FIVE QUESTIONS WITH CACTUS VELLA OF TORONTO'S PLAN 37
Plan 37 performs at Save Toronto Music Venues (STMV) 5TH Anniversary Show November 22nd at Bovine Sex Club.
Posted By Ben Rispin
Plan 37 join School Damage, Smoking In Bed, and Jerkoff Diary in performing at Save Toronto Music Venues (STMV) 5TH Anniversary November 22nd at Bovine Sex Club.
LISTEN TO PLAN 37:
11/17/2024 - Cactus Vella has been a staple in the Canadian punk rock scene since the early ’90s, bringing his energy to bands like Bombshelter, 2 Pump Louie, Sinkin' Ships, The Class Assassins, Plan 37, and Public Mess. Outside of performing, he's a creative force behind Anxiety Attack Recordings, his digital label, and is an accomplished graphic designer with his venture, Anxiety Attack Designs. Known for visually capturing punk's DIY spirit, Cactus remains at the heart of the scene, constantly creating, collaborating, and pushing boundaries. Plan 37, which went on a quiet hiatus seven years ago without any final show, recently decided to get back on stage one more time. And here they are—gearing up for another gig and reminding us that in punk rock, the future’s always got a surprise or two.
We can't thank Cactus enough for taking the time to join us for this edition of Five Questions With...
PLAN 37 BIO:
Shawn, Jon, Cactus, and Cindy live in Toronto, ON Canada and play punk music. They like hiking, hovercrafts, and old reruns of Airwolf and The Fall Guy.
FIVE QUESTIONS WITH CACTUS VELLA OF TORONTO'S PLAN 37
WHICH MEMBER OF THE BAND ARE WE TALKING TO?
I’m Cactus Vella, lead guitarist for Plan 37. Shoutout to the rest of Plan 37; Cindy, Shawn and Jon. I’m also the singer/guitarist in Public Mess.
WHEN AND WHERE DID YOUR LOVE OF MUSIC FORM?
That definitely came from my parents. My dad had Johnny Cash and The Rolling Stones on repeat, and we must have watched the Stompin’ Tom live Horseshoe broadcast from CBC a thousand times. He also strummed his guitar now and then, and as a kid, I’d watch in awe, like he was conjuring magic. Meanwhile, my mom had the oldies radio going nonstop in the kitchen.
WHAT WAS THE FIRST CONCERT YOU WENT TO?
When I was 8, my dad took me to see Johnny Cash at the CNE in Toronto. When Cash stepped on stage, it was like thunder hit. Life-changing? Absolutely. You don’t watch Johnny Cash as a kid without coming out a little different. Some kids leave concerts with a T-shirt; I walked out with a new definition of cool... and the need to get my hands on a guitar. Thanks, Dad.
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST “BIG SHOW”? OR YOUR FIRST SHOW EVER?
My first "big show"? That has to be back in '94 with a little punk band I was in called Rejected. We’d been asked by local legends Hockey Teeth to open for their record release show at the El Mocambo. We finished soundcheck and slipped out to the alley to kill some time, maybe have a drink or two. When we were finally called back inside to hit the stage, the place had filled up. 500 people packed in. Seeing that crowd was surreal for a bunch of high schoolers. We’d never played to a crowd that big, and it was electric.
WHAT WAS YOUR WORST SHOW OR FUNNIEST SHOW MEMORY?
There are so many to choose from, but a couple stand out. Playing with Sinkin' Ships one night in Vaughan, we were set up in a Legion Hall with about six power bars and extension cords all plugged into a single ungrounded socket. I was holding my guitar with one hand, and when I went to move my mic stand, I got stuck in a live current. It was absolutely terrifying.
Then there’s the time in Hamilton when I wiped out running across a highway and ended up breaking my hand right before our set. I went on to play the entire 40-minute show with a broken freakin hand. Brutal pain, but hey, sometimes the show really does go on!
WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOUR BAND?
Right now, with Plan 37, we’re taking it day by day. We actually stopped playing about seven years ago and didn’t make a big deal about it—we just kind of stopped. Recently, though, we decided to get back on stage for one more gig. It's been a blast getting together every week to rehearse, and we’re having a lot of fun rediscovering our sound. Who knows what the future holds? We've already gotten a few other show offers, which is very cool, and we’ve even started working on a new song. So, maybe there’s something more in store for us, but we'll see how this upcoming gig goes first!
Plan 37 join School Damage, Smoking In Bed, and Jerkoff Diary in performing at Save Toronto Music Venues (STMV) 5TH Anniversary November 22nd at Bovine Sex Club.
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