Date: May 2, 2008
Venue: St. Stephen-in-the-Fields Church

I’ve got to admit, I wasn’t around in time to become a fan of The Inbreds before they called it quits (by “wasn’t around” I mean the band formed when I was 10 years old). That said, I’ve since grown very fond of their output–especially 1998’s Winning Hearts—so getting the chance to see the duos principle songwriter, Mike O’Neill, play live last week was an opportunity I jumped on.

In town as part of the largely unadvertised Over The Top Festival, the revered Halifax tunesmith was joined by Charles Austin on guitar—an indie stalwart in his own right—and drummer Hampton Kelly. Together they make up The Beginners, and this was their first Toronto appearance. Of course, they weren’t alone, as fellow East-coaster Laura Peek came along to start things off.

It’s obvious that Laura Peek’s also a big Inbreds fan, as her backing band is named The Winning Hearts (good choice, if you ask me…). Unfortunately however, she was alone at the keys last Friday, which was explained by joking that she could only afford one plane ticket from Halifax to Toronto. It was this sort of self-deprecating charm that won listeners over between melodic tunes on the keyboard.

Afterwards things went immediately from charming and low-key to spirited and bombastic, as Will Currie and the Country French took to the stage church. Gleefully blistering through one pop-tastic track after another, to rampant cheers from unseen faces in the balcony, these Toronto/Waterloo kids made an excellent case for their debut album, A Great Stage.

By the time The Beginners got going St. Stephens had filled up quite a bit. Playing mostly tunes off O’Neill’s two stellar solo albums, the trio displayed amicable chemistry—a trait that was hammered home when O’Neill proclaimed that Austin and Kelly were also his closest friends. All told, the entire affair was positive, upbeat and friendly from start to finish, with audience members yelling out terms of endearment and an obviously invigorated O’Neill seeming to enjoy every minute.

I suppose it was this jovial sense of familiarity that saved the encore, as it became clear that O’Neill was out of material. He floundered, plunking around on a guitar for about 10 minutes, repeating “I don’t know any more songs,” until Hayden (who wandered in at some point) suggested the band simply play the best one over again, which is exactly what they did. Any other musician at any other show would likely have been lambasted for such a display, but somehow O’Neill’s awkwardness was charming, and only served to endear him further to those in attendance.

Overall, the most refreshing thing about last Friday night was that there was nothing pretentious or exclusive about the show at all. Whether that was a testament to the bands involved, the unorthodox venue itself, or those in attendance is unclear, but I’m not going to analyze it to death—I’ll just hope for more like it instead!

—

Here are some photos I took at the dimly light show as well as a couple of tracks from Mike O’Neill’s excellent solo album, The Owl:

Mike O’Neill - Mr. Carvery

Mike O’Neill - She Believes in Me

You can grab the whole album, along with the entire Inbreds discography, at Zunior.com. As for the Beginners, check out there Myspace page for more info and look forward to an album later this year on the Zunior Label.

Date: May 1, 2008
Venue: The Phoenix

Don’t take your SLR camera to the Phoenix.

That was the first thing I learned upon showing up to check out The Constantines on Thursday night. Basically, I was told that a compact point-and-shoot would have been fine, but I couldn’t bring a “professional looking” camera into the venue. This is the same thing that happened to me at the Danforth Music Hall last year when I went to see Iron and Wine—my girlfriend was actually allowed through with a 7 megapixel compact Panasonic, but our Nikon D80 scared them. No one’s been able to adequately explain the reasons for this so far, as I think it’s a bit lame. In any case, I wasn’t getting in with a scary SLR, so I compromised by leaving the battery with security.

As it turns out, not having a working camera with me was a bit of a blessing. On the one hand, it means I’ve got no shots from the show to post, but on the other I didn’t have to worry about being front and centre snapping pics. I was able to just relax and enjoy the excellent live display that I paid good money to see.

Showing up in time for Attack in Black to do their thing, I was admittedly under-informed about the Welland, Ontario band. That said, it was easy to see right from the get go that their driven and spirited rock was a good match for the Constantines.

Attack in Black - Hunger of the Young

Of course, while Attack in Black evoked the things I like about the Constantines, it took mere seconds of watching the headliners to exemplify why I would be so eager to see them live in the first place. Raucous, confident and loud, the Cons delivered a solid set with some truly excellent moments. Not the least of which being an explosive rendition of “Seven A.M.” during the encore (all the more impressive seeing as I usually don’t care much for Steve Lambke’s vocals).

By the time everyone’s fists were pumping to AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck,” the final song of the evening, it was obvious that Bry Webb’s pipes were a little worse for wear. I suppose there’s only so much high-volume gritt one set of vocal chords can handle.

Given my inability to take any pictures during the show I was instead able to pay close attention to the set list. In retrospect it’s a bit of an odd collection if you consider the omission of certain Cons classics (like “Young Offenders” or “On to You”), not to mention an unfortunate disregard for Shine a Light in general (in fact, “Young Lions” was the only track played from that album). Here’s the set list as I heard it (feel free to offer corrections):

01. Hotline Operator
02. Working Full-Time
03. Lizaveta
04. Hard Feelings
05. Young Lions
06. Million Star Hotel
07. Little Instruments
08. Shower of Stones
09. Time Can Be Overcome
10. Thieves
11. Soon Enough
12. Trans Canada
13. Justice
14. Arizona
15. Do What You Can Do

Encore:

16. Hyacinth Blues
17. Seven A.M.
18. Thunderstruck

Chart posted an interestingly skewed synopsis of this show the other day titled “Constantines Don’t Experience Much Love For Kensington” (check it out for some more detail on Attack in Black). I have to wonder if we attended the same concert, as not only does the article’s title seem more than a bit embellished, but the author also went as far as to say:

“Another dinosaur band trait the headliners exhibited was to largely ignore their current album in favour of their more popular tracks.”

This seems a bit unfair to me, given that a quick glance at the above set list shows that their latest release, Kensington Heights, was well represented. In fact, the amount of tracks played from each of their 4 respective full-lengths was as follows: Kensington Heights - 6, Tournament of Hearts - 5, Constantines - 5, Shine a Light - 1. Go figure.

The Constantines - Seven A.M.

Date: April 26, 2008
Venue: Lee’s Palace

Between the TTC strike (Toronto’s publc transit system, for those of you not in the area) and sheer laziness on my part, I almost didn’t go see Miracle Fortress and Born Ruffians on the weekend. Thankfully I came to my senses by early Saturday evening and hopped my lethargic butt on the ol’ bicycle. A quick bit of cross-town pedaling later and I arrived just in time for Miracle Fortress to set up and get going.

Upon arrival I was slightly puzzled to find that there weren’t nearly as many people there that a sold out show would suggest (a by-product of the transit strike, perhaps?). That’s not to say the place was empty, but seeing as how much press Miracle Fortress received last year for their excellent debut album, the Polaris Prize-nominated Five Roses, I was expecting more of a crowd. Turns out I was in the minority by assuming that the Montreal band would hold more of a draw than the Born Ruffians. That became very clear when Lee’s Palace quickly filled to the brim with rambunctious youngsters just in time for the much-hyped Toronto band.

As for the reason I’d bought the tickets in the first place, Miracle Fortress, they were all smiles throughout the fairly short set. Sure, the vocals were a bit muddy and the stage lights were set to supernova (two issues that were corrected during the Born Ruffians’ set), but it was every bit worth the $10 price of admission (and the cycle across town) to hear the band deliver the lush and colourful melodies so prevalent on Five Roses.

Accenting their performance with interesting percussion via the likes of woodblocks and small cymbals, not to mention graciously accepting a pitcher of water from audience members in the front row (who History Jen tells me were the members of Ruby Coast), Miracle Fortress seemed to be enjoying every note they played. In fact, amicable stage presence seemed to be the theme of the evening, as both bands repeatedly thanked the others on the bill (there were 3—I missed Slim Twig’s early set).

Miracle Fortress - Have You Seen in Your Dreams

Miracle Fortress - Next Train

To be honest, I wasn’t really holding my breath for Born Ruffians to get on stage, as their debut full-length, Red Yellow Blue, only had a handful of tracks that really got my attention. That said, a couple songs in to the young band’s set and I too was believing the hype. The sheer energy, chemistry and ability exhibited by these guys on stage Saturday night was both infectious and impressive.

Meeting standouts from Red Yellow Blue with raucous enthusiasm, the audience reciprocated the ferocious intensity with which the band delivered their entire set. The Born Ruffians have a clear choke-hold on upbeat and addictive indie pop, and I’ve got to admit that their tendency to include fierce gang vocals had me shouting along. What can I say? In this humble concert-goer’s opinion the Born Ruffians just plain ol’ rocked the house.

All told, I was able to take in a must-see band on my hit list, gain a newfound appreciation for an outfit heralded by hip city kids AND get some much-needed exercise to boot!

Born Ruffians - I Need a Life

—

Hear more from both bands at each of their Myspace pages (here and here) or buy digital copies of both Five Roses and Red, Yellow Blue from Zunior.com.

Date: April 12, 2008
Venue: The Silver Dollar

Where were you guys last Saturday night?

Seriously, not nearly enough people came out to see the stellar pairing of The Burning Hell and Wax Mannequin at the Silver Dollar on the weekend.

Sure, I’ve already made my bias towards these two acts quite obvious over the past few months, but let me up the ante with the following: both The Burning Hell and Wax Mannequin are easily in my top 3 bands to see live at the moment, a shortlist completed by The Sunparlour Players.

To be honest, that’s pretty much all I need to say about the show last weekend, as it was simply more evidence of the fact that these are two excellent acts that more people ought to be checking out. Add to that the impassioned and raucous opening set delivered by the one-man sonic-army that is Kettle Black (whose set had all the performers captivated) and I can’t think of a better way to spend $8.

Actually, the Silver Dollar itself has made a great impression on me as well lately, as it’s an excellent place to see some live music. Not to mention that the brightly coloured stage makes it a very fun place for an amateur like myself to attempt some concert photography.

Celebrating the re-stocking of their debut release, Tick Tock, The Burning Hell were as amicable and amusing as ever. It would appear that their recent stint out west has only served to solidify the band’s already enviable chemistry, as these guys keep getting better and better.

The Burning Hell - Little Seagull

As for Wax Mannequin, this was my first opportunity to see him perform solo. Of course, taking to the stage alone is nothing new to the veteran songwriter. In fact, with his commanding stage presence the Hamiltonian phenom could probably have read greeting cards all night and kept me enthralled. I suppose it helps that intensity and conviction radiate from his demeanor as evidently as roses grow from his skin. All told it’s a treat to see Wax Mannequin perform in any capacity.

Wax Mannequin - Tell the Doctor

—

Check out both The Burning Hell and Wax Mannequin’s Myspace pages to hear more, or support them by grabbing digital copies of their albums at Zunior.com.

Date: April 10, 2008
Venue: The Horseshoe

My apartment was undergoing some much-needed maintenance last week (no more frozen pipes!), so I was marooned at my folks’ place in Pickering. Fortunately I was able to steal a car and drive down to the Horseshoe on Thursday in time for the Hilotrons‘ CD release.

Unfortunately things were uncharacteristically on-time at the Horseshoe, so those of us (ie, me) banking on the show being behind schedule ended up missing Andy Swan completely, which is a shame, as I heard he did a bang up job. That said, I was front and centre for the Hilotrons, who were celebrating the release of Happymatic, their latest full-length (and very enjoyable album, I might add–read the review here).

All told the Ottawa band delivered an admirable and upbeat set that garnered high praise from those in attendance (Rolf from the Acorn looked particularly captivated), but it’s too bad more people weren’t dancing, as the tunes on display were a perfect fit for some booty shakin’. Personally, I was most impressed by lead-singer Mike Dubue’s pipes, as it’s obvious that he’s a very capable vocalist. Of course, the whole evening was just an excuse for me to hear “Lovesuit” live (I just can’t get enough of that damn song).

Hilotrons - Lovesuit

The event was capped off with a performance by The Sunparlour Players, a band whose show at the Dakota earlier this year instantly earned these guys a must-see recommendation. What more can I say aside from the fact that they are, in my humble opinion, one of the best live acts going.

Putting the average multi-instrumentalist to shame, these 3 guys each play a myriad of instruments—most often at the same time—and deliver performances imbued with such passion and balls-to-the-wall intensity that it’s no wonder the Horseshoe filled up in time for their set. Backed up by occasional appearances from both a choir and a horn section, The Sunparlour Players delivered powerful renditions of cuts from their excellent debut, Hymns for the Happy, as well as some fiery new material (not to mention a fan-favourite cover of “Thunderstruck”).

I suppose people towards the back of the venue might not share my enthusiasm, as the band performs primarily while seated (they all play kick drums and various other foot-centric instruments), but for those of us in the front row it really doesn’t get much better.

Incidentally, the entire Sunparlour set—including all the jokes about between-song tuning (there were many) and drunken screams from a crazy woman in the front (there were also many of those)—was recorded by CBC Radio 2 and will be broadcast on May 14.

The Sunparlour Players - If the Creeks Don’t Rise (I’ve mentioned this before, but the Hilotrons do an excellent cover of this track, as detailed here)

The Sunparlour Players - The Detroit River is Alive!

—

Check out more tunes at the Myspace pages for the Hilotrons and Sunparlour Players, or grab digital copies of both their albums from Zunior.

Date: April 4, 2008
Venue: Rancho Relaxo

Getting off my butt to see a Megan Hamilton show had been a long time coming. I mean, I was introduced to her music last year and she even became the first (and thus far only) artist to be featured in a WHK spotlight (more on the way…I promise). Seeing the Toronto songstress live was the next logical step and this past Friday night at Rancho Relaxo provided the perfect opportunity.

Kicking off a number of spring dates dubbed the Steel Lion Burning Train Tour, Hamilton was joined by her Familiar Music label-mate, Deromantic (Steve Puchalski and friends), who warmed up the stage prior to her set. Admittedly, I hadn’t really paid much attention to Deromantic’s self-titled debut album when it came out last year, so I wasn’t really sure what to expect. All told the band delivered impassioned roots-rock that had more than a few listeners tapping their boots. Personally, I drooled over the guitars being played (Les Paul and Telecaster…two signature axes that my wallet will never have room for!) and decided that I really ought to give Deromantic another listen.

Deromantic - Drunk & 35

As for Megan Hamilton herself, I was not disappointed. Backed by a stellar band—called the Volunteer Canola and featuring Puchalski himself on keys—her particular brand of haunting but occasionally explosive folk was bolstered by ethereal backup vocals and impressive guitar solos (not to mention the use of an Ebow).

This inaugural show bodes well for the rest of tour, so if you like your rock rootsy and your folk ghostly then peruse the rest of the dates here and get on board the Steel Lion Burning Train.

Megan Hamilton - Detroit

—

Check out their respective Myspace pages to hear more: Megan Hamilton, Deromantic. Otherwise you can grab digital copies of both Megan Hamilton’s releases and Deromantic’s debut from Zunior.

Those of you who have been reading this blog from the beginning (ie. July 2007), might have noticed that my concert listings seem to get smaller each month. In fact, back in the early days I used to post a list of all the shows of interest, regardless of whether or not I was going. While clean and simple, I ultimately found this course a bit redundant given the nearly complete listings found at places like Rotate This and Soundscapes. These days I’m taking a more personal approach and only mentioning shows that I have some hopes of getting to (barring outside commitments, as always).

Of course, I’m a guy who prefers a smaller, more intimate venue, so hopefully some of the shows mentioned might not be the ones you’ll see given high billing elsewhere. For instance, I’m going to do my damnedest to get out to see Megan Hamilton at Rancho Relaxo on April 4 (see her spotlight here), though I’d highly recommend Sandro Perri at the Tranzac on the same evening for those of you looking for an alternative.

Things really heat up in the middle of April though, as a few of my favourite live acts are making stops in Hogtown. The Sunparlour Players, a band that everyone should see at least once (as per my previous live review, here), are playing the Horseshoe on April 10 with Andy Swan as part of the Hilotrons CD release (for Happymatic, out April 1 on Kelp Records). Entire Cities are also celebrating an album release next month—April 11 at the King & Niagara Legion Hall to be exact—and I really owe them a nod after my shoddy coverage from one of The Burning Hell’s shows earlier this year. Speak of the devil (pun-intended), as two WHK favourites, The Burning Hell and Wax Mannequin, are teaming up at the Silver Dollar on April 12.

That said, one of the bigger shows I’m thinking of checking out this month is at the Horseshoe on April 18, as The Coast is celebrating the release of Expatriate (also out April 1, but on Aporia Records), their highly-anticipated debut full-length. Of course, it helps to entice me that both The Wooden Sky and Ghost Is Dancing will be opening that night. All told though, the “biggest” show I’ve got tickets for in April has to be the Born Ruffians and Miracle Fortress at Lee’s Palace on April 26.

There you have it, my month in a nutshell. Of course, I’m being a bit optimistic, as I doubt I’ll get off my ass to see all of these shows, but this is my ideal hit list.

—

Here’s an excellent track from The Ghost Is Dancing’s self-titled debut EP:

The Ghost Is Dancing - People

Grab a digital copy of the whole EP here (not to mention their subsequent full-length).

…and yes, those are my shakers pictured above (they were a gift from one of my grandmother’s many tropical cruises).

Date: March 16, 2008
Venue: Mitzi’s Sister

Gotta love Sunday matinée concerts. I mean, not only did it give me another chance to see Al Tuck after missing the Halifax songwriter at the Tranzac last week, but I was also able to eat some great food as I watched—not to mention get home early for a good night’s sleep.

As you can probably tell, it was a relaxed atmosphere at Mitzi’s Sister last Sunday afternoon when Al Tuck took to the stage. My friends and I were digging in to some fantastic Irish Poutine (lamb stew and cheese on french fries…mmm mmm!), little kids huddled excitedly around the stage, and a venerable East Coast troubadour regaled us all with well-crafted folk ditties—it doesn’t get much better than that in my book.

Of course, it didn’t take inventive dishes and happy children to make this an enjoyable show, as Tuck’s soothing demeanor could likely stay the worries of doomed passengers on a sinking ship. Equipped with banter that is at once shy, self-deprecating, and disarming, the veteran songwriter lead us through two lengthy sets of material from his large repertoire. He only stopped short when one particular song’s “gloom factor was a little too high” —a gauge that became a running gag throughout the performance, as Tuck did his best to keep the mood light.

A gentle giant who is soft spoken and reserved, but immensely gifted in the ways of tuneful storytelling, Tuck is an underrated talent. Check him out if you get the chance and drop a couple bucks in the can.

—

Above are some pictures I took at the show and below is a standout track from Al Tuck’s latest release, My Blues Away:

Al Tuck - Brother from Another Mother

Hear more at Al Tuck’s Myspace page or buy digital copies of all his albums here.

Date: March 8, 2008
Venue: Criminal Records

Finally, the last of my CMW posts is here! Next year I’ll definitely condense things a little more. That said, even though I’ve already discussed both The Superfantastics and Dog Day in previous entries, it’d be a shame to neglect this stacked and snowy Saturday evening in-store lineup at Criminal Records.

Kicking off in admirable fashion, Calm Down It’s Monday started the festivities. I’d never heard of them prior to learning about this show, but I was pleasantly surprised to learn that CDIM is the latest vehicle for Julie Doiron (on drums) and Dick Morello (on guitar—the pair would switch places when it came time for Doiron’s set). All told, Morello came across as a clear veteran performer/songwriter (he and Doiron were also affiliated with Shotgun & Jaybird), while Doiron was infectiously content to bang away on the skins.

The bright pink drum kit itself belonged to Steph d’Entremont of the Superfantastics (given to her by an ex-boyfriend, no less), and she put it to good use during their set following CDIM. Exhibiting the same amicable stage presence that was front and centre during their show at the Cameron House a few days prior, Steph and guitarist Matt MacDonald entertained the snow weary record store crowd (Toronto got dumped on that night) to admirable affect. Moreover, seeing these guys live for the second time cemented the notion that these two are an act I’ll try to catch whenever they’re in town.

The Superfantastics - Tonight Tonite

Up Next was Julie Doiron and, while I’d seen her years prior in support of Gord Downie, I’ve always wanted to catch the Sackville songstress in a more intimate space. Granted, an in-store doesn’t necessarily provide the best ambiance, but it turned out that the amicable and relaxed—not to mention bright—atmosphere was an excellent place to hear Doiron deliver some of her fragile and endearing tunes.

If you ask me, Julie Doiron is Canadian indie rock royalty. From Eric’s Trip to an array of fantastic solo albums, not to mention numerous collaborations, Doiron has had a hand in creating some excellent music over the years. As such I was thrilled to catch her perform in such a small space (I was 3 feet away).

Endearingly flighty and almost seeming excited to the point of distraction between songs, Doiron didn’t disappoint when it came to delivering delicate and impassioned takes on her tunes. It was hilarious to watch her giggle in awe when one of the symbols kept reverberating in perfect pitch with the note she was about to sing. Though the most inspired portion of the performance was undoubtedly the interweaving of “The Wrong Guy” and “No More” (both cuts from her latest release, the highly-recommendable Woke Myself Up).

Julie Doiron - No More

Dog Day Rounded off what Doiron herself described as a “wonderful East Coast slam,” and even the other performers seemed jazzed to see the Halifax outfit cut loose (Steph of The Superfantastics was up front with her video camera) . Strangely enough, there must have been something in the air at Criminal Records, as the band seemed much more comfortable than a few nights prior at the Horseshoe. Of course, with the strong tunes of their latest album, Night Group, under their belt (such as the previously featured “Oh Dead Life” ) it’s a wonder these guys (and gals) aren’t tearing things up in cocksure fashion. Though I suppose humility is always a likable trait in such a talented band.

—

That’s it—my first CMW is done! Of course, NXNE isn’t very far away, so I’ll have to start charging up the ol’ camera batteries.

Date: March 7, 2008
Venue: The Horseshoe

After catching the first half of the Weewerk showcase last Friday night (as described in yesterday’s post) my friends and I trudged through the slush filled downtown streets to the good ol’ Horseshoe Tavern for a late-night performance by Hey Rosetta!

We arrived to find the venue absolutely packed. In fact, it looked as though those without passes or wristbands weren’t getting in anytime soon. Danko Jones was on just prior to Hey Rosetta! and, while I didn’t even know they still existed, it seemed that a lot of people had built their evening around the Toronto cock-rock outfit (who spent a decent portion of their set complaining about not being able to get signed, and proceeding to blame everyone and everything but their own un-evolving sound). Personally, if I’m in the mood for something loud and fist-pumping I’ll stick with C’mon…but I digress.

Thankfully, smokers are a predictable lot and their collective need for a cigarette between sets allowed my friends and I to get closer to the stage prior to Hey Rosetta! starting up. Being a fan of Plan Your Escape, the Newfoundland band’s debut, I was looking forward to seeing how it translated live. Of course, judging by the youthful and boisterous crowd blocking my camera’s view I wasn’t the only one excited about the show.

Bridging the gap between pop and indie (both of which being fairly arbitrary terms these days anyway), Hey Rosetta! present themselves as a band who could achieve top 40 success without so much as breaking a sweat. That said, their song structures are often more complex than your average radio fair. Think the pop sensibilities of Two Hours Traffic with the malleable compositions of a band like the Rheostatics. This translated perfectly live, as the band delivered the sort of energetic set that bolsters the listeners overall perception of their recorded output.

With a new full-length on the way, Hey Rosetta! are definitely poised for big things this year.

In conjunction with catching the band live last week I was also given the opportunity to ask lead-singer, Tim Baker, a few questions. I’ve pretty much copied and pasted his responses below:

First off, let’s get the elephant out of the room: at the Horseshoe you mentioned a new album coming out in the Spring. Can you share any more details on it yet?

“Sure…I’m sitting in the mixing studio in north Montreal with Matt DeMatteo mixing it right now…he’s working on the drumsound for a tune called ‘Blackheart’…the mixes are coming along. It kicks when it needs to and it languishes when it needs to. There are 12 songs. It should be all done May/June.”

It’s also been reported that Hawksley Workman is producing the upcoming record. Is this true?

“That is true. I just spoke with him earlier to update him on the mixing process…right now he’s in my hometown St. John’s playing to a crowd at Holy Heart of Mary high school auditorium. Lucky.

PS, he’s great.”

I enjoy EPs. In fact, I’ve said it a million times on this blog that I always prefer a band who puts out a strong and focused release, no matter how short, over a bloated album that seems to meander in order to hit a double digit track listing. That said, what was the decision process behind cutting Plan Your Escape down from a full-length (as it was initially released) to an EP?

“I guess it was our label, Sonic Records, that really wanted us to cut it down (though it still runs at about 40 minutes or something) ’cause they wanted something well, like you say, strong and focused, but also something we could sell for cheap and get across Canada so people might be excited about this next release. We agonized only a little over chopping some songs…and the ones that didn’t make the cut are available on our b-sides page on our website (www.heyrosetta.com/besides). Only you need a secret code from the package of the new ep to access them. Tricky ol’ management smartypantses. I really like the idea of a b-sides page though…I’m gonna upload some new stuff when I get home.”

Coming from such strong success in your home province of Newfoundland and Labrador, how have you been received by the rest of Canada? Is there any place that you feel has been particularly welcoming?

“We are received always warmly and well…it used to be that the closer we were to home the more people tended to show up…although now we’ve been touring around for a bit and its not really the case anymore…I cant wait to get back out west…cant wait cant wait.”

Seeing as I’ve never been to Newfoundland and am unfamiliar with the music scene there, can you suggest any other bands that I might want to check out?

“Yeah…Mark Bragg is a maniac genius……our old drummer’s band The Human Soundtrack are pretty sweet too. I’m sure there are others…but I haven’t been out and about at home for awhile…in fact, I haven’t been home in a while.”

I’ve got to geek-out for a second: at the Horseshoe I saw you playing a Fender Squier guitar. As someone who salivates at the thought of owning a Telecaster or a Gibson Les Paul, can you please tell me that something like the comparatively inexpensive Squier will do just fine?

“Well, I love my Squier, (though mostly cause its got a nice Seymour Duncan pickup on the bridge) but i don’t know much about guitars…I’d actually get another if I had any cash. Sorry to burst your bubble. It’s the perfect sound for certain tunes though, absolutely. I play it through a blues junior on bust and it sings and wails beautifully. Pretty cheap setup. Pretty cheap guy. Ha.”

Tough one, but what’s your favourite album of all time?

“Tough is right. Of all time…Paul Simon’s Shining Like a National Guitar (cheap, as its a greatest hits…), Wilco’s A Ghost is Born (a little forlorn though…not for every mood), maybe Vince Guaraldi’s Charlie Brown’s Christmas (what could possibly be wrong with that?).”

Finally, what are you guys listening to these days?

“Unfortunately a lot of my own music…in the mixing room here…ugggg…let’s see…well I can’t answer for ‘us’ really…that would be really really eclectic. Sufjan Stevens, Wintersleep, Band of Horses, Miles Davis, Chad Vangaalen, The Dears, George Gershwin…bah…lots.”

—

There you have it, folks—expect a new album in the spring. In the meantime, here’s my favourite track from Plan Your Escape:

Hey Rosetta! - Another Pilot

Check out the band’s Myspace page to hear more or grab a digital copy of Plan Your Escape here (it also comes with the code to access the aforementioned b-sides area).