The Vanrays  - Member Bios

Spencer fronted the alt-country band Swank for over two decades. Through music, he has made great friends and has been fortunate enough to have toured with them on both sides of the pond. He has written songs for film and tv and has now turned his attention back to the rhythm and blues and gospel-tinged soul music that informed his youth. His love of greats like Otis Redding and Marvin Gaye and the lush, large, and layered arrangements of the Stax Records’ sound have him writing songs and working with his friends once again on a new garage soul project… The Vanrays.

Brian started his musical journey playing guitar in cover bands in the wilds of Manitoba. Since moving to BC in 1989, he’s spent time in Vancouver groups like The Circus in Flames and Rodney Decroo’s Wise Blood. He’s also devoted considerable time and energy to the fine arts of recording and mixing, working with diverse acts such as The Beige, The Authorities, Scott McLeod’s Big Top, and (naturally) The Vanrays. He’s pleased that his brand of six-string wankery - aided by guitar pedals manufactured by East Van’s own Union Tube and Transistor - has found a comfortable home with The Vanrays.

Phil Addington has been part of Vancouver’s music scene since 1980, cutting his teeth at the infamous Smilin’ Buddha Cabaret with the punk band Insex before forming the Proto-goth band Family Plot and the cowpunk outfit Swank. He also founded Bonerattle Music, supplying the city’s musicians for the last 16 years. Phil has played bass with notable Vancouver acts such as Bughouse 5, Doug Andrew & Circus In Flames, Rodney Decroo, and Steve Taylor’sDrum Boogie. The Vanrays are the newest and most exciting project in his career yet!

Andrew has been playing guitar in bands since the 80s and still remembers the chords to “Take on me.” Since then, he did a turn in Swank, and is now delighted to be reunited with Phil and Spencer in the Vanrays. Fun fact, Andrew went to university with Eric Lowe at CFUV, The University of Victoria’s radio station.

When Eric was deciding what instrument to play in Grade 6 band, his older siblings talked him into trying the drums, and it was love at first beat. Those same siblings also introduced Eric to an eclectic playlist of jazz, disco, new wave, rock, funk, and soul, which instilled in him a deep love of groove, feel and pocket, a love that has served him well with The Vanrays. Over the years, Eric has gone on to anchor the beat for dozens of bands in Victoria and Vancouver, including pop-rock darlings 64 Funnycars, synth-poppers Automatic Shock, glam superstar Polly, and cowpunk legends Swank. When he is not playing the drums, Eric likes to... ah who are we kidding, he's always playing the drums.

Gordon has been bashing on keys in garage bands since his band was allowed to open for the main act at a Grade 7 dance. His love of soul music is reverse engineered from his days as a young Mod, listening to rough-edged British musicians crashing their way through soul classics until he worked his way back to Otis and Booker T, where the magic began. Side 4 of the Quadrophenea soundtrack was the turning point. In recent years, Gord has been a part of The Beladeans and BigTop and even played some keys for Swank before Spencer approached him about starting a soul band (he said yes, of course). His day job as a film and television editor comes in handy for putting together The Vanrays’ music videos.

Melissa is a musical jack of all trades. A band geek that never let the dream die. She has played a variety of instruments in multiple genres, including sax with The Vanrays. Notable past acts include The Beladeans and The Manipulators. What she lacks in formal musical training, she (hopefully) makes up for in self-made stage attire. Melissa is also the graphic designer of much of The Vanrays artwork, posters and covers. 

Jose started playing the trumpet in Grade 8 and, by age 16, travelled to Germany and England to play with a youth marching band. Always in demand, Jose plays with groups from diverse musical genres such as brass bands, salsa and mariachi, Indian wedding, and classical orchestra groups. Still, out of all the groups he's played in, The Vanrays is what he considers his cool band! Jose loves to see crowds dancing and would not trade that for anything!