"I mainly listen to music when I'm walking around so I guess that is the ideal way. I guess this way the music takes on a sound track type quality. When we record the record I walk around and listen to the instrumentals and get ideas for the lyrics. Walking around has always made for the perfect environment to write for me. I have no idea why.... perhaps it is because there is nothing to completely distract but at the same time you can't be 100% focused. I makes for a sort of concentration limbo.
I am born and raised in Toronto and that played a huge part in who I am. Toronto is like a huge small town and it is a relatively safe (being a large male) so from an early age I was able to go around on my own and explore. I can't imagine living anywhere else. As for how it has affected us as a band: because everyone knows everyone we have been able to get the wide variety of guests on our records. If you want someone ton guest you just find a friend who knows them and get at them that way. Also Toronto hardcore at the time we started was an older scene so a lot of the music we liked wasn't really reflected by what was going on in Toronto so we had to kind of build our own scene.
Ancient Jerusalem, America (actually the western world in general) [played a part in the inspiration for The Chemistry of Common Life]. Toronto played a part but not so much specific places (with the exception of the bonus vinyl song which was inspired by the migrant worker camps in Johannesburg). The lyrics kinda work like my mind does, jumping from on subject to the next, so it is hard to point to a specific thing that inspires all the lyrics to a song. The next record though I want top focus on the history of the derfeated and conquered so there will most definitely be specific places.
I guess I look at music as being a very personal thing, a solitary activity. I hate to listen to music in clubs or bars. That is why it took me so long to start DJing, which is something I have tried a couple of times now and I kinda hate doing I also like to listen to music at my desk.
I love to listen to the stuff from the Best Show on the road. It is a halarious radio show from New Jersey. They have put out a few CDs on some of the best bits. I'm also a fan of the related Earles and Jensen stuff and Andy Earles stuff on the best show. Other then that stuff I listen to old pop-punk. I fand the futher I can get away from the music I will be seeing at the show that night the better.
My top 5 [tour records] would be:
NOFX-Punk In Drublic
The Best Show On WFMU - Hippy Justice
Earls and Jensen - Just Farr A Laugh
Best Show On WFMU - Best OF Andy Earls (bootleg)
Roky Erikson - Evil One"
Thanks to Damian (via Catherine) for the interview.
