David Eby's Campaign Fundraiser - Language Arts, Taxes, Brasstronaut & Tyler Fedchuk

If you're not too wrapped up in festival fever, debating taser use, or adding to the now monstrous pile of self-indulgent hipster "debate", you'd realize we have a municipal election on the horizon (Novermber 15, to be exact). Barring anything completely out of the ordinary, the team we elect this fall will be our city council during the Olympics, that civically enriching/devastating celebration where our world's nations can come together in beautiful Vancouver and conspire over steroids and figure skating instead of fuel, bombs, or the environment for a few weeks...

Regardless of my cynicism, the next few years will be vitally important to our city, and the way we manage the 2010 Olympics (and all that surrounds them) will have an impact that'll be felt far beyond the upcoming three year mayoral term. This really could be the most important election Vancouver has seen in a long time.

One face we could be seeing a lot of come November belongs to someone who'll be familiar to anyone who keeps up with the Morning Brew or pays attention to DTES advocacy: Pivot Legal's Dave Eby. The lawyer has become an icon for the local anti-poverty movement and the search for affordable housing solutions, and his background could end up proving to be one of our municipal government's most vital assets in the period surrounding 2010. A month after announcing his intention to seek a Vision nomination, Eby will be hosting a Campaign Live Fundraiser at the Anza club on Wednesday night featuring the music of Language Arts, Taxes, Brasstronaut, and DJ Tyler Fedchuk. More after the jump...

The Olympic Games don't just skyrocket a host's profile in the months surrounding competition, but have profound social and economic effects on the city both before and after any international athletes find themselves training in those expensive facilities. The Olympic 'legacy' is felt long after the closing ceremonies, and unfortunately it's not always positive...

Perhaps that's why our notoriously apolitical populace (32% of us turned out to vote in 2005) needs to really get out there and make an informed decision on November 15. I'm far from firm myself (this'll be the first Vancouver election I take part in), but from everything I've read Gregor Robertson's Vision Vancouver may provide the only viable alternative to Peter Ladner and the continued reign of the NPA. The addition of Eby to the Vision roster just makes the party that's already most hyped to take the November election that much more appealing.

I'm not here to offer a biography of Mr. Eby - you can find lots of info at Pivot or his own official campaign site. I will mention, however, that not only was he the author of Cracks in the Foundation , a crucial report on low-income housing and the DTES, but the man was even invited to Geneva in 2007 by the UN to speak on homelessness and the Olympics.

Eby was interviewed by Beyond Robson more than a year ago, and that one is definitely worth a read.

I would describe Vancouver as a city of contradictions: the most beautiful scenery, the most grim streetscapes, the friendliest people, the most desperate people. Ontario is like a level line: in many ways not as great as us, but also in many ways, not as bad as us.

One thing you may not know about this potential councilman is that he sang and played guitar (still does?) in an indie synth-pop band called World of Science. It only makes sense then that one of the first places he's turned to gain some publicity and gather support is the local music scene, and he's gathered some of our city's finest new talent to help ensure that Vancouver's younger, left-leaning, concert-loving demographic actually makes it to the polling booths in November.

-First up is Language Arts, a local experimental pop outfit who formed in 2004. Their blending of traditional indie-pop with classical, jazz, and hip-hop forms has been winning them lots of positive press. They've just returned from a national tour, and I'm excited to see 'em for the first time.

-I've written about Brasstronaut a lot here before, and I'll spare you another spiel, but between this and The Clips, Edo Van Breemen has proven himself to be one of our city's most talented musicians. Expect piano & horn driven BSS/Radiohead-esque depressive beauty.

-Then there's Taxes, who despite proclaiming themselves on myspace as a gospel/comedy outfit, would probably be more at home under the 'noise' or 'post-hardcore' label. And if you're not interested in seeing how BR staple Sean Orr's unique perspective translates to the stage... you're at least interested in heckling the guy a bit.

-And topping off an already eclectic bill is 1/2 Alive DJ Tyler Fedchuk.

It should prove to be quite the party -- and all for $5, towards what seems to be a good cause (show up and start framing that informed decision...) And make sure to bring your babies. David wants to kiss 'em.

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Eby's Campaign Live Fundraiser happens on Wednesday night at the Anza Club. Doors at 7pm, $5 or free with Vision membership.

Vision selects their candidates for council on September 20th and the 2008 municipal election will occur on November 15.

poster taken from Eby's blog
photo courtesy of The Blackbird in the Beyond Robson flickr group.