YouTube Channel Profile Series: 1968vanderploeg's Channel & Electric Church

Here is this month's YouTube Channel Profile as we're continuing our monthly spotlight of 1-3 randomly selected YouTube channels whose content is at least half devoted to local metal, hard rock, and/or punk concerts, and this time, I have drawn two channels due to the first randomly selected channel only having two distinct kinds of videos and five total, with a second channel only having one video period being added to fill things out. These reflect two talented local bands from almost a decade apart, and there's a lot of good stuff to see despite the low video counts, so here's what you should know!

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1968vanderploeg's Channel (http://youtube.com/1968vanderploeg)

Owner: Former Browbeat frontman Randy "Dutch" Vanderploeg, also known from his stints as a bassist with Caveman Morrison and a guitarist with Nikkfitt, and more recently as a vlogger with the YouTube channel Randy's Rides

Channel Timeline: Launched on March 12th, 2012; Videos uploaded that day and on May 15th of that year

Channel Summary: A personal use channel, Dutch only ended up posting five videos here, all posthumous uploads of original songs by his local hard rock band Browbeat, who had disbanded in April 2011.
 
Why You Should Watch: Given the propensity for Dutch to take down band accounts after Browbeat's lineup & name changes (and ultimately, their dissolution), this is the most official extant source to check out Browbeat's original repertoire, and consider doing so, as they were an entertaining hard rock band who deserved more attention in their heyday! However, none of Dutch's work with Nikkfitt or other projects made this channel, let alone with their more familiar earlier lineups. If you want to see live concert videos of Browbeat (also known as Social Play for one gig), then our YouTube channel has some early 2010s examples.

 Our Recommended Videos To Check Out:

 

Skeletons.: Four of Dutch's videos are of a circa early 2011 jam session for Browbeat's final lineup, with him on vocals & guitar alongside current Dealing Without bassist James White and Bear Hunters drummer Johnny Belanger (both were also bandmates in Caveman Morrison's last lineup and in the original version of Handsome Sandwich). The four videos are of Browbeat playing their original songs "Movin' On",  "Days Gone By", their signature song "The Sound You Need", and in their most popular video, "Skeletons". Dutch even briefly explains the songs' meanings in the descriptions of each video! "Skeletons proper is a fun song with great bass work, and all of these songs have potential that I wish was realized on an album, especially as Dutch's singing is sort of buried in the mix throughout.

 

 

Brighter Day: The last video on the channel (and only one that is just an audio recording) is for Browbeat's song "Brighter Day", as set to a photo of this lineup live at the former Roosevelt Hotel. While the song proper is slower and more melodic, it may be the optimal way to actually hear the band, as Dutch's vocals are perfectly audible! I like them heavier, but it's nice to hear this in such good quality, and hopefully Dutch is doing well nowadays!

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Electric Church (http://youtube.com/channel/UCynMgYZTnjE35rj0_7w9UnA)

Owner: A member of 2016-2018 local blues/hard rock trio Electric Church, exact identity unclear

Channel Timeline: Launched on January 31st, 2018; Only video posted that  day

Channel Summary: The official YouTube channel for Electric Church, just a single video was posted there before the band fell inactive by mid-2018, namely of them playing their original song "Muddy Water" at Odeno at Sault College in September 2017 during the college's reunion festivities. Featuring singer/guitarist Spencer Pine, bassist Elijah Nielsen, and since-relocated drummer Beau Whitfield, this video is well framed and showcases their solid genre base & talent levels nicely, and it's a shame that Electric Church didn't last longer in some form! More live concert videos from their run are extant online, including this 25 minute video from Shaw TV.

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I hope you guys liked this month's YouTube Channel Profile! This series will return on or around November 26th when we look at just one randomly selected channel, but it's a doozy, as I have drawn YouTube user greetingsbychris' channel, featuring over 700 videos, primarily of major local concert fgootage! Watch for this next month, and stay tuned for much more on the site this week! Thanks everyone!