight down the road."
To watch the Hairfarmers in action, check out their show schedule on their website, www.thehairfarmers.com.
Arts & Entertainment
A little slice of après heaven
Whistler’s favourite duo, The Hairfarmers, mark a decade of music and fun.
December 2,2009
Jennifer Miller jmiller@whistlerquestion.com
If you happen to live in Whistler and you think you’re going to be busy during the Olympics and Paralympics, take comfort in the fact that you certainly won’t be alone. For example, the Hairfarmers — the resort’s quintessential ski bum après band — are already scheduled to play more than 50 shows during the month of February 2010.
Do the math: with only 28 days in the month that’s almost two shows every single day, non-stop for a whole month.
“That’s going to be the test of mettle for the Hairfarmers,” said “Grateful” Greg Reamsbottom, one half of the dynamic duo.
But the Olympics aren’t the only major thing happening for Whistler’s favourite après ski act these days. The 2009-’10 ski season marks 10 years of Reamsbottom and “Guitar” Doug Craig playing together.
It all started in the summer of 1998 when both guys were booked to play at a hippie wedding — each with another band. Craig said he heard Reamsbottom singing from the side of the stage and stuck around to hear his act. The night turned into a big jam, after which the guys kept in touch, and before long Reamsbottom moved to Whistler.
Both halves of the Hairfarmers said it feels like just yesterday they started to pack local pubs with fans eager to dance, drink and relive the ski day while rocking out to great tunes. At some point over the years, the Hairfarmers have become an integral part of the Whistler experience, a colourful part of the tapestry of the town.
“Life is too damn short for crappy music at après ski,” Craig said by way of explaining what makes the Hairfarmers a classic ski town band.
These guys know how to have a good time, and they’re ultimately out to have fun too. They’re up there on the hill with everyone else, loving the powder and the big mountain experience. And when the lifts stop running, they provide the soundtrack to the amazing day that was just had.
“Our way to express the epic day in powder is to lay it out in songs,” Reamsbottom said.
The duo wants to join in the celebratory vibe with the crowd, and they can help get the party rolling. Ultimately, the duo puts themselves in the audience’s shoes and tries to play a show they’d be moved by if the tables were turned.
“I think what matters is we know how people want to have a good time,” Craig said.
It doesn’t hurt that the guys know more than 3,000 songs they can draw from to help stoke up the crowd. They never plan a show in advance, they’re constantly learning new songs and taking requests, and they read the crowd for what to do next.
“It’s kind of like an organic juke box,” Reamsbottom said.
So after a decade of playing together, what are some of the best and craziest Hairfarmers memories?
Well, the guys wouldn’t spill any dirt on locals or tell any racy stories.
“It’s a family newspaper,” Reamsbottom said.
“You’ll have to wait for the book,” added Craig.
After thousands of shows together, even the G-rated stories start to blend together. The guys recalled big shows in New York and elsewhere, playing to captive audiences when the highway was shut down and people were revelling in copious amounts of snow, and having some big-name musicians jump on stage with them.
“The memories are endless,” Reamsbottom said.
It’s certainly been a wild ride so far, and especially if you take February into consideration there’s no sign of slowing down. In fact, the Hairfarmers are in such high demand that they have to book vacation time a year in advance and they’re having trouble trying to carve out some time to get into the studio to record some music.
Hairfarmers fans — known as Farm Hands — will be pleased to know there’s likely at least another decade of gigs still coming.
“We want to be the Rolling Stones of the après business,” Reamsbottom said.
Catch the Hairfarmers about five nights a week at various Whistler watering holes throughout the ski season. On Friday (Dec. 4) the duo hits Merlin’s for après from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. and then plays Tapley’s staring at 9:30 p.m. On Monday (Dec. 7) check them out at Buffalo Bill’s starting at 9 p.m. Visit www.thehairfarmers.com for a full calendar of upcoming shows.
Here's an article from Ski Canada Magazine describing the 5 "must do" things in Whistler...see the full article in the link below:
http://www.skicanadamag.com/Features/Columnists/SeenAtWhistler/2009/04/15/9126011.html
5. SEE THE HAIRFARMERS
Time it right and you might be able to tick off No. 4 and 5 in one fell swoop since the Hairfarmers truly are the “quintessential ski town band,” performing at bars around town almost daily. Band members Grateful Greg and Guitar Doug are legends of the après scene in various group and solo reincarnations, but their performances as the Hairfarmers provide the most diverse selection of musical genres and should become the soundtrack to your Whistler experience. The Hairfarmers
Once again, The Hairfarmers have won the "best band" catagory for 2008 in the Pique news magazine's best of issue where locals vote on all things Whistler:
Media, Arts & Culture: Published Dec.31st 2008
Best band/musician
“Grateful” Greg Reamsbottom and “Guitar” Doug Craig, better known to locals as simply The Hairfarmers, have captured the hearts (and votes for best band) of this town for five years running. On regular rotation at après sessions around town, these boys have been jamming on a huge assortment of covers to make the masses dance since the summer of ’98, amassing a loyal following of “farm hands” in the process.
“Farmhands are the best fans ever,” said Reamsbottom. “We really enjoy what we do and we're very lucky that The Hairfarmers get to provide the soundtrack to people's good times.”
This year, they played Pemberton Festival, and the 2009/2010 season will mark their 10th anniversary, and Grateful Greg’s 40th birthday, so expect big things from these boys!
Whistler’s favourite farmers
Behind the scenes with the Hairfarmers
By Nicole Fitzgerald
Topping the Favourite Musician/Band category in Pique Newsmagazine’s Best of Whistler poll again in 2007 were the Hairfarmers — Guitar Doug Craig and Grateful Greg Reamsbottom.
But the duo’s domination of the category isn’t just in their No. 1 ranking. Greg’s other band, Whole Lotta Led, finished second in the voting and Doug, as a solo performer, finished third.
Everyone knows the Hairfarmers on stage, but who are these guys off stage? Pique’s Nicole Fitzgerald found out.
Pique: Where did the Hairfarmers name come from?
Doug: We were coming back from a gig in Greg’s old Ramcharger. I used to wear this huge, huge wooly sweater, it was trapping a lot of hair in its fibres. We decided right there that was the perfect name.
Greg: That’s the way it happened… not sure who said it first, but we knew right then that was what we’d call ourselves.
Pique: How did the two of you meet?
Doug: Playing a mountaineer’s wedding in Birken, at Birkenhead Lake. The band I used to play with was the Wild Dogs of Wedgemont — booked from 7 to 12 a.m. — and Greg’s band (Greg and Greg, which is Grateful Greg nd G Willy) was 12-7 a.m. They don’t make weddings like that anymore.
Greg: Amazing night… way too much fun… jammed till the sun came up.
Pique: Who does what in putting a show together?
Doug: We both do pretty much 50 per cent of the work each, starting with bookings online, on the phone or in person. Then I bring sound gear and guitars. We decide on music collectively and share musical tastes. We get unloaded and on to the stage and source power. We both do the layout and sound check — I turn dials to rought it in and Greg goes into the audience to have a listen to the front of house.
We have a ritual that helps us get in the mood to play. We check each other's voice and condition to make sure we can play in concert pitch or change keys, there is an automatic sense when things are going right — venue, people etc...
We never use set lists so I'll start riffing or Greg will be singing a tune already. Lights are the last thing — sometimes on, most times no fancy lighting.
Greg: It's definitely a shared effort. We've played so many shows together that we both know what needs to be done. There's no hard set of rules... we both handle the management of the band, bookings, pricing, scheduling etc., and we always talk things over before making the big decisions like tour arrangements etc... I think we're a good team.
Pique: When did you arrive in Whistler and what Whistler jobs did you have before music?
Doug: April 1988. Carpenter, waiter at Umberto’s, cook at the Southside Deli and one week as a cook at Citta’, gardener.
Greg: 1999... I worked at Sabre Transport, first as a driver (18 wheelers and bigger), then in the office as dispatcher/trucking manager/driver... great people to work for. I still jump in a truck for them a couple of times a year. Being a trucker is one of those jobs that gets under your skin.
Pique: What’s a day in the life of the Hairfarmers?
Doug: Wake up, make coffee (two cups, shade grown organic in a French press), check e-mails, listen to CITR or Malaspina radio while replying, get some clothes together, (summer) ride bike to get banana bread or newspaper, (winter) eat a huge breakfast, go skiing, load in sound check, play first show, tear down, go to the gym, load in the next show, sound check, play second show, tear down, drive home, pig out, read, fall asleep.
Greg: Wake up, call the snow phone, if there’s powder get up at 7 a.m., if not back to bed till 10 a.m. Go skiing, head home for a shower and a bite to eat, check and answer e-mail and phone messages, go set up and play après, tear it down and go to the gym or home for dinner, set up and play the night show, get home and fall into bed. In the summer, substitute skiing for a Harley ride.
Pique: What are your best memories of 2007?
Doug: Fun times at Kypriaki’s — wild boar and wine.
Went heli skiing on an epic day in April in exchange for playing a show. After the season was over we hosted a theme party in May — Tarantino lives.
Played Tourism Whistler, shows in London, England. Our band did a T.V. spot in September for CTV’s Urban Rush. Played in fondue huts for lots of couples last winter, in the log hut on top of Blackcomb, played a massive wedding for Ivy league grads that wanted to jam and could really play. Sold commercial ad music for the same people to run on the radio. Did some Olympic promotional gigs with questionable sound but great TV exposure.
Was featured in a documentary about Whistler. Played our first country music festival, and for Squamish their first music festival right here on the oceanfront under a full moon with the Stawamus Chief for a backdrop — that was a fun night.
Played some terrific backyard parties for the top Whistler real estate brokers, all backyard themes — the best was John Ryan’s.and Marika Koenig's. Sadly, our monthly house gig at Bimini's in Vancouver didn't happen because it burnt down this spring.
We played Keri Ueberroth’s wedding in Laguna Beach, California — managed to get a cheap electric guitar from a pawn shop outside L.A. — fun tour, no soccer-mom mini van to get around.
Saw shows like Greg Keelor and the Sadies, the Mad Professor, the Tenessee Three, big shows included Pink Floyd/ Roger Waters, courtesy of Mike — our favorite bar manager. Also the best in reggae stars like Sly and Robbie, as well as Yellowman.
Most of all, the incredible talent of the Zappa band including Steve Vai… the weirdest show of all was a Japanese band — most probably the loudest, noisiest and hairiest show with the opening band and their wand of destiny — a six-foot long piece of driftwood — was unsettlingly interesting.
Greg: Doug has a great list here of Best Memories... so many amazing shows, concerts, and moments... I'd just like to thank all the amazing staff, managers, sound techs, and especially the fans that come out to the shows and make it all happen... "If there's no audience, there just ain't no show."
Pique: Greg, how are things going for A Whole Lotta Led these days?
Greg: Things have never been better.
Pique: What is the next step for the band?
Greg: More touring, the summer outdoor festival circuit, bigger stages and audiences.
Pique: Highlight shows for Led?
Greg: From the summer tour... The sold out show at the civic center arena in Kimberley, 6,000 people in a hockey rink… wow! The Nelson, B.C. shows... headlining at Crankworx.
Pique: Any new Zeppelin songs you are working on these days?
Greg: We're always working on getting more songs down. Dancing Days and Houses of the Holy are a couple we will add to the set soon.
Pique: Doug, have you been to a Whole Lotta Led show? What did you think?
Doug: Yes. Live, you can’t beat ’em — all very good musicians. I’ve always been in awe of their professionalism.
Greg: I also go to Doug's solo shows, especially if a bunch of us are out on the town in the summertime, we'll ride the bikes over to the Gate and close the place down watching Doug play... it's a great show!
Pique: Doug, do you feel lonely without Greg on solo shows?
Doug: No, but it’s just like something is missing.
Pique: What do you like best about working with Greg?
Doug: He is magic. We are brothers in a sense — a bit of a psychedelic meeting. Those relationships seem to last the longest.
Pique: Greg, what do you like best about working with Doug?
Greg: He's fearless, he'll play anything and is never boring to work with...keeps you on your toes.
Pique: Doug, tell me one thing people wouldn't know about Greg
Doug: He is fiercely protective of his friends and family.
Pique: Greg, tell me one thing people wouldn't know about Doug
Greg: He is very well informed and aware of world politics.
Pique: Greg, who would you vote for as best musician in Whistler and why?
Greg: I have to say I'd vote for any of the guys I play with, Doug, The Zep band: Phil, Tommy and Mike... I'm lucky to play with all of them... otherwise... G Willy, the man has a passion for music.
Pique: Doug, who would you vote as best musician in Whistler?
Doug: Cameron Chu — a pro all the way. He performs, reads, plays, feels jazz and all forms, Also knows everybody.
Hairfarmers après-glow ****
Three more chances to catch Whistler’s best band of 2006 before the New Year****
Published Date: 2006-12-27 Time: 16:18:20 ****
By Nicole Fitzgerald****
Who: The Hairfarmers
When: Dec. 29-31
Where: Merlin’s & Dusty’s****
Four years in Whistler and I had never experienced a full frontal après with all the trimmings of live music, jugs of beer and a round table of friends.
Last month, I was anointed into the longstanding tradition practised by ski bums seeking perfect alcohol bliss amidst tall tales of ripping it up on the mountain.
I was ordained by the Après Gods themselves, The Hairfarmers.
Now I realize there are two entities within the identity (Grateful Greg and Guitar Doug), but the duo is sort of like yin and yang, with the two halves coming together to create a whole — lot of fun.
Both made from Dusty’s rib, the two are one in their long hair, playful banter that always leaves unfinished sentences picked up by the other. Like brothers sometimes, the “bad” one (try to guess which at the next Hairfarmers show) always likes to throw a loose cannon musical offering into the set, leaving the other to Janga his way through the challenge, which keeps shows fresh and the musicians lively. They both ride Harley’s. Greg was the first. They both dedicate their careers solely to music. Doug was the first. And now they have been crowned Best Band in Pique Newsmagazine’s Best of Whistler poll, with both crossing the finish line at the same time.
Covers are the mainstay of the Hairfarmers lineup, but the boys rise above the common cover strummer with a repertoire of more than 2,000 songs. They’ve got so much music in them they could play a four-hour concert of just Grateful Dead cover tunes (and have!). They could play a country night with at least a dozen encores in their musical score. And if they don’t know it, they’ll jumble their way through it if you are willing to hum along.
These two boys are not just musicians. They are entertainers who have seen so much they probably have inside information on everyone in town.
Maybe that is why the Hairfarmers were voted Best Band. Everyone feared for their wives, I mean lives.
I’ve seen these two long locked gents perform at the Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival, MY Millennium Place, Merlin’s patio in the summer and at charity benefits, but something different happens when the Hairfarmers step onto a stage looking out on ski-boot-clad snow crowds. They rise to God-like proportions and instead of burning incense to the almighty, pints are raised and the congregation sings along to cover hymns of Sweet Caroline and Johnny Cash.
Part stand up comedy routine, part music juke box, the Hairfarmers are an experience that international travelers actively seek out on returning to Whistler. But the Hairfarmers phenomenon isn’t restricted by Canadian borders these days.
“We’ve had several classified top secret parties in exotic locations that we can’t tell you about,” Greg informed.
Highlights for 2006 included last New Year’s at Merlin’s — and probably this year’s as well. Merlin’s is one of the few bars in town that rings in the New Year with Whistler’s hottest band and only a $5 cover charge, the same as any other night.
“The Hairfarmers are booked for New Year’s until 2010,” Greg said. “They know us glorified beer salesmen will make them (the bar) serious money....LOL”
Other 2006 Hairfarmers highlights include the Whistler-Blackcomb Ski School beach party at Merlin’s, World Ski and Snowboard Festival après shows at Citta’ and the director’s cup party at the GLC. The boys also set a personal record of 13 shows in six days.
Grateful Greg said the audience is as important as the performers at a Hairfarmers show.
“It’s not often in the world anymore, that you can go and act like a total maniac, let your hair down and have fun, and no one is going to call you up from the office and tell you what a bozo you were,” Greg said of the Hairfarmers après shows. “Have a blast. No one wants to be the first to get out of their seats to dance, but as soon as you get one table going, everyone is up; everyone wants to get in on the fun. It takes willing people to make this happen.”
With their trusty fun-seeking radar, a Hairfarmers show always delivers an awesome — some might say holy — experience where music carries on the rush first fed by a day riding the mountains.
“Skiing before après keeps you in touch with why you are here,” Greg said. “It keeps the glow on your face. You can see it. We love to ski and get up there and it’s a big part of why we are here and still doing it.”****
The Hairfarmers perform Friday, Dec. 29 for après and evening sets at Merlin’s; Saturday, Dec. 30 for après at Dusty’s; and Sunday, Dec. 31 for après and New Year’s Eve at Merlin’s.****
“Hang on to your liver!” Greg joked.
