A Seattle
band called Kidd Africa played there and the power went out half way through
the show. The band played on and it was a brilliant night, although
going to the can was a little weird.
The Rockpile was
across the street from Naam ( great vegetarian restaurant) and Banyan's,
a very cerebral book store was almost next door.
Brian Shields,
May 2007
Rohan's was perhaps
my favourite place for live music in Vancouver. As far as I can remember,
it was the very first local club that had it's own sound system and lights.
The place was tiny, no more than a storefront. Service was self-serve for
the
polite, and table service if you had patience to wait for your order.
Fred Xavier ran the
place. It was a favorite with local musicians, and Fred hired the most
interesting of local scene. He also had acts from out of town/country.
I worked there as
the sound man for my good friend Richard Stepp band Shakedown. After our
first night Fred came up to me and said he
has never heard
better sound there. But the praise was unneeded, as the clubs mixing board
was exactly the same as ours. Easy.....
Local FM radio station
CFRO (Co-Op Radio 102.7 broadcast a live hour or two every week there.
Some of the bands
I remember seeing there include:
Alexis (Radlin)
and her fantastic band of heavyweights
Rocket Norton
Band
Bruce Miller
Band
Foreman Young
Band
Shakedown
Dave Paul
& The Silver Dollar Band (featuring Lindsay Mitchell (Prism))
Danny Mac
(MacInnis) and The Cement City Cowboys
Danny Tripper
.....and a
whole bunch more......
Roger
Stomperud (R.I.P.), January 2008
I can't believe there
is still a following. I used to sneak in here when I was in high
school in the mid 70's (in the early 80's I worked there for a time).
I recall bands like
Chiliwack, Widroot, Doug and the Slugs, Rocket Norten et al.
If I remeber correctly, it was jointly (or partly) owned by 'Smilin" Jack
Smith and Jerry Doucette.
As far as I can recollect,
the story of The Who playing there following the Jerry Doucette concert
is, well, not accurate, but I was at UBC at the time and might of actually
been studying. I still have a Rohan's Rockpile T-Shirt by Rand Holmes.
Thanks for the memories!
Peter Hexter,
July 2009
I was born a block
away from Rohans, and was part of the 4th ave scene from 68 to ?.
I was there often.
Another band that
played there was Brain Damage.
I am part of a large
group on Facebook...old dear friends from 4th .. .almost all the musicians
that are left, and 100's of pics... some of bands playing at Rohans....
.I used to do Light Shows at the Afterthought when The Retinal Circus on
Davie street took over the scene.
Keith Light, May
2010
Rohan's was of the better bars for live music.
Tarkus played there a number of times.
The owner liked different acts and the use of violin as part of our line-up
helped us get the gigs in this great venue.
Robb Armstrong, August 2014
I was there the night the Who played.
Chris Okey, March 2016
Jack
Smith at Rohans
