Godfather of Canadian Punk Folk Movement, Toronto’s EUGENE RIPPER Releases “Folk Song 3000″/”Go Van Gogh”; Announces World Tour
Pioneer of the punk rock fast folk movement, Eugene Ripper is back with an electrifying new single “Folk Song 3000” accompanied by the powerful B-side “Go Van Gogh” and a series of shows for 2023. Steeped in the rich heritage of folk music infused with a contemporary twist, these tracks showcase Ripper’s distinctive songwriting and musical prowess.
Ripper’s artistic journey took an inspiring turn after a memorable conversation with legendary New York City-folk artist Dave Van Ronk. Ripper was just beginning his solo career and delving into the craft of songwriting. He looked to create a fresh approach as he experimented with old public-domain folk tunes.
“For me, at the time, this approach was pure creative instinct. So given this opportunity – chatting with an American folk legend in a casual setting, I asked him if this was cool – working material like this… after all, this dude had knocked around Greenwich Village with the likes of Bob Dylan, Pete Seeger, and Woody Guthrie. If anybody would know the score – he would,” says Ripper.
After chatting in the lounge of a folk festival, Van Ronk’s response became a guiding light for Ripper’s artistic journey. With that wisdom from the Greenwich Village legend in mind, Ripper set out on a path as a solo artist. “Folk Song 3000” exemplifies this artistic direction as a genre-blending masterpiece featuring a classic New York trip-hop beat, Americana acoustic guitar licks, and vibrant Latin percussion. The lyrics pay homage to the tradition of folk storytelling while brilliantly updating it to a modern context.
In a touching punk folk tribute to Vincent Van Gogh’s life and artistry, “Go Van Gogh” emerges as a compelling B-side. Inspired during a visit to the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, the song showcases Ripper’s sharp wordplay and distinctive phrasing. The driving drumbeat and bongos, courtesy of alternative rock legend Billy Ficca from the renowned band Television, add an irresistible groove to the track.
Ripper is a trailblazer in Canada’s punk-folk scene. From his early days with Canada’s first-wave surf punk rockers in the band Stark Naked and the Fleshtones to his enduring solo career, Ripper has been a master of blending punk, folk, blues, rockabilly, and rock into a signature musical sound. Celebrated for his poignant songwriting and a unique sound imbued with a DIY punk rock ethos, Ripper’s musical journey has seen him flourish from the Toronto punk scene to the muddy roots of Vancouver and the vibrant anti-folk scene of New York City’s East Village. “Folk Song 3000” and “Go Van Gogh” are a testament to Ripper’s unwavering dedication to crafting innovative and heartfelt music that captivates audiences across generations.
Watch the videos for both songs below and learn more about Eugene Ripper via our mini-interveiw.
Care to introduce yourself?
Hey Hey Everybody! I’m Eugene Ripper, a solo punk folk artist, guitarist, and singer-songwriter shouting out and stumping for my new single and fall tour that launches in Toronto on Sept 23 – one that will take me across Canada and into Germany, France, Austria, England, and Scotland. Â
Tell us about the process of writing and recording “Folk Song 3000” and “Go Van Gogh” and why you’ve thought of releasing as a double A-side?Â
“Folk Song 3000” is the prime track – freshly minted in studio sessions with “mix maestro” Laurence Currie at Cedar Hollow Studios. The overall goal was to create a contemporary post-punk folk track with a twist – a wee genre-bender. I tapped some vintage NYC trip-hop beats spiced with an Americana guitar lick and time quaked some classic dark folk ballad themes into a modern POV. And all this, wrapped around a vocal track that endeavoured to walk the line between subtle melody and clear storytelling – happy with the result!
“Go Van Gogh” is a track that also has some NYC threads in the weave with Billy Ficca from the band Television driving the beat on drums and hand percussion. So with that additional NYC connection plus another strong narrative stance, it seemed like a good pairing – and for sure, it also presents some of the pure punk energy in my overall approach.
Releasing songs in a single format – it’s a good question. I reckon mostly it’s a response to the digital era we live in. With the massive loads of information flying around in our pop cultural lives, it seems reasonable to simplify the creative offering and respect the precious commodity of a listener’s time while hopefully providing a focused opportunity to engage with the material with a path to dig into more if they like it.
What’s it like being a musician in Toronto?
Like any major international city – it’s got the ol’ give and take. So many creative opportunities and so much great music being created – and of course all the awesome musicians on the scene and plenty of live venues. All in, combined with the overarching cultural ecosystem – it’s got everything. The biggest challenge for me is navigating that same sprawling geography. My creative perps tend to be spread out all over the region these days – so it’s harder to connect…person to person…in a causal way and benefit from the natural ebb and flow encounters happening in the proverbial day-to-day groove. I find it to be a missing link sometimes in big city life. My experiences have been that good creative stuff clicks and sticks within that dynamic – so I miss that.
Who was the first and most recent Canadian artist to blow you away?
The first was Joe Keithley from DOA. I did shows with them with my first band Stark Naked and The Fleshtones) back way back in 1980. That version of DOA was so electrifying, powerful, entertaining, AND totally committed to the work, the grind, and the self-reliant socially aware DIY punk ethos. And Joe remains that way – still to this day.  The most recent proper mind blow was when touring Europe and doing some gigs with Eamon McGrath – for many of those same reasons. Eamon has a massive core of pure talent and then lays it down with a remarkable work ethic and all the rest. Both these guys, from different generations are rock and roll machines and proper road warriors – very inspiring stuff.Â
You’ve been making music for a while now, what’s one piece of advice you can offer to those starting out?
Look sharp, don’t forget to breathe and always try to hit the stage like it’s the last chance you’ll ever have to do it again.
Eugene Ripper Tour Dates:
Sept 23 – Toronto, ON – Imperial
Sept 29 – Calgary, AB – Palomino
Sept 30 – Edmonton, AB – Black Dog (afternoon)
Sept 30 – Edmonton, AB – Blakbar (evening)
Oct 13 – Montreal, QC – Bar Fly
Oct 14 – Knowlton, QC – Thirsty Boot
Oct 21 – Mahone Bay, NS – Betty’s
Oct 26 – Halifax, NS – Gus’ Pub
Oct 28 – Edinburgh, UK – Voodoo Rooms
Oct 31 – Burghausen, DE – Mathida
Nov 01 – Salzburg, AT – Whisky Museum
Nov 03 – Lyon, FR – Kraspek Myzik
Nov 04 – Freiburg, DE – Rock Club Eimer
Nov 08 – Nuremberg, DE – KV
Nov 09 – Munich, DE – Kooks
Nov 10 – Leipzig, DE- Frau Graus
Nov 11 – Karschule, DE- Scruffy’s
Nov 12 – Berlin, DE- KollectivBar
Nov 14 – Glasgow, UK – Bloc
Nov 15 – Inverness, UK – Market Bar
Nov 16 – Inverness, UK – Market Bar
Nov 18 – York, UK – 45 Cafe
Nov 19 – Hull, UK – Adelphi
Nov 21 – Edinburgh, UK – Sneaky Petes
Nov 23 – Leeds, UK – The Grove
Nov 24 – Darwen, UK – Number 35 LIVE
Nov 25 – Warmington, UK – The Cheshire
Nov 30 – Vancouver, BC – Fox Cabaret