Chilliwack: Fly At Night - Canada Week 2: Day 4

[@Mike.A.]

As a Canadian who was a teenager when this song was released I thought Alex nailed it saying "if I grew up on that, that'd be a meat and veg, an absolute staple you could eat every single day", and yes also a great song to listen to while driving on a warm summers day! Thanks gents 👍

[@dianaa9826]

Bravo Brian, you are bringing the Canadian artists well deserved recognition..Your choices are great..Canada has produced awesome music over the decades and still does to this day......Greetings gentlemen, good job..

[@BrianR.]

Thanks for the kind words, much appreciated.

[@TheThamesmen]

Thank you kindly!

[@m.a.sperry3424]

Had totally forgotten about this great band, especially this number. Thanks for resurrecting it and appreciating it for what it is- just another really good track from another really good Canadian band.

[@BrianR.]

Thanks for watching!

[@TheThamesmen]

Thanks for listening

[@debbie5859]

Hate to say but I never heard of this band before or recognize the song, the song is good, surprised I never heard it on the radio.

[@harrycooper5231]

Grew up in Vancouver, these guys were a regular part of life, along with Trooper, Heart, Doug and the Slugs, Sweeney Todd. So many great memories of partying at clubs, concerts, Canada Days, with these bands. We were awfully lucky.

[@mjlmmjlm262]

Chilliwack--The Taylor James Show---the founder of the band performing in his 70's. Outstanding Fly At Night version.

[@musicisajourney]

I like a lot of Chilliwack songs but that one is really superb! I never tire of it. If you can find Armageddon by Prism that's another all time favourite of mine. Chilliwack is an aboriginal name, or at least an Anglicized transliteration of an aboriginal name.

[@lenbeedle]

The angelic manner in which the vocals and backing give you that sense of freedom as if you are traversing the lower stratosphere. It pairs with the meaning of this song nicely.

[@philpaine3068]

The town of Chilliwack's name comes from the Halkomelem [Halq̓eméylem] First Nation language word "Ts'elxwéyeqw", meaning "valley of many streams". You don't stress the second "i" --- it's pronounced "uh".

[@BobSoltis1]

Not to mention that none of the band members were from Chilliwack and the band was formed in Vancouver, BC.

[@philpaine3068]

@@BobSoltis1 Naming a band after a city was a trend then (Boston and Chicago were both big successful groups). Members of the band Chicago were from its outer suburbs, Brooklyn, St. Louis and even Rio de Janeiro; the lead players in the band Boston were from Toledo and Chicago -- so I guess there wasn't any customary rule about it. I suspect they knew that "Vancouver" wouldn't cut it as a catchy band name --- and there's another Vancouver nearby in Washington State to cause confusion. "Chilliwack" was such a cool name that I'm sure it was irresistible, and it may just as easily refer to its Salishan meaning, which is very appropriate for a band. I know I loved it the second I heard the name, and I had never heard of the place before that.

[@BobSoltis1]

@@philpaine3068 Why do you think you need to explain that to me? The claim in the video was that the band name came from the town that they were from. I was refuting that. I was NOT making any claim or comment about how bands came up with their names.

[@philpaine3068]

@@BobSoltis1 Sorry, I did not intend to be preachy pedantic, but clearly I came across that way. I'm a professional researcher and delight in detailed explanations, not to intimidate others, but for their own sake. If I sounded like a jerk, I sincerely apologize.

[@barbararees604]

I thoroughly enjoyed this track and vaguely remember hearing it on our local radio station in NQ Australia. They used to play a lot of music from overseas, that weren't top of pop songs.

[@timwhitnell7145]

So glad you guys liked this. There are so many great Canadian rock groups - the last great one being The Tragically Hip - plus some that seem to have been sadly forgotten like 1970s eclectic rockers Max Webster. Give their high-energy, quirky lyrics tune High Class In Borrowed Shoes a try. Try lots of The Guess Who and Triumph as well as essentially one-hit wonders The Kings, from my little hometown of Oakville, Ontario, and their catchy hit This Beat Goes On/Switchin' To Glide. Glad I found you guys. Keep on rockin' Alex and George.

[@flor9389]

They had a cool hit from the 80s called My Girl with one of the most infectious hooks ever.

[@TheThamesmen]

Need to check that out.

[@backbeat44]

Ya, i remember that. it fact it's been, gone, gone, gone, it's been gone so long, I wonder if i'm ever gonna remember that song. :) GREAT SONG.

[@flor9389]

@@backbeat44 you are evil. 😂 I just got it out of my head after several hours.

[@juanitooctavio9023]

I remember their name, but this was my first time hearing them. Well worth the wait!

[@protovision2010]

great song + reaction! The song "My Girl" (1981) by Chilliwack is probably their biggest hit, check it out 👍 Some other great early 80's Canadian hits: "Turn Me Loose" (1980, Loverboy); "Eyes of a Stranger" (1982, The Payolas); "Nova Heart" (1982, The Spoons);

[@TheThamesmen]

Will do.

[@BrianR.]

I missed this comment by Alex but it's absolutely bang on. I'm paraphrasing but basically Alex said that if he was there, in that time, this would be a near staple. It's quintesentially Canadian, you had to be there at the time to really feel it beyond just a well written pop Rock song. But being a Canadian week it was a must. Have a good summer guys!

[@squamishfish]

Chilliwack is a Town just east of Vancouver in the Fraser Valley, Great Fishing and Great Corn 🌽 😊

[@BrianR.]

Beautiful place.

[@TheThamesmen]

Cool, thanks

[@DarrenShaw-ev5tb]

While you checked out C-Wac - Try 2 loud MacLeod in the HEADPINS ! & yes Darby Mills can SCREAM

[@standing0]

Watching this quite near Chilliwack, British Columbia.

[@backbeat44]

Great review of a band i listened to quite a bit, long, long ago. By-the-by it's 'Chill-ah-wack'. sort of like your chilli's been wacked and you go, 'AH!, do it again'

[@TheThamesmen]

Cool, thanks!

[@Rizzo_67]

Yes you caught us. Chilliwack is how we keep warm in the winter.

[@TheThamesmen]

Ha ha

[@dr.strangelove7788]

FYI Chilliwack is a city of about 70,000 people about 2 hours drive east of Vancouver

[@jamesflorance1356]

Very early Neil Young sounding to begin with. Great song!

[@stevepaterson7503]

Fun fact. The four members of Chilliwack were originally in a 60s psychedelic band called the Collectors. When lead singer Howie Vickers left the band they renamed themselves, with Bill Henderson taking over lead vocals.

[@stevepaterson7503]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/e4vJfYusoLCNbZY

[@BobSoltis1]

Plus none of the band members were from Chilliwack.

[@blue-ch7ik]

Not chili wack, Chill a wack. It’s a city and beautiful British Columbia..

[@sean---the-other-one]

I can hear where Rush’s were influenced for the music they first produced on their self-titled debut. This could easily have been one of the tracks Rush had as part of their initial recordings. I liked it at the start and then when the ah-ah-aaahhhs came in mid-song that sold it for me as a great rock song for fans to singalong to. Never heard of these guys nor the town you’re all from, but thanks for bringing them to my attention, Brian. Great stuff!

[@96mik]

Check out their live performance at Winterland . It's the full video, with Something Better as a bonus. Impressive live.

[@TheThamesmen]

Thanks

[@steveg297]

"Something Better" is my favorite Chilliwack track!

[@bonstad]

They held their own in Canada and US to the best bands. And they could play live. There are many live versions of this song on youtube.

[@ameshal]

I remember they opened for a US band once and after playing Fly At Night and getting a standing ovation, the main band joked and said that was the last time they would let them open for them!

[@lakelili]

Love it! Thanks for sharing!

[@TheThamesmen]

You are so welcome!

[@helenespaulding7562]

Great Native word. Wonder which tribe? Reminds me of place names in Washington state.

[@BrianR.]

The tribe is the Salish indians, the word derives its name from the Halq'eméylem word “Ts'elxwéyeqw” . Elder Albert Louie, of Yakweakwioose, talked about it meaning 'as going as far as you can go upriver' in reference to travelling by canoe up the Chilliwack River sloughs leading to Soowahlie.

[@OriginalMergatroid]

Another good choice. A staple on Canadian radio.

[@wards718]

Great band ,Awesome tune and great reaction.. Cheers!

[@TheThamesmen]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@mic7504]

The opening of this song always makes me think it's a Niel Diamond song.

[@shadowmage135]

Chilliwack is also a city in Brutish Columbia about 30 miles or 50 kilometers east of my city of Mission .

[@helenespaulding7562]

Beautiful vocals! Beautiful acoustic intro! Never heard of this band. Great suggestion. 😁

[@TheThamesmen]

Thanks so much!

[@ELEcomments]

Check out My Girl, Crazy Talk, Communication Breakdown, and Whatcha Gonna' Do When I'm Gone by them as well if you haven't already. All great songs!

[@williamdemerchant7295]

Chilliwack has quite a few similarities with the band Boston. Songs with good acoustic guitar intros and then they rock it. The lead singer has a choir-like voice that's layered, and they both appropriated the name of their home towns. My favourite Chili-wack 😂 song as well. Thanks guys.

[@BobSoltis1]

Hilarious that people read something on the internet or hear it on KZbin and think it is true. The band was NOT from Chilliwack. None of the members were from Chilliwack. The band was formed in Vancouver, BC.

[@nobodyhere4667]

I grew up watching that "Thames" logo, when I was 4 years old, my mom says I wouldn't go to sleep until I got to watch Benny Hill and that logo ended every show. Say what you like about what that did to my psyche but your intro is forever burnt into my mind. :) - I grew up in Chilliwack, BC but I can't remember the last time I heard to band. You know why Canadian music peters out in the 70's and 80's? That's because talented or connected Canadians go directly to LA/Hollywood/Nashville now, its only a few hours drive away for us. "Canadian Bands" often make the choice to stay in Canada and we often love them for it, see "The Tragically Hip" as the prime example. :)

[@grahamstuart9432]

Is it just me or does every single Canadian rock and roll band have an outstanding drummer? It must be the Maple syrup.

Canada Rockz... were not just hockey + syrup :)

[@hoofhearted1955]

BrianR, nailed it again mate, can't wait for tomorrow, you've set the bar high, thanks.

[@TheThamesmen]

Brian did a great job!! Many thanks for being here.

[@BrianR.]

Thanks for the kind words, glad you're enjoying it.

[@stephaniethurmer5370]

Loving this week so far

[@BrianR.]

Glad you're enjoying it, thanks for watching!

[@2727rogers]

Saw them live in the seventies and they were fantastic.

[@BrianR.]

Same for me, saw them in 1978 and they were just great Live.

[@dondaniels4119]

Ok kids over kill Chillywack? Love the channel,thanks for Fly at Night.

[@martinbourke7753]

Big numbers in Canada week

[@TheThamesmen]

It is not about numbers when doing curated weeks. It is about learning a bit more in depth about a scene or region. Yes more subs and likes encourages us to do more but also prompts the YT algorithm to promote the material more.

[@scifimonkey3]

These guys were totally new to me so many thanks Brian and glad to see that the water is not yet rising from the bottom of the screen. There is no way that cars should have been brown in 70s UK, Allegro’s and Marina’s looked bad enough in white. My maths teacher had a crimson/pink Marina which was the worst looking car I ever saw.

[@BrianR.]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!

[@TheThamesmen]

Omg. Here’s a Brit if I’ve ever met one. My mates mum had an allegro but it was the Vandan Plus so that’s ok.

[@scifimonkey3]

@@TheThamesmen yes the velour would be plush even if it would not go into 2nd and the door didn’t close properly.

[@TheThamesmen]

@@scifimonkey3 not sure if I miss those cars or not!

[@lencooke944]

Brian, I promise that I will get to the song this time, however, I have to address a couple of things before I do. First, Alex, how can you not like purple being from England? Purple is the color of nobility and royalty. You will be all falling all over the color purple in a few months when King Charlie is sworn in; saying how good the next season of The Crown is ... all that stuff. Second, Alex, a Chilliwack is not what we in Australia would call your demonstrative hand gesture of hitting one part of a person's body with different part of your anatomy. Most commonly, we would use the term "Turkey Slap". Or, I could be totally mistaken, and you could be trying out a new version of Rock, Paper, Scissors. Brian, see how The Thamesmen distract me! This is a great song. Really good musical progression throughout and the vocals were perfect for the overall feel. The lyrics struck home for me as well. Living in Australia, I can empathize with the band's experience of flying at night to get to a performance the next day. Few countries are as wide as Canada, but I think most Australians would understand the tyranny of distance that Chilliwack are talking about here. This song had heart, I liked it.

[@TheThamesmen]

Len……purple is death and brown is poo. I must admit it’s not a well thought out idea but there it is. Hope you’re well.

[@wallypeake6579]

I'm in Chilliwack. Sadly, not the band but happily, the city.

[@TheThamesmen]

No way….. hello!

[@BrianR.]

Thanks for watching!

[@wallypeake6579]

If you want to see how great bands age, check out "Bill Henderson of Chilliwack Performs 'Fly at Night'"

[@maruad7577]

The 70s were critical because the effects of the Canadian content rules were beginning to be felt.

[@nodrush80]

Love this song!

[@JeromeDukes]

Brian's 4 for 4. 1 to go. Tough decisions with so many artist and songs to chose from. I'll put my suggestions for my top 5 Canadian bangers tomorrow in consideration for week 3. I agree with Alex, I prefer live performance reactions vs the studio version.

[@BrianR.]

Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed it. Looking forward to seeing your suggestions!

[@TheThamesmen]

Hi Jerome. Thanks for being here cheers A

[@rossmacintosh5652]

In the early 1970's I saw Chilliwack perform in a small town hockey rink concert in Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia, Canada. It was my first concert and I might have been 12 or 13 years old. I remember it was a fantastic experience although I now imagine the acoustics must have been awful. In those days Canadian bands had to tour constantly playing for any audience that would have them.

[@helenespaulding7562]

Alex, left msg on Patreon. How do I reach Chris to do Joni? Unless someone else has hopped in.

[@TheThamesmen]

Hi Helene. I’m on Colorado and G is in Florida. Back Monday!!!

[@w.geoffreyspaulding6588]

@@TheThamesmen OK! Have fun! Love Colorado!

[@hoofhearted1955]

George, the late great Sir Terry Prattchet wrote that the colour of magic is Octarine.

[@TheThamesmen]

Off course. Loved his books

[@hoofhearted1955]

@@TheThamesmen You're obviously a well read man with good tastes.

[@TheThamesmen]

@@hoofhearted1955 exactly!

[@obelisk21]

I know you asked for an early performance of this song but I think what is more impressive is a 75 year old Bill Henderson (The lead vocalist from Chilliwack) performing this song in late 2019 on a show called the "Taylor James Show" with her house band. They brought the vocals down a key to help his aging voice but the performance is still spectacular... kzbin.info/www/bejne/jX29Y4aMgdeYZpY

[@BrianR.]

We considered using a later Live version, but we settled on this. Thanks for watching!

[@fergusb2440]

Chilliwack is a town in British Columbia.,.and there you go. You answered it yourself

[@GAIS414]

Wonder what's next? Neko Case, Gordon Lightfoot, The band?

[@TheThamesmen]

Time will tell!

[@Spinspiel]

Less emphasis on the "Chilli" and as we Canadians like to say Chill-i-wack. It's a Salish (a First Nation) term for peaceful flowing water. They were not from Chilliwack, the city.

[@TheThamesmen]

Ah. Managed to insult the First Nation with my ignorance. Dam

[@donnachatterton1639]

My first car was a ‘Baby Shit Brown’ Holden Gemini. Says it all really.

[@iankearns774]

I also had a green Gemini with a brown roof, my mates called it the peppermint crisp. Just a temporary thing while getting a HQ Panel Van on the road. Got me from A to B for awhile. In regards to the song I dont mind it, will listen to some more of theirs.

[@TheThamesmen]

People are now putting Hemis on Gremis. Hemigremi. Looks like a hot wheel and goes like shit off a stick

[@iankearns774]

@@TheThamesmen That would be a AMC Gremlin I guess. Never saw them in Australia, I think we got the Rambler Matador and Hornet, Hornets were a wild little beast. We had the Holden Toranas that were made here so the Hornet didn't sell that well in comparison.

[@rickfairman5640]

Was looking at going 4 for 4 in matching songs picket. Unfortunately on day four I zigged when the selection committee stay home. Really enjoyed the tune. Hoping to get back on track with the selection committee on day 5😊

[@theread59]

This track is a cracker. One of my Canadian cousins in Saskatchewan put me onto Chilliwack years ago. I just added a link to an old B&W clip of a live performance. It's pretty bloody good. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jXuokoOKpN1pqtE

[@JT.Pilgrim]

We are still in the 70’s. all potheads.

[@TheThamesmen]

💨🔥😚

[@JT.Pilgrim]

@@TheThamesmen we have a song dedicated to our fallen soldiers. It’s called highway of heroes by the Trews. Our fallen soldiers travel 100 miles from the airport to the morgue. Canadians will come to the highway to honour the procession on bridge over bridge and all along the road. It would be so good to see that honour reacted to. I know the UK fought along us as well and we really are family, brothers at arms.

[@mikeschenk4730]

Nothing at all wrong with purple sir, and I am offended you would say so! Or I'm at least disagreeing with you... Another for my classic rock playlist today! Very cool song. Always been a fan of 70s music and Canada seems to have some really great bands I've never heard of from that time.

[@darrellc.symonds9339]

You look like the two ronnies.

[@TheThamesmen]

We aee

[@barrycuda3769]

More proof that Canada actually exists ' I used to like that show with the greek and his boat 'and that Relic fella and his jet boat.

[@Bearbum]

The Beachcombers - a Sunday evening classic 😂

[@barrycuda3769]

@@Bearbum There was another Canadian tv show I remember enjoying in the eighties ' a comedy with no dialogue in which a bumbling fool of a man left a trail of destruction everywhere he went ' I think it was called "The Jerk " or something like that . I've tried to find out what it was and hopefully watch it again ' any Idea ?

[@Nana_Reads]

More likely it was a British show ….. Rowan Atkinson as Mr. Bean ?

[@barrycuda3769]

@@Nana_Reads No , it was Canadian, about 1985 , well before Mr Bean .

[@andreadee1567]

I really enjoy Brians choices and your reactions. I cannot find the english words to describe what I loved about the voice: Kind of expressive without acrobatics. You’ll find better words, for sure. Your complaining about colours was funny, too. With your brown desk in front and some purple above your heads. I agree, brown shouldn’t be a colour. And purple: just be careful not to hurt yourself and the colour loses its horror.

[@TheThamesmen]

Ha ha. True.

[@bobm3434]

The roots???? Started off with a one tooth lumberjack. Mr. McGinnis was his name. Went by AL. One day after the rain, AL and his buddy Bob found an instrument under a baby Oak tree near a Brook. After waring up with some hot coffee they bought from some guy named Tim, they took of their mittens and started to fool around with the newfound instrument. They knew they were working for the weekend, and only wanted To be turned loose. They went to lakeside park, 25th of May I believe and wrote a few songs. Some guy kept saying he felt Hopeless, Neil was his name I think. Next thing he took his 50 mission cap, went to the 20th Meridian and made an album. He was in a Rush he said. AL thought he was a lover boy just out for the action. He was actually just out for the money. Kept telling us what he would do if he had a million dollars.

[@TheThamesmen]

Omg!! Masterpiece

[@rickfairman5640]

Guessingwas oping to hear whipping post at Fillmore east and Mountain Jam I was hoping playerd to have them played for my birthday July 11 not hopefull but wont give up plus light foot many ithers ie Monterey which I thought chris said they were set to go but ??????????????

[@davidstobie2751]

btw ............... try Shadowland

[@danmcv5]

Chill-uh-wack sorry to be that guy

[@TheThamesmen]

No worries. Thanks

[@lenbeedle]

FYI the second "i" is pronounced as the short "I" of which it is. Not a long "e".

[@MARCOSIDJUNE]

🤟🏼🇨🇦🤟🏼

[@williamdemerchant7295]

Pronounced; Chill-uh-wack (A soft e on the second syllable) Although, I must admit, Chili-wack was more entertaining. Btw it was day 4. You two are hopeless, but it's good fun.😂

[@TheThamesmen]

Omg. We are soooo hopeless. Fancy joining the show!!

[@williamdemerchant7295]

@@TheThamesmen"Fancy joining the show!!" Why the exclamation marks. It would seem to be a question.(Can't the English write English 🤔) Isn't it? If so, I am semi-flattered, and perhaps interested in your indecent proposal. I might even be able to come up with some guidance toward helping with a Canada Week #3.

[@iankearns774]

Nothing wrong with brown, my first car was a brown Ford Cortina. I wish I still had it, was a great little car.

[@TheThamesmen]

Omg. Three words that should be uttered. Ford. Brown. Cortina :)

[@iankearns774]

@@TheThamesmen Not the poncey English version. Mine had a 4 .1 litre motor with the 4 speed manual. It used to go alright. But yes it was brown with a tan roof.

[@TheThamesmen]

@@iankearns774 yup we would never get a 4.1 litre!

[@geraldarsenault275]

Prince didn't want to be controlled by the label and wanted complete artist freedom, so he decided to rebel. Under the deal with Warner Bros., Prince's name was trademarked by the company for marketing purposes. So, as a result, in 1993 he changed his name to an unpronounceable symbol. yrs later the dispute was resolved took name back

[@jethro1963]

John Travolta? More like Ron Jeremy.

[@stewarttrickett3033]

Pronounced chill-i-wack, not chill-ee-wack. The second "i" is soft, like the first. It's a native word meaning something like "As far as you can paddle up the river". Or it might mean "Valley of many streams".

[@TheThamesmen]

Either translation is great. Thanks

[@nodrush80]

Are you really making fun of Chilliwack? You come from a country with a town called Cockermouth 🤣

[@TheThamesmen]

Ha ha plus, and I shit you not, Scratchmeknob

[@BrianR.]

@@TheThamesmen 😜

[@cheryla7480]

Pronounced Chilla…wack not Chilly wack.

[@TheThamesmen]

We seem to have a habit of getting it wrong!

[@dondaniels4119]

Right struggle? Get to the meat.

[@brianparsa7794]

We'll give Brian a pass on this one, as the band is from his hometown. Decent song, but let's be honest, Canada has produced much better music than this song.

[@TheThamesmen]

Music is so personal and that is why it is so interesting I reckon. It is so intertwined with who we are if you are like us and have had music playing since the earliest days

[@BrianR.]

By the way, George mentioned having an American muscle car, can we know what model? My favourite is the Pontiac GTO between 1967 and 1969.

[@TheThamesmen]

69 Oldsmobile Cutlass Convertible. Love it. Not the finest muscle car ever but it is mine and paid for!

[@BrianR.]

@@TheThamesmen wow, that's a beautiful car, split grill in the front just like the GTO. You must have a blast with that in California. Muscle cars are a challenge here in my part of Canada, winters are long so it can only be run during summer months. Just a dream for me so far, but who knows, maybe someday.

[@TheThamesmen]

It certainly works well in Southern California though maybe not this winter!

[@BrianR.]

That was a very colourful reaction. Not many people outside of Canada will know this. As for the excess of 70's material this week, I wanted to get this done early on so that future Canada weeks, whether made by me or someone else, can move forward into more modern music. So George nailed it here, I am setting down the foundation. I totally expected Alex's comments on the word Chilliwack but you didn't go far enough in my opinion. Great track though.

[@TheThamesmen]

Brian. Are you saying I’m predicable AND juvenile? If so. Bravo!! You know me well. Cheers A

[@BrianR.]

@@TheThamesmen haha! You said it, not me...