Learning the local scene at Sled Island Music and Arts Festival in Calgary

Dave: Silly. I like to think we’re fun to watch, and we try to bring a good energy to the stage. We want people to dance, to move, so we try to do the same when we can.

Michael: Well, Dave, our bassist, plays a kazoo on a few songs. So, our live shows rival Super Bowl Halftime performances, more-or-less. I think we are going to teach Quinn to do a mid-air double somersault off his kick drum by the end of the summer. Besides that, mostly we spend our shows going from statue-like (those 5/4 rhythms require intense concentration) to appearing like we are being actively electrocuted. All while still looking very cool and desirable of course.

Quinn: I think one thing that’s super important for our live shows is for the crowd to interact with us as much as possible. Before we play a song that I wrote called “Letterboxd”, we’ll often ask a few members of the crowd what their four favourite movies are, just like the Letterboxd street interviews! It’s a great way to engage with the audience (while also hiding the fact that Michael is tuning). Additionally it’s important that we try to play covers that will make the crowd want to sing along and, hopefully, even steal the mic.

Michael: “The Beer Song” is a favourite of our friends, but if you can keep us in mind for a few more weeks, we’re releasing our first EP this summer and we’re beyond excited to finally get it out there.

Quinn: On our upcoming EP, we have a song called “Daigo Parry 2004” (a song that I hope our readers know the reference to) and I cannot wait for people to hear it! I think it’s our best use of sampling yet and I think the drum part is so much fun! I joke to the rest of the band that I overuse my ride cymbal bell in our music and that song is a shining example.

Dave: It’s awesome. There’s some really awesome people doing work in the scene, so I feel really lucky to get to be a part of it. I think we’re also lucky to have not only a supportive scene but supportive venues as well. Loophole, one of the venues we’re playing at this year, is super accessible for young and upcoming artists, which I think really helps to foster a scene that’s super welcoming to newcomers.

Michael: The community in the music scene has been the most important part of our experiences. We are extremely lucky to be a part of a community that is filled with good people and good musicians. The inspiration we find from this scene has kept us pushing to play more shows with new bands and write new songs that push our skills and creativity. We’ve been lucky to involve talented visual artists, producers, engineers, organisers, promoters, venue leaders, and local business and arts organisations in our successes surrounding this band. And, since I’m here, shout out Loophole Coffee Bar, Shy Friend, Perra, East Town Get Down, Bookburner Productions, Astrology Girl, Teenage Art Scene, Uncle Girl, Brock Brown, and everyone and anyone who we’ve had the unparalleled pleasure of making art with.

Dave: When we played Sled Island last year, Quinn forgot his wallet at our practice space and had to drive 25 minutes there and 25 minutes back because he was worried we wouldn’t get into the venue before our set. It was a pretty good laugh. In terms of shows, I’ve found so many amazing artists and bands that I might not have otherwise. Concrete Vehicles (FKA Computer), Hillsboro, DMBQ - all great bands that I’ve gotten to see because of Sled.

Michael: Playing on the same bill as The Mummies was pretty awe-inspiring. And the response we got from the crowd was massive when we played. I was so enveloped by the energy that, when I leapt into the air with my guitar, I slammed my headstock into the ceiling and popped a hole in it. There are at least ten other headstock shaped holes up there at the Palomino, but still, don’t tell anyone I told you that one of them was from me.

Quinn: Michael and Dave took the good ones. However, I have a very vivid memory of someone at our show last year screaming “I want my mummy” over and over until the show started, while wildly spraying their beer on the crowd.