What’s In Your Fridge is where the Straight asks interesting Vancouverites about their life-changing concerts, favourite albums, and, most importantly, what’s sitting beside the Heinz ketchup in their custom-made Big Chill Retropolitan 20.6-cubic-foot refrigerators.

On the grill

Parker Bossley

Who are you

I’m one half of the “illustrious pop-twisting duo, Fur Trade” (their words not mine) with the incendiary Stevie Bays. (My words.) We’re back from a 10-year hiatus in which we spent our time writing and producing separately for scores of other talented artists across North America. I moved to LA for a solo recording deal, Steve formed a second supergroup, and while all this was going down we were quietly and patiently carving out an opus together, celebrating the duality of happiness and heartbreak—and thus, our second LP Dark Celebration was formed. We have a DJ residency at The Painted Ship each Friday of November, to promote said opus, and rock for the people. 

First concert

The first concert that left a big impression on me was Beck at Plaza of Nations on the Midnite Vultures tour when I was 11. I won the tickets calling into CFOX on a day that I had pretended to be sick, and was home alone from school. (Basically Ferris Bueller-ing). There were a series of one-second song samples from the record that I had to identify correctly. My already theory-trained nerd-leaning elementary school music brain aced the test and I won the tickets. At the show his band was so good—full horn section, JMJ on bass guitar, brilliant light show, and Beck was (and still is) one of the ultimate entertainers. Not to mention how great of a venue the Plaza of Nations was. I seem to remember him being suspended on a heart-shaped bed and singing “Debra” in his underwear for the encore, but I can’t remember if I just wanted that to happen so bad that I imagined it.

Life-changing concert

A famous friend of mine snuck me into Bar None to see Prince perform in front of a steamy packed crowd of 120 people after his stadium concert. I’d heard rumours of Prince’s late-night performances in certain towns and having not been able to make the stadium show, I used an extreme amount of willpower to gain entrance into his secret show. I was stuffed in at the back on my tippy toes to watch his amazing band go through improvised funk renditions of fresh Rihanna hits and old Prince jams. They’d been playing for an hour or so when the whole crowd gasped and parted and Prince sauntered in with a throng of bodyguards. He borrowed a bass guitar from one of his bandmates, and they were so goddamn tight and sexy the rest of the night. That first glimpse of the Purple One was actually the only time I could see him, as the stage was so short and I was in the back on my tippy toes; I could only see his little hat bopping around. I miss that fella.

Top three records

Ryuichi Sakamoto, David Byrne, and Cong Su The Last Emperor OST  Seeing the film The Last Emperor was the first time it dawned on me that music can be (and should be, in my opinion) as important as the story being told on film. Ryuichi Sakamoto will forever be one of my favourite composers and musicians, from his time in Yellow Magic Orchestra to all of his solo compositions. It’s all just really perfect music—patient and humble but also a giant when it needs to be. I snuck into a Sakamoto show at The Vogue one time and was ushered downstairs into his dressing room by a security guard right before he exited the stage. He was definitely surprised to see a strange young man lurking around in his dressing room, but he was very kind and we had a nice conversation before I escaped. 

Steely Dan Aja  There’s so much that has been written about this record so I’m not gonna say much. I’ve got it on CD and I’ve listened to it probably 10,000 times and I still find something new each listen.  These two cheesed-off savants hired every session player in LA, and somehow wrapped it all in a perfect cinematic bow that makes it feel like you’re crossing the Manhattan Bridge ahead of traffic into a crisp New York night. (At least, that’s how it feels to me.)

Vince Guaraldi Trio A Charlie Brown Christmas  This record just feels good. I listen to it year round, often while driving. I suggest you do, too. Even better if it’s through Stanley Park right as the first flakes of snow are starting to fall. 

All-time favourite video

Cameo “Candy”  Right now it’s “Candy” by Cameo. It feels like it’s gotta be one of the first vids to use green screen this well in the ’80s, where it’s less of an effect than it is a vibe. These super cool guys are struttin’ around and synchronized dancing while backlit by some kind of NYC Gotham vibe with a bunch of beautiful people and women and it’s just a bit hilarious. The funk genius and lyrical camp of the song elevates this to a near masterpiece in my opinion. Also, singer Larry Blackmon’s codpiece is a very bold fashion statement indeed. 

What’s in your fridge

Yogurt that expired exactly on my partner’s birthday. Not sure why we felt it should become a keepsake, but we’ll likely pass it down to our grandchildren.   

Haribo Tangfastics and Floral Gums. I like to keep ’em in the fridge cause they take on a better texture in the cold. You can find me standing in my underwear by the fridge at 3am eating these with the fridge door wide open, beeping.