Corner Boys Interview

Corner Boys

Canada’s Corner Boys are in love with ‘70’s punk and power-pop. The band pulls, most notably, from Irish bands like Protex and Rudi, but adding in Simpletones energy and a love of obscure one-release wonders. Corner Boys, like the boys dealing in The Wire, will be hanging around your brain long after listening to their brand of infectious power-pop.

by Ed Stuart

Who’s answering the questions?

This is Patrick Bertrand.

Who is in the band and what instrument do they play?

There’s three of us. I play drums, Joel Butler plays bass, and Wade Connor plays guitar. We all sing, but I sing lead most of the time.

Give us the band’s origin story, some other bands the members have played in and currently do play in?

Corner Boys started in spring 2016 when Wade asked me to play drums with him. I hadn’t played drums in more than 5 years at that point so it was kind of like learning from scratch again. We wrote together with a few bass players and singers but nothing ever felt right, so Wade and I practiced as a two-piece for most of the first few months. Joel Butler “retired” from music after his previous band Nervous Talk ( https://hoseheadrecords.bandcamp.com/album/nervous-talk-2 ) broke up, but it only took me six months of bugging him to play bass with us until he finally agreed in November 2016. We played our first show in January 2017.

In addition to Corner Boys, I play in a band called Chain Whip

( https://chainwhip.bandcamp.com/album/chain-whip ), as does Joel. Wade also plays in a band called Puritans ( https://puritansband.bandcamp.com/ ).

Describe the band’s sound in 20 words or less.

Happy sounding sad songs played by brat little brothers.

Where did the band name Corner Boys? Is the band name from the book, Corner Boys?

A corner boy is a troublemaker. It’s old slang for someone loitering, usually up to no

good. It’s in the song Rat Trap by The Boomtown Rats

( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=024UcB1m7Do ).

What bands did you have in mind when starting this band?

We all love late 1970’s punk and power pop bands that released one 7” then faded into obscurity. At our first show, we covered The Speedies - Let Me Take Your Photo, and The Simpletones - TV Love. Add Protex and Rudi to that mix and those were the reference points we had from the start.

In a previous interview, the band stated “First wave Canada will always have a

place in my heart, but no one played power pop in the ‘70’s better than the Irish.” What makes Irish power-pop/punk so special?

Whenever I read about the troubles in Ireland I’m blown away by the fact that a bunch of kids could write love songs as well as they did. I think there’s a kinship between countries like Ireland and Canada. We’re both stuck beside influential countries that have all the spotlight. We’re defined more by not being something than what we are. It’s a terminal uncool that I think levels the playing field for people to write music. Check out releases on Good Vibrations Records and Rip Off Records both from Northern Ireland.

Corner Boys seemed to get noticed due to the original demo that was posted on Bandcamp. So, did Drunken Sailor approach the band about putting out the debut 7” or was the band sending the demo to labels?

We put the demo up on Bandcamp and posted about it a bit on social media. It had pretty good legs and a few labels reached out to us, but they wanted us to pay to press it as a 7” on their label. Julian at Drunken Sailor reached out a bit later and asked if we were going to record more, because he wanted to hear it if we did. We did another session with Jeffrey McCloy (Tranzmitors, Fashionism) and sent the tracks to Julian, and that became the Just Don’t Care 7”. The demo did eventually come out as a tape through Flo at Trapdoor Tourz in Germany.

How you the band hook up with Dirt Cult?

I’ve known Chris and Lizzie at Dirt Cult for a few years through doing my own label

Hosehead Records. Chris got a hold of me a few days after Drunken Sailor did and asked to do a 7” as well. Rather than do a split release we decided to do two 7”s. The next batch of songs became the Love Tourist 7”.

With a zillion digital avenues presented to musicians nowadays (Bandcamp, blogs, Spotify, YouTube, etc.) what do you feel are the best parts and worst parts of these digital avenues?

You can listen to anything at absolutely any time. It’s an ultimate convenience that makes it impossible to make any waves. 99% of the time when I listen to music it’s on vinyl at home. Unless it’s a super rare KBD single and I can’t afford it, then I just listen to it at Josh from Chain Whip’s house.

What are some the band’s favorite shows they have played?

We recently played a show with Mike Krol and Swearin’ and that was a really good time. We all like playing in Victoria, BC, which we’ve done twice now. Our US shows have been a lot of fun as well, Portland and Seattle. I’d like to play more down there.

What are some of the Vancouver bands that people should be checking out?

We often play with Sore Points ( https://sorepoints.bandcamp.com/album/dont-want-to-7 ) and Fashionism, both of which are a pleasure to see. Necking and Lié are also great.

https://fashionism.bandcamp.com/

https://lievancouver.bandcamp.com/

https://neckingband.bandcamp.com/

When not playing music, what does the band like to do?

We’re usually watching old horror and sci-fi and challenging each other to eat really spicy things. We all ride bicycles a lot too.

Where can people hear the band?

All our stuff is on Bandcamp first and foremost, but also iTunes, Spotify, and possibly Youtube. If you like it, please support Dirt Cult Records in Portland, or Drunken Sailor Records in the UK by buying it on vinyl.

https://dirtcultrecords.wordpress.com/

http://www.drunkensailorrecords.co.uk

What’s next?

Debut LP out 2019 on Drunken Sailor Records. Ideally a European tour to follow.

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First Base

     Toronto's First Base have been producing driving, jangly, rough around the edges power pop since 2009 with a number of releases to brag about in their ammo case. If you need any further description of their sound, the cover of the band's newest effort: You've Got A Hold of Me EP, released earlier this year on another one of our favorite labels, Hosehead Records, is a brilliant homage to the late ‘70's Irish punk/power pop band Rudi's debut single "Big Time," which came out in 1978. Much like The Undertones, Buzzcocks, the Boys and even Generation X: First Base put just as much of the pop aspect in their music as the punk. When done up right; that mixture ladies and gentlemen is the sound that I have a particular soft spot for in my hardened heart for, and First Base manage to pull it off oh so flawlessly!

Interview by J Castro

Let’s start of by telling me who’s all in the band right now and what does everyone do in it?
MIKE: There's been a few different lineups but the current line up is: Connor on drums, Nick on guitar, Fraser on lead vocals and guitar and me on bass. We generally all sing back up vocals too.

How did you all meet and decide to play music together?

FRASER: About eight years ago I was compelled to start a band for some reason. I had recently moved, and didn't really know any musicians so I just started the "band" by myself, recording songs and putting them on Myspace. Eventually, a couple of guys I worked with found out what I was doing and offered to join. So Shinnosuke joined on drums and Shota joined on second guitar and that was like the birth of First Base as a real band. Since then, Shota has moved to Japan and Shin now lives in Montreal.

MIKE: I met Fraser for the first time at the second ever First Base gig. When I saw they didn't have a bass player I offered to play with them and a few weeks later Fraser messaged me on Myspace (hee haw!) and asked if I was still interested. As for the other guys, I had known Connor since high school and had already been in a few throwaway bands with him so I already knew he'd be a good fit. All of us met Nick by seeing his band Brat Kings play a few times. Connor had switched over to drums and we needed a new guitar player so we asked Nick to play with us and he was into the idea. And that's where we are now.

Is this the sound you had in mind when you got together and started playing or did the music just kind of take on a life of its own?
MIKE: Well the music all comes from Fraser. It was his project before any of us were involved and he writes the songs. We make slight changes or add/subtract certain things to everything as a band once we start to play them together generally. It was always the kind of music I personally wanted to play and I think all four of us mesh really well together. This is probably the best the band has ever sounded in my opinion.

FRASER: I write the songs and record them all before we ever play them together as a band. I have fun recording my own version of the song, then we take that and make it suit the band so we can play it live and eventually record it together. I think we've been getting better at translating the songs that I record on my own into the band's songs and getting the band's own sound out of them.

Tell me a little about living in Toronto. What’s it like playing there and are people there supportive of what you guys are doing musically?

MIKE: Toronto's a weird city. I don't want to trash talk it because I love living here and it's a rad city but the scene for the kind of thing we're doing isn't particuarly great. Right now Toronto is really into weirdo/experimental/grungey kind of music. The hardcore scene here is really good too. There was a time when the hardcore and power pop bands played together, but that doesn't seem to happen anymore which is unfortunate. That being said, there are a handful of amazing bands from Toronto doing something similar to the kind of thing we are.

We joke that we're actually an Ottawa band because our records have been recorded there, mixed there, artwork done there (by our friend blood brother Ken from Mother's Children - Ottawa local) and the Ottawa scene just seems to be a lot more in touch with the kind of sound we have.

Can you remember as a kid who first inspired you to want to pick up an instrument and learn how to play/write music?
MIKE: The first band I was ever really into, probably like a lot of Canadian kids, was Rush. Ha, ha. I started on bass because all my friends wanted to play guitar. My first band played our grade 8 assembly a few times. We stole a riff from a Misfits song. Ha, ha. I found out about punk very young and instantly connected with the Ramones (and the Germs - oddly enough) about the same time I realized I couldn't play like Geddy Lee because it was way too hard. All down hill from there.

FRASER: Probably the Ramones for me. First Base is basically the entirety of my musical output and almost all of it stems from the Ramones somehow.

I was reading an interview with Kim Shattuck from the Muffs and she said when writing song lyrics she stays away from politics because nothing dates a song faster. What sorts of things inspire your songs and are there any subjects you try to stay away from purposefully in your lyrics?

FRASER: I just try to make "love" songs. Anything about relationships seems to be ok. Any song I've made about anything else just doesn't work for us, so I stay away from that. I don't think we'll ever do a political song, although I guess we sort of have one? I made a song about the oil refineries in my hometown for the "Bloodstains Across Ontario" compilation. You could say it's about environmental issues, but it was really just a Beach Boys parody. 

What sorts of things distract you the most when you’re playing a show? Is there something in particular that annoys you the most that someone in the crowd always seems to do?
MIKE: People in Toronto just generally stand still and cross their arms when they watch you, (with the exceptions of our friends who are always sweethearts at our shows). You can't tell if they love you or hate you. It doesn't annoy me but the first couple times you play live it can be intimidating.

FRASER: Someone up at the front with their phone out. It's kind of depressing to see while you're playing.

You guys recently played with Forgotten Rebels, how did that go? Were you fans of their music prior to your show together?

MIKE: I was and still am a huge Forgotten Rebels fan. I remember listening to Reich N Roll from the Tomorrow Belongs to Us 12" in the car with my mom on the way to grade 9 summer school. The chorus is just "I wanna be a nazi" (all tongue in cheek - not actually promoting any sort of nazi-ism) repeated over a few times. It's a miracle she put up with that kind of shit from me. The show itself was weird. Forgotten Rebels seem to attract a lot of crust punks for some reason. Oh, and we had to play in front of all the Rebels gear which gave us next to no breathing room.  I didn't feel like the crowd really enjoyed us that much but we sold a ton of merch that night so who knows.

There’s an old folk story I’ve heard about the first time Bob Dylan and John Lennon first met. Lennon was a huge Dylan fan and he asked him what he thought of The Beatles music and Dylan responded by saying “you’re good but your music doesn’t say anything.” So The Beatles started to move away from their pop music about love and girls and came out with Rubber Soul soon after. What do you think about Dylan’s response, do you feel rock n’ roll has to say something provocative to be relevant?

FRASER: I like the story of John putting down Paul with the song "How Do You Sleep," and Paul responding with "Silly Love Songs." 

MIKE: I think the best Beatles material is when they were singing about love and girls. I prefer songs without any kind of political or social message and I know saying that's going to piss a bunch of people off. I see enough of that shit in the rest of my everyday life. I don't want to have to listen to it in my music too. Obviously there are exceptions, I'm just speaking generally. Bring on more songs about chocolate and girls.

FRASER: And hot dogs.

Where are the best places to go to hear your music and buy your records?
MIKE: You can like our Facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/FirstBaseToronto  or listen to some songs @ https://firstbase.bandcamp.com/. You can buy our newest 45 from Hosehead records @ http://www.hoseheadrecords.ca/p/webstore.html and our LP from HoZac Records @ http://hozacrecords.com/store/

What does the near future hold for First Base?
MIKE: Right now we're just writing songs to record for our next LP, which might end up being more singles - but we're aiming for an LP. We've got a handful of them written. Hopefully we'll be recording late summer and have the LP out early next year but nothing is set in stone yet.

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Fashionism

     Fashionism is based in Vancouver, British Columbia and recently debuted unto the world with a three song EP on Hosehead Records earlier this year that was very well received here at the Audio Ammunition sub aquatic chateau. The band successfully combines some of the wonderful attributes of a few rock sub genres that particularly tickle our fancy: the loud guitar hooks of glam, the melodies of power pop, and the explosive energy of punk rock are all equally and brilliantly woven throughout Fashionism’s song structure. The band consists of veteran musicians from such bands as New Town Animals, The Jolts, and The Tranzmitors, but when these four particular entities come together they create a sound that’s enjoyably fresh yet pleasantly familiar. Fashionism pushes all the right buttons and presses new ones you didn’t even know you had!    

Interview by J Castro

Let’s start off by telling us who is all in the band, what instruments you all play in the band AND some of the other groups you’ve been in or currently in other than Fashionism:

Jacuzzi Fluzzi: I'm Jacuzzi Fluzzi and I play guitar and I sing heavenly background vocals. Jeffery sings all the lead vocals and is the band tailor. JR plucks the bass with her fingers like a real musician and sings quiet background vocals and Sweet Kokomo is the minister of partying and plays drums. We're all VERY old so we've played in lots of bands, but some of the good ones are Tranzmitors and New Town Animals. Those bands all suck in comparison, though. Obviously.

How did you all meet and decide to get a band together?

Jacuzzi Fluzzi:  Jeff and I live a stone’s throw away from each other and had talked in the past a lot about whether or not we were going to go into politics as running mates or get a band together. We opted for the road with less money and chose a name that firmly put an end to any of us pursuing a political career. Thank god. Jeff filled in the blanks with some old band mates of his and we ended up with some really fantastic people.

Paul Collins wanted to be with one back in 1979 and according to your song: “Where Have All the Rock n’ Roll Girls Gone” they’re becoming scarce in Vancouver. What is the allure of a rock n’ roll girl and what’s your theory on why they’re a dying breed?  

Jacuzzi Fluzzi: We lament the fact that there aren't a lot of people that are into actual subculture. That really identify with it. There used to be so many youth cultures and most of them have been assimilated. But I do think Vancouver is getting better, actually. At least I hope so. There are so many great bands and cool scenes within punk here right now especially. It seems like things are getting pretty creative. There are still rock n’ roll girls out there, but I don't think that it's a genuine possibility to bond with a babe over a Magazine LP in Vancouver, you know? Perhaps we're getting old and grumpy, but when we play that song live it sure seems to make the girls in the room prove that they're still around. Maybe it's a challenge.

Photo by Nicole Dumas

You describe your sound as “Bubblegum glam of the early 70’s played by people who like late 70’s UK punk.” I think that description is pretty spot on. Is this the sound you were going for when first starting out or did it just kind of naturally flow into that direction?

Jacuzzi Fluzzi: We initially wanted to play full-on glam rock but it quickly turned into us realizing that we were poisoned by our record collections and decades of listening to Sex Pistols and Clash LPs. We couldn't sugar it up the way it was needed to really do the genre properly so we just stopped thinking about it. We decided it was better to just take the songs that we were writing as I guess power pop/first-wave punk songs but try to think of them with the big production that would have been used on Slade or Mud records.

What sorts of things typically inspire your song lyrics?  I was reading an interview with Kim Shattuck of the Muffs and she said she stays away from politics in her lyrics because she feels nothing dates a song faster. Are there any subjects that you purposefully stay away from?

Jacuzzi Fluzzi: I have perhaps the biggest crush on Kim Shattuck possible so I'd like to agree in case she sees this, but I do think rock n’ roll is political. I hate politics, though. We don't have any real political agenda at all. I still don't think anything is off the table as far as writing goes. Jeffery is a History major. It comes out in his writing, but mostly manifests as goofy and tongue-in-cheek more than some dumb rallying cry.

Looking at pictures of you guys, your album artwork, and even your buttons and posters; you definitely have a distinct “look,” hence your band name I would guess.  Do you think more bands should start taking a little more interest in this sort of thing instead of just shuffling up on stage in t-shirts, shorts and torn up canvas shoes? 

Jacuzzi Fluzzi: Y'know, fashion is fun. It's a lot of fun to play dress-up and look goofy and sharp and scummy and whatever else. I love the “don't care” (and possibly can't afford to care) look of bands like Fifteen and I also think The Jam look fuckin' smart! It's how you wear it. Just own it and don't pose. I did see one band locally here that sticks out in my mind but I can't remember what they were called. The guitar player looked like he crawled out of bed and grabbed his reverb pedal on the way to the show. He was wearing a full red sweat suit and dumb toque and he looked like an asshole. I hated him and his stupid band and I decided that if you're going to suck (and they did suck) that you at least should put some effort into what you're wearing. He certainly paid no attention to his songwriting. At least if you look great and play like you actually want to, you'll be entertaining to some degree...

And speaking of which, you just released your debut 7” on Hosehead Records. Can you tell me a bit about it and how you hooked up with the fine folks at Hosehead?

Jacuzzi Fluzzi:  Patrick from Hosehead came out to our first show and said he'd do anything to put a record out for us, which is an offer you can't refuse. Stupidly, all we asked for was for him to put out a record for us. He's got some cool bands on his label too so it's a nice fit.

With vinyl record sales being on the rise since 2006 and now cassettes making a comeback, do you think there will ever be a time when tapes and records out sell digital MP3’s or do you think this whole vinyl comeback thing is simply a fad? 

Jacuzzi Fluzzi: I work in a record store – tapes still sell terribly. Records are selling well and have for years. Punk and underground cultures have floated vinyl as a mandatory format for years. It's not going anywhere; it may ebb and flow as the mainstream realizes there is a sellable format for new releases, but the underground has always kept it alive. Lookout Records in the ‘90s was HUGE, and it was one of the worst eras for records coming out on vinyl. Nearly their entire catalog came out on vinyl and they weren't small pressings, either. I don't pay attention to MP3s.

Expanding a bit more on the previous question: do you think people will realize what they’re missing from actually holding a record in their hand: album artwork, band photos, liner notes etc.?

Jacuzzi Fluzzi: Well, I hope so – it's part of the whole package of a record. There is thought and aesthetic there and not just in the songs. I don't like talking about stupid things like “branding” or some other industry garbage but I suppose it is true to a point. The artwork and attention to detail are really special to me. Nearly everything we've done has been by hand, stamping all of our sleeves, pressing our own pins, numbering and stamping our posters and silk screening/spray painting our first line of T-shirts. I think that's valuable and I hope that when someone buys something from us they see the value in that as well.

What’s the plan of attack for Fashionism in 2015: any tours or new releases? 

Jacuzzi Fluzzi: We have a new single coming out on Zaxxon Records out of Montreal and we have a bunch more songs recorded as well. Get in touch as they're all doozies. We are planning some Stateside shows and some Western Canada stuff, and hope to make it out east, but right now we're writing and recording for more releases.

Links to follow Fashionism hijinks:

http://fashionism.bandcamp.com/releases

https://www.facebook.com/fashionishim

Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ydD6faWVU8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8q0oyUwWN0k

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Average Times

     Mere moments into the opening song from Average Times debut album the band quickly and eagerly throws back the curtain and reveals all of the fantastic influences they’ve collected over time. These are sons and daughters of punk from the last 20 or so years, the salad days of Rip Off, Dirtnap, Sympathy for the Record Industry, Crypt Records and many others. What Average Times seems to have done is gone and gathered everything that was great about so many of the bands from that time and the unique sound they created that set that era apart and discard the dead weight. They seize all they have learned and experienced, melt it and shape it into a crude yet sharp prison style weapon and stab you in the forehead with it and after they’re done you beg for more!

Interview by Jay Castro

Please introduce yourselves and what you throw into the Average Times band?

CURTIS: This is Curtis (Guitar, Vocals)

STEPH: Stephanie (Drums)

Where are you all from originally and how did you all meet and decide to play music together?

STEPH: We're all from Ottawa and surrounding areas. I started playing drums as a hobby a few years ago, then jamming with Curtis for practice. Soon after, we started playing with Todd as a three-piece and Seiji replaced our first bass player (Tim) about a year ago.

CURTIS: Well Steph is my better half and we met Todd and Seiji through friends.

Your debut album is out on Hosehead records (or at least it will be by the time this comes out). How did you hook up with those fine folks?

STEPH: Our friends in Ketamines invited us to play a show in Toronto last fall at the Silver Dollar Room. That's where Pat and Mike approached us about releasing a full length based on our tape released on Bruised Tongue.

CURTIS: The first time we met those guys, they were really chill and all of us clicked right away. They are definitely two hard working guys and it shows that they love what they do.

What’s the Rock N’ Roll community like in Ottawa these days?  

CURTIS: I think it's totally rad - a lot of awesome bands and super talented people all working together to make the city an amazing place to play music.

STEPH: Ottawa has always been a great city for punk bands and I feel like in the past couple of years, the scene has GROWN. So many wicked places to play and to party with more on the rise!

In your opinion, what bands do people need to know and understand in order to appreciate your music more?

STEPH: All of them.

Who are some bands you would like to take with you, or open up for on a world tour?

STEPH: David Bowie

CURTIS: 2Pac hologram

When you aren’t Rock N’ Rollin’ all around Ottawa, what kinds of things do you enjoy doing?  Hobbies etc..?

CURTIS: We never stop.

STEPH: Don't stop the rockin’ (nods head back and forth in a no position).

What’s been the most unforgettable show you’ve played, good or bad and what made it so memorable?

CURTIS: The Death House in the industrial part of Montreal - it was a super wicked punk squat. The front door was 3 feet away from some train tracks. It was also pissing rain and people were slipping on the plywood sidewalks all night.

STEPH: One of my favorite shows was our second show ever - we were opening for Natural Child. The Death House show was also super fun - lots of indoor smoking.

The cassette is making a raging comeback.  Do you think it’s a viable and collectable form of music or just another hipster trend that will soon go hobbling back to its dark cave of obscurity and take a seat next to the 8-Track where in belongs?

STEPH: Tapes were the first format of music that most people our age collected so I think it's pretty rad to be able to collect them again. Maybe one day soon, CD's will make a comeback.

CURTIS: Whether they stick around or not . . . time will tell.

What does the band have in store for us in the near or not so near future?

CURTIS: Just gonna keep on playing shows, and most likely record again this summer.

STEPH: We have a small Ontario tour coming up this June and hopefully Europe in the next year or two!

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