Sat, Oct 11 - Calgary, AB - Marquee Room w/ Thee Thems, Blue Boii

Mon, Oct 13 - Winnipeg, MB - Royal Albert Arms w/ Novillero

Tues, Oct 14 - Thunder Bay, ON - Black Pirates Pub w/ The Wayback, Chad Dziurda, Gaelin Brown Experience, Ocean City Defender

Wed, Oct 15 - Sault Ste. Marie, ON - The Arcadia w/ Kalle Mattson (early show - starts at 8 pm)

Thurs, Oct 16 - Toronto, ON - Horseshoe Tavern w/ The Awkward Stage, Sylvie, Said The Whale

Fri, Oct 17 - Toronto, ON - Mitzi's Sister w/ Blooming Rosebuds, Terror Lake, The Bon (new band ft. mem. of Leather Uppers)

Sat, Oct 18 - Montreal, QC - Cabaret Juste Pour Rire w/ Jay Reatard, Chocolat (early show - we play at 8:30 pm)

Sun, Oct 19 - TBA???

Mon, Oct 20 - Kingston, ON - Bar None w/ Sargasso, The Night is Black

Tues, Oct 21 - Ottawa, ON - Bytown Tavern w/ Horses, The Felines, Statues

Wed, Oct 22 - Cambridge, MA - The Middle East w/ Jay Reatard, Cola Freaks, Tampoffs

Fri, Oct 24 - NYC- Fat Baby - Mint Records CMJ Showcase w/ The Pack A.D., The Awkward Stage, Hot Panda, Novillero

Sat, Oct 25 - Pittsburgh, PA - Gooski..'s

Sun, Oct 26 - Asheville, NC - The Admiral w/ Suttree

Mon, Oct 27 - Atlanta, GA - The Earl w/ Thee Crucials

We just found out we've been accepted into SXSW 2008! Plane tickets have been bought for March 12-16. Are any of you going? Putting together an official showcase or two? Or, are any of you setting up unofficial afterparties/daytime in-stores/BBQs/pyjama parties/miscellaneous unadvertised shindigs that don't conflict with the festival's policies? If so, PLEASE get in touch! We want to make the most of our trip.

xoxo Vancougar

It's true! Starting June 9 in Chicago, we're heading out on the road with the always amazing Goodnight Loving from Milwaukee, WI! Plane tickets are booked and tentative dates are set. Watch this space for further details...

HARP Magazine, May 2007

Slappy, ostensible punk-pop from an all-female band with the drummer from Pink Mountaintops and a sound featuring enough psychedelic organ gush to get a decent head rush going. This quartet is hard to pigeonhole; it's as likely to do multi-voiced vocal blends over clunky keyboards as raunch-garage girl-group rewrites. Which means this is an altogether excellent post-generic slab of summer-oriented nonsense. Hey. Just in time.(Byron Coley)

From AllMusicGuide.com:

The first cut on Vancougar's debut album Losin' It is a pure blast of hooky pop-punk called "Mine First" about that band you loved before anyone else did, and it's so much fun you might get the idea this is another bunch of gals who can skillfully play the "cute indie ladies playing hooky stuff" card. But listen a little longer and deeper and it becomes clear Vancougar are made of stronger stuff than that, and Losin' It is a pretty terrific rock & roll record. Vocalist and guitarist Eden Fineday is a promising talent on both counts; her singing carries considerable melodic and emotional weight, and if her fretwork isn't flashy, it's strong and fills the spaces with just the right balance of noise and tunefulness. Megan Johnson's keyboards are a superb foil for Fineday's six-string attack, and the frantic codas on "Down on Me" and "Way It's Gon' Be" are genuinely inspired noise. Bassist Becca Stewart and drummer CC Rose are a kick-ass rhythm section who can sway on the poppier tunes and lay down the law on harder stuff with equal skill, and the group harmonies are sharper and more skillful than you'd expect. As good as the band is, the songs are the real pleasant surprise on this disc; this sure isn't the first band to write about the travails of grade school, upended relationships or painful insecurity, but Vancougar put a spin on their material that's fresh, honest and indicative of songwriters with imagination and fierce passion, and the melodies are every bit as memorable as the words. (And "Credit Tard" is quite likely the first great rock song about prudent money management.) Don't be fooled by the playful exterior of Losin' It — Vancougar are fun, but they're also a rock band that genuinely delivers the goods, and this debut album makes it clear that they are a band to watch. (Mark Deming)

From Maximum Rock'n'Roll - March 2007

This is treating my ears right. Crunchy indie rock with girl-group harmonies and pop sensibilities without excessive sheen. The vocals invite comparisons to the GO GOS and BANGLES but you can tell this was born in the garage and not in an LA recording studio.. They're also not really that retro-- Liz Phair could be another touchstone. The first song, "Mine First", is about discovering some new band and thinking they're your little secret, only to lose them to commercial radio popularity and the MTV Nation. I wouldn't be surprised if Vancougar fans are going to suffer the same frustration soon. (Allan McNaughton)

From Monday Magazine (Victoria, BC)
Ran August 2, 2006
by Bill Stuart

Though I can groove to the odd diva pop track from time to time, some gay boys like me enjoy their girl pop with a little more muscle. Thankfully, there are excellent bands like Vancougar to fill that need. This wonderful debut comes on the heels of a win at Shindig, CITRs annual battle of the bands that has given top honours to other garage-poppin gal combos like Maow and Clover Honey in the past. Continuing in this fine tradition, Vancougars first full outing, after a track on the LaTiDa Records Vancouver Four Way compilation, is a doozy worthy of accolades and awards abound. Seconds in, I knew Id found a surefire summer hitfest from the opening chime of "Mine First." A couple tracks later, "Painkiller," is one of those songs that makes you stop whatever else you are doing and just listen intently as the jerky rhythm takes over. The other eight tracks are just as splendid and this much goodness packed into less than half an hour will have you scratching at the repeat button.

From the Globe and Mail  

ESSENTIAL TRACKS
Friday, July 7, 2006, Page R27
By Robert Everett-Green

Kids at School, Vancougar, from Losin' It(Scratch Recordings)

The void left by the recent demise of Sleater-Kinney seems a little smaller when you're listening to this dark, driven song about knowledge and vulnerability. Vancouver's jangly girl-rock quartet has the logic of extremes down pat, pairing a fat and nasty keyboard bass line with Eden Fineday's knowing girlish vocals.

From Coalfish www.coalfish.ca
(Originally Ran Vol.1 Issue 14)

Artist: Vancougar

Title: Losin' It

Label: Scratch Records

Release Date: June, 2006.

One of my first ever rock shows was at the old Local on King Street to see Vancouver cuddlecore-rs Cub. Ever since hearing their set, I've been smitten with Canadian poppy girl rock a la Maow and Jale. I'm not sure what it was/is - I mean, it's obviously a deep seeded lust for cute girls in stripy socks cooing into a microphone with their eyes affixed to the frets on their Rickenbacker, but considering I usually walk away from each of these gigs with CDs in tow, there must also be something about the sound that I'm loving.

Enter Vancougar, my newest fixation. Four hot ladies from the West Coast who have brought the rock back to the girl nation in truly fine form.

Losin' It opens with "Mine First", a frantic pacesetter whose story is well known to those that have "found" a band, only to promptly lose them to MTV. The humanity, I know. The rest of the record is a rollercoaster of straight-out rockers and high-school swooners. Repetition is one of the latter, a story of someone tied down, bored and stuck. But in true 'cougar fashion, the girls crank it back up on Naughty, screaming "I'm a really good girl with a real bad body" over and over.

Lyrically the simplest track on the record, it's also my favorite. When she slides in "But such a fuckin' hottie", I melt. There's something incredibly sexy about Vancougar's coy confidence.

The girls keep it short and sweet - the way pop music should be. Enough to get you off your ass and moving, but short enough to leave you wanting more. They're the type of band that would blow through a 30-minute set so fast, you'd spend the rest of the night chasing them through the bar trying to convince them for just another taste.

Oh, and Way It's Gon' Be and Painkiller are two of my favorite tracks on the record; not because they're any better than the rest but because they both remind me of that scene from Chasing Amy when Joey Lauren Adams is singing at the kitty-bar and Affleck thinks that she's singing to him but she's really into the hot blonde chick that's parked in from of him. Remember that scene? I liked her voice in that - kind of raw, but immature way, you know?

Vancougar is for girls who pull dudes behind them by their hair, boys who enjoy take-charge girls, fans of girly-pop a la Bangles/Go-Go's and classic Canadian indie pop a la Sloan, Eric's Trip and Cub.

from the Georgia Straight (Jun 15-21):

By John Lucas

Losin' It! (Scratch Recordings)

Despite its jokey moniker and employment of the age-old gimmick of the all-girl lineup, Vancougar is a band to be taken seriously. With its lo- to medium-fi guitar-bass-drums attack topped with new-wave-inflected keyboards and decent pop harmonies, the four-piece follows the road mapped out by the Dishrags, the Pointed Sticks, and other pioneers of this citys first-wave punk scene of the late 70s and early 80s. Its edgy enough for the white belts, but the well-crafted hooks suggest that, with an extra coat or two of gloss, Vancougar could reach an audience beyond the two-dozen cool kids who fill Pats Pub on any given Saturday night.

Judging by this discs catchiest number, however, such a development might not sit well with the band or its followers. Mine First is a lament for all those once-underground bands whom the scenesters have lost to the larger world of pop culture. Katie Sketch, we hardly knew ye.

from Chartattack.com:

VANCOUGAR Losin' It! (Scratch)
Johnny asked Donna to go steady at the Romance Under The Sea formal. While they clumsily slow-danced under the papier-mache stars, Vancougar's debut must have been coming through the gym speakers. The girl-group comparisons come easily on Losin' It. There are plenty of nostalgic hooks perfect for sock-hopping ("Mine First") or spotlight-dancing ("Take Me Out"), plus gooey harmonies and slumber-party angst over dreamy fellas ("Way It's Gon' Be"). Leslie Gore couldn't have done it better, but she probably didn't do it by way of playing dingy west coast bars like these gals. There's no Phil Spector polish here. Garage musicianship and singer Eden Fineday's petulant, cracking vocals make every sugary hook feel like it might turn into a rock tantrum. It's still perfect for Johnny and Donna's prom, so long as they met in juvie. Leah Collins

There is also a nice review here: http://www.moregoatthangoose.com/cds/cds.php?cd=00336.xml

I especially like the part about us "garnishing" attention. Parsley? Orange slices?

From the webzine Terminal Boredom (http://www.terminal-boredom.com/reviews10.html)

V/A "Vancouver 4 Way: Volume One" 7" EP
Regional comp action from the home of the Canucks, the NHL team with the ugliest history of uniforms in any pro sport ever. Remember those early Eighties multi-colred "V"s on black background? How about the even more hideous away yellows? So hideous they were cool. The dumb looking killer whale/letter "C" combo they wear now? Awful. How about the "Flying Skate" sweater? Real bad. But you probably don't remember anyway. Try watching some sports on occassion, it won't kill you, Shirley. Ladies Night drop the puck on this thing, and automatically draw a five minute major for being the best band on the record. If they were a hockey team, they would be the Philadelphia Flyers, 1970's Broadstreet Bullies-era. They stomp the shit out of this track, sounding like a sped-up Lamps with the Hunches playing right wing. Awesome. Following them up are the ladies of Vancougar. These girls would fittingly be the Pavel Bure/Alex Mogilny-era Canucks, a team that was a lot of fun to watch, and were, well, a little bit girlie. But who needs a killer instinct when their tune, "Mine First", is as sweet as the Russian Rocket going top shelf on an end-to-end breakaway? The pleasant sounding and not-overpowering keyboards blend nicely with a really crisp drum sound, and the song has a Nikki Corvette-meets-Devo sorta catchiness. The fact these gals actually sing/harmonize as well gives them a winning hat-trick! Score! Someone give me an octopus to throw! Turning the wax over, we're ready for the second period. I'd just like to take this time to remind you that the arena stops selling beer at the end of the second intermission. Please plan accordingly. Anyway, The Beladeans open up Side Deux with a Booker T and the MG's sounding-thing, except with a sax. Proficient instro-funk/soul, and the rhythm here is copped directly from something I can't put my finger right on at the moment..."Hip Hugger"? "Tramp"? Both? Anyway, these dudes would be any Edmonton Oilers team of the past ten years or so. They skate and play really well, but aren't real exciting to watch and never get too deep into the playoffs. Ho-hum. Finally, closing out this bitch are Raised by Wolves, who I immediately send to the penalty box for having such a bad name. That shit's not gonna fit on the back of a jersey. RBW would be the post-Chelios/Roenick-era Chicago Blackhawks. Why? Well, they both bluster around out there like headless chickens, and while they might lay down a nice forecheck once in awhile, they can't score if their lives depended on it. They're playing last year's game. We need a little finesse these days, or least some savagery, not a bunch of goons playing bland overdriven rawk. I'm issuing them a game misconduct as well. Their guitar player should also be sent back to the minors. A few years of riding the bus in Moosejaw will straighten his game right out. So, one side of this thing is pretty bland. But Ladies Night and Vancougar could be contending for the Stanley Cup one of these days. This puck is worth purchasing just to hear these two fine Canadian outfits lay it down so good even the Great One himself should be proud. Support your local hockey team! Scum stats: 500 pressed, 100 were on color. Nice looking sleeve.(RK)
(La-Ti-Da Records // www.latidarecords.com)

Ladies Night, Vancougar, Belladeans and Raised By Wolves
Vancouver 4 Way 7”
(La–Ti–Da Records)

Dale Davies has been carving his place in Vancouver for a few years now. He has done the artwork for most of the good shows/nights you’ve gone to and he has said nothing shitty about you to your face or behind your back. Even when you deserved it. And you did. He’s is the epitome of a music and art lover. He especially loves art for music. If you’ve heard any of his DJ sets or seen his vinyl collection you have a good idea of what exactly turns his Victrola’s crank and bulges his eyes. Well now he’s backing those impeccable tastes with a record label of his own. For La-Ti-Da’s first release he chose 4 of his fave Vancity bands to share the platter. The artwork is classically fabulous (I would expect no less) and the details are far from overlooked. But we really should talk about the bands.

Ladies Night hit hard on the first side with “Natural Disaster”. Fuzzy, low budget recording with fabulously high mixed and echo driven vocals that wreak of Cramps-esque horror-garage and ends as abruptly as it starts. Fugg yeah.

Vancougar’s “Mine First” is just the kind of dirty garage-pop that Dale spins causing all the ladies to flutter. Shangri-la-ti-da! I wish someone would take this group of girls and Spectre-ize them into Vancouver’s premier girl group. Fugg the Dishrags! They could be the new Ronettes.

The Beladeans’ “Seawall” conjures many visions. An instrumental soul/blues jam that makes me think of Russ Meyer, Esquivel, Flamin’ Groovies and old school gambling rooms way in the back. Through all the smoke. Why is that 12 year old holding all the cash?

Finally, Raised By Wolves’ “Trouble” sounds like a bunch of speed-laden Japanese kids trying to recreate “Summertime Blues” and succeeding. With ludes. And lots of sunglasses. Awesome.

Once again Dale Davies delivers the goods flawlessly. Let us all applaud silently with our wallets. ALLEN FORRISTER

The Vancougar “Polar Express” Tour Diary 2005

by CC Rose

We joined our friends Rock’n and The Robosexuals on a quick weekend jaunt recently that we dubbed The Polar Express Tour: two American cities, three Canadian bands, eleven very hungover people.

Friday, January 28, 2005

Olympia, WA – Le Voyeur

For years we’ve heard about how hard Olympia is to crack. Pfft. We had them dancing and hooking up with members of the same sex. One guy even held Megan’s microphone to her lips the whole set because we were short a mike stand. Ha. The Robosexuals and Rock’n weren’t as lucky: maybe because they have penises. It sure wasn’t for lack of talent or heart. I think it was a dyke bar. At least, the hot tattooed bartender chick was one. She asked if we were all straight and when we said “um…yeah”, she said, “that’s a shame.” Lesbians love us!

 It was hell trying to get everyone’s wasted ass together to find a place to crash. The girls and the boys wanted to party (together) and we had two options: annoying, bourbon-swigging guy with a hayloft, or overly friendly, chick-loving gal with an apartment. I was in no mood to sleep with horses and piss in a field so I made everyone follow us to the gal’s. Funny thing was, she wasn’t coming with us. She would meet us there later. But we were free to walk in, make ourselves at home, help ourselves to food (!) and not worry about her sleeping roommates and dog. We asked her about fifteen times (when we could because she was making out with a blond cowgirl) if she was SURE that she wanted eleven drunk Canadians at her apartment in the middle of the night. She was sure.

So we went. We got there and the door was unlocked and the lights were all off. We had no choice but to turn all the lights on, get the stereo going, roll up some weed and drink two cases of cheap American beer. There was a lot of laughing, yelling, dancing and over the top singing involved. There was also weirdo hayloft guy, who had followed us there, insisting that we’d had our fun and now we must got to the hayloft because that’s what it was meant for. It was getting increasingly hard to drown him out, but the bottle of Old Crow Kentucky Bourbon he had stolen from the bar sure helped. In the end, it came down to fisticuffs. He and Becca got in a fight over the stereo and she ended up kicking him out, but not before bullying him out of the Old Crow. Teach him to mess with Canadians.

Finally, a long-underwear clad roommate came down from upstairs and asked us to turn the music down. Then he asked us who the hell we were. He seemed confused and for a moment we all panicked and thought that the gal from the bar didn’t live there at all, that she had a vendetta against this guy and had used us to get her revenge or something. Then he just shrugged and told us to keep the music down and shuffled back up to bed. We cleaned up and crashed like the polite Canadians that we are.

The next morning, I awoke to find another roommate attempting to get on with his day. Apparently, the French doors that were situated off the main room in which we had all been partying were to his bedroom. I had to move guitar and beer cases to let him out. This dude hadn’t said a peep all night, and he wasn’t about to start. He went to the kitchen, quietly made breakfast (as if not to disturb us), and left. Later, yet another roommate came down all smiles and said he didn’t hear a thing. What the fuck? To the people of ... Boulevard Rd: YOU ARE BEYOND RAD. We hope our offering of a half-empty bottle of Old Crow is enough to appease you. Sorry about the toilet.

Saturday, January 30, 2005

Seattle, WA – The Comet Tavern

There’s no point in writing anything about this night because it can’t possibly hold a candle to the last. But I will say this: Allen, your place is so warm and comfortable, thanks for putting us up. The Comet, we hope to play and drink at your tavern some other time when we’re not barfing. Jason, thanks for lending us your gear and booking us in the future (wink). The Robosexuals, thanks for being such a good bunch of guys in a great band (GG, GB). And Rock’n, thanks for setting shit up and knockin’ it down. We’ve got your magazine glossies plastered all over our bedroom walls.

TOUR REUNION SHOW!!! Thursday, March 24, 2005 at The Railway Club!