Fresh Breath of Mint - Fall 2007 - Canada

a tribute to nardwuar! nardwuar versus nirvana! a carolyn mark tour story! immaculate machine comics! growing up mulligan! we ask 5 questions! dear shane! a mint contest! amigos cantina! mix tapes! recipes! dvd reviews! more!

photo Š William R. Jans www.wrjphoto.com

NO ONE WILL KNOW The Mint debut out nowh

“A rather lovable BC band, whose synth-kissed jangle-pop mash notes ooze with acid-tongued suggestion when you read between the pretty-penned lines.” (Eye Weekly) “Boasting classic boy/girl harmonies combined with insatiable hooks, bella will leave you humming their infectious melodies for days afterwards.” (NME)

www.bellamusic.org www.myspace.com/bella

free! vol. 3, no. 3 fall ’07 06 07 08 11 17 19 25 36 38 39 41 44 45 47 48 51 52 54 56 58 59 60 62

Wow, It’s Our Masthead!

Letters!

Contest: Dress up Nardwuar!!!

Nardwuar versus Nirvana!

Dear Shane!

30 Musicians Answer 5 Questions!

Tribute to Nardwuar!

Contest Details: Dress up Nardwuar!!!

Bella mixtapes!

Growing Up Mulligan!

Andrew Pearson Interviews Nardwuar!

Saskatoon’s Amigo’s Cantina!

A Grant Lawrence Amigo’s Story!

A Carolyn Mark Tour Diary!

Carolyn Mark Recipes!

Edmonton’s Listen Records!

Indie Retailers Map – Canada!

Indie Retailers Map – USA! A Select Mint Records Discography in Colour!

An Immaculate Machine Comic!

Happy Bats DVD Reviews!

A Mint Discography!

Chet by Elaine Corden!

THAT MAGAZINE FROM MINT RECORDS • www.mintrecs.com

Cover: Nardwuar the Human Serviette Photo © William R. Jans www.wrjphoto.com Above: Immaculate Machine (left to right: Brooke, Luke, and Kathryn) outside Vancouver BC’s Red Cat Records at the Fables listening party Photo by Shena Yoshida

M

int Records Inc. is a small indie record label based out of Vancouver, Canada. Since 1991, we’ve put our more than 110 releases by such bands and artists as The Organ, Novillero, The Choir Practice, Carolyn Mark, Neko Case, The New Pornographers, The Awkward Stage, The Evaporators, Immaculate Machine, cub, The Smugglers, P:ano, Duplex!, Young and Sexy, I Am Spoonbender, Corn Sisters, The Buttless Chaps, Huevos Rancheros, Ramblin’ Ambassadors, John Guliak, Atomic 7, Bella, and others!

Mint Records releases are distributed like so: USA: NAIL Distribution www.naildistribution.com Canada: Outside Music www.outside-music.com and Scratch Distribution www.scratchrecords.com.

Benelux: Sonic Rendezvous www.sonicrendezvous.com UK: Shellshock www.shellshock.co.uk Germany: Broken Silence www.brokensilence.biz New Zealand: Global Routes www.globalroutes.co.nz Also, be sure to check out iTunes Music Store and Zunior.com where more and more Mint titles are being added all the time!

FRESH BREATH OF MINT Summer 2007

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free! vol. 3, no. 3 (aka issue #7) fall ’07

CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE: Andrew Pearson (Nardwuar interview Andrew is a part time bon vivant and man about town. Co-founder of Vancouver's Red Cat Records, he fondly remembers buying the first Mint Records 7"... and still thinks that Tankhog rules.

its hosts is presently-dormant Mint Records band The Smugglers’ lead singer and hip shaker, Grant Lawrence. CBC Radio 3 producer Chris Kelly also moonlights as a member of the new Mint Records signee, The Choir Practice.

The Awkward Stage (Dear Shane column) – Mint Records recording artist from Vancouver www.myspace.com/theawkwardstageband Available Mint items: Heaven is for Easy Girls CD Double A-Side Series Volume 1 split-7” b/w Young and Sexy Youth was a war. Youth crushed me. All I could do was play music and goof off to cope. The Awkward Stage came to me in the silence that occurred during the third dunk of my head into the jr. high toilet.

Don't get me wrong, I did my share of dunking too.

Which is far more shameful to me. They are honest pop songs. They are pleasant and accessible yet manage to interest and surprise. You may not like every thing I will do, but I promise it will always come from the right place. Sincerely, Shane Nelken (The Awkward Stage)

The Choir Practice (Choir Practice Horrorscopes) – Vancouver BC www.myspace.com/thechoirpractice Naughty choir castoffs get together to reclaim their rightful place in the cutthroat and fickle genre that is choral singing. Against all odds, this band of misfits rises to fame amongst their peers. It’s a real Sin-derella story....

Available Mint item: The Choir Practice CD

Bella (mix tape) – Mint Records recording artist from Vancouver www.bellamusic.org No One Will Know CD (brand new, just released!)

Carolyn Mark (tour diary, mix tape, recipe) – Mint Records recording artist from Victoria Raised by St. Bernards in the Okanagan Valley, Carolyn Mark was 'discovered' sleeping in the back of Jewel's car in the early nineties. She has toured so much in the past two years, she passed her own self the other day. Though not really a team player, Miss Mark is pleased to be associated with the Mint Records Empire.

Available Mint items: Nothing Is Free CD Just Married: An Album of Duets CD The Pros and Cons of Collaboration CD Terrible Hostess CD Tribute to Soundtrack to Robert Altman’s to Nashville compilation CD Party Girl CD CBC Radio 3 (Dear Shane column) – Vancouver BC www.cbcradio3.com CBC Radio 3 is a satellite radio station on Sirius 94, broadcasting primarily Canadian independent music 24/7. It’s also a website and a podcast, and among

Mint Records Inc. PO Box 3613, Vancouver, BC Canada V6B 3Y6 www.mintrecs.com www.myspace.com/mintrecords zine inquiries: Shena Yoshida shena@mintrecs.com biz: Kevin Beesley kbh@mintrecs.com licensing: Bill Baker bill@mintrecs.com retail promotions/distro: Dave Gowans dave@mintrecs.com

Elaine Corden (The Back Page article) has been documenting Vancouver's independent music and arts scene for nearly 10 years, in large and small publications across North America. If you're nice and she thinks yer cute, she'll make you a mix tape of all she's learned. elaine_corden@shaw.ca.

Immaculate Machine (comics) – Mint Records recording artist from Victoria, of which Brooke Gallupe is a member, along with Kathryn Calder and Luke Kozlowski. Catch Immaculate Machine on tour this summer!

Brooke started drawing during long, boring drives while he is on tour with Immaculate Machine. He is not very good at it yet, but it is cute to measure his progress. He is inspired generally by the silly things people do.

Available Mint items: Fables CD/LP Les Uns Mais Pas Les Autres CD-EP Ones and Zeros CD Nardwuar the Human Serviette (Nirvana interview – lead singer of the Evaporators and also punk rock journalist!

Available Mint items: Gassy Jack and Other Tales CD/LP coming Oct. 18th Welcome to My Castle DVD coming Oct. 18th Nardwuar vs. Bev Davies 2007 Punk Rock Calendar Doot Doola Doot Doo... Doot Doo! DVD The Evaporators Ripple Rock CD TheTyee.ca (Kate Mullligan’s article, Elaine Corden’s article)– Visit TheTyee.ca for indendent and influential journalism that covers everything from politics to pole dancing, climate change to film critique. And have your say on all of it.

Fresh Breath of Mint is published at least three times a year by Mint Records Inc. We welcome feedback and submissions. Please email shena@mintrecs.com The views expressed in Fresh Breath of Mint are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of Mint Records Inc. © Mint Records Inc. 2007 Made with 30% recycled paper and produced with sawmill waste. No chlorine is used in the paper making process. The pulp is produced with a steam process, thermal mechanical pulp process.

We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage (Canada Music Fund).

Nous reconnaissons l’aide financière du gouvernement du Canada par l’entremise du Fonds de la musique du Canada.

publicity: Yvette Ray yvette@mintrecs.com

6 Fall 2007 FRESH BREATH OF MINT

www.mintrecs.com • THAT MAGAZINE FROM MINT RECORDS

LETTERS!

EVERY FRIDAY

3:30-5:00 PM PST 4:30-6:00 PM MST 5:30-7:00 PM CST 6:30-8:00 PM EST 7:30-9:00 PM AST

This 'Mintern' Ship Would Sail Hiya Minty folks, RE. "My Day As A Mint Intern." (Vol. 6): How could this Andrew dude have seen his day in your offices as anything less than a privilege? Frankly, I'm mystified about how blasé he seemed.

Let's recap: Drinks with the amazing Carolyn Mark? Packing up copies of the wonderful new Immaculate Machine album Fables with love so they can be sent out into the world to good, caring homes? Preparing promo materials, each with a potential to make another new Mint convert? Meeting the movers and shakers of one of Canada's coolest indie labels?

What's not to love about all of that?

But no, he moans about his hangover, and blithely mentions coming in very, very late. He admits to incorrectly applying stickers (with no hint of remorse), and likens the work he was given to "a day at the World Paint Drying Championships" and "time-consuming, brain-numbing yet necessary Joe jobs." He even considered sneaking out early and faking the rest of his article! What, did he think they'd let him steer the boat? Why accept the internship post at all if you're clearly not going to try?

The old saying goes that if you're doing something you love, you'll never work a day in your life. Obviously, Andrew needs to stay with whatever it is he actually does (it's never stated, although there are vague references to writing for a living - I wonder if he works harder at that). Personally, I'd love to try my hand at being a 'Mintern.' What an opportunity! I already love the bands on Mint, have been treated very well by the folks there on the occasions I'm in contact with them, and being even a small part of getting all of that great music out there wouldn't seem like work to me at all.

To each their own, I know. But if I lived in the same city as the Mint offices, I'd be on their front step, a stack of my resumés at hand, ready for the chance. Sounds like a great day at the office to me.

Long Live Mint!

Aaron of the KMA www.keepsmealive.com

We’d like to hear what you think!

Write us a letter! Email shena@mintrecs.com

LISTEN ONLINE! www.citr.ca RADIO SHOW!

www.nardwuar.com

Mint Records’ US distribution by

www.naildistribution.com

Do the Mint Twist!

A Mint Records promotional sampler

illustration by Mark Atomos Pilon www.cycloptic.com

songs by: Bella • Immaculate Machine • The Choir Practice Carolyn Mark • cub • The Evaporators The Awkward Stage • Novillero plus Friends of Mint: The Pack, Vancougar, Vincat

“delightful and uplifting” (Rocksound UK) “immaculate, hook-laden pop” (Pitchfork)

I

t was January 4, 1994 and Nirvana had just played at the PNE Forum in Vancouver, BC Canada. Nardwuar the Human Serviette was waiting with hopes of getting backstage after speaking with David Grohl the night before. Just as security was about to remove him by force, Courtney Love spotted him, giving him a backstage pass and pulling him through the door to an experience he wouldn’t soon forget. When asked how he felt about the encounter, Nardwuar responded with, (add distortion)“AHHHHHHHHH!!!!” So now, here it is, the fully transcibed interview....

Nardwuar: So, Kurt, um, I waited outside, how was the Toronto show, how did that go, ’cause I was in Toronto at that time, when you played at Maple Leaf Gardens.

Krist Novoselic: (with dressing room towel babushka’d over his head) Don’t say that I’m making any kind of ethnic stereotypes. I am not making any stereotypes because they’re not PC. Nardwuar: Do you remember that show at all Kurt?

Kurt Cobain: No. Nardwuar: Maple Leaf Gardens in November.

Kurt: Umm... that was ummm...

Courtney Love: I remember that, with the little back stage.

Kurt: It was a nice temperature ’cause I think it was an ice hockey rink.

Nardwuar: Yeah, it was Maple Leaf Gardens and, um, I waited outside, you know, for a couple of hours afterwards... waiting for you guys to leave. How did

you eventually leave?

Kurt: By limousine and cop escort.

Nardwuar: Did you leave pretty early? ’Cause like they brought out, you know, the prop, the prop out. And you know, I kept — I kept on waiting and waiting and then I saw a little mini-van pull out and I thought a guy hopped over the back seat. Was that you? Like did you wait like two hours or did, like did I wait for nothing ’cause you’d already left?

Courtney: We left right away. Bam-bam.

We did.

Kurt: I just remember leaving... pretty much right after the show. Within about 20 minutes or so. I met one of the guys from The Kids in the Hall, Scott. He’s a nice person.

Krist: That’s right! We were mingling with famous people. They’d never talk to hacks like you. Fuck no! They’re on TV every night.

Kurt: Unless you, of course, push your way in.

THAT MAGAZINE FROM MINT RECORDS • www.mintrecs.com

Krist: On Comedy Central, and on the Canadian TV and they know Lorne Michaels. We — I got to meet Lorne Michaels and Don Pardo and everybody.

Because we’re famous people.

Nardwuar: During the 1960s Kurt, there was a big punk scene as you realize, in the Northwest. You know, the the Sonics, the Wailers, the– Kurt: I hate the Sonics. They’re stupid.

Courtney: No they’re not.

Nardwuar: The... the Bootmen.

Kurt: Um-hmm.

Nardwuar: The Wailers and all those other bands. And I was reading, that umm... your good friend, Jesse Reed, his dad played in a surf band that released a surf record?

Kurt: That’s true.

Courtney: [laughs] Isn’t that weird that hehow do you know that? Where did you read that?

Kurt: What were they called? It was called “The Bagpiper.”

FRESH BREATH OF MINT Summer 2007

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Nardwuar: What was the name of their– Courtney: Where did you read that?

Nardwuar: Uhh... Come As You Are. Kurt: What was the name of their band?

Krist: The Beachcombers.

Kurt: The Beachcombers, yeah.

Courtney: Come As You Are? What do you mean, Come As You Are? The book?

Nardwuar: Yeah.

Courtney: Oh, Michael Azerrad.

Kurt: Ummm.

Courtney: He’s obsessed with Jesse Reed.

Nardwuar: ’Cause the The Beachcombers... were they pretty cool? I thought, like I love those ’60s wailing frat garage bands of the Northwest.

Kurt: No, they didn’t, have much taste.

Courtney: Wasn’t he a born again?

Kurt: It was pretty generic. He’s a born again now.

Courtney: Didn’t he kick you out of the house?

Kurt: Yes, he did. He tried to revive me for a while.

Nardwuar: He also said in that book that your Uncle Chuck was in a garage band too, and he released records... or did he release anything?

Kurt: No. Courtney: His Aunt Mary put out records.

Nardwuar: Really?

Kurt: She put out a single.

She financed it herself. She’s a country and western born again Christian. And my Uncle Chuck was in a, uh, couple of bar bands, you know, they just played covers like Creedence Clearwater.

He had a Lucite drum set, and he was left handed, and he wasn’t very good.

Courtney: Was that Chuck with the red hair?

Kurt: Um-hmm.

Courtney: Was that the Chuck that’s gay?

Kurt: No. Courtney: Oh. Is that the one that we go... went to Christmas? That one, Chuck? The nice one.

Kurt: Right.

Courtney: With the son that has, your cousin who has the other band.

Kurt: Although he went to jail one time for, um, exposing himself.

Courtney: Green, from Bellevue. That’s his cousin’s band.

Nardwuar: Did you first meet Courtney, and this is Courtney Love, did you... I’ve heard, because we’re here in Canada.

Vancouver, BC, Canada. I heard a rumour, I think I might have read it in Interview Magazine, that Kurt and Courtney met at a DKurt: [cough] [cough] [cough]...[coughcough, cough] [cough] Courtney: Stop! That’s rude.

Nardwuar: Aaa... Did you first meet at a

D.O.A. gig? In Portland, Oregon?

Kurt: Um-hmm. [Kurt slyly flips off Nardwuar while holding pizza slice] Courtney: [Laughs] Nardwuar: So there is really a Canadian connection then.

Kurt: Wasn’t it No Means No?... It was one of our shows!

Courtney: D.O.A. Kurt: It was our show.... It was my show. I played with D.O.A. a couple of times. I don’t remember where.

Nardwuar: But was that... was... a Canadian connection, a Canadian band has something to do with Kurt and Courtney?

Kurt: Like, yes. I don’t, honestly I don’t remember which show it was.

Courtney: I was too drunk.

Kurt: Me too.

Nardwuar: Do you remember your first time in Canada at all, Kurt?

Kurt: No... I might have been a small child.

I visited some gardens. We went across on a ferry, in Vancouver.

Nardwuar: Butchart Gardens?

“

riot grrl person. She’s like 15.

Nardwuar: Now Krist here, Krist, come over here for a minute. This is Chris of the rock and roll band, Nirvana.

Krist: Hi. Nardwuar: Now, Chris, you worked earlier on in your life at Taco Bell.

Krist: Um-hmm.

Nardwuar: Do you realize there are no Taco Bells in Canada?

Krist: Good for you.

Nardwuar: Actually, at least in BC. Krist: ’Cause there’s no Mexicans in Canada.

Nardwuar: Actually, there’s one in Alberta, there’s some in Alberta.

Krist: That’s right.

Nardwuar: So, do you think that’s contributed at all to the growth of bands in B.C. that we do not have a Taco Bell? Is this a good or a bad thing?

Krist: I don’t know man. Canada can be ethnically diverse, which is beautiful, part of the... thing ’n stuff, but judging, uh...

Nardwuar: Actually you look like a Doukhobor when you put that thing on. [referring to towel on Krist’s head] Krist: Doukhobor are awesome, man. They’re awesome!

Nardwuar: They’re anarchists.

Krist: Are there still Doukhobor around?

Nardwuar: Yeah, there are.

Krist: Yeah, um, I’m really into the Doukhobor.... They used to run around naked and, um, they were from Russia, right?

Nardwuar: Yup. Krist: And they had their anarchist colony. How did they go under? I forgot.

Nardwuar: I think there was some riots and stuff. They’re still going strong. And they, they were– Krist: I am the next Doukhobor messiah.

See, you can tell by the way I spit food out and by the way it’s caught in my... mouth.

Nardwuar: And they’re from Canada, too.

Another Canadian connection. On umm, page 226, of Come As You Are, Michael Azerrad quotes Canadian rockers, Sloan.

Kurt: I don’t know who they are Krist: If I was your dad, I’d...

Courtney: Jackie’s boyfriend. Jackie Ferry, remember.

Krist: If I was your dad, I’d whoop your ass!

Courtney: Remember the guy, the Sloan band. They were on our label. They’re called the Sloan band.

Kurt: Oh yeah.

Courtney: They’re from, umm, Halifax.

Nardwuar: And they’re quoted in your book. Are there any mistakes in, the Come As You Are book?

Kurt: I don’t know.

Nardwuar: ’Cause I noticed on page 226,

I am the next Doukhobor messiah. See, you can tell by the way I spit food out and by the way it’s caught in my... mouth.

–Krist Novaselic–

12 Fall 2007 FRESH BREATH OF MINT

”

Kurt: Right. I was a small child.

Nardwuar: That’s actually where No Means No are from.

Kurt: Umm. Courtney: Victoria.

Nardwuar: And the Neos, a legendary speed band.

Kurt: Um-hmm.

Nardwuar: And if it wasn’t for the Neos– Courtney: Our nanny’s from Victoria.

Nardwuar: Yeah, that’s what I was going to say. You have a Canadian nanny, another Canadian connection.

Courtney: We like Canada, B.C. We don’t like the rest of it so much.

Nardwuar: What is her name? What Is your nanny’s name?

Courtney: His name’s, uhh, Mike.

Nardwuar: And his, uh, does he have a girlfriend?

Courtney: Jessica, yeah.

Nardwuar: I think she might have been, she might be from Vancouver too, right?

Courtney: No, she’s from Minneapolis. She has that fanzine, uhh, you know that fanzine that’s called Hit It or Quit It. She’s a

www.mintrecs.com • THAT MAGAZINE FROM MINT RECORDS

Tuesday January 4, 1994 PNE Forum, Vancouver, BC, Canada

in reference to the Deep Six comp, “Except for the art-rock, U-men, all mix varying amounts of punk, 70’s style hard rock, and proletarian and heavy-metal into a crude but effective musical mongrel.” The U-men, art rock?

Kurt: I’d say so, yeah Nardwuar: I thought they were cool punk rock, sort of cool ’60s sort of garage Sonic-y.

Courtney: Birthday Party.

Kurt: Punk, all art punk. Birthday Party, Scratch Acid....

Courtney: Birthday Party was art rock.

Kurt: Did you ever see them live?

Nardwuar: No I didn’t. I did buy the Step On a Bug, no, the, “Dig it baby, dig it baby, dig it.” single.

Kurt: That was after the fact. That was years after they’d been a band and playing around Seattle for a really long time. I would...I would classify them as art rock, Classic art rock.

Nardwuar: I knew they were cool, actually when I saw Tom Price, a picture of him when he played at the Commodore.

When he backed up the Cramps. He had tape over one of his guitar knobs.

Courtney: Yeah, I thought they were cool when I saw one of them walking down an alley and I thought he was cute.

Nardwuar: And also– Kurt: He played a Mustang. He was one of the first people I ever saw play a Mustang Courtney: They were wearing trench coats.

There were two of them. Me and Kat [Bjelland, of Babes In Toyland] were like, we should move here. That guy’s cute.

Kurt: They were cute.

Courtney: Yeah, they were like cute guys.

And.. kinda cool. That’s good for a scene. I think you’re desperately trying to start a scene. Is that the deal?

Nardwuar: No, I just— Courtney: You want a scene so bad your going to make one. You’re just going to close your eyes ‘till you get one. Is that it?

Nardwuar: On page 190– Courtney: You have an inferiority complex about this scene here. I don’t think you should.

Nardwuar: No! I’m not! I’m just saying,

THAT MAGAZINE FROM MINT RECORDS • www.mintrecs.com

on page 190... on page 190, the “Teen Spirit,” in brackets, video, shot for a modest $33,000?

Courtney: I don’t believe that.

Kurt: I don’t know.

Nardwuar: That’s what it says in the book. Just trying to find errors here with Kurt and Courtney.

Kurt: I haven’t read the book. I, I’ve skimmed through it a few times but I’ve never read it from front to back.

Nardwuar: And on page 154, the last of our analyzation, thank you Kurt and Courtney, on page 154, the book says, “the heavy, Bonhamesque drumming that Nirvana requires”?

Kurt: Yeah... sure.

Nardwuar: You know the drummer (actually bassist Chris Freeman) from Pansy Division is from Aberdeen, Kurt?

Kurt: No... I didn’t know that.

Nardwuar: You know, “Smells Like Queer Spirit”?

Kurt: Yeah... I had no idea.

Nardwuar: Have any other bands come from Aberdeen?

FRESH BREATH OF MINT Summer 2007

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Kurt: The Melvins and Metal Church.

Nardwuar: What are the thrift shops there like?

Kurt: Um, they’re not that great. People didn’t have very good taste... in the ’60s and ’70s. You know usually that’s the kind of stuff I that I look for. No lava lamps, no cool patterned shirts or anything.

Nardwuar: Did you ever see any Farfisa mini-compact organs?... With like that quivering vibrato. I’m really desperately looking for one of those.

Kurt: I don’t know. Maybe not in Aberdeen.

Nardwuar: Wasn’t there also surfing in Aberdeen, like at Westport?

Kurt: Hmm.. I don’t know, I’ve never gone in the ocean.

Nardwuar: Because apparently it has some– Kurt: I don’t even want to go in the ocean there.

Courtney: Didn’t you dig for clams?

Kurt: I dug for clams a few times, yes.

Courtney: That’s going in the ocean. That’s the same thing.

Nardwuar: I know you’re going to like this, Courtney, but I also read in Mix Magazine. Sorry, Mix Magazine– Courtney: Wow! You get around! He reads more magazines than me.

Nardwuar: Well not really.

We get a free subscription at CiTR radio. And this is for CiTR radio.

Courtney: Well I buy most of the magazines I read.

Nardwuar: OK, $5.95 for Mix Magazine, and it said, Butch Vig was talking about the Nirvana Nevermind album, and he said he sampled some guitar riffs. Is this true? I couldn’t believe it.

Kurt: Sampled? Guitar riffs?

Courtney: Yeah, Andy Wallace does that.

He has like a little Macintosh and he’s got a couple like snare sounds and guitar sounds.

Kurt: Sampling guitar riffs? I don’t think so.

Courtney: No, not riffs, sounds.

Kurt: He...I think Andy Wallace sampled a few different sounds for the drums. To make them sound better, according to him.

Nardwuar: What’s the idea behind putting a lot, behind, you know, putting a lot of mics on a drum? I know you say you don’t really like the Sonics totally, but I really love that sort of like one guitar– Kurt: I, I have to admit their, yeah the Sonics recorded very, very cheaply on a two track you know, and they just used one, one microphone over the drums and, and they got the most amazing drum sound I’ve ever heard. Still to this day, it’s still my favorite drum sound. It sounds like he’s hitting harder than anyone I’ve ever known.

Nardwuar: And I have some good news– Kurt: Don’t you agree?

“

Nardwuar: It’s amazing. I have some good news for you Kurt. Do you know that where the Sonics recorded, Audio Recording in Seattle with Kearney Barton is still around and you can actually still record there?

Kurt: Really. Wow. Nardwuar: The Young Fresh Fellows, pioneers in that sound, you know, going into Egg Studios and stuff. They recorded a new track off their CD there, 99 Girls, right at that studio. Kearney Barton Audio. You can check it out. Like the same guy is there that recorded The Sonics.

Krist: Who was born in, uh, 1842.

Nardwuar: No, he wasn’t born in 1842.

But I think that band Teengenerate from Japan, did that. And in Japan, they don’t seem to have too much vinyl, do they?

Courtney: Aren’t they into vinyl in Japan?

They’re into anything classic American aren’t they? I don’t know. I don’t go there often.

Nardwuar: Kurt, what is Geffen’s position on vinyl? Like is it easy to release seven inches? Can you release them domestically?

Kurt: I don’t know. It was a lot cheaper than the picture that we wanted to use.

Nardwuar: What’s PA equipment like in South America? Tonight I noticed you had quite an extensive PA and it sounded, I thought, really good. What’s PA— Krist: .A is for pathetic asshole!

Nardwuar: What are — what is the PA like, in South America? What are they like? What are the tech crews there like?

Courtney: Peavey.

Kurt: Univox.

Nardwuar: Has your tech, does your tech crew, has it improved your sound? Do you think like in South America, were they freaking out? What was it like there?

Kurt:I don’t remember.

Nardwuar: ’Cause I once heard— Kurt: I shot coke with Alice in Chains all night, that’s all I remember.

Courtney: Ohh!... [Laugh] Nardwuar: Kurt, did you really custom design a guitar? Your own special little model?

Kurt: Yeah.

Nardwuar: How many models are there?

And can I buy one?

Kurt: I don’t know. I don’t know if it’s gone into production yet. I don’t know if it will be available for the public. It’s up to them to decide. But what I basically, well, what I did is I took a picture of a Mustang, a Polaroid picture of a Mustang and a picture of a Jaguar and then cut them in half and glued them together and told them to build that.

So that’s what it is. It’s the Jag-Stang.

Nardwuar: What other bands, Kurt, have played in Argentina? Like you played there. What was it like...were you one of the first bands to play there, d’ya know?

Kurt: I don’t think so. I’ve heard that Skid Row played there.

Nardwuar: Have any other melodic-punk bands played there?

Kurt: I do not know. We played with the Chili Peppers that night.

Nardwuar: Ever heard of the Canadian band, Saga before?

Kurt: Yeah, I think so. Are they a pop metal band?

Nardwuar: I think they played in Argentina. Kurt, what did you think of the last Flipper LP? Kurt: [gestures with hand] Ehh.. OK. Nardwuar: What were Björn Again like from Europe?

Kurt: Wonderful. Uncanny. Amazing. They looked exactly and sounded exactly like Abba.

Nardwuar: Are they better than Rain, a tribute to the Beatles?

Kurt: I’ve never seen them.

Nardwuar: They had a big center spread

I took a a Polaroid picture of a Mustang and a picture of a Jaguar and then cut them in half and glued them together and told them to build that. So that’s what it is. It’s the Jag-Stang.

–Kurt Cobain–

14 Fall 2007 FRESH BREATH OF MINT

”

Kurt: Not usually domestically. Only in England, and Europe especially. We always, they’ve always offered to print vinyl for us because they know we’re, we like that kind of thing. So, it’s been no problem. I don’t think it ever will be as long as there’s, at least one place somewhere that’ll print vinyl, they’ll still do it.

Courtney: The Breeders sold 150 copies of their vinyl,.. in the States. 150 copies. Isn’t that weird?

Kurt: Umm. Nardwuar: How much did Spencer Elden receive from the Nirvana camp?

Courtney: A lot. A lo-lot. You know why...?

Nardwuar: And Spencer Elden is who?

Courtney: The guy from Nirvana, right?

Nardwuar: The little baby on the cover.

Courtney: Oh, Spencer!

Nardwuar: Yeah.

Courtney: Oh that’s the guy we’re going to have at dinner... when he grows up. I thought you meant the Nirva — the guys from Nirvana.

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in The Rocket [Seattle music newspaper].

Kurt: Umm. Nardwuar: Are you ever going to get Screamin’ Jay Hawkins to try and back you up again?

Kurt: We tried, but it fell through. I would like to try again.

Nardwuar: Anybody else, cool, that you think you would bring up, bring up with you and back you up? Like I was thinking the Sweet maybe and get Kurt Bloch to guest on guitar.

Kurt: That wouldn’t be too hard, would it?

Nardwuar: No, or maybe Village People would be no problem. Anybody else you’ve been thinking of?

Kurt: Well those are two hat just ran through my mind.

Um... No, not really.

Buzzcocks...

Buzzcocks...We’ve had some amazing bands play with us on this tour. We had, um, the Boredoms, the Meat Puppets, and, um, gee who else, Jawbreaker.

Nardwuar: But no Bonham or Quiet Riot or anything?

Kurt: Not yet.

Nardwuar: Courtney said — Kurt: At the Riviera Steak House... in a couple of years.

Nardwuar: Courtney said that Geffen, Kurt, made 55 million dollars off you and you guys only– Courtney: I was quoting the Wall Street Journal.

Nardwuar: And you guys only got a million. Where did the money go?

Kurt: [laughing] To Geffen!

Courtney: That’s the way it’s always been. I explained that to you.

It’s like a white guy giving a black guy a Cadillac.

Kurt: I walked into David’s room one day and I said, listen man, I feel like I’m gettin’ ripped off. And he said, look outside, there’s a Cadillac for ya’. And I took it. Then I just, you know, I just forgot about tryin’ to get my royalties from him.

And it turns out, the fucking Cadillac was rented. Can you believe it?

Nardwuar: If Nirvana has total control, Kurt, I was wondering, slightly, about ticket prices for gigs. Is there any way to make tickets and T-shirts universally the same? i.e., $10 to get into the gig and $10 for a shirt?

Kurt: No...unless you’re Fugazi.

Krist: You Canadian communist motherfucker, you!!

Nardwuar: Has any band ever tried that before? I mean on a major label you know, because you have perhaps, more control over what’s going on. You could maybe, because you guys were playing at a cool place tonight. Like it’s small. It’s not a big coliseum.

Kurt: Mm-hmm. I don’t know. I don’t know, really.

Courtney: It’s like, Nardwuar, it’s really expensive. You can’t break even.

Kurt: It’s really expensive to bring your own PA system and lights and stuff. You barely break even.

Nardwuar: Do you know what? You and Axl (Rose)have something in common, Kurt.

Kurt: [Sarcastically] Yeah, a lot.

Nardwuar: You both sing in, uh, faked English accents, as he does on The Spaghetti Incident. On the new UK Subs track. Did you check that out?

Kurt: No I haven’t.

Nardwuar: Actually he sort of kicks ass.

That Guns n’ Roses recording of the UK Subs. ’Cause you mentioned in your book that you actually record, or the book about you, Come As You Are, you

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sing with a fake English accent.

Kurt: Mm-hmm. What can I say, I’m a death rocker.

Nardwuar: Have you ever thought of partying with Bill Gates at all? Finally winding up here, Kurt.

Kurt: Who’s that?

Nardwuar: Bill Gates, from Microsoft.

Partying with Bill Gates.

Kurt: Oh...

Nardwuar: ’Cause you know, who are the two newest members of the Seattle scene, Kurt? Here’s a trick question for ya.

Courtney: [Laughing] Bill Gates.

Nardwuar: Microsoft and Nintendo! And finally, Kurt– Courtney: Is Nintendo in Nirv — in, uh, Seattle now, Nardwuar?

Nardwuar: It is! It’s based out of Seattle. And finally, Kurt Cobain of the rock and roll band, Nirvana, If Frances Farmer will have her revenge on Seattle, who will have their revenge on Vancouver?

Kurt: Pete Reno.

Courtney: Wasn’t Lindsay Wagner from here?

Kurt: I dun’no.

Nardwuar: Who? Courtney: Eddie Munster.

Eddie Munster, he’s from Vancouver, right?

Nardwuar: Uh, Kurt?

Kurt: Pete Reno, I said it.

Nardwuar: Who’s Pete Reno?

Kurt: You know.

Courtney: Oh, Loverboy!

Right.

Nardwuar: Oh, Mike Reno.

That — that’s Mike Rynowski actually.

Kurt: Oh, Pete Reno is this half retarded person that went to my high school. Sorry.

Nardwuar: And he is going to be on Exploitation Records?

Kurt: Mmm hmmm.

Nardwuar: Ah Kurt? Doot doola doot doo…

Courtney: [Laughs] You know too much!

Nardwuar: Kurt! Doot doola doot doo… Doot doola doot doo…

Kurt: [laughs] Doot doo.

Check out this interview on Nardwuar’s new Welcome to My Castle DVD! 2 discs!

FRESH BREATH OF MINT Fall 2007

15

THE EVAPORATORS MRD-110

GASSY JACK AND OTHER TALES L

ed by College Radio Legend personality/celeb marauder Nardwuar the Human Serviette, The Evaporators sling out one wildly infectious tune after another, luring you into their frenetic and slightly surreal world. Named after Vancouver pioneer Captain John Deighton who got his nickname ("Gassy") from talking non stop rather than from farting, The Evaporators’ new release will attempt to school You The Listener on such topics as how to Shake with the Shaggy Shaker, how to do the Eggbeater and why you should care about E.J. Hughes and Evatone Soundsheets!

CD and red vinyl LP out October 23rd!

Hey Shane, this is Mikey from Priestess. I was wondering, being a cat lover, how would I go about being on the road so much and having to leave a cat at home, unattended? Should I not have one? What should I do in order to maintain my relationship with my cat while I'm so busy all the time?

Thanks.

Mikey Priestess

Ok, great question, Mikey. I also applaud you for breaking down stereotypes. People think metalheads are out there biting the heads off bats — he's worrying about his cat. And, I love you for it.

Who's the little metalhead? Who's the little headbanger? You are. Yes you are. Aren't cha. Aren't cha.

It is however tough for me to relate. As a single father, I just leave my dog at home with my two year old. That way, they both have company, two birds — one stone, between the howling and crying, burglers are thwarted and my records are adequately protected.

But, if you are going to be touring for long periods of time, it is not fair to leave a child or a pet alone, at home. I was actually kidding before; I actually have no children or pets. Well, no pets that I know about.

You will find they can be destructive if you are away for long periods. You could come home to find they have sprayed your stereo headphones or canoed their asses across every inch of your carpet, or left little brown Kit-Kats on your pillow.

Often, what I would do. I would preemptively spray

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all my furnature and everything I own myself. Just get my scent on everything. I still do it, even though I no longer have a cat. I'll spray everything. I'll build a pillow effigy in my own clothes, sit it in a chair in front of the TV and just soak it in my scent before I leave.

You can try that — a scent soaked pillow effigy.

The obvious thing, is find someone that the cat knows to pop in once in a while and visit, feed it. But, I cannot stress this enough. Do a background check on this person. I remember once, I got an acquaintance to pop in and it turns out, he was a raging fur-vert and an amateur taxidermist. You just don't want to come home after a long tour to discover your little precious has been turned into a bong.

Well, Mikey, I hope I have helped out in some small way. And, for those of you with any questions for me, please feel free to call our toll free line 1 877 955 6565 and leave me a message. It may be you that gets blown away by my next wisdom bomb.

Shane Nelken Rocktologist/Cremationist The Awkward Stage

FRESH BREATH OF MINT Fall 2007

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1. What instrument did you play and why you chose it?

2. As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

3. What is in your stereo right now?

4. If you could host a dinner party and invite anyone in history, who would you choose and what would you serve them?

5. Do you have any secret talents or hobbies?

John Collins

The Evaporators, Thee Goblins, and The New Pornographers 1. I have played the electric guitar since I was about 13. I developed some tendon problems in my hands and at about 19 I stopped playing the guitar. A couple of years later I got a call from my friend David Carswell asking me If I felt like playing some bass in the Evaporators. I thought it sounded like fun. It is. That was in about 1990.

2. Wanted to be a compotent skateboarder.

Librarian. Marine Biologist. Member of Kraftwerk.

3. Steely Dan 4. Devo, The Who, Sly Stone, everyone on my iPod actually. This would be a big party with thousands of guests so I think I'd arrange a nice Indian buffet. Everyone could just sit and eat off their laps. Oh and of course an open bar. And later, we could have us a champagne jam!

5. Here's a recent photo of me doing Hot Yoga.

Brooke Gallupe

Immaculate Machine 1. Electric guitar. I was recruited in grade six by my cooler and more talented friend for his band that was scheduled to play at the school talent show. I had never played guitar but I promptly went out and bought one and signed up for lessons. I was hopeless for a really long time.

2. I have gone through many fanciful career dreams that make my parents nervous, including rock and roll star.

3. Jonathan Richman – I, Jonathan Kimya Dawson – Remember That I Love You

The Strokes – First Impressions It's a 3-disc changer.

4. I would have a big vegan feast with John Stuart Mill and John Rawls.

5. I have already flaunted all my minor talents (French language, comic drawing) so nothing is a secret anymore.

Jenny Smyth

The Organ 1. I like to play the organ. I first wanted to play it at hockey stadiums. But then I learned about the organ's capacity in other types of music.

2. a hockey player in the NHL 3. Well, someone is watching a video (with a very musical soundtrack, but I don't know what artist is playing in the video) so my stereo is off. But I was listening to the Talking Heads' "(Nothing But) Flowers" before the video went on. The computer stereo was on random.

4. I'd invite Jane Goodall and 15 chimps.

And serve veggies that my mom grows.

5. I have a special (unfortunate) talent for making up stupid lyrics to popular songs. usually I make the lyrics meaningful to a situation that I'm in. Like I work in a grocery store right now and I sing about all the veggies (Lighter Shade of Kale, We Got the Beets, etc). I'm pretty sure I'll get fired for it.

Hamm

The Evaporators, Canned Hamm, Slow 1. I play the bass guitar and keyboards. I chose the piano at age 6 because my best friend was taking lessons and he kicked ass.

I took piano lessons till I was 14 then my

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parents sold the piano 'cause I was doing lousy in school. As part of my early teenage rebellion I started a punk rock band with my friends called Chuck and the Sucks. I chose the bass because it only had four strings so it was easier to play than the guitar!

2. I wanted to play in the Friendly Giants band.

3. The Great White North: Bob and Doug McKenzie... You asked.

4. Bob and Doug Mackenzie... It's obvious what I'd serve.

5. I juggle marshmallows (see attached photo).

Jenn Chycoski

The Choir Practice 1. I am a vocalist and a keyboard player. I started singing before I could talk. I used to follow my Dad around when I was little, singing what he was playing on the trumpet. My first words ever spoken, or rather sang, were the lyrics to the Tom Jones song "Delilah". Only I sang "Why why why Dee-ya-ya."

My parents bought a piano and I started playing when I was 7 years old.

2. I wanted to be a marine biologist, then a veterinarian. I am currently neither.

3. Everything in my 5-disc CD player right now is from local artists in Van. A few are newer additions, and the others I play relentlessly: Sinoia Caves, Interior Design, Bossanova, D. Trevlon and The Modelos.

4. I would have St. Francis of Assisi over for dinner and I would serve him my vegan version of Ukranian perohe with borscht and a gourmet Caesar salad sans oeuf, anchovy and with veggie parmesan (I know, some of you would say that it's not gourmet then, but I'm sure St. Francis would have it no other way).

5. I volunteer some of my spare time at animal shelters.

Tiffany Garrett Sotomayor

bella 1. My role in bella is playing drums + a little guitar here and there. I started with drums when I was about 5. My mom FRESH BREATH OF MINT Fall 2007

19

Jenn Chycoski

Hamm

John Collins cleaned out some ice cream tubs and gave me the empty containers and some pencils for "sticks"... I've been drumming ever since! And guitar, well I guess my favorite band inspired me to do that!

2. a musician... and for a short while a veterinarian.

3. A guilty pleasure which shall remain nameless! Well, maybe I shouldn't feel so guilty about it because they are doing quite well right now but Im just not sure I feel like letting the "cat out of the bag" on this one.

4. My Uncle Todd. Insignificant to others but would mean the world to me. I guess that's a personal one!

5. BOXING !! (snapshot attached)

Shane Nelken

The Awkward Stage 1. Awesomeness is my instrument and it chose me.

2. Taller. (still waiting) 3. Sam Cooke as usual.

4. I would have to say...Adolph Hitler. I would probably serve my signature RazzleDazzle Berry Poison Mystery Puffs. (The Mystery is they contain high levels of sugar, butter, and a fatal dose of Aconite w/ artificial razzle berry flavouring) 5. I can put my entire foot in my mouth.

Jesse Gander

Ghost House and Operation Makeout recording engineer, The Hive Studios 1. I play the electric piano. I chose it because my parents had a real piano in our living room when I was growing up, but real pianos are too heavy to bring to gigs, so electric it is!

2. I wanted to be a piano player, or a skateboarder, or a chef. All the things iI still want to be.

3. Cult Cargo – Belize City Boil Up Jonathan Richman – Revolution Summer Dinosaur Jr. – Beyond 4. I would choose Jonathan Richman. I don't what I would serve him, but I know what I wouldn't serve him: meat, fish, dairy, alcohol, drugs.

20 Fall 2007 FRESH BREATH OF MINT

5. I am the omelet master for Canada's team breakfast. Just ask anyone who's ever been lucky enough to have a sleepover at my house.

Rod Slaughter

Novillero and Duotang 1. Most of my music life I've played the bass. When I was a teenager I was always drawn to the sound of the bass (as played by people like John Entwhistle or Paul McCartney) and thought it was the by far the coolest instrument. Now I play keyboards, and I'm not entirely sure why.

2. A struggling musician who has to slog it out in the 9 to 5 world to pay their rent.

Actually, for a while there I also wanted to be a fighter pilot.

3. Serge Gainsbourg 4. Easy! Peter Sellers. I'd order in.

5. I'm a fantastic dancer.

Morgan McDonald

The Buttless Chaps and Fond of Tigers 1. Keyboards. I've played piano since I was four and I like the versatility and polyphony.

2. Grown-ups would always ask me if I was going to become a "mathematician" but I noticed that none of them were mathematicians and I didn't really see it as a viable career option. Instead I opted for applied math (engineering and music).

3. Hmmm. It's empty. Lately I've been listening to The Signal on CBC Radio2.

4. Beethoven, Buddha, and Bjork. Cheese, chutney, and chocolate.

5. I will eat whatever is put in front of me.

This is both a talent and a hobby.

Maya Miller

The Pack 1. Drums. First – hitting things...good.

Second – patience – I barely have any.

Third – visual learner – drums very much right in front of me. Fourth – subtlety...not my speciality. And Fifth – I can only sing Led Zeppelin's "Black Dog"...see below....

2. A bus driver first, but then I wanted to

be Indiana Jones, which was far more practical.

3. Dead Prez.

4. Union General William Tecumseh Sherman. ANYTHING HE WANTED. He'll just take what he wants anyway...better to go quietly.

5. Karaoke. I can't sing "real" for shit, but I can sing "Black Dog" with such conviction and fierceness, you might swear it's Robert Plant or his dim-witted cousin right in front of you. Seriously, it's won me prizes.

Oh, also pretty good at Hall & Oates: I can't go for that – the trick? Just give it a hint of some undescernable accent, oh, and have my hair oh, and my dance moves...on second thought, maybe only I should sing Hall & Oates songs.

Grant Lawrence

CBC Radio 3 and The Smugglers 1. Saxophone, because that's what Richie Cunningham played on Happy Days.

2. A naturalist and a television talk show host.

3. Two Hours Traffic – Little Jabs 4. Clint Eastwood, Jimmy Stewart, Margaret Cho, Herge, Ricky Gervais, William Shakespeare, Richard Lewis, Lucille Ball, Jerry Lee Lewis. We'd have BBQ'd salmon with a maple and ginger glaze, freshly sautéed scallops in garlic butter, green beans, nugget potatoes, and Sleeman's Silvercreek Lager.

5. I know how to find the asshole of a koala bear.

David Gowans

The Buttless Chaps and Cloudsplitter 1. I mostly play the acoustic guitar & some banjo — I tried dabbling on the keyboards & a friend lent me her guitar to fiddle around with, I found myself playing it more than the keyboards and decided that it was right for me, I learnt my basic chords while watching Northern Exposure reruns on TV. 2. A member of Duran Duran, It's pretty embarrassing actually. I used to imagine that I had a studio built onto the side of my parents house (while being frustrated prac-

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Tiffany Garrett Sotomayer

David Gowans ticing the clarinet). Simon, Nick, Roger, Andy, John and I would hang out and write music. Since they were a full band, I had a Miami sound machine style percussion setup, with a little synth as well. A side player of sorts, but more involved in their creative process. Not much has changed really, except that I don't fit into my Duran Duran shirt anymore.

3. I have been listening to a lot of stuff by The National, the new Jarvis Cocker record (and some older Pulp), The Gulag Orkestar

by Beirut is a good one as well...

4. Duran Duran! Just kidding.... I think I would like to have met Hunter S. Thompson. I would smoke a whole pig in the backyard with some Slaw and plenty of prescription drugs, firearms and booze so that he could tell me some of his Gonzo journalism stories & Hells Angel adventures..

5. I am quite proficient when it comes to the exterminating of rodents & other pests from Vancouver households.. swift and accurate with a shoe is essential living in roof rat haven here in Vancouver.

Todd Fancey

The New Pornographers and Fancey 1. Chose guitar because my dad played guitar and so did Pete Townshend.

2. In a band or a pilot.

3. BJ Thomas.

4. I would choose Jim Morrison and serve him a McRib and some iced tea.

5. Ankle tickling with a fresh piece of iceberg lettuce.

Cameron Fraser

bella 1. I play guitar for the most part, although I'd taken lessons on piano and guitar as a kid but dropped out within a year or two of starting both. When I started listening to music as a teenager I decided I wanted to learn to play bass because it only had four strings and they were really fat, so I thought it'd be easier. I borrowed an old acoustic guitar from my aunt to practice on because I couldn't afford to buy an actual

Jesse Gander bass, and just ended up learning to play guitar instead. I actually gave up about two weeks after getting the thing and put it under my bed and promptly forgot about it. About six months later I found it again and tried playing a few chords and to my amazement could, so I learned a few simple REM songs and would play them over and over as fast as I could, and from there started writing my own songs. I haven't looked back since.

2. When I was a kid I (for whatever reason) wanted to be the curator of a museum. I didn't have any idea of what was actually involved (still don't), but I thought mummies were cool (you know, from Egypt), so I think that's where that came from. And then I wanted to be an accountant.

3. I just bought a whole bunch of stuff by The Verve, as well as Richard Ashcroft's Alone With Everybody.

4. Hmm, I'd invite Jason and Ronnie Martin (from Starflyer 59 and Joy Electric, respectively), Matt Sharp era Weezer (the whole band, that is), and Jesus (that water into wine thing would come in handy, methinks). I'd also invite all my friends from back home in Saskatchewan, as well as my family. I'd probably end up serving Sidekicks and Kraft Dinner, because that's about all I know how to make. Maybe a Delissio pizza or two, also. And lot's of water.

5. My current hobby is taking old crappy computers that I get for free from people and fixing them up with stuff I buy on eBay. They're still old and crappy, but to a lesser extent. Then I play the computer games I used to play when I was 13 on them. My secret talent is that I'm a Jedi, but don't tell.

Eden Fineday

Vancougar 1. I play the guitar and I sing. I've always wanted to play guitar and sing. I still have my first diary from when I was seven. In it, I wrote, "When I grow up, I want to be singer in a rock band." My idol was Deborah Harry.

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2. See above.

3. Lately I have been into Peter Bjorn and John and Band of Horses. And the new Goodnight Loving, Crooked Lake.

4. Hmm.. I get nervous when I have to cook for people. Maybe Beethoven, because Bratwurst and potatoes are pretty easy to cook. And maybe he'd bring a choir with him. I like choirs.

5. Hmm. I am a good personal shopper.

Sorry, no photographs are available. But if you ever want some help picking out a hot outfit, give me a shout.

Katie Lapi

Ghost House and Operation Makeout 1. Guitar. I'm pretty sure I chose it because I thought it would be easier to play than drums (my arms get tired playing drums!).

So um...I guess lack of upper arm strength or laziness.

2. Older and wiser. I got it half right.

3. Dinosaur Jr., Tilly and the Wall, and Peter Bjorn & John.

4. I'd invite Bjork, Steve Martin, Bruce Springsteen, Tina Turner, and Frida Kahlo, and and I'd serve them salted watermelon, green tea matcha lattes, caprese salad kabobs, and crème brûlée.

5. Secret Talents....hmmm I wish I could put on my lipstick like Molly Ringwald in The Breakfast Club. But I guess I'd have to actually wear lipstick to do that. I guess my hidden talent is my ability to dance brush my teeth for like 5-10 mins straight. I'm pretty good at that.

Lucy Brain

Young and Sexy 1. Voice. It chose me. I dabble in keys, drums, guitar…but nothing seems to come as naturally as singing. I'm lazy really.

Although percussion/drumming/piano is something I would really like to improve at. What's this thing called rehearsing I keep hearing about?

2. Ballet dancer, detective, fashion designer, marine biologist, girl group singer…in that order.

3. Queens of the Stone Age – Era Vulgaris FRESH BREATH OF MINT Fall 2007

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John Guliak

Morgan McDonald

Megan Johnson 4. Otis Redding, Stevie Wonder, Rick Danko, Bjork, my granddad Gordon, Kate Bush, Josh Homme, Billie Holiday, Jack White and PJ Harvey. Oh and I guess I'd like Paul there.

To start perhaps I'd do a spinach salad with some thinly sliced apple, cured Serrano ham and a balsamic reduction (like I just had in Barcelona!) The main would be Baja style fish tacos with barbequed halibut, freshly made corn tortillas, cabbage, guacamole, salsa…all the fixins. Dessert could be a fresh summer berry pavlova. This all might be a little delicate for some of my guests but I'd think they'd come around to it. I could always offer a cheese platter if they are still hungry later. It would be served on a warm summer evening alfresco. With several bottles of wine, we'd chat and play music until the wee hours.

5. I can boogie pretty good.

Shira Blustein

The Choir Practice and Blood Meridian 1. Piano by default — I'm a piano teacher's daughter...

2. Actress/Lifeguard/Neurosurgeon 3. Hard Drugs (Blood Meridian Side Project/Rock Opera) 4. I'd serve Virgin Mary a delicious homemade vegetarian mexican feast. We'd get drunk on ice cold cervezas and gossip about Jesus.

5. Cooking food and then photographing it....

Charla McCutcheon

bella 1. In bella I play keyboards mostly...I started playing piano when I was four. Now, I love the different sounds that can be made with vintage synths.

2. I always dreamt of being a singer in a band, but I was so shy...So I thought I would own and run my own chocolate factory.

3. A burned CD of my Astrological Reading from January 22/07, a mix tape I made and the new Spoon album.

4. Albert Einstein and St. Theresa of Avila.

22 Fall 2007 FRESH BREATH OF MINT

And maybe Judy Garland and Elvis could drop by. We'd have a quinoa and vegetable dish with some white wine.

5. I can almost do a wicked pop-a-wheely on my bmx. And I have x-ray vision.

Becky Black

The Pack 1. I chose to play guitar. The reason? I had one.

2. A bandit.

3. Chopin. Though lying near the stereo is a copy of Air Supply's greatest hits; my...ahem...guilty pleasure.

4. Oliver Curtis Perry. Two hard fried eggs turned over and fried potatoes or hash. Pie for dessert. And I would hope he'd stay for breakfast...

5. My love for drawing is nearly equal to that of my love for music, but it's no secret.

Too many boxes containing scribbles on scrap paper is evidence of that.

Cup

I Am Spoonbender 1. my main one is a minimoog voyager synthesizer. why? because it is awesome! the sound possibilities are endless, and it is very friendly to both the novice and the advanced.

2. there's no such thing as growing up!

3. laurie anderson's recently reissued 'big science', 'deliver us' by warlord, 'iceland' by richard pinhas, and the new album by the delgados' emma pollock.

4. the architect of the great pyramid of giza. slices of pie, of course!

5. i am currently working on an illustrated children's book based on the RUSH song 'the trees', and i design clothes, sets, films and merch-objects (with dustin donaldson) for IAS.

John Guliak

solo vocalist/musician 1. I play a Guild Jumbo acoustic guitar. I wanted one almost as long as I wanted a guitar but they were always too expensive. I finally found one in Victoria about 14 years

ago — usually these guitars come with all kinds of fancy inlay and gold hardware but this one was quite plain and simple and affordable. I've been loving it ever since.

2. I have no idea as I have no childhood memories — this probably explains my chronic lack of imagination.

3. Linton Kwesi Johnson – Independent Intavenshan (disc 1) David Bowie – Scary Monsters Marc Ribot – Requiem For What's-HisName All set on random play.

4. I would like to have Karl Marx over for something that would help sooth his enormous ass boils — a nice salad I guess.

5. I can continue drawing my breath until my head inflates — photo enclosed.

Brent J. Cooper

The Ramblin’ Ambassadors, and Huevos Rancheros 1. I play guitar, and when I was a kid I distinctly remember some events that led to me taking it up.

I saw a young teenage-ish band play "Blue Suede Shoes" in a shopping mall when I was 4 or 5. It blew me away! The guitar was loud and distorted, and because it was Stampede time, the whole band was (of course) dressed western!

I also used to like grocery shopping with my Mom. Dominion (later became a Safeway) had Muzak that sounded like the Ventures. So wehnever we went shopping, I'd be sitting in the cart or walking around listening to twangy, tremeloed guitars. It was great.

A few years later, when I was in grade two, my neighbours big brother played guitar. He had a great record collection and introduced me to the Beatles and the Who when I was in second grade! He also was the first guy I knew to own the import 45 r.p.m. of "God Save the Queen." I guess I kinda idolized him and took up the guitar, too.

2. I wanted to be a "scientist!" No particular type, but I liked having rat skeketons and brains around from my Dad, who ws

www.mintrecs.com • THAT MAGAZINE FROM MINT RECORDS

Shira Blustein

Chris Kelly a professor at the University of Calgary.

3. My daughter has been interested in older vinyl, so I dug out the first Generation X album and some Cheap Trick. I'm not sure if the teenagers believe me when I tell them how good Cheap Trick were in the 70s.

4. I think it might be a disaster, but Dee Dee Ramone would be someone I woulda liked to share some pizza with. Dee Dee was the most complex Ramone, and therefore the most interesting. I guess if Jesus could make it, he could come too. He can bring the wine.

5. My secret talent is that I teach elementary school! Mr. Cooper's school of rock.

Everbody in grade three knows who Bo Diddley is! (I am not allowed to give you a picture until it's cleared for FOIP issues)

Kristian North

Vincat 1. As a kid I took the traditional piano lessons at the music conservatory route. It really didn't help with anything but I think since I got out at a pretty good age I ended up ok. Though theoretically you can learn alot from conservatory piano lessons they are totally creatively stiffeling. I'm pretty sure that's what THE MAN wants!!!

2. I think I wanted to be some sort of super hero. Or maybe link from Zelda.

3. In my three disk changer I have Electric Light Orchestra, The Flaming Lips, and Black Moth Super Rainbow.

4. I would serve steak first of all because that's pretty much all I can cook, and I'd probably invite Jesus 'cause if we're talking anyone in history it should probably be Jesus. I'm not sure if he'd show up though.....

5. Only if you consider time travel a hobbie.

Megan Johnson

Vancougar 1. I play the keyboard. My mum made me take lessons as a kid, and at the time we started Vancougar, it was the only instrument I knew how to play. I really wanted to be in the band, so you figure it out!

2. As a little girl, I wanted to be in The Misfits, the tough-girl band from the TV show Jem and the Holograms.

Unfortunately, Jem went off the air in the mid-to-late '80s, so this will have to do.

3. The first NRBQ LP. 4. I would love to have Tina Turner and The Ikettes over for dinner. I'd serve them cheeseburgers, corndogs and fries, and then after dinner we'd get drunk and have a karaoke dance party!

5. I can grow a mean moustache!

Crystal Dorval

Vincat 1. I watched my dad growing up shredding '80s metal riffs, and was very inspired.

2. An actress. then I found music.

3. Cookies. But I have been listening to Electric Light Orchestra a lot.

4. The Carebears, they seem like a good time. Main course: milkshakes.

5. I can predict the future, and communicate with animals... at the same time.

Chris Kelly

The Choir Practice, The Gay Straights, CBC Radio 3 1. I play piano, guitar, a bit of accordion and I just picked up this really cool 1970s Roland SH – 1000 mono synth. I don't know if play is the right verb for that thing.

I got into piano like most children. My parents bought one and wanted someone to play it so I got lessons. I started playing guitar on my own accord. There was this cool science teacher in middle school who used to play guitar between classes and that inspired me to pick it up.

2. Magician or an Archeologist 3. Canaries, Weakerthans Reunion Tour, Dirty Projectors, Gay Straights and Loney Dear 4. Any of the beats like Ginsberg, Kerouac, or Burroughs. They just seem like a good party. I'd serve them Beer and Drugs. I'm sure that would enough. Maybe a curry would feed them all. Vonnegut and Tom Robbins would be fun to have over. Paul McCartney could play some tunes on the

THAT MAGAZINE FROM MINT RECORDS • www.mintrecs.com

Lisa G piano and then for chicks...Margaret Trudeau circa 1970 (I'm really into her right now), Kelly Capowski from Saved by the Bell, and those kids in the new Tokyo Police Club video. They seem awesome.

5. I modeled jeans last year...but that took no talent and I also used to be in a sketch group.

Robynn

cub 1. Gibson SG guitar. Why? Sexy double cut-a-way. Angus Young. 'Nuf said. Vox AC30 amplifier. Why? Super clean. The Beatles. Ditto. Rat distortion pedal. Why? Sometimes a little raunch and beef comes in handy.

2. Singing and dancing with Gene Kelly (à la Singin’ in the rain and Xanadu)!

3. The best of Lone Wolf and Cub (original soundtrack to the '70s samurai movie series)... seriously, what timing, eh?

4. Booska. Ramen, of course. Jim Henson.

We'd let the Swedish Chef decide. The Beatles. Don't know what I'd serve, but we'd probably be sitting on a cornflake.

5. Many, but once told they would no longer be secret! Which do I wish to reveal?

Hmmm, I make a mean black bean soup, and I am Mint Records' and Nardwuar the Human Serviette's chief source for hand lettering and graphics.

Lisa G

cub 1. Drums. I played the drums for cub.

I think I ended up playing the drums because I wasn't super keen on any other instrument I had tried so far. I also think booze was a factor somehow.

2. A mechanic or a baseball player.

3. Our stereo doubles as a dvd player so, uh, this is embarrassing, it was The Da Vinci Code — the movie — which took 2 nights to watch and was terrible.

4. I would serve my favourite 2 day shortribs on egg noodles and I would invite Dorothea Lange.

5. Disco Dancing is a lifelong hobby and I hope a secret talent.

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vedahille.com

circa 1990....

I

n May 1992, Sloan made the trip from Halifax to Vancouver to play Music West in order to be seen by someone from Geffen records. The Vancouver show happened on the night of the LA riots so we thought the Geffen guy, whose name was Todd Sullivan wouldn't be there but he was. He liked our show but he wanted to hang out with us for a few days in Vancouver before we signed a deal.

Todd was with us when we went to CiTR for an interview with Nardwuar. We had no idea who he was or what to expect.

I can be funny, I swear, but I was unprepared for the beating we were about to take.

Nardwuar was either reading or making reference to our bio. "So, you're the Sonic Youth of Canada," or "Oh you're rootbeer flavoured pop." It was humiliating. Todd was there watching us die on college radio

and it was killing me.

It turns out it was a phone-in show and he took calls from people ranging from those who wanted us to know that we were a bunch of fags to those who simply wanted to say how much we sucked.

Eventually someone (I believe) from San Francisco called and when it became apparent that this caller was in a band, Nardwuar essentially started interviewing him about his band while we sat there like a bunch of dorks.

I was the first to walk out and eventually we all walked out. By letting Nardwuar walk all over us, I actually thought that we may have blown our chances of getting signed to Geffen so I was furious but at the same time I had to hand it to him for giving us such a savage beating.

Sloan did sign to Geffen despite Nardwuar's efforts and went on to become

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the most important Canadian band ever.

Chris Murphy Sloan

A

fter our first few days in Van, Nardwuar took us on a tour of Van in Hugh's mother's convertible and showed where Tommy Chong had his club. A great time. Nardy is this generation's Pierre Berton.

Dave Bidini Rheostatics

M

y first encounter with Nardwuar was in 1987. My band at the time was a very large Metal outfit called Ogre (with umlauts over the G and the R). We were invited for an interview on Nard's radio show at CITR. At the time we were all doing this Eastern European shtick. We were being all ESL, standing on tables and FRESH BREATH OF MINT Fall 2007

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Italian Soul Food

103 Columbia Street Vancouver 604-688-8694

2118 Burrard Street Vancouver 604-736-2220

www.incendio.ca

pounding our fists and Nardwuar was, well just being himself. So we got a little confused and couldn't figure out if we should like this guy or take him out back and give him a curb job. We didn't have any recorded material at the time so we brought a tape of Ride The Lightning by Metallica and told him it was us. I don't think Nard ever made it through an entire song on his show at that time. He usually cut in before the song was over and started talking. There was a lot of yelling and screaming but by the end we decided we liked him enough to let him keep his teeth.

first comp he put out "Oh God, My Mom's On Channel 10" which featured some great garage rock bands and a bunch of Nardwuar's guerilla style interviews. I do remember thinking, Nardwuar The Human Serviette? What the hell kind of name is that? At the time, I was a producer at MuchMusic and I connected with both the Evaporators and the Smugglers. I met Nardwuar in Toronto when the Evaporators toured with Cub and was surprised at how mellow he was at the time (he saved his over the top energy for his

Hamm

The Evaporators, Canned Hamm, Slow

H

the people in charge of Much were interested. The response I got was "not funny," "annoying" and "not something we want on the air at Much." (Ironically the other personality that Much passed on at the time was Tom Green, just before he went on to huge success at MTV). Nardwuar eventually did make it on the air at Much but not through the insight of anyone that was running the place. All credit for that goes to MuchWest videographer Chris Nelson who fought tooth & nail to get Nardwuar on the air. But remember this, Nardwuar does not do it for the fame & fortune. He's Nardwuar and he does it 'cause he's Nardwuar. Congrats on 20 years, Nardwuar! You are truly one of a kind.

mmm, when did I first meet the illustrious plaid James Booth Music Director man?

CBC Radio 3 I believe that it was in the old CiTR 've always record room next to admired people the broadcast studio who pursue their and he was extolling interests passionatethe virtues of an ly and obsessively, album by the and as far as I can Misunderstood tell that's Nardwuar. which had recently Dragonforce Nardwuar isn't just been re-released on a music fan, he is a an English indie label music stalker. He called Cherry Red. Timothy Leary follows it around The album had, as uninvited and doesmany did then and n't mind if he probably still do, makes it uncomfortsomehow walked out able. That's why he of the station along is so engaging and with a few other so much fun. garage/punk platters I can't remember that he'd intended to my very first play on his show. encounter with The guy was Nardwuar but it freakin' out — in his might have been a unique voice and letter written in from the Discorder marker, sent to me office it sounded like at Exclaim! We someone was torturfinally met when I ing a seagull. When I went to Vancouver went to see what was for an Exclaim! gig up, there was featuring Destroyer Nardwuar, face beetaround '98. red, jumping up and interviews, I guess). Anyway he would send Nardwuar interviewed me for CITR and down around the room to the point that me VHS tapes of his interviews. They were then helped MC our show at the Starfish his signature cap fell off. In those days, he done totally low budget but I thought they Room. For some reason he really wanted had loads of long wiggy hair and it was flywere hilarious, combining his crazy energy me to come up on stage, which I wasn't ing around him like Dumbo ears. I almost and the manic Nardwuar over-researched going to let happen. Of course, Nardwuar thought he'd fly away.... barrage of questions we've come to know won.

Stuart Derdeyn Music Critic and love. I thought it was perfect for Much A number of years later, in 2001 I was The Province Newspaper and immediately pitched him to the people back for Mint's 10th anniversary gig at the Vancouver BC in charge. Nardwuar belonged on Much.

Commodore. The next morning Nardwar He was young, cutting edge, subversive, took a group of us out to his favourite ardwuar: I'm not sure when I first funny and not the type of on-air personaliNorth Vancouver diner which had some became aware of Nardwuar. It was ty that would be hired by any other broadkind of bad-taste Native Canadian motif. probably around the time I purchased the caster. To my shock and dismay, none of My parnter, Atsuko, and one-year-old

I

N

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FRESH BREATH OF MINT Fall 2007

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daughter, Aya, came along. Nardwuar insisted we each order this enormous meat, potato, egg, pancake platter that appeared to have everything the restaurant made on one plate. It was disgusting. Nardwuar had to keep up appearances so he ordered it himself and explained that if you're going to eat the whole thing you can't take any breaks. When it became clear Nardwuar wasn't going to come close, first he tried to get our one-year-old daughter to help eat some bacon (see photo) and then diverted our attention and cleared the plate off into a bussing bin when most people weren't looking. Our daughter is now 7 and I think this was the incident that convinced her to become a vegetarian at a very young age. Thank you Nardwuar!

Ian Danzig

Publisher Exclaim! Magazine

T

he first time I met Nardwuar was in the loading dock area outside Porter Hall at Carleton Ian Danzig’s University when the Evaporators and Cub were playing there in the mid-90s. I was the music director at CKCU-FM and was excited to meet a fellow campus radio music director from across the country. I was a bit disappointed that he wasn't in character and was placid and demure.

The next five times I met him he kept on bugging me to get his demo tape to Tom Green, which I eventually did.

Shawn Scallen

promoter/revolution rock co-owner/end hits photographer/scallen.com

B

efore the certainty of adulthood I spent all of my years up in the Northernmost tip — the most sensitive area — of British Columbia. I was an odd child. Before the doubt set in I was rather religious in my teenaged years, even more heavily than my parents ever were. I looked forward to the trips I would take to the varying levels of Youth Group conferences. It was at one of these larger conferences that I met Ken. I struck up a kinship with Ken which led me to visit him in the big city. Ken was around my tender age yet he had a huge brown beard. Ken collected empty packages of Thrills bubble gum, the kind that tasted like a pleasant soap, and put them up on his wall to form its' name: "Thrills." This may have been Ken's tongue in cheek

28 Fall 2007 FRESH BREATH OF MINT

mantra. Ken wore pyjama shirts out in public. Ken liked The Residents. Ken knew things. Ken could even ride the bus around the city alone. Ken knew his way around.

Ken took me to a club to see No Fun play.

I had first heard No Fun late at night on CBC Radio on a show called Night Lines with David Wisdom. No Fun was obsessed with Gorgo Gum, a gum that was green and had a monster on the wrapper. Night Lines saved me in those searching years up North as it opened me up to all kinds of music that didn't fall within narrow margins. Everything else that was readily available just didn't seem very interesting or charming, I had to dig. This offered a sense of escape from secluded desolation, that there was more out there and that maybe one day I could even be part of it. You must understand that it wasn't so easy to find this music back then. The Internet was still years away from public use, the military-industrial complex was still covertly

daughter

developing it as a mind control tool and information gathering resource. People are so lucky today, one could be starving from malnutrition in a Third World village but the World Wide Web is there to amuse and make that time go by just a little bit faster.

We take so much for granted nowadays.

A most unfortunate mix in my personality at that time of an overactive mind, small town naivete, immaturity, social awkwardness, and obsessively wound up nattering boiled to the surface one frustrating evening with an endless stream of poop jokes that I knew were terrible but a lack of self control propelled me. Due to such unacceptable behaviour Ken's friends quickly became very put off by me, the visiting newcomer. This greatly embarrassed Ken. Ken had a lot to deal with as is so he made his grim decision to not have me around anymore. I made sure that Ken wouldn't see my tears. Before this pivotal coming-of-age event went down, Ken had

the foresight to show me a business card.

This card was elegant in its' simplicity, black ink on white stock with just a name and a phone number. It would be most improper to reveal the telephone number here in this public forum but the name was Nardwuar The Human Serviette. Even just the name was intriguing. This name said plenty. I simply had to meet this Nardwuar.

A lot of time would pass before I did.

It is difficult to recall any specific details whatsoever of our first meeting. He talked incessantly yet my ears were ringing too much to absorb anything that he said. I know where we met but that's only through details keyed in from subsequent visits when he wasn't around. I don't even know the circumstances. I was too overcome. He seemed to be radiating a blinding flash of beauty. He was gorgeous. No man or woman could resist him. He just glowed, y'know. Some people have that quality, that charismatic cult of personality.

It was literally too much, like some blistering fever dream, like being caught in the ocean with waves crashing over you yet feeling safe, like no harm could ever come to you. They didn't have this back home! It took a few visits to adjust myself. He has been just so, so very incredibly supportive to me and so many others over the years whether it be through my zines, musical acts or whatever else arose or yet arise. I owe him so much. Yet still I feel that I cannot be in his company for extended periods of time due to what punters call being "too much."

There are very little more selfish and repugnant deeds than the sheer act of having children but for speculation's sake let's just say that I had a child one day. I do not need to spread the virus of humanity around to wrongly prove that I am a responsible adult, this is just pure speculation. And let's say that I had to give this child some form of name so that when I called it, it would answer. I would most certainly give this wee creature, this life like being, the name of Sue or something equally disposable. Anything but Nardwuar. I wouldn't name it Nardwuar The Human Serviette. There can only be one Nardwuar The Human Serviette. His Mother knew that when she named him and we know that.

For more information see the 2005

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Academy Award Winning CGI short NFB film entitled Nardwuar.

Robert Dayton

Canned Hamm, July 4th Toilet, Hallmark, By Candlelight

I

've worked with Nardwuar for almost 10 years, in that time co-conspiring over countless interviews, trading peculiar gossip and insight and documenting his adventures. I've lauded his skills and methods at length to classrooms full of journalism students and I've stolen stuff from Courtney Love's birthday party to send to him while he was in the hospital. I've helped get him on the cover of Chart Magazine and I've even been thanked in his DVD. After all this, I've only ever met Nardwuar once. It was in 2004, right after The Evaporators played a gig at the Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto. I introduced myself and stuck out my hand, Nard shook it... and then apologized for being sweaty.

It took me a couple seconds to process the tactile sensation, but yes, he was sweaty. Very, very sweaty. He apologized again for being sweaty. It was definitely a little bit uncomfortable. But I'm fine with it.

Some people it's OK that their sweat gets on you.

Nardwuar was working at Scratch for parking money, inflicting store customers & punk kids with the Honeymoon Suite catalog at high volume — complete with air guitar moves from his perch on top of the record bins. Nardwuar also was responsible for forcing Scratch quite rightfully to have a Local Music section. Rock on JR, and thanks!

Keith Parry Scratch Records

I

remember when Sebastian Bach, the lead singer of Sarnia’s metal band Skid Row in in the States stole Nardwuar’s hat, his favourite toque, one of his golf hats.

Nardwuar just lost it. That was when I realized that the clothes he was wearing he was intending to wear for life, and he must have said something to him because he took it and flung it and it disappeared. He was crushed. That was all he talked about for a long time.

Aaron Brophy Chart Magazine

I

t would have been 1988 I would guess, and the band I was playing in, Silent Gathering, were playing a show at the Paramount Theater in New Westminster, BC. But even at that stage Nardwuar was the penultimate dedicated supporter and documenter of Canadiana and the notion of "doing it for the kids" — The Paramount Theater in the burbs was a peculiar venue for small original bands such as the one I was in, but it was an all ages show. So Nardwuar was there, HandyCam in hand. He knew of the Scratch store, I knew of his fabulous Friday CITR radio terrorism, so that night we met.

A couple of weeks later Nard showed up at Scratch with a VHS tape of Silent Gathering's performance at the Paramount.

The tape also had an hour or so of specially Nard-selected rare rock, garage, and psych footage from his vaults. Amboy Dukes, Chesterfield Kings, Gruesomes — not sure what else. I still have the tape in the basement somewhere. It was an incredibly kind gesture. It was not long afterwards that

I also remember the first time I took him on a film set. There were so many ways to piss people off: you can take somebody's coffee mug, or you can eat the last sandwich from a tray. Nardwuar came on set and I think we were on the set of Are We There Yet. And I remember doing the interview with Ice Cube, and I step back, and in comes Nardwuar, and the room starts to fill with people: publicists, makeup, wardrobe.

They could not believe the show he was putting on. The guy had no idea what hit him. He was showing him his life story.

And as he brought out these prized possessions, his voice would rise up another octave, until it was Tiny Tim-esque, a high C. The publicists looked at me, and she said, "What is it? Who is this man?"

And I hoped and prayed that Nardwuar wouldn't screw it up and say something to offend everybody and have Ice Cube stomp off and leave. But he was good. What nardwuar didn't know was he was dancing a

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fine line between being a hero and being thrown out.

Oh, and, again, Snoop Dogg. I interviewed Snoop later in Los Angeles for a movie, and I said "I bring you greetings from Nardwuar." All of a sudden his head came up. "He is one crazy motherfucker."

At first glance, Nardwuar might seem clownish, a caricature, an amateur, but he is none of those. He is one of a kind in a cookie cutter business. And he has survived and thrived doing it his way. If I was wearing a hat, Id tip it.

Terry David Mulligan

I

'd heard of this Nardwuar character long before I actually laid eyes on him. Every time someone went to Canada, they'd come back saying things like, "Do you know Nardwuar the Human Serviette? Just wait till you meet him, you're not going to believe this guy."

The funny thing was that no one could or would say just exactly what was so amazing about the legendary Mr. Nardwuar. I'd press them on the issue, and it would be as though words had completely failed them, something I understood when I finally made the man's acquaintance myself.

It was the spring of 1994, and my band, the Potatomen, were playing a show with Andrew WK the Queers at a community centre in east Vancouver. I was expecting to be met by Grant Lawrence of the Smugglers, but the first person to greet me (apart from a spare changer who flummoxed us Americans by repeatedly telling us what sounded like "You guys are loony" but apparently was meant to be "You got a loonie?") was Nardwuar himself.

I immediately saw why he'd made such an impression on others who'd met him before, and also why they'd had such a hard time describing him. Most description depends on comparing the unfamiliar person or object to something that is already known, but when it comes to Nardwuar, there's nothing to compare him with. At least not that I've encountered so far.

What I found most remarkable about Nardwuar, quite apart from his performance with the Evaporators in which he lectured us about the United Empire Loyalists and the secret plans the Americans had drawn up for invading Vancouver, was his FRESH BREATH OF MINT Fall 2007

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boundless enthusiasm and curiosity about everything. He quizzed me about obscure bands from my hometown of Detroit until it became obvious that he knew more about them than I did, at which point he started schooling me on the subject.

I'm not sure if it was on that trip or a later one when Nardwuar decided he had to interview me for his radio show, and that it had to be done on a street corner in downtown Vancouver as scores of drunken hockey fans went streaming by. A couple of them stopped, bemused by Nardwuar's, shall we say, florid and demonstrative interview style. One of them got a bit hostile until Nardwuar managed to convince him that I was "the famous Larry Livermore" and that meeting me would be something the man could brag about when he got home that night.

"Oh, yeah, I think I seen him on TV," the guy finally ventured, still vaguely suspecting he was the butt of some joke that he was never likely to understand. At that point Nardwuar convinced him to pose for a picture for me, a big improvement over punching my lights out, which was what I had feared was coming a moment earlier.

On still another trip, Nardwuar gave me a book about Neil Young called Don't Be Denied: The Canadian Years, autographed by the man himself (Neil Young, that is, not Nardwuar). For some reason I never got around to reading it until recently, but when I finally did, my appreciation for Nardwuar was rekindled all over again.

It was a very low-key story about the couple of years Neil Young spent playing in a garage band in Winnipeg and Northern Ontario before becoming a star in the USA, but it left me glowing with memories and inspiration from all the bands and all the dreamers in basements and garages across the land, and helped me see once again the love for that music that I'm pretty sure is the driving force behind nearly everything Nardwuar says and does.

The man is a national treasure, hell, an international one as well, and a profoundly beautiful human being. God bless Canada for producing and nurturing him, and long may he keep on rocking in the free world.

Larry Livermore

I

am honoured to have been asked to share my anecdote of how I first met

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Nardwuar for this, the special 20th anniversary commemorative feature celebrating one of the most unlikely media stars.

As a CiTR alumnus from way back in the day, I have listened to the station consistently since for over 25 years. One day, while moving into a new apartment (this would have been circa 1988) I heard a shrill-voiced manchild doing a telephone interview with a man named Alan. Alan, it turned out, was a member of Brit electropop superstars Depeche Mode. Depeche Mode were massive at the time. "People are People" had hit #1 in various countries around the world, they were playing sellout gigs to 90,000 people, they were causing riots at in-stores at Tower Records with 15,000+ fans showing up. For whatever reason their keyboard player Alan ended up doing a phoner with a young cub reporter at CiTR. Back then few musicians, let alone superstars, would bother doing inter-

views with campus stations. So when I heard the interviewer with the unusual name let loose with the question: "Alan of Depeche Mode, how many people have died at a Depeche Mode concert?" my ears perked up.

It's not that it was necessarily a good question. It's not that it was a bad question. It's that it was a questioned that seemed to defy logic yet completely disarmed the guest, and the listener.

I continued listening to CiTR and reading Discorder, monitoring the work of this Nardwuar character. I recall that he did a piece for Discorder entitled "soaps of the stars" in which he asked members of various bands in Vancouver what brand of soap they used. That was the whole piece. Some were Dove gals, some were Pears men, some were the Irish Spring sort....it was a fascinating piece of consumer research. His PSA (public service announcement) for tenants' rights, using the Dead Kennedys'

"Let's Lynch the Landlord" as the music bed was also favourite from that era. As I pieced these things together in my mind I wondered if perhaps a revolution was in the making.

Since that time I have listened to the Nardwuar show on Friday afternoons with a quasi-religious dedication. It didn't seem to matter who was on his show...whether I'd heard of them or not, whether I had an interest in the topic or not, whether they were combative, co-operative, or completely confused, from a listener's point of view it was riveting. Somewhere in there he and I met and became friends and co-conspirators, rabidly researching upcoming interviewees, going on treasure hunts for minutiae, and kneading our bizarre findings into questions for interviews.

That's if you can call a Q&A session with Nardwuar an interview. It's more like an audit, in which the interviewee is put into the hot seat, not with damning evidence but with seemingly inconsequential trivia that they themselves often don't recall until repeatedly prodded. Whereas other media personalities either aim to ingratiate themselves to the celebrity slash interviewee Nardwuar's objective is to go where no man has gone before, to ask the questions no one else dares to ask, or would even know to ask, and to be unafraid in the face CSS of the answers, insults, and/or threats of physical violence. This is not the socratic irony of Borat or Ali G, in which the interviewer's "character" plays dumb to highlight the prejudices of the interviewee or catch him/her off guard. This is not Tom Green milking a cow with with his mouth or bringing a dead raccoon in a paper bag onto a national talk show for shock value. This is Nardwuar. He is his own category. And as he is always the first to say 'if I can do it, anyone can do it".

The difference is, he has done it. With unparalleled depth, flair, and unpredictability for 20 years. He is a thumbtack in the padded cushion of celebrity. May he keep on mocking, squawking, and rocking in the free world for many more years to come.

Leora Kornfeld

G

od it was so long ago. I first met him at a show in Vancouver during New Music West. He was already writing for us

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then. Beyond that the details are sketchy at best. He did make the cover of our 15th Anniversary issue which tells you how much we care for him.

Ed Skira

Chart Magazine

M

y first encounter with Nardwuar was fateful, to say the least; thanks to Nardwuar, I was fired from my second job in broadcasting. I was a producer on a pop culture program on CBC, and I kept insisting to the producer that Nardwuar was a must-have on our show. The producer found Nardwuar annoying (which, in hindsight, I can understand), and told me that if I kept on the Nardwuar tip, I would have to find another job. He canned me the following week.

However, I'd like to think if I hadn't been fired from that job, I would not have pursued the career path that I did, the same one that found me calling Nardwuar in the fall of 1999 and insisting that he interview the legLeslie Hall endary James Brown for MuchMusic.

Initially, Nardwuar refused. He was recuperating from a brain haemorrhage, and was reluctant to start interviewing again.

But I thought such a match-up would be legendary, the sort of thing that people would talk about for years to come. Such a epic opportunity demanded diligence, so I pursued Nardwuar. I called him every day for 3 weeks. Essentially, I Nardwuar'ed Nardwuar, until he agreed to do it.

The night the Godfather of Soul was to play, Nardwuar, his friend and I arrived at the Queen E. We'd spent weeks securing an interview time with JB's management, and finally they had consented to a 6pm interview. But when Nardwuar, his friend and I arrived at the Queen E, we discovered that Mr. James Brown (which is, as we later found out, what EVERYONE in his organization calls him without any abbreviation) and his handlers, despite our best efforts to confirm an interview time, had no idea we'd be there. So they put us in a room, and shut the door, and left us. For hours.

At this point, I should explain that sometimes Nardwuar brings props to his interviews; they may be old albums, dolls, odd musical instruments. When that's not enough, he brings his friends, the ones that own the old album, dolls and musical

instruments that he uses as props.

Normally, they tag along because they're afraid to let this stuff out of their site, and particularly in Nardwuar's care. His friend in this case, was the owner of prime James Brown memorabilia; a 45 of a James Brown single from 1958 that didn't feature his face because it was not yet kosher for black people to be seen on albums; an original poster from a Mexican TV show that James Brown appeared on in 1965. It was the kind of stuff this dude hoarded, and it was apparent he'd foregone the trappings of any kind of normal life so he could live in his parent's basement and carefully preserve these precious artefacts. It was Nardwuar's plan to reveal this stuff to Mr. Brown, if that meeting ever happened, which, judging from how long we were spending in the basement of the QET, was growing less and less likely.

That is, until one of Mr. Brown's handlers arrived, a enormous man with an

ironic nickname like Tiny or Slim or something like that. He informed us that Mr. Brown had to practice harmonies with his back-up singers The Bittersweets, and that he would have no time for us. He said he had to leave for a few moments, but he would return to escort us out. Before he could go, though, Nardwuar ripped the precious souvenirs from his friend's hands and shoved them into Tiny's hands. "Please let Mr. Brown see this," he said. I immediately felt a pang of anxiety shoot through me, since I knew that a) his friend was about to have an aneurysm over the way Nardwuar handled his stuff, and b) we probably weren't going to see that stuff again. Nardwuar, never one for self-reflection, figured it was a noble sacrifice for such a legendary figure.

But soon enough, Tiny returned to "guide" us out (code for make sure we left).

We started up the stairs when a man even bigger than Tiny suddenly appeared at the

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top of the steps. 'YOU!" he said to us "DON'T GO ANYWHERE!" He conveyed such menace that as he descended the steps I feared perhaps we'd become part of Hoffa-esque folklore; years from now, people would tell apochryphal tales of the three guys who disappeared in the bowels of the QET just before the James Brown show, never to be seen again.

Instead, this gargantuan man (whom I believed was named Sugar‌just Sugar, no surname) stared at us accusingly. Then his face softened, and he said, "Mr. Brown will see you now. He wants to know where you got all that cool stuff." His face was less about homicidal menace than general annoyance that the boss had sent him to fetch. I reminded myself that I did not want to ever make Sugar angry, since I know for a fact that would not like him when he was angry.

Sugar led us onto the stage of QET, where, sitting at the piano, surrounding by six or seven buxom black women, sat none other than the MAN himself, the Eighth Wonder of the World, the one who paid the cost to be the boss, Mr. JAMES! FUCKING! BROWN! I actually remember little of the interview. Seeing action unfold through a camera viewfinder creates a certain distance between yourself and the events you record. What I do remember is running over with Nardwuar, who pushed a few of the Bittersweets aside, and immediately asked "Who are you?"

Nardwuar spoke with James for 40 minutes. He asked him about his restaurant chain in Georgia, he asked him about (ASK NARDWUAR ABOUT ANOTHER TOPIC THEY COVERED). Mr. Brown even signed Nardwuar's friend's stuff and gave it back. He even took a picture with Nardwuar and I, which I still have to this day. I think I was mute video witness to two icons falling in love.

As Tiny escorted us out, he turned to us and said "That was an amazing interview.

He hasn't talked that long with an interview since 1983. And THAT interview was with Mike Wallace."

Nardwuar was quiet for a second, and then, in a quiet voice that sounded more surprised than boastful, said, "I think I'm back on the horse." At the time, there was no way for me to know how true that was.

Chris Nelson

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runner, he's not going to make anyone forhat I love most about Nardwuar is get Roger Bannister. Long after everyone that, even though he can't go out to else had crossed the finish line, and the a club without being mobbed (or at least event staff had packed up and gone home, accosted; or, in the case of the Cobalt, havNardwuar finally appeared on the horizon. ing someone try to pee on him), he's actuThat says a lot about Nardwuar and his ally a man of mystery. The first inkling I determination to finish what he's started, got of this was when he was just out of the which also helps explain why he's been able hospital and recovering from his brain to accomplish what he has on MuchMusic aneurysm. I was doing a story on him for and the Evaporators. I'm not entirely sure Saturday Night Magazine, which involved what "Cynthia" makes of Nardwuar's lucky me going to his house. He suggested we do chestnut, secret room, refusal to sing before the interview in a room that he adamantly noon, theories on what happens when a didn't want mentioned in the story. The fork falls in the forest, or obsession with reason: even though the room was in his Cleopatra Von Fluffenstein, but somehow house, he argued that most people-includit seems appropriate to let all that remain a ing at least one of his parents-didn't know mystery. it existed. Because the whole thing was cloaked in secrecy, I don't remember much Mike Usinger today about how we got to the secret Georgia Straight Music Editor chamber — I think Nardwuar went to a bookcase, put his hands on a copy of Love remember first meeting Nardwuar back Don't Live Here No More: Book One of in the late 90s, I think it was '99, shortly Doggy Tales by Snoop Dogg, and, presto, the after I began my all-Canadian show on bookcase swung aside. The room looked CiTR, The Canadian Way (which, back like the world's coolest record store, packed with obscure vinyl, all Silversun Pickups hanging on the wall the way they used to at stores like Collector's RPM and Odyssey Imports. I'm not sure, but I think he had some sort of cheese-making apparatus set up in the corner, next to a life-size cutout of James Brown and an elaborate shrine to the Pointed Sticks.

A couple of years back, I did a cover story Nardwuar for the Georgia Straight. I told him I wanted to meet his mother and interview her at their home. I promised not to then, was called The Northern Wish, after mention the secret room to her. At first he the Rheostatics song). He was the said it was out of the question. Finally, he Volunteer Coordinator back then, and I gave in, but only if I agreed to meet her at would always see him in one of the other the Tomahawk Restaurant. When I got studios, training the newbies. Since I origithere, Nardwuar was visibly on edge. To nally started in campus radio at CFUV, I maintain his cloak of secrecy, he insisted was quickly slotted into a show when I that his mother (whose name starts with an came to UBC. As a result, I didn't really O, in case you didn't know) be referred to meet Nardo until that fateful morning. as "Cynthia". Again, I was instructed that Anyway, I had just inroduced a new segcertain things about Nardwuar were to ment to my show, called Vintage remain secret. His conviction about the Vancouver (it had the Smugglers' correct way to eat a Skookum Chief burger, "Vancouver, B.C." as it's theme...), where I however, was not one of them. On that scavenged our vinyl library and played old front, I received explicit instructions, tunes from Vancouver bands and told a bit including the importance of proceeding about the band's history. I was featuring directly to the washroom upon finishing to the Modernettes on this particular show wash the grease, mayo, bacon fat, pickle and Nardwuar burst into the studio while juice, and whatever else off one's hands. the song "Rebel Kind" was playing: One of my all-time favourite Nardwuar "Aren't these guys great!" Nardo stories came out of that lunch. "Cynthia" exclaimed, and without missing a beat, he recounted the time Nardwuar took part in launched into an exhaustive and meandera high-school marathon. Evidently, as a ing story about bassist Mary-Jo Kopechne's

I

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awkward interview with Wayne Cox on CKVU's old Vancouver show (what happened to good, old-fashioned local variety show TV, that it has been completely relegated to Shaw cable..?).

"I don't think I ever saw that one," I said. I was barely in my teens when the show originally aired. Just part of the reason I was obsessing over old Vancouver music from the 70s and 80s at that time, I guess — I was playing catch up.

"Oh, I have that on tape. I'll bring you a copy!" Nardwuar quickly offered.

"That'd be great, thanks!" I said, and promptly forgot about it as Nardwuar left the studio, his voice booming as he walked down the hallway.

Next week I came in to do my show, and Nardwuar was waiting for me in the studio.

He had a VHS tape in his hand, labeled in sharpie marker: To: Mike From: Nardwuar.

"This is the Modernettes interview I told you about," Nardo exclaimed. "You'll love it! Oh, and I also put some other stuff on there." I thanked him and he burst out of the studio. I played Slow on that episode's Vintage Vancouver and I could hear Nardwuar's voice from the other studio: "Remind me to tell you about Hamm sometime!"

I get home and pop the tape in my machine. Lo and behold, there's the Vancouver interview, complete with performances, as well as two more hours of various Modernettes material, sprinkled with stuff from other long-departed local bands he interviewed back on his cable access days.

The Canadian Way is now on Fridays, an hour after Nardwuar the Human Serviette Presents, and our paths cross often now.

Sometimes he shares a story about a local band, or someone he just interviewed.

Sometimes he has words of advice about the editorial direction of Discorder, the CiTR program guide, which I now edit.

But always the discussion is interesting and informative, if not migraine-inducing.

But as memorable as each of my interactions with Nardwuar are, nothing sticks in my mind quite like that introduction to him and how we bonded over old bands from Vancouver.

Happy Anniversary on CiTR, Nardwuar!

Cheers,

Spike

Host, The Canadian Way Editor, Discorder Magazine FRESH BREATH OF MINT Fall 2007

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Carolyn Mark Nothing Is Free CD out now

...one of the Great White North's brightest purveyors of twangy alt-country.... Her fifth record is, to put it simply, fun. You'll find yourself smiling, laughing and singing along to nearly every track here.... “1 Thing” is a rollicking line-dancingapproved track about love, while “Pictures Of 5” is a simple acoustic number with more energy and enthusiasm than pretty much any new-country disc.... But the disc isn't just fun for her fans; it sounds like Mark is having a blast, too. Even slower songs like “Point Of View” are loose and casual; she sounds relaxed, as if she's sitting around a campfire with her friends.

– Now, Toronto

painting by Kelly Haigh www.carolynmark.com

Immaculate Machine + Friends impromptu softball game Vancouver, BC

The Choir Practice practicing before the Victory Square Block Party Vancouver, BC THAT MAGAZINE FROM MINT RECORDS • www.mintrecs.com

FRESH BREATH OF MINT Fall 2007

35

Colour him i n!

Make h beeyou im tiful!

(The s only! e outfits a welc You are m re sugges ome to cr ore than tions eate you o wn!)

Mint PO B Records Vanc ox 3613 ation Ca ouver e r c r u o y f o , BC nada Take a photo it to Mint: V6B ail m r e h it e 3Y6 d n a it to l i a or ema@ shen ecs.com r mint Winners to be announced December 3, 2007 — determined by a jury comprising Mint Records personnel and Nardwuar! r/ Photos remain property of the sende is contest entrant, but Mint Records permitted to use them online and in the next Mint zine!

36 Fall 2007 FRESH BREATH OF MINT

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deadlin ef entries or Dec. 1, : 2007

2 winners will receive:

a trio of limited edition Nardwuar floatie pens! a trio of Mint’s Do the Mint Twist samplers! an autographed Nardwuar Welcome to My Castle DVD! a Steven Keene painting! a Mint Records party mug made from 100% corn plastic!

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FRESH BREATH OF MINT Fall 2007

37

Pre-awkwardness, circa the Zig Zag years.

It’s hard to be hip when your dad’s a VJ.

By Kate Siobhan Mulligan

T

he word “mulligan,” in golf, means a second chance. In my father’s case, it’s also a fitting name for a former Mountie turned legendary Canadian DJ of the ’60s and ’70s, and the first Canadian VJ of the ’80s and ’90s.

Despite the fact that my dad was something of a Canadian music icon — who interviewed everyone from Jimi Hendrix to Frank Zappa on shows like Good Rockin’ Tonight and MuchWest — I was an extravagantly geeky child, and this bewildered everyone. The offspring of a music guru and Ms. Burnaby 1967 should not strut around in vests with pictures of cats on them or have such awkwardly big ears.

As fate would have it, the term mulligan would one day become suitable for me. My father was determined not to let my nerdiness ruin a musical inheritance that should rightfully be mine.

Pop music ABCs

My parents lived in posh West Vancouver and were determined to raise their four children next to the ocean. Because I was the baby girl I was invisible to my brothers, so I was left to explore the world on my own.

I usually chose to excavate the piles of music in my father’s office. In the five houses we inhabited, each office was essentially the same: wood floors, bright windows, CDs in no particular order stacked high above my head, autographs and photos strewn about, and his computer and recording equipment in the middle of it all. Every CD known to man was amassed in these offices. Later, my older brothers would secretly pawn hundreds of them at a time for beer money. I would examine CD covers and liner notes until bedtime but it was a different language to me: why is David Bowie wearing make-up? How could Stevie Nicks be a girl? What’s a Sex Pistol?

Regardless of my lack of musical intellect (probably due to my mere seven years on the earth) my father hired me to work in his home office. My job was to sort all those CDs into alphabetical order for what was, at the time, a massive $5 an hour. During these long, seemingly endless days, I learned the names of many bands that I wouldn’t listen to for another decade. My father would drink wine and tinker on his computer, occasionally messing my hair and telling me that The Rolling Stones goes under R, not T. I would smile my cross-bite smile, squint at him through my eyeglasses, and appreciate the attention.

My father loved me through these gawky and spandex-ridden years. He dreamt music, he thought music, he talked music, but he found a way to love me through my foreign language of Dork. That said, we also had our own particular kind of shared experiences. We’d learned, for example, to master com-

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FRESH BREATH OF MINT Fall 2007

39

fortable silences, sitting quietly in our car, while other people would pull up and yell “TDM!” through their rolled-down windows.

Occasionally homeless people would come squeegee our windshield and then ask for an autograph.

Or there were other, more homegrown moments. Sometimes my dad would flip on the radio, get me to snap along to the rhythm of some bluesy number, and then turn it off for 30 seconds. If I was still on beat when he turned it back on, I got spoiled rotten.

I want it that way

“Spoiled rotten” was what my father used to say to lure me into doing pretty much anything. I spent most of my late childhood backstage, my nose stuck in the latest Goosebumps book, waiting for the spoiling to begin. My father would tote me in like a suitcase and prop me up on an amp, and I would morph into a tiny fumbling secretary.

I would write things down, hand things to people and field phone calls. Occasionally he would use me as a desk: my back was the surface and my pockets were the drawers. But if I behaved, I would end up on TV, usually just standing to the side looking dorky in whatever vest I was wearing that day.

Sometimes I would wave. Sometimes I would fall down. Sometimes I got to talk and say “Coming up next!” as excitedly as I could muster. All the time, I remained as uncool as possible.

It wasn’t until I was 12 that I learned to work a radio. And I fell in love with the first song that rattled my little ears. Unfortunately, it was “Quit Plain’ Games (With My Heart)” by the Backstreet Boys. It would be four long years until my heart stopped jumping at the thought of Brian Littrell’s dimples and soulmelting high notes. I’m pretty sure my father was ashamed to be seen with me during this time. But I’d finally fallen in love with music.

Terrible music, but it was still music, and my father noted this. Although my taste made him cringe, I had started to speak his language, and he nurtured that as best he could.

And it worked, because not too much later, my musical tastes took a sharp turn.

Sweet child

It started in my grade-nine drama class. The assignment was to perform a lip-synched song to the assembled school at lunchtime.

My group picked “Paradise City” by Guns n’ Roses. I was chosen to be Axl Rose for my manly good looks and my unusual level of tolerance for mockery. To memorize the words to the eight-minute song, I listened to it every night in my room for a month. The Backstreet Boys stared down at me from their posters on the wall, looking slightly disappointed and very lonely.

40 Fall 2007 FRESH BREATH OF MINT

But when the moment came for my group to perform, I had become Axl Rose. Clad in a ripped-up monster-truck T-shirt, a red bandana, tight short shorts, fake tattoos and a beard made of dark brown eye shadow, I took the stage with the rest of the gang. I loved every second of it: from nailing Axl’s trademark shuffle to high-fiving the audience, to the cheers and the laughter, I ate it up.

When my father saw the video of the performance, he said he had never been so proud. Except, perhaps, that I was dressed as a man and seemed to be enjoying it.

Teen Spirit

So I abandoned BSB at the gates of GNR. Guns n’ Roses took my adolescent hand and flung me into the decade-old ’80s hair band world, ruled by groups like Twisted Sister, Mötley Crüe and Bon Jovi. My whole style and attitude changed. I decorated myself with studded things. I got a piercing and a tattoo. I wore raver jeans so big they doubled as a sleeping bag. I said words like “man” and “dude” and “rock on.”

My father took the cue, and led me even farther back in time. He would show me old videos of himself interviewing Jimi Hendrix, or photos of him drinking with Janis Joplin. He left Led Zeppelin, Clash, and Doors CDs on my pillow. He would call me into his office and make me sit on the floor and listen to vinyl records before dinner. At the table, he would quiz me about what I’d just listened to before I was allowed desert. I was eating it up. Once I had an appetite for rock and roll, he carefully began to serve up sides of renowned musicians from other genres — Miles Davis, John Coltrane, B.B. King, CCR, J. Geils, Van Morrison, The Rolling Stones, Muddy Waters, Pink Floyd, Duke Ellington, and Bob Dylan. He was teaching me how to speak music.

Jesus Rock(s)

My father was unrelenting about the whole ordeal. My brothers had settled into Rage Against The Machine, and my dad longed for a protégé, someone with whom he could unpack his decades of experience in rock, blues and jazz. Being the youngest daughter, I was an unlikely candidate, but the venture promised much spoiling. So I began to stow away in his office and make my own mix tapes and radio shows. I taught myself to use the soundboard, and I had an endless supply of CDs to rummage through for material. Back then, the equipment only recorded to tape cassettes, so I ditched my CD player and went retro. My mixed tapes were a hit at school. I was becoming my father’s daughter.

Soon my ’80s phase progressed into an overall love for rock and blues around the time I was 16. I had also become a bornagain Christian at summer camp. My dad says the conversion started when I was 12, when I spent the two-hour drive home from camp “quoting scripture.” I was baptized at 16. I had pulled a serious mulligan.

This caused much tension in the house, considering my oldest brother had become a Buddhist on his travels in Thailand.

Christmas is still quite the experience. I became a strange teenager who had impeccable musical tastes, was nicknamed “the rockstar” and hitchhiked to a Christian youth group Wednesday nights. I never found a problem between the music I listened to and what I believed in. To me, Music and Jesus met in the middle and high-fived.

For the record

I pulled a few more mulligans by the time high school was out. When I dropped ballet for snowboarding, my dad said OK. When I traded my geeky multicoloured glasses in for trendy black emo frames, he said cool. When I traded spandex for ripped jeans, he said thank god. When I turned 18, my parents gave me a leather jacket, a plane ticket to anywhere, a bottle of Jack Daniels and a certificate for a tattoo. The tattoo became a music note on my hip. But the ultimate gift was the night of my prom/grad dance, when I was presented with my graduation present.

While my friends and classmates got brand new cars or big time cheques, at the Mulligan household, I got spoiled rotten.

After we popped a bottled of Dom Perignon, my dad gave me my first record player. It was fully restored into an aged brown leather suitcase, with speakers on the side, making it portable and incredibly unique. The gift came as an announcement to the world that I was now fluent in two languages.

In my recent times, my father and I have traded roles. He taught me how to speak Music. He taught me to love records; in fact, record shopping on Main Street is now a Boxing Day tradition for all the Mulligan kids. He taught me to listen to everything: the words, the rhythm, the spaces between the notes. Now, he has to sit patiently as I teach him how to use an iPod. He fidgets and stares at me blankly. I ruffle what’s left of his hair and tell him that The Rolling Stones will show up under R, not T.

T

his article originally appeared in the August 7, 2007 issue of TheTyee.ca.

Reprinted with permission of the author and TheTyee.ca

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ardwuar the Human Serviette: a riddle wrapped in an enigma... sprinkled liberally with maple leaves and question marks. What, in the name of Gene Kiniski, is up with him and his whole darn program? One might well ask.

Now, I’ve known (or known of ) Nardwuar since he was just a moist towelette and I must say, I’ve been impressed with his rise from general nuisance to something approaching elder statesmanhood. Hell, I even tried voting for him as one of the CBC’s 7 Wonders of Canada, but they seemed to be unwilling to include humans (or serviettes).

Anyway, I was inspired to interview Nardwuar for a couple of reasons. Firstly, I just thought it would kind of cool to turn the tables on him for a change. And secondly, I hearkened back to March of 2006... I had just spent a week at the SXSW music festival, but when I returned no one wanted to hear about any of the bands or shows I had seen; instead they had heard that I had been Nardwuar’s roommate, and they were all curious as to what it was like to spend a week in close proximity to a living legend (to set the record straight, it was a nightmare... I was forbidden to address him directly unless he had spoken to me first... I had to turn my face to the wall if he was walking by... and once, when I inadvertently made eye contact with him, he had several of his thugs lay a sound thrashing upon me... and that’s I’m prepared to say about that). The general public’s curiosity about Nardwuar is understanding. Nardwuar the Human Serviette asks questions, he doesn’t answer them... until now.

Andrew: Who is Nardwuar the Human Serviette?

Nardwuar: I am Nardwuar the Human Serviette!

class when Scott Livingstone, future Evaporators drummer, asked if I wanted to start a band with him. Our debut was the school’s “Variety Show” where we played The Cramps “Human Fly” and The Sonics Andrew: Why is Nardwuar the “Shot Down.’’ I was the president of my Serviette?

Student Council so I got to organize lots of Nardwuar: Nardwuar = a dumb stoopid punk gigs for the kids in high school with name. Like Sting or Sebadoh or Sinbad. amazing bands like The Enigmas and “Human” is in honour of the Cramps song Villains. However the first non-high school “Human Fly”; “Serviette” = they don’t have concert I promoted, “Barbarella Serviettes in the USA, only napkins!

Psychadella,” was on August 23rd 1987 at the Arts Club Lounge on Seymour Street in Andrew: Which came first, Nardwuar Vancouver, featuring, among others, The the musician, Nardwuar the guerilla Evaporators and Grant Lawrence of the interviewer or Nardwuar the show Smuggler’s first band, The One Eyed Jacks. promoter?

Nardwuar: The first interview I ever did was Andrew: Tell me what, if any, conon September 26 1985 with Art Bergman, nection you have with the legendary who used to sing for a great Vancouver punk West Vancouver Punk band, T.T.S.D. band, the Young Canadians. The Nardwuar: Thank you so much Andrew for Evaporators formed on February 20 1986, mentioning Turn That Shit Down! They so “ interviewer” came first, but not by played the “Barbarella Psychadella” gig I just much. Now, The Evaporators came together mentioned. Furthermore T.T.S.D. also while doing push ups in a high school gym turned me onto bands such as the Fartz, THAT MAGAZINE FROM MINT RECORDS • www.mintrecs.com

House of Commons and Rush!

Andrew: Who was the greatest Canadian journalist... Adrienne Clarkeson or Morley Safer?

Nardwuar: Pierre Berton! I think you have to be dead to be the greatest. Pierre takes it hands down as he is dead and he also was a member of the best radio station in the world, CiTR fM 101.9 Vancouver. It’s the station where I met Randy and Bill from Mint Records, it’s the station that helped me meet Michael Gorbachev and Kurt Cobain, and it’s the radio station I still do a show on every Friday afternoon, from 3:30-5:00pm (Pacific)!

Andrew: Who makes you feel the proudest to be Canadian... Neil Young or William Shatner?

Nardwuar: Neil Young. A few years ago, I had a goal, try to get interviews with Kurt Cobain, Bill Clinton and Neil Young. Since then I have talked to Cobain, but I missed a chance to ask Clinton a question (Because at FRESH BREATH OF MINT Fall 2007

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.com

the Clinton-Yeltsin Summit in Vancouver in 1993 I was removed by agents who believed “I was going to cause a massive disturbance” all due to the fact that a week earlier I had told Mikhael Gorbachev to “keep on rawkin in the free world ! “ ) So all that really is left is Neil Young! Like did you know that Neil Young played in a band called the Mynah Birds with Rick “Superfreak” James in Toronto during the 1960’s! Neil Young and Rick James together! That’s something I gotta know more about. You can hear some Mynah Bird recordings on the “The Complete Motown Singles, Vol. 6: 1966” box set released in 2006.

Andrew: Who was more influential to you as a performer... Screaming Lord Sutch or Spike Jones?

Nardwuar: Screaming Lord Sutch I hold a soft spot for as his music was introduced to me by Montreal’s greatest 1980s band, The Gruesomes, when they covered his song “Jack the Ripper” on their “Tyrants of Teen Trash” LP from 1986.

Andrew: Who would win in a fight...

The Dayglo Abortions or Bunch of Fucking Goofs?

Nardwuar: I think it would be a draw because both band are friends with each other. But if I had to choose I might possibly side with the Dayglos as they are from Victoria, home of The Neos. The Neos are the Grandmasters. For the reason that they told Jello Biafra about NoMeansNo. And Jello signed NoMeansNo, who then exposed the world to Victoria! And if you think of all the bands associated with NoMeansNo, the Infamous Scientists, Hanson Brothers, Bum, Shovelhead, Showbizgiants, Pigment Vehicle, Black Mountain, Daddy’s Hands, Islands, Carolyn Mark etc. you gotta give them some props. But you can’t give them props without thanking the Neos first. To get the full scoop of Victoria music history check out the incredible book/double CD package “All Your Ears Can Hear: Underground Music in Victoria, BC, 1978-1984” available from allyourearscanhear.com Andrew: You are fond of often wearing tartan... are you secretly Scottish or are Scots secretly Serviettes?

Nardwuar: I have no Scottish blood whatsoever. My Mom brought me a whole bunch of Tam’s back from Scotland in the early 90s.

I didn’t wear any of them for years until Sebastian Bach of the hair farming band Skid Row threatened to “beat me up for fun” and stole my favourite Toque! Plus he smashed the Videotape I was using to “capture” the interview. The shitty thing was the tape also contained interviews with Pierre Eliott Trudeau, Sandra Berhard and George Clinton! So by default, my Tam became my daily headwear.

back from Sebastian Bach?

Nardwuar: No. Andrew: You strike me as a man with a large record collection. What is your most treasured album and why?

Nardwuar: I actually don’t have a lot of records, but my most treasured LP was kindly given to me by Grant Lawrence, and it’s a doozy: a double album released in 1980 by Newfoundland punk rockers Da Slyme! Find out more about the Da Slyme at www.abandonstream.net

Nardwuar: No, I am really bad at judging other people’s music. I heard a pre-release tape of Green Day’s “Dookie,” and thought it would be a failure. I could not hear one hit on it. Boy was I wrong: it sold millions.

Andrew: Where do you get all your cool duds, man?

Nardwuar: A lot of my stuff came from the Good Jacket , a now-closed clothing store in Vancouver. Sean Raggett who ran the store was the first singer in the Riff Randells . He always set aside the coolest stuff for me to wear. For example the amazing “Canada” sweater I am wearing on the cover of the Andrew: The Evaporators are prob- Evaporators “Gassy Jack and Other Tales” LP ably the only band left still releascame straight from Sean’s cache! Thanks ing albums on 8 Track. Why do you Sean! I will never forget that! And oh, and do this, and how? friends also give me clothes. Like somehow I Nardwuar: Everything on Nardwuar records have come to possess one of your wicked is available on 8-Track! Scott, Evaporators Tiki jackets Andrew! So thank you, to you drummer makes 8 tracks in his basement. too!

We buy old “tracks” and tape over them.

It’s real easy. Just buy an 8 track player that Andrew: What does the 21st Century records, and dub from CD to 8 track. I hold for Nardwuar the Human love 8-tracks, in fact I paid $20 for a Sex Serviette?

Pistols 8-track! I know it’s a lot, but it was a Nardwuar: On November 2 2007 I will be “birthday” present to myself! I’m still look- celebrating 20 years on CiTR Radio with a ing for the Dead boys on 8 track... To find 20 hour interview marathon and gig at the out about the joys of 8-tracking go to Sub Ballroom at UBC. Also, a couple weeks www.8trackheaven.com earlier, on October 23, a new DVD of my 0 interviews from the 1990s called “Welcome Andrew: I was listening to the CBC to My Castle” plus a new Evaporators LP the other day and they said they “Gassy Jack and Other Tales” will be were about the interview “the unleashed. So, at this point of the 21st Nardwuar the Human Serviette of Century my thoughts have been occupied Japan”. Unfortunately, I missed the with the word “new” ! introduction to the piece and the interview itself. Have you heard of Andrew: If you were interviewing this? What do you think about this? you, what question would you most Is this concept frightening to you? want to ask?

Nardwuar: I did not hear it; however, I love Nardwuar: The question you asked me about it! Franchising is so “in” these days! Kenny TTSD! vs. Spenny did it, Man or Astroman did it, so I am definitely up for it! By the way if Andrew: Do you think that Ernest people want to check out the real Nardwuar Angley telling you that “god will the Human Serviette please hop to strike you down” had anything to do www.nardwuar.com with the cerebral hemorrhage you suffered back in 1999?

Andrew: Did you know that your Nardwuar: The doctors still don’t know what signature sign off “Doot Doola Doot caused my brain hemorrhage. All I personalDoo” is actually very similar to the ly know is that I will be forever grateful for sound they would make on Star all the wonderful support and encourageTrek when Spock was being quizzi- ment I received during my recovery. Thank cal, “Doot Doolla Doo Da Doot Doo you to everyone for everything!

Doo? Have you though of changing it?

Andrew: Outside of Canada, do you Nardwuar: I started doing my “Doot Doo” have a large following elsewhere in sign off thingie around 1990 because it the world? Are you big in France? sounded good and organists do it at hockey Nardwuar: The Evaporators do have a song games! (My great cousin Eric Nesterenko called “I’m Going to France” which is actualused to play defence for the Chicago Black ly the title of the 2nd hour of my new DVD Hawks.) Thank you for pointing out that , so I guess if lots of people buy it, we will be Spock does it too! That is awesome as I love able to find out if anyone knows who I am, Star Trek inspired rock tidbits. Especially anywhere! Thanks for taking the time to ask wicked and wonderful combos like the me all this stuff Andrew! Keep on rawkin’ in James T. Kirks and Thee Shatners! the free world and doot doola doot doo.

Andrew: Did you ever get your toque Andrew: Do you have a hit list?

THAT MAGAZINE FROM MINT RECORDS • www.mintrecs.com

Andrew: Doot Doo! FRESH BREATH OF MINT Fall 2007

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Carolyn Mark + Dave Lang @ Amigo’s

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migos Cantina first opened its doors in November of '88. The first band to ever play the club were the Shuffle Demons. The Beat Farmers were also an early staple of the club, as well as Beez's band Sarcastic Mannequins and all the early Mint bands like Cub, Windwalker, and The Smugglers.

Over the years, the 230 capacity venue became known for it's hospitality, great food, and infamous "band room" above the club. Some of the bands that graced the stage through the '90s include Superchunk, The Jesus Lizard, Swervedriver, Sarah McLachlan, and just about every band on the Mint roster.

Since 2000, we've had tons of great bands, including Modest Mouse, Broken Social Scene, Wolf Parade, Calexico, Alejandro Escovedo, Man…or Astro-Man, Do Make Say Think, The Dears, Stars, and almost every other indie band in Canada.

As of 2007, the club is still owned and operated by the same people, and just bought a brand new state of the art sound system.

I probably missed a few, but these are the Mint bands I KNOW we've had: Maow, Gob, Mr. T Experience, The Buttless Chaps, The Groovie Ghoulies, The Riff Randalls, Huevos Rancheros, The New Town Animals, Duotang, The Tennessee Twin, The Evaporators/Thee Goblins etc., Carolyn Mark, The Immaculate Machine, The Awkward Stage, Neko Case, Young and Sexy, P:ano, The New Pornographers, Novillero, The Sadies, Pansy Division, The Organ, The Smugglers, The Gay, Operation: Makeout, Mark Kleiner, The Hanson Brothers, Cub, Pluto, The Stand GT, Coal, Tankhog.

44 Fall 2007 FRESH BREATH OF MINT

www.mintrecs.com • THAT MAGAZINE FROM MINT RECORDS

I

have a LOT of outrageous stories about Amigo's... but my favourite one is this: I once shit my pants in Saskatoon. It was the morning after a Smugglers concert at the utterly legendary Amigo's Cantina and Show Room. When we first starting getting gigs there, it was well before the indie-rock revolution so bands were expected to play three sets in one night. Sort of a bar rock blues circuit type thing. It was way, way too much time for us. We sucked very hard in those early years as we could barely even cobble one set together. But amazingly, Amigo's kept having us back and thank god they did: they were an oasis of hospitality on the cold road. You could always expect plenty of smiles from the staff, tonnes of free beer and liquor, and a great Mexican meal.

After a few tours we finally started to fill up the place. Back then (early 90s) the bands would stay in Amigo's brothel-like upstairs band room, where, legend had it, every band in Canada had been "sucked, fucked and chucked" by the ribald Saskatoonites all too ready to fuck suck and chuck the likes of the Real McKenzies, the Skydiggers, Duotang, Nashville Pussy, the Corndogs,

cub, Furnaceface and oh so many more.

The morning after our show in question, I stumbled out of bed and thought I was letting out a morning "toot" but unfortunately I didn't realize the precarious looseness of my bowels, as they sprayed the inner wall of my ginch/gonch with molten shit. Instantly I took off the gonch and threw them out the second story window. Curious, a couple of the other band members looked out and saw that the gonch had landed directly onto the roof of our VW touring van parked directly in front of Amigo's. Thinking this was some type of sign, I then reasoned, naked from the waste down, that being as poor as we were back then that I might eventually need the underwear again, and that I should simply apply a piece of duct tape to the gonch and let the weather of Western Canada wash the gonch while on the roof! Perfect plan!

A week later, we were winding our way through the Western States, finishing the tour, in line to come back into Canada at the Peace Arch Border crossing just south of Vancouver. It was a busy, sunny Sunday afternoon and the border was packed. The line up was crawling at a snail's pace and

everyone was bored, including the two hot sisters in the backseat of the car in front of us. They kept turning around to check us out, and I returned the attention by waving and making flirtatious gestures from the shotgun seat, unbeknownst to their parents in the front seat of their car.

Suddenly I remembered the rooftop gonch. Leaning out the window and feeling around with my hand, there it was, soaking wet from the morning rain and shit-stained, but still there!

I balled it up in my hand and lobbed it. It landed perfectly on the trunk of the sisters' car, where, sure enough, one of them reached onto the trunk, grabbed the gonch and brought it into their car with them.

There was a moment of calm as the girls inspected the mystery gift, then the entire car erupted from within — screaming and yelling, the car rocking from side to side, the gonch being whipped around like a hot potato. It entered the car from the right rear window and after thirty seconds of chaos, it exited the car from the from left driver's window, coming to a landing on the perfectly emerald lawn of the Peace Arch. The father turned to glare at us, but seeing five filthy, leering faces staring back at him, he thought better of a challenge, and simply put on his indicator and eventually changed lanes and pulled away.

I knew that underwear would be of further use. Thanks to everyone at Amigo's for many years of great rock n roll memories!!

Immaculate Machine + Leslie R. @ Amigo’s

THAT MAGAZINE FROM MINT RECORDS • www.mintrecs.com

FRESH BREATH OF MINT Fall 2007

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bellamusic.org • myspace.com/bella Oct 4 Railway Club, Vancouver BC Oct 12 Velvet Underground, Edmonton AB Oct 13 Marquee, Calgary AB Oct 21 venue tba, Montreal QC Oct 22 Mavericks, Ottawa ON Oct 23 Horseshoe, Toronto ON Oct 25 E-Bar, Guelph ON Oct 26 Alex P. Keaton, London ON Oct 27 Starlight, Waterloo ON Oct 28 The Drake, Toronto ON Oct 30 venue tba, Quebec City QC Nov 1 Gus’ Pub, Halifax NS Nov 2 George’s, Sackville NB

The debut EP coming soon

Mint Records @

CMJ Music Marathon!

October 16-20, 2007

Carolyn Mark

carolynmark.com • myspace.com/carolynmark Oct 2 Baba’s Lounge, Charlottetown PEI Oct 3 Tim Jones’ House, Sackville NB Oct 4 Underground, Fredericton NB Oct 5 Sessions, Rothesay NB Oct 6 Ginger’s, Halifax NS Oct 7 On The Verge, Wolfville NS Oct 12 house concert, Buffalo NY Oct 13 Valentine’s, Albany NY Oct 14 venue tba, Ithaca NY Oct 22 venue tba, Toronto ON Oct 26 Easy St. After Hours, Seattle WA Oct 27 Adrift, Anacortes WA Oct 29 East Side Club, Olympia WA Nov 1 Green Frog, Bellingham WA Nov 3 venue tba, Portland OR Nov 7 The Can, Penticton BC Nov 8 Minstrel Cafe, Kelowna BC Nov 16 Pat’s Pub, Vancouver BC

immaculatemachine.com myspace.com/immaculatemachine Oct 25 Webster Hall, New York NY Oct 26 Trocadero, Philadelphia PA Oct 27 9:30 Club, Washington DC Oct 28 Orange Peel, Asheville NC Oct 30 Variety Playhouse, Atlanta GA Oct 31 House of Blues, New Orleans LA Nov 4 Liberty Hall, Lawrence KS Nov 5 Gothic Theatre, Englewood CO

Details coming soon to www.mintrecs.com

319 W. Hastings, Vancouver BC • vinylrecords.ca

Carolyn Mark Cumberland Big Time Out Festival Photo by Val Utgaren

I

've been pretty lucky you know. I realized it tonight in Twin Butte on tour with one of my favourite bands on the planet because you can think that when you're playing with your mentors that Groucho Marx thing about how you'd never want to join any club that would have you as a member and think well, if I got to meet them and play with them then it must be too easy when in fact it could be the opposite — like I GOT to hang out and play with the people that made me want to do my thing in the first place and still make me want to do my thing now and here we are despite daunting odds and maybe it's a metaphor for everything.

Music is so inspiring even when you know how it gets made, you've seen the factory, you've seen backstage and it's still magic to me when I see it. And inspiring. Thank you NQ.

Holy crap. SO happy. Underlined twice happy. Oh it's summer so maybe it's just going around and maybe the scenario's not perfect but we still get to put on our show and be glad to be alive and by example inspire other people to remain alive. I don't know why that's so important in these over-populated oil boom global warming and-it's-all-your-fault times but it SEEMS so. Maybe that's why. Purple twilight and Leeroy Stagger's shiny black van pulling up in the dusty parking lot playing The Texas Tornadoes on the tape-deck or the Ipod or whatever it is now and Miss Shawna and Brendon and playing for people at last. Had to come to the smallest town to play for the most people. Rusty at first but then back in the saddle!

And don't forget Nanton, where everything's backwards. The waitress told me

THAT MAGAZINE FROM MINT RECORDS • www.mintrecs.com

she was glad it wasn't very busy so she could get a chance to listen to the music.

Very rare. Usually they're glaring at you because it's your fault that they're not making any money.

Images? Pink-tinged dusky wide open sky, the thermometer and the sun going down over the course of the show as dusk, then night then stars descend. I'm so looking forward at the same time as being happy it seems almost greedy.

I don't want to forget that rock'n'roll feeling of summer and possibilities and things working out and people being happy and I want to figure out how to write about it to preserve it for the winter when we're gonna need to live on it. xo cm FRESH BREATH OF MINT Fall 2007

47

1 whole bag of pasta shells cooked, drained and chilled 1 head of broccoli, chop finely and use the stalk dum-dum 6 green onions 1 yellow pepper fresh dill some left over salsa from the Mexican restaurant in Twin Butte 1/2 a (sh)long English cuke artichokes 1 container sour cream 2 tbsps Miracle Whip both S and P Dijon mustard Parmesan cheese Combine ingredients and leave bowl on the counter to let flavours marry.

Wait until husband comes home and consume when granted the key to the forest. Then put it in Tupperware and bring it with you in the cooler for when things get weird with the hosts at the end of the night two towns over.

1 bunch kale 1 butternut squash 6 oz grated Asiago cheese 1/4 cup milk or cream 2 tbsps butter s and p to taste chopped pecans steam squash -cut in half, remove seeds and roast in a little water face down in the over at 350 for 45 minutes or so then cut it up. dice and saute chard. assemble ingredients in casserole dish. bake for 1/2 hour at 350. why not serve with:

most of a purple cabbage finely chopped 1/2 gala apple, chopped 1/2 cup of steamed peas a dash of sesame oil a splash of rice wine vinegar a squeeze of lemon and a sprinkle of sesame seeds serve after the hootenanny with a big ass bottle of red wine. Don't forget to drink water.

48 Fall 2007 FRESH BREATH OF MINT

www.mintrecs.com • THAT MAGAZINE FROM MINT RECORDS

726 Richards Street, Vancouver, BC Canada V6B 3A4 Tel: (604) 687-0499 • Fax: (604) 687-0488 Email: commerce@scratchrecords.com STORES: Get in touch.

EMAIL ORDER: ordering@scratchrecords.com IN VANCOUVER? Drop by our store to sample the good times.

It all started with...

gassyjack.com THE AWKWARD STAGE “THE AWKWARD STAGE” + YOUNG AND SEXY “HELLO SONNY”

DOUBLE A-SIDE SEVEN-INCH! COMES WITH A COLLECTIBLE EMBROIDERED MINT RECORDS MERIT BADGE!

L

abelmates Young And Sexy and The Awkward Stage share a love of imaginative and intelligent lyrics, intricate and subtle pop hooks and vintage guitar and keyboard sounds making a perfect match for a split release together.

Mint Records Double A-Side ’ Series Volume 1

Edmonton’s

Listen Records!

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Listen Records 10443 A 124 Street Edmonton, AB www.listenrecords.net

ISTEN RECORDS is THE place to go if you are looking for great music in Edmonton. Anyone who has been into the shop knows about our great selection of funk, soul, rare groove, library and other exotic groovy sounds. As well as the plethora of esoteric experimental and avant garde music. And of course all the most excellent titles in indie rock/pop, metal, electronic, folk, dub, reggae, hip hop, punk, and everything else your little heart might desire, including all the new and old Mint favorites.

Known for our friendly, helpful staff, and grossly informative news letter, at Listen we want you to enjoy the music you listen to. 2007 is a big year for Listen, as we just moved to our fancy new home, 2 blocks south of the old location where we now sport A/C and a slew of fancy upgrades, not to mention that this September we are celebrating our sixth anniversary as the only indie record store remaining in the downtown area.

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MEGATUNES MEOW RECORDS 100-300 BRUNSWICK ST, PRINCE GEORGE BC www.meowrecords.ca

10355 WHYTE AVE, EDMONTON AB megatunes.com

BLACKBYRD MYOOZIK 10442 82TH AVE, EDMONTON AB blackbyrd.ca

LISTEN RECORDS

10441 124TH ST, EDMONTON AB listenrecords.net

VINYL DINER 628 BROADWAY AVE, SASKATOON SK

VINYL EXCHANGE 128 2 AVE N, SASKATOON SK thevinylexchange.com

INTO THE MUSIC 245 MCDERMOT AVE B, WINNIPEG MB

ND

MUSIC TRADER 97 OSBORNE ST, WINNIPEG MB musictrader.ca

X-RAY RECORDS ZULU RECORDS DITCH RECORDS 635 JOHNSON ST, VICTORIA BC myspace.com/ditchrecords

1972 WEST 4TH AVE, VANCOUVER BC zulurecords.com

RED CAT RECORDS 4307 MAIN ST, VANCOUVER BC redcat.ca

SCRATCH RECORDS 726 RICHARDS ST, VANCOUVER BC scratchrecords.com

2323 11TH AVE, REGINA SK xrayrecords.ca

SLOTH RECORDS 1508 4TH ST SW, CALGARY AB myspace.com/slothrecords

MELODIYA RECORDS 2523A 17TH AVE SW, CALGARY AB melodiyarecords.com

MEGATUNES 932 17TH AVE SW, CALGARY AB megatunes.com

HIGHLIFE RECORDS 1317 COMMERCIAL DR, VANCOUVER BC

MUSIC TRADER

DITCH RECORDS

52 Fall 2007 FRESH BREATH OF MINT

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FRED'S RECORDS

BIRDMAN SOUND

198 DUCKWORTH ST, ST. JOHN'S NF freds.nf.ca

593-B BANK ST, OTTAWA ON birdmansound.com

CD WAREHOUSE 1717 ST. LAURENT BLVD, OTTAWA ON cdwarehouse.ca

COMPACT MUSIC 190 BANK ST, OTTAWA ON compactmusic.ca

CHEAP THRILLS COMPACT MUSIC 785 1/2 BANK ST, OTTAWA ON compactmusic.ca

2044 METCALFE, 2ND FL, MONTREAL QC cheapthrills.ca

END HITS

SILLONS

407 DALHOUSIE ST, OTTAWA ON endhits.ca

1149 AVENUE CARTIER, QUEBEC CITY QC sillons.com

EARGASM

BACKSTREET RECORDS 384 QUEEN ST, FREDERICTON NB myspace.com/backstreetfredericton

823 QUEEN ST E, SAULT STE MARIE ON myspace.com/eargasmatron

ROTATE THIS 620 QUEEN ST W, TORONTO ON rotate.com

SOUNDSCAPES 572 COLLEGE ST, TORONTO ON myspace.com/soundscapesmusic

BACKSTREET RECORDS 124 GERMAIN ST, SAINT JOHN NB

ENCORE 54 QUEEN ST S, KITCHENER ON encorerecords.ca

DR. DISC 20 WILSON ST, HAMILTON ON

ORANGE MONKEY 5 PRINCESS ST W, WATERLOO ON myspace.com/orangemonkeymusic

GROOVES 353 CLARENCE ST, LONDON ON myspace.com/groovesrecords

MEOW RECORDS

END HITS RECORDS THAT MAGAZINE FROM MINT RECORDS • www.mintrecs.com

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EVERYDAY MUSIC 115 E. MAGNOLIA STREET, BELLINGHAM WA everydaymusic.com

EASY STREET RECORDS 20 W. MERCER STREET, SEATTLE WA easystreetonline.com

EASY STREET RECORDS 4559 CALIFORNIA AVE SW, SEATTLE WA easystreetonline.com

EVERYDAY MUSIC 112 BROADWAY EAST, SEATTLE WA everydaymusic.com

RAINY DAY RECORDS 301 5TH AVENUE SE, OLYMPIA WA users.zhonka.net/rainyday/index.html

EVERYDAY MUSIC – DOWNTOWN 1313 WEST BURNSIDE, PORTLAND OR everydaymusic.com

EVERYDAY MUSIC – EASTSIDE 1931 NE SANDY BOUILEVARD, PORTLAND OR everydaymusic.com

EVERYDAY MUSIC – BEAVERTON

CD WORLD

3290 SW CEDAR HILLS BOUILEVARD, BEAVERTON OR everydaymusic.com

3215 W 11TH SUITE B, EUGENE OR gotocdworld.com

HOUSE OF RECORDS 258 EAST 13TH AVENUE, EUGENE OR

AMOEBA BERKELEY 2455 TELEGRAPH, BERKELEY CA amoeba.com

AQUARIUS RECORDS 1055 VALENCIA STREET, SAN FRANCISCO CA aquariusrecords.org

AMOEBA SAN FRANCISCO 1855 HAIGHT STREET, SAN FRANCISCO CA amoeba.com

AMOEBA LOS ANGELES 6400 SUNSET BOULEVARD, LOS ANGELES CA amoeba.com

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RIMINAL RECORDS (now in its 16th year) has become an Atlanta institution of all things "indie". Selling everything from CD's, LP's, DVD's to comic books and toys, they are firmly committed to their mission statement — "Keeping Atlanta Awesome".

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ome check out the park ave cds experience of shopping, browsing, and talking to our staff about new (and good) records. AND not only do we carry music, like new & used cds, lps, and dvds but we also carry books, toys & collectibles, T-shirts, zines and a bunch of other great things! www.parkavecds.com, PARK AVE CDS, 2916 Corrine Dr, Orlando, FL 32803 (407) 447-7275

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EWBURY COMICS has 27 stores throughout New England, filled with everything from new and used CDs and DVDs to an eclectic mix of lifestyle products. Newbury Comics has grown from being "just" a comic book shop to what it is today: a destination for New Englanders who are looking for — what the company's slogan aptly states — "a wicked good time!"

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ULL MOOSE — Hopefully as cool as this zine, with a huge indie and not-so-indie selection, crazy low prices, and an expert staff.

We carry new and used music, movies and games on almost every format: vinyl or SACD, Blu-Ray or VHS, Atari 2600 or PS3. Find us throughout ME and NH or at www.bullmoose.com.

54 Fall 2007 FRESH BREATH OF MINT

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BULL MOOSE LEWISTON MALL, LEWISTON ME bullmoose.com

NEWBURY COMICS BULL MOOSE MAINE SQUARE MALL, BANGOR ME bullmoose.com

BULL MOOSE

1 HARRISON BLVD, AVON MA newburycomics.com

NEWBURY COMICS 1 WASHINGTON MALL, BOSTON MA newburycomics.com

ELM PLAZA, WATERVILLE ME bullmoose.com

NEWBURY COMICS 332 NEWBURY ST, BOSTON MA newburycomics.com

BULL MOOSE

NEWBURY COMICS

151 MAINE ST, BRUNSWICK ME bullmoose.com

400 FRANKLIN ST, BRAINTREE MA newburycomics.com

BULL MOOSE

NEWBURY COMICS

CENTER FOR SHOPPING, SANFORD ME bullmoose.com

112 BURLINGTON MALL RD, BURLINGTON MA newburycomics.com

NEWBURY COMICS 211 ALEWIFE BROOK PARKWAY, CAMBRDIGE MA newburycomics.com

BULL MOOSE WINDHAM SHOPPING CENTER, N WINDHAM ME bullmoose.com

NEWBURY COMICS 36 JFK ST, CAMBRIDGE MA newburycomics.com

BULL MOOSE 151 MIDDLE ST, PORTLAND ME bullmoose.com

NEWBURY COMICS 1070 IVANOUGH RD, RTE 132, HYANNIS MA newburycomics.com

BULL MOOSE 456 PAYNE RD, SCARBOROUGH ME bullmoose.com

NEWBURY COMICS 101 INDEPENDENCE MALL WAY, KINGSTON MA newburycomics.com

NEWBURY COMICS 220 MAINE MALL RD, PORTLAND ME newburycomics.com

NEWBURY COMICS NEWBURY COMICS

NEWBURY COMICS

50 MAIN ST, AMHERST MA newburycomics.com

BULL MOOSE 82-86 CONGRESS ST, PORTSMOUTH NH bullmoose.com

PROVIDENCE PLACE MALL, PROVIDENCE RI newburycomics.com

NEWBURY COMICS

NEWBURY COMICS

31 SACK BLVD, LEOMINSTER MA newburycomics.com

1500 BALD HILL RD, WARWICK RI newburycomics.com

356-366 S BROADWAY, SALEM NH bullmoose.com

130 NEEDHAM ST, NEWTON MA newburycomics.com

NEWBURY COMICS

NEWBURY COMICS

NEWBURY COMICS

NEWBURY COMICS

777 S WILLOW PLAZA, MANCHESTER NH newburycomics.com

293 DANIEL WEBSTER HIGHWAY, NASHUA NH newburycomics.com

NEWBURY COMICS

40 CUMBERLAND AVE, RTE 1, N ATTLEBORO MA newburycomics.com

BULL MOOSE

NEWBURY COMICS

SHERWOOD PLAZA, RTE 9, NATICK MA newburycomics.com

104 BUCKLAND HILLS DR, MANCHESTER CT newburycomics.com

331 STATE RD, N DARTMOUTH MA newburycomics.com

NEWBURY COMICS 240 ANDOVER ST, RTE 114, PEABODY MA newburycomics.com

CRIMINAL RECORDS 466 MORELAND AVE NE, ATLANTA GA criminal.com

NEWBURY COMICS 180 MAIN ST, RTE 1, SAUGUS MA newburycomics.com

NEWBURY COMICS 435 S BROADWAY, RTE 28, SALEM NH newburycomics.com

NEWBURY COMICS 551 BOSTON TURNPIKE, RTE 9, SHREWSBURY MA newburycomics.com

NEWBURY COMICS K-MART PLAZA, 200 S MAIN ST, W LEBANON NH newburycomics.com

PARK AVE CDS 2916 CORRINE DR, ORLANDO FL parkavecds.com

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NEWBURY COMICS 601 DONALD LYNCH BLVD, MARLBOROUGH MA newburycomics.com

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Maniac

by Guy Russell

W

elcome to my second review on a film from 1980 called Maniac. Maniac was directed by William Lustig and written by the late Joe Spinell. Spinell stars as Frank Zito a schizoid serial killer that was abused by his mother when he was a child; his mother was also a prostitute. He stalks and kills young women in New York City and sees this as an act of revenge against his mother. Once he kills the women he proceeds to scalp them and put their scalps on mannequins that he keeps in his apartment. Caroline Munroe stars as Anna, a photographer that happens to take a photo of Frank in the park.

Frank realizes this and tries to make friends with her, leaving the viewer wondering if he plans to kill her or does he see her as a he did his mother.

Maniac showcases some of Tom Savini's best work as a special effects artist, most notably when he gets to blow his own head off. And as usual William Lustig makes the best use of a New York setting, especially at nighttime, the dark grim surroundings that we see when Frank is out walking around trying to find his next victim. Maniac to some is a very hard movie to take in, and can be difficult to watch, mostly due to Spinell's portrayal as a troubled and confused human being; the filmmakers really focus on Frank's personal tragedies rather than from the victim's point of view.

Aside from Lustig doing an outstanding job, we have to give Spinell credit where credit is due; this guy put so much into the character of Frank, and really believed in the story and believed in this kid named William Lustig. Joe Spinell was an amazing talent who was in some huge Hollywood movies such as the Godfather, Taxi Driver, Rocky, The Pick-up Artist, and Vigilante, which was also directed by Lustig‌. In saying that, Maniac pretty much separates itself from most of the films in the same genre. Where we are introduced to the killer almost right away and stay with him through the whole film instead of some guy hiding in the bushes that we barely get to see, this lets the viewer understand the killer's motives because they get to learn a little bit about him.

Maniac was made for the exact same area it was shot in; it was made for the 42nd Street theatres, and this made it all the more scary when people would leave the theatre, they would enter the same setting that they just saw on the screen. Maniac became a cult favorite by playing the circuit in these seedy grindhouse theatres. To me, Maniac still stands strong today. Because of its sense of realism, it's more difficult to date this movie. I say if you have a strong stomach, if you enjoy films that have that sense of realism, and whether you like Joe Spinell or not, definitely go rent this film and check it out! I give it 5 stars out of 5.

See you at Happy Bats.

Revenge of the Broken Hearted

by Juan Farmer

I

'm plagiarizing myself, and stealing from my most recent title of a 'Poor White Noise' entry. Revenge is about the American Dream, and humiliation and I believe that makes the perfect segway for this 'end of summer' review. The end of summer is when we realize we can't fly, credit card statements rival Christmas ones, and school is just around the corner. Crappy sales are everywhere and if you are a student or not, the feeling never goes away. But to assess the American Dream business, fear not. Even Britney Spears buys rubbers at 7-11.

Reminded of a film that is definitely not a 'summer movie', but epitomizes the sameness of us all, in our quest for fun, is Weekend by Jean Luc Godard. In the film is a shot that is about 10 minutes long where the camera slowly moves past a row of cars, all in gridlock, on their way out of the city for the perfect weekend. It is a brilliant commentary on consumerism and one where traffic jams become revolution, cannibalism, and murder. Characters in the movie call the film 'rotten', name Jesus as a communist and call for the beginning of flamboyance in cinema. Challenging stuff, but the traffic jam and eventual murder in Weekend bring me to the TV show I recently watched the first season of, in one sitting.

Dexter is the show where the title character is a pathologist for the Miami police, he likes to kill people, but only if they deserve it. Being a blood specialist, Dexter helps solve crimes, and in his line of work, comes across a few extra baddies to deliver some of his justice toward, hand tools at the ready. Having recently rewatched Twin Peaks and loving it all over again, Dexter was set up to fail miserably. An idiosyncratic local police team, a community of put-on personas, and a long term murder mystery story sounded like it was a little too close to home. Laura Palmer has had it bad enough, and doesn't need her toes stepped on.

Dexter peacefully co-exists.

P.S I warned you not to go out tonight!

Dexter is dark and funny, and very much looks and feels like a program with a massive draw and an audience that is far larger then the countless great horror gems it borrows from, which is too bad. But you can always email Juan at Happy Bats, and ask what the titles of those gems are, if you're interested. To belie a statement from 'Poor White Noise', I am willing to be a friend, and would reply, in kind, with recommendations and movie chit-chat. So, see Dexter, fear the similarities that you may share with the Sociopath lead, and see if when you are through the first season, you crave a strong cup of coffee and a slice of cherry pie.

Guy Russell writes and manages 'BURIAL GROUND' at happybatscinema.com

Juan Farmer writes 'POOR WHITE NOISE' at happybatscinema.com

THAT MAGAZINE FROM MINT RECORDS • www.mintrecs.com

FRESH BREATH OF MINT Fall 2007

59

Novillero album title tba various artists Do the Mint Twist!

The Evaporators Gassy Jack and Other Tales The Evaporators Gassy Jack and Other Tales Nardwuar Welcome to My Castle Bella No One Will Know Bella No One Will Know Carolyn Mark Nothing Is Free Immaculate Machine Fables Immaculate Machine Fables Young and Sexy / The Awkward Stage split 7" Nick Krgovich One Woman Show 4-song 7" The Choir Practice The Choir Practice various artists Mint Records @ SXSW 2007!

Immaculate Machine Les Uns Mais Pas Les Autres various artists A Mint Harvest Fall 2006 sampler various artists Mint Roadshow 4-song 7" various artists CBC Radio 3 Presents: The Mint Sessions The Awkward Stage Heaven Is For Easy Girls Nardwuar vs. Bev Davies A 2007 Punk Rock Calendar various artists Fresh Breath of Mint: A 2006 Update!

Neko Case Fox Confessor Brings the Flood Nardwuar Doot Doola Doot Doo… The Buttless Chaps Where Night Holds Light Young and Sexy Panic When You Find It P:ano Ghost Pirates Without Heads various artists Fresh Breath of Mint Immaculate Machine Ones and Zeros New Pornographers Twin Cinema New Pornographers Twin Cinema Carolyn Mark Just Married: Album of Duets Duplex!

Ablum by Duplex!

Novillero Aim Right for the Holes in Their Lives P:ano Brigadoon The Sadies “J'ai esayé de ne pas” + 1 Neko Case The Tigers Have Spoken various artists It's a Team Mint Xmas Vol. 2 John Guliak 7 Stories and 13 Songs Pansy Division/Skinjobs Dirty Queers Don't Come Cheap Atomic 7 En Hillbilly Caliente The Organ Grab That Gun

MRD111 MRD112 MRD110 MRL110 MRD109 MRD108 MRL108 MRD107 MRD103 MRL103 MRS106 MRS105 MRD104 MRD102 MRD099 MRD101 MRS097 MRD098 MRD096 MRC095 MRD094 MRD089 MRD093 MRD091 MRD090 MRD086 MRD088 MRD087 MRD085 MRL085 MRD081 MRD083 MRD084 MRD082 MRS071 MRD077 MRD080 MRD079 MRS074 MRD078 MRD076

CD CD CD LP DVD CD LP CD CD LP 7" 7" CD CD CD CD 7" CD CD calendar CD CD DVD CD CD CDEP CD CD CD LP CD CD CD CD 7" CD CD CD 7" CD CD

Early 08 01-Oct-07 23-Oct-07 23-Oct-07 23-Oct-07 Fall 07 18-Sep-07 03-Jul-07 12-Jun-07 12-Jun-07 15-May-07 15-May-07 15-May-07 06-Feb-07 03-Oct-06 03-Oct-06 03-Oct-06 03-Oct-06 10-Oct-06 12-Sep-06 14-Mar-06 07-Mar-06 28-Feb-06 21-Feb-06 14-Feb-06 15-Nov-05 11-Oct-05 06-Sep-05 23-Aug-05 23-Aug-05 07-Jun-05 03-May-05 03-May-05 05-Apr-05 05-Apr-05 09-Nov-04 02-Nov-04 26-Oct-04 06-Jul-04 29-Jun-04 24-May-04 L

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New Pornographers Riff Randells Huevos Rancheros Huevos Rancheros I Am Spoonbender various artists Carolyn Mark Riff Randells Neko Case The Smugglers I Am Spoonbender Huevos Rancheros The Smugglers The Smugglers Duotang The Evaporators The Smugglers The Smugglers Neko Case Pansy Division cub various artists Huevos Rancheros Duotang cub cub Duotang The Mr T Experience The Mr T Experience Maow Groovie Ghoulies Groovie Ghoulies Pansy Division Pansy Division Pansy Division The Smugglers The Smugglers The Smugglers/Hi-Fives The Smugglers/Hi-Fives gob cub/Potatomen

Mass Romantic Who Says Girls Can't Rock Muerte Del Toro Muerte Del Toro Teletwin Vancouver Special Party Girl Riff Randells Furnace Room Lullaby Rosie Sender/Receiver “The Wedge” + 1 Growing Up Smuggler Growing Up Smuggler The Cons and the Pros I Gotta Rash Buddy Holly Convention Buddy Holly Convention The Virginian Manada Betti-Cola Japanese Team Mint Get Outta Dodge Smash the Ships and Raise the...

Box of Hair Box of Hair The Message Love is Dead Love is Dead The Unforgiving Sounds of Maow World Contact Day World Contact Day Wish I'd Taken Pictures Wish I'd Taken Pictures Wish I'd Taken Pictures Selling the Sizzle Selling the Sizzle Summer Games Summer Games Too Late… No Friends The Day I Said Goodbye

MRL043 MRS044 MRD040 MRL040 MRD041 MRD038 MRD037 MRS039 MRD033 MRD036 MRD035 MRS034 MRD032 mrl032 MRD031 MRL030 MRD028 MRS028 MRD027 MRS026 MRD029 MRD025 MRD024 MRD023 MRD021 MRL021 MRS022 MRD017 MRL017 MRD019 MRD020 MRL020 MRD018 MRL018 MRC018 MRD016 MRL016 MRD015 MRS015 MRD010 MRD008

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Grab That Gun The Pros and Cons of Collaboration Mutiny in Stereo Ripple Rock Life Through One Speaker Life Through One Speaker Love This Time You Know the Rules You Know the Rules Avanti Electric Version Electric Version Gowns by Edith Head “Fishin Jim” + 2 Blacklisted Hang Loose Terrible Hostess The Black Monk Love To Night Gaga for Gigi Stand Up for your Mother My Game My Game A Tribute to Nashville Free to Do What?

“Cork & Monkey” + 2 Team Mint Vol. II First Base The Bright Side Is Your Radio Active Is Your Radio Active “These Thoughts Are Occupied” + 1 Honk the Horn It's a Team Mint Xmas Vol. 1 New Town Animals The Other Women Mass Romantic

MRL076 MRD075 MRD074 MRD072 MRD070 MRL070 MRD068 MRD069 MRL069 MRD067 MRD066 MRL066 MRD065 MRS064 MRD060 MRD063 MRD061 MRD062 MRD055 MRD057 MRD058 MRD059 MRL059 MRD054 MRD056 MRS047 MRD053 MRD052 MRD051 MRD050 MRL050 MRS049 MRS048 MRS046 MRS045 MRD042 MRD043

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The Organ Carolyn Mark The Smugglers The Evaporators Young and Sexy Young and Sexy The Buttless Chaps The Gay The Gay Ramblin Ambassadors New Pornographers New Pornographers Atomic 7 The Gay Neko Case Operation Makeout Carolyn Mark John Guliak Mark Kleiner Volumizer Young and Sexy Hanson Brothers Hanson Brothers various artists The Tennessee Twin The Sadies various artists Operation Makeout Duotang New Town Animals New Town Animals The Tennessee Twin The Evaporators various artists New Town Animals Corn Sisters New Pornographers

24-May-04 04-May-04 09-Mar-04 20-Jan-04 07-Oct-03 07-Oct-03 16-Sep-03 16-Sep-03 16-Sep-03 19-Aug-03 06-May-03 06-May-03 07-Oct-02 07-Oct-02 20-Aug-02 07-Aug-02 01-Jul-02 25-Jun-02 05-Mar-02 05-Mar-02 05-Mar-02 26-Feb-02 26-Feb-02 05-Feb-02 05-Feb-02 04-Dec-01 28-Aug-01 28-Aug-01 05-Jun-01 05-Jun-01 05-Jun-01 17-Apr-01 03-Apr-01 05-Dec-00 05-Dec-00 24-Oct-00 17-Oct-00 H

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The Day I Said Goodbye Alternative Is Here to Stay!

Alternative Is Here to Stay!

Dig In! The Cracklefan Cool Way to Feel Come Out Come Out Come Out Come Out Another Collection of Home Rec....

Another Collection of Home Rec....

“Death Star” b/w “Million & Two” Volcano Party… Party… Party… Pooper! kid champion Betti-Cola Betti-Cola The Mint Is Still a Terrible Thing...

Hot Dog Day Pep The Freight Train Rainstick Rainstick The Mint Is a Terrible Thing to Taste

7" CD EP 7" CD 7" CD CD 3x7" CD 2x7" 7" 7" 7" 7" CD 2x7" CDEP 7" 7" 7" CD CS 7"

01-Sep-95 01-Sep-95 01-Sep-95 27-May-95 27-May-95 11-Apr-95 15-Jan-95 15-Jan-95 12-Oct-94 12-Oct-94 26-May-94 03-May-94 11-Feb-94 31-Jan-94 01-Oct-93 01-Oct-93 01-Sep-93 14-May-93 16-Oct-92 11-Jul-92 26-Mar-92 26-Mar-92 31-Aug-91 A

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J: licensed to Bloodshot (USA), Matador (UK) K: on Alternative Tentacles outside of Canada L: a Mint/604 co-release; licensed to Too Pure (Europe), Talitres (France), Popfrenzy (Australia) M: licensed to Anti- outside of Canada N: on Aquarela (Spain) O: promotional only, not for sale P: on Anti- outside of Canada

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MINT RECORDS EAST – YVETTE RAY

licensed to Virgin for the world a Mint/Lookout! co-release deleted licensed to LDK (Japan) licensed to Bloodshot (USA) on Lookout! outside of Canada on Mint in Canada only licensed to Matador outside of Canada on Mint in Canada and the USA only

NOTES:

cub/Potatomen The Mr T Experience The Mr T Experience Huevos Rancheros The Stand GT Pluto cub cub Lou Barlow Lou Barlow Pluto cub The Smugglers kid champion cub cub various artists cub cub Tankhog Windwalker Windwalker Windwalker/Tankhog

Soft Beauty in Dark Places self-titled CD available on iTunes and at Zulu and Red Cat Records in Vancouver www.myspace.com/goghettotigermusic

Why Chet's slow, sunny crooning has won me over.

By Elaine Corden

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he first and last time I saw Victoria band Chet perform live was also the first time I ever fell asleep standing up.

Chet's somnambulant, whisper-quiet show at Vancouver's Red Room seemed to enthral the folk sitting cross-legged in the middle of the dance floor, but for me it was lacklustre, and I fell asleep standing, like a bored housecat, rocking back and forth until a tap on the shoulder from a friend brought me back to consciousness. I was less than impressed. I like maudlin quietcore as much as the next person, but this group was just barely north of comatose.

I hadn't thought about the group since that show almost four years ago, until a month ago, a friend demanded that I listen to their new album, Fight Against Darkness, which was released March of this year. And, seeing as it has been playing on my stereo since, to the exclusion of almost everything else, I'm forced to admit I may have slept through something great.

The album opens with "The Shepherd," which starts slow and soft as a sigh, but quickly goes somewhere interesting, invoking something that sits at the perfect midpoint between Flannery O'Connor's Southern Gothic novels and the final scene of any given John Hughes film.

Singer Ryan Beattie's voice shifts between a cracking falsetto and a gorgeous tenor, crooning lyrics about beauty in dark places overtop jangly 50s guitar and strings — violins, cellos — that are achingly pretty. Indeed, Fight Against Darkness is aptly titled: nearly all the songs deal with a quest to locate brighter moments from inside the mire of the shadows. This sunnier outlook is helped by some musical forays into 1960 girl group territory, particularly on "By Night Into Paradise" (which also boasts brass from Vancouver group They Shoot Horses, Don't They?) and also on "Dollarton Harbour."

There are some heavy-lidded moments still evident, as on "Because My Name Is Lion," which sounds more like the Chet I saw four years ago, but the less adventurous songs are still disarmingly lovely. And quite frankly, Chet could fill the rest of their album with sleep-abetting tracks of waves and rainforests, and include just the ninth track, "Because I've Never Known Trouble," and I would still sing its praises.

Slow-burning and almost waltz-like at parts before bursting, last minute, into something that undeniably upbeat, the song breaks your heart and then stitches it back together with cello strings. I've listened to it more times than is decent, and I recommend you do too. It's far from sleep inducing, but it sounds like a dream.

T

his article originally appeared in the June 28, 2007 issue of TheTyee.ca. Reprinted with permission of the author and TheTyee.ca

something beautifully akin to the Mamas & Papas in 3D (TV Week) nostalgic, wise, inspiring stuff (All Music Guide) Glee cub stylee (KUCI) sunshine pop choral group (Now, Toronto) could be a church number, in a really cool chapel (Province, Vancouver)

www.myspace.com/thechoirpractice

The Mint debut CD out now www.bellamusic.org www.myspace.com/bella