It seems the rock and roll gods are looking out for us after all. Canada’s own Rich Hope delivers Live At The ANZA Club, a raw and electrifying testament to the power of a band at full throttle. Out November 21, 2025 via Planned Obsolescence Recording & Novelty Inc., the record follows the release of two singles – “It Come Alive” (Sept. 19) and “Looking For Lewis And Clark” (Oct. 17) – that set the stage for a release steeped in sweat, soul, and the reckless joy of live performance.
“I have always been at my best live, and we wanted to capture what this version of the band is doing,” Rich explains. “Since we didn’t have the luxury of extended touring and recording every show, we decided on finding the best venue and taking two nights to capture lightning in a bottle. The ANZA is a venue where I played some of my first shows in a neighbourhood where I lived for many years, so I feel a personal connection to the club.”
Recorded over two sold-out nights in April at Vancouver’s beloved ANZA Club, the album showcases Hope and his powerhouse band – Leon Power and Erik Nielsen (City and Colour), Scott Smith on electric and pedal steel guitars, and Darryl Havers on keyboards – with production handled by Nielsen and the legendary Howard Redekopp (Tegan and Sara, The New Pornographers).
The setlist spans Hope’s career, from early John Ford days (“3 Minute Song”) to his solo staples (“Whip It On Ya,” “The Ballad of Black Eyed Suzy,” “Can’t Get No Lovin’”), all culminating in a searing take on The Long Ryders’ “Looking For Lewis And Clark.”
As Gordie Johnson of Big Sugar puts it:
“Some would call Rich’s original compositions ‘roots’ music but these live performances are the full green branches laden with blues, country, punk rock and soul. The audience devoured the fruit that night. Hearing this record makes us wish we were there.”
Live At The ANZA Club isn’t just a live record – it’s a reminder of what makes Rich Hope one of Canada’s most potent live performers. From his Edmonton beginnings in the Taxicrabs to sharing stages with The Black Crowes, The Flamin’ Groovies, and the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Hope has built a reputation for shows that are loose, joyful, and just dangerous enough to make you feel alive.
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“I’m just the same guy playing music that I have always been,” he says. “I don’t know if I have undergone any real musical evolution. I have always loved playing live and putting on a show with my friends. So I guess that doing this live album is where I am in the evolutionary process. My main goal was to capture something like Jerry Lee Lewis’s Live At The Star Club – loose, reckless and joyful.”
Get the album here
What first got you into music?
I was always musical and I played piano as a young kid and later guitar. But I also loved sports and running around and I did a lot more of that and I became disinterested in it. But when I was 16, my Dad offered to buy me an electric guitar and amp and I picked it up again and never looked back.
Who inspired you to make music?
Anything I heard that was good, really. My earliest influences were Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Bob Dylan, Springsteen. Later, the Stones, etc.. The first time I heard The Clash, I think I felt like I was going to do this one day.
How would you describe the music that you typically create?
Rock’n’roll. Its all the things. Blues, country, rockabilly, garage rock…. rock’n’roll. After 50+ years of the genre, I usually just tell people to listen to and decide…
How do you handle the pressures of performance, and have your strategies evolved over time?
I don’t really feel pressure when I perform, it’s completely natural to me. Doesn’t matter the time or place, or whether I am headlining or opening. If I have been inactive for a while, I’d say I can get a bit anxious in the weeks leading up to a show, but the antidote to that is to have a rehearsal or two. As soon as the band is doing our thing again, it all falls into place.
What is your creative process like?
I don’t force the process overall. I do like to write out mental garbage first thing in the morning on a consistent basis. I find it keeps things flowing and song ideas will visit me. When they do, it is important to at least get the riff or melody recorded. I’ll work on it from there, either alone or with a co-writer. The idea can come anytime, but eventually, the work has to be done to flesh it out.
What would you be doing right now if it weren’t for your music career?
I am a barber. I would probably be doing that.
Do you enjoy recording and production?
I enjoy it somewhat. I like the excitement of recording new songs but I like playing live better. This live album was really fun to do. I just had to be myself and let the rest happen.
Where was your current project recorded?
The live album was recorded in a little hall in Mount Pleasant, Vancouver, called the ANZA Club. I have 30 years of history either living or working in the area, so it’s a special place for me.
What would you do if you had to work but didn’t need the money?
Haha – this.
What’s your favorite sports team and why?
The Edmonton Oilers Hockey Club. I was born and raised there, so I am a dyed-in-the-wool fan.
Are you a cat or dog person?
Dog
Would you rather be the one in a movie who gets the hero/heroine or the baddie with all the good lines?
I AM the baddie with the good lines.
What’s your least favourite personality trait you like about yourself?
I am kind.
What makes you nostalgic?
Music. Certain songs or records can have that effect.
If you could ask your future self-one question, what would it be?
Did you get it done?
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