Vodas

Endo Turns Four



Feb 16 2007

For the past four years, Endoplasmic Entertainment has been helping to keep the peace between wannabe rock stars, sweating it out in their basements and garages, and their long-suffering neighbours, by providing a sound-proof space where bands can practise.

Endoplasmic’s founder Nathan Kliem will mark the company’s fourth anniversary this weekend with a four-band concert on Saturday, Feb. 17.

“I never thought I would make it past the first nine months when I started,” said Kliem, who runs the business with silent partner Jason Perka.

But what he’d discovered, as it turned out, was a niche in desperate need of filling.

“There was nothing like this in Langley back in 2003, where people could come and practise without annoying the neighbors,” he said.

Today, Endoplasmic sees 20 bands a week practicing in their two studios.

In addition to offering rehearsal space, the business hosts an average of four all-ages shows each month in its concert area.

The venue holds between 60 and 100 people, “depending on how much moshing is going on,” said Kliem, who recently had a higher stage added to the concert area.

“I’m just waiting for the first person to go diving off of that,” he laughed.

Typical audiences range in age from 11 or 12 years old to parents, he said.

“They’re at the same concerts, even though the parents usually have mounds and mounds of cotton in their ears.”

Starting out with a $15,000 investment, “It took a good year before (the business) was up and running,” said Kliem.

Since then, Endoplasmic Entertainment’s revenue has doubled every year.

Being centrally located between Vancouver and the eastern end of the Fraser Valley is ideal for drawing bands whose members are widely dispersed, said Kliem.

Included on the 33-year-old entrepreneur’s list of clientelle is Default, who spent several days rehearsing at the studio before hitting the road in the U.S.

“They just wanted somewhere low-key to practise,” said Kliem.

In addition to good old-fashioned rockers, Endoplasmic has played host to punk bands, classical musicians and even ’50s rock and roll band Keith Diamond and the Rockets.

Performing tomorrow night will be Vodas, Schematic, No Holds Barred, and The Pogs.

“Vodas are one of our longest-term clients who have gone on to big things,” said Kliem of his headliners.

Saturday’s show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $7 and are available at the door.

For more information check www.endoplasmic.com. Endoplasmic Entertainment’s studios are located at 6011 196A St.

© Copyright 2007 Langley Times - Langley Times

Hot Night at the Roxy


The indie-rock band Vodas peforms for the fund-raising of BC Children’s Hospital

The Hot Night at the Roxy fundraiser is a night of cutting edge alternative sounds brought to you by B.C. Children’s Hospital. Featuring entertainment by Langley indie-rock band Vodas, 2005 CFOX Seeds finalists The Turn and Roxy house band Troys R Us. Jan. 18, doors, 7 p.m., show, 8 p.m. $10 includes one drink. Info, Brendon: 604-782-3184

Roxy Nightclub, 932 Granville St. Vancouver, BC

Event organizer Brendon Brady says, “The BC Children’s
Hospital relies on events like ours to purchase vital
equipment as well as to support clinical care, research
and education programs for staff and families”.

Tickets are available at the door beginning at 7pm,
January 18th, 2006 and are
just $10.00 each which even includes the first drink.
Entertainment will begin
at 8pm. Sponsors include CFOX FM.

For more information, visit www.vodasmusic.com or phone
event organizer Brendon Brady at 604-782-3184. - Urban Mixer - Vancouver

Fundraising: Bands rocking for LFS

Local bands will be rocking out for kids of all ages to help Langley Family Services recover from a devastating fire.

by Erin McKay

Stafford Richter had been planning on staging an all-ages rock show to spotlight the talented bands that can be found in Langley's backyard.

Then, on June 24, he picked up the newspaper and saw that fire had destroyed one of Langley Family Service's well-used buildings.

He knew what he had to do.

"We changed direction and things started steamrolling," said Richter, a 20-year-old Langley Kwantlen University College student, who morphed the show into an LFS fundraiser.

Thanks to help from Carmen Ursel of 78 Entertainment, Rock for the Cause Vol. 1: A Benefit Show for Langley Family Services will be held Saturday, Aug. 6, 7 p.m., at the Douglas Recreation Centre, 20550 Douglas Cres.

The show will feature performances by Sterr, Rally Car, Starless Nights, Madison Panic, Elixir, Vodas, and Itteria. Raffles will be held and a concession will be set up to raise additional funds for LFS.

A number of local businesses - including Endoplasmic Entertainment, The Shed Skate Shop, and the Langley Advance News, the official media sponsor of the event - have come on board to help.

Tickets are available in advance at Ethical Addictions coffee house at Fraser Hwy. and Glover Road for $12, and at the door for $15.

"I know that's pretty pricey for a rock show, but we have to make money," said Richter. "Because it is a good cause, we are hoping people will come out."

The bands involved are volunteering their services, he said, and have been extremely supportive of the cause.

Bass player Brendon Brady said his Langley-based band Vodas is looking forward to playing the show: "We love giving a little back to the community."

Langley Family Services is also thrilled with the support.

"It's wonderful that the community is coming out and supporting us - especially some of the young members of the community - in this moment of significant loss," said Allan Billingsley, LFS's acting executive director.

A blaze that fire officials have deemed suspicious ripped through Langley Family Service's heritage barn building at 5339 - 207th St. just before 1 a.m. on June 23.

The building was used to provide a number of programs for families in need.

Temporary accommodation has been found at 6080 - 200th St., but LFS is planning to construct a new facility, and has launched a re-building fund.

That is where money raised from Rock for the Cause will be going, Billingsley said, noting that people who rely on Langley Family Services are "extremely upset with the loss."

"Families are really stressed," he said. "They use this, and they've just lost their focus. You don't realize so many people use this place."

Since the fire, LFS has focused on restoring its services, and will be re-opening its Family Place program on Aug. 2 at Douglas Park School.

Now, Billingsley said, the most important task will be raising money for a new building.

"We've had a lot of calls, and a lot of people are waiting to see what our plans are," he said. "We're getting there."

Billingsley and Richter both hope that the Aug. 6 concert will be the first of many community fundraisers that will help LFS.

Rock for the Cause is part of 78 Entertainment's Parental Advisory Not Necessary initiative, which presents live music to audiences of all ages in a safe and comfortable environment.

Visit www.78allages.com.

posted on 07/19/2005 - Langley Advance

Skool Aid

The Feminists, Voda, Replica and The Turn Rock Out in Langley for a Good Cause
by Courtney Neal-Smith – Brookswood, Langley

Rock fans were definitely talking in Langley when Skool-Aid was first announced, not only because some of the Lower Mainland’s up-and-coming rockers would be playing, but also because of what their night of musical expression would support: teen drug awareness in Langley schools.

Project Resiliency is a drug awareness video that was put together by Barry Macdonald (Langley Students at Educational Risk Program Coordinator), along with the help of many other Langley School District employees. Among those involved with the project were Carl Hofbauer, a film teacher at Brookswood Secondary, and former Brookswood film student Chad Toronchuk, who helped bring the drug-affected lives of a study group of teens to light in the awareness film.

All four of the very talented bands playing Skool-Aid addressed the topic of drug awareness throughout the night, which really showed how much the issue meant to them. Opening with The Feminists, Skool-Aid kicked off to a jumping start; the band brought with them a sound that immediately made you want to get up and dance, and jump along with them.

Replica then shocked many with their very new-age rock and grunge sound that, if forced to make a comparison, I’d say was a mix of Stone Temple Pilots meets Puddle of Mudd with a little Alice in Chains aftertaste. They were as talented as can be.

The Vodas’ guitar riffs brought a whole new metal edge to the show, and they were definitely impressing the masses with their Nickleback-esque edge that complemented their unique beat.

Last but not least, Langley Schools brought 2005 Seeds winner The Turn to the stage to finish off the night with a clean edge of rock. With their impressive drumbeats, accompanied by heartfelt vocals and skilled guitar and bass sounds, The Turn didn’t leave a single fan in their seat and finished off the night with a bang.

Skool-Aid was not only a success, but also a big step towards teen drug awareness in Langley and beyond. - Youthink