The Interview Show with Scott Wood 2013

I met Lumineers lead Wesley Shultz deep in the bowels of Vancouver’s Vogue Theatre. Not many know this, but The Lumineers got their start as a cover band called Free Beer. Wes told me how the band got their current name and who he likes to serenade while he or she takes a dump in the woods. Listen to our chat for all the details!

Tracks played on the show...
 
1) The Lumineers, The Lumineers “Ho Hey”   
2) The Lumineers, The Lumineers “Stubborn Love” 
3) The Lumineers, The Lumineers “Dead Sea” 
4) The Lumineers, The Lumineers “Submarines”  

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The Interview Show with The Lumineers #120

Ra Ra Riot is a NY university party-born band known for mixing indie pop with lush string arrangements. They invaded iPods around the same time as band besties Vampire Weekend.

Ra Ra Riot’s latest release, Beta Love, dives headfirst into the highly processed world of synthetic electro-pop. The reception to this career move can be charitably described as mixed, with most long-term fans wondering what the hell happened.

As a fan, I can understand the concern over this change, but you can’t blame a band for wanting to grow. Eager to talk about all of this, I managed to lure Mat from the band away from the catering at the club. I get him to talk about the direction change in depth and much more.

Tracks played on the show... 

1) Ra Ra Riot, Beta Love “Beta Love”   
2) Ra Ra Riot, The Orchard “Boy”  
3) Ra Ra Riot, The Orchard “Too Dramatic”  
4) Ra Ra Riot, Beta Love “Dance With Me”   

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The Interview Show with Ra Ra Riot #121

Local hip hop team (and sneaker fiends) BoomBox Saints named themselves after the 90's cult classic film Boondock Saints. The guys occupy that sweet spot in between R&B and hip hop like mainstream superstars The Weeknd and Drake.

I met the group at a DTES loft, but our interview was interrupted by a surprise high end, brand name men’s belt fashion show. Yeah, you read that right. Listen to our crazy chat.

Tracks played on the show...
 
1) Boombox Saints, For The Moment “By My Side”
2) Boombox Saints, For The Moment “Blind”  
3) Boombox Saints, For The Moment “Whole World”
4) Boombox Saints, For The Moment “For The Moment”
  
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The Interview Show with Boombox Saints #122

I haven’t done a heavy band for a while, so this week I bring you my chat with Sam Carter, the lead from British band Architects.

From the start, this interview appeared to be cursed. We had to move three separate times to escape loud band soundchecks, rowdy dressing rooms and overzealous fans. Sam remained professional almost the entire time, even though he had a meet-and-greet and tons of fans anxiously waiting for him.

The UK’s Architects are another band who have endured fan backlash when a record (2011’s The Here And Now) didn’t meet fan expectations. Architects bounced back immediately releasing another record (2012’s Daybreaker) that reflected the sound of their earlier fan-loved works like the band’s third release Hollow Crown. I get Sam to talk candidly about this backlash and much more. Listen to our chat!

Tracks played on the show... 
 
1) Architects Daybreaker “These Colours Don’t Run”   
2) Architects The Here and Now “Stay Young Forever”  
3) Architects Hollow Crown “Hollow Crown”  
4) Architects Daybreaker “Even If You Win, You’re Still A Rat”   

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Warning to Radio Folk: There may be a (very) few swear words.


The Interview Show with Architects UK #123

When I spoke with Trust‘s mysterious frontman, Robert Alfons, he told me that while making his debut record, TRST, he constantly felt like he was making a stripper mix. I have to agree. These songs all conjour a dark smoky ambiance perfect for the pole. Who do you imagine dancing to Trust tracks? You won’t believe who Robert thinks about.

Tracks played on the show... 
  
1) Trust, TRST “Candy Walls”
2) Trust, TRST “Sulk”  
3) Sarah Harmer You Were Here “Basement Apartment” (snippet/background)
4) Trust, TRST “Glory Hole”
  
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The Interview Show with Trust #124

Vancouver’s Delhi 2 Dublin started as a happy accident when the then programmer of Vancouver’s Celtic Festival asked Beats Without Borders DJ Tarun Nayar to “put something together.” Demand mushroomed from there. 6 years and 3 records later, the band regularly tours the world and these musicians (brought together for a one-off show) are able to make a living off this music.

I know what you are thinking: mixing celtic and bhangra music styles doesn’t seem to make much sense, but when you see the band live they put on a surprisingly compelling show.

I caught D2D lead Sanjay at soundcheck and we talk about about mixing this strange musical brew and more. Listen to our chat!

Tracks played on the show...
  
1) Delhi 2 Dublin, Turn Up the Stereo “Love Is the Hero”
2) Delhi 2 Dublin, Delhi 2 Dublin “Apples” 
3) Delhi 2 Dublin, Turn Up the Stereo “Ve Mundeya”
4) Delhi 2 Dublin, Turn Up the Stereo “Tabla Boy”
  
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The Interview Show with Delhi 2 Dublin #125

Most musicians, making a living at music, tour each record for a year and a half. This means that a band is living out of a tour van spending a lot of time driving, trapped in a small space with four other people . It's a lifestyle that can kill a band, especially when you’re a bunch of teenagers, just learning how to interact with other people as an adult.

The touring life nearly destroyed Born Ruffians and their second record, Say It, became a record about communication problems in the band.

I met up with Luke and Mitch where all the problems (and solutions) began: the Born Ruffians tour van. Luke and Mitch were shy at first, but after a while I got them to talk candidly about band life. Listen to our chat.

Tracks played on the show... 

1) Born Ruffians, Say It (2010) “What to Say”
2) Born Ruffians, Say It (2010) “Oh Man”
3) Born Ruffians, Say It (2010) “Come Back”
  
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The Interview Show with Born Ruffians #126

2011 was a big year for Vancouver’s Mother Mother, their third album Eureka gave the world my favorite Mother Mother track, “The Stand.” The band followed up Eureka with another solid release, The Sticks.

When it came time to chat about The Sticks, MM‘s frontman Ryan Guldemond chose to meet me at Cafe Deux Soleils, Commercial Drive’s legendary vegetarian eatery / coffee house / slam poetry space / live venue.

It turns out, Ryan has a history with Cafe Deux Soleils. Listen to our chat to find out all the details. One thing I love about Ryan is that he never minces words, which always makes for a lively conversation.

Tracks played on the show...
  
1) Mother Mother Eureka “The Stand”
2) Mother Mother The Sticks “Bit By Bit”
3) Mother Mother The Sticks “Let’s Fall in Love”
4) Mother Mother The Sticks “Happy”
  
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The Interview Show with Mother Mother #127

Where do I start? In the mid-2000s, Dan Deacon emerged from the Baltimore scene as one of the few guys who could successfully combine electronic music, art, partying and spectacle into one potent, life-affirming mix.

Talking with Dan was a real treat. So many artists have big, far-reaching goals and Dan not only has the ambition, but also the ability to clearly articulate what he is doing. Listen to him talk about sustainability and then answer a question about the last weird thing to get stuck in his beard.

Tracks played on the show...
 
1) Dan Deacon America “True Thrush”   
2) Dan Deacon America “Lots”   
3) Dan Deacon America “Crash Jam”   
 
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The Interview Show with Dan Deacon #128

Winnipeg’s Boats have been a favorite of mine ever since their 2nd record Cannonballs, Cannonballs. Lead singer/songwriter Mat looks like an angry civil servant, but he sings like a Muppet. Boats “Haircuts for Everybody!!” this is the track that made me a fan.

Boats have just released their latest record A Fairway Full of Miners. When it came time to chat, the entire band and me crowded into their lush half-tour van, half RV. (Boats lovingly call their van “Beth.”) Once the mic was on, only three members of Boats would talk, but they had already made their first big mistake letting me inside their headquarters. Soon they had no choice but to tell me everything.

Tracks played on the show...
  
1) Boats A Fairway Full of Miners “Getting Worst.jpeg”
2) Boats Cannonballs, Cannonballs “Haircuts for Everybody!”
3) Boats A Fairway Full of Miners “Great Skulls”
  
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The Interview Show with Boats #129

I met Hot Panda on a typical Vancouver rainy night behind the Cobalt. We all crowded into the Prius belonging to HP lead singer Chris Connelly. I got the band to talk about public nudity, destroying tour vans and other secret band gossip.

This particular chat was an interview show first. Half the band walked out in the middle of the interview! Don’t worry! It’s a funny story. You’ll have to listen to hear how it all goes down!

Tracks played on the show...

1) Hot Panda Go Outside “Future Markets”
2) Hot Panda Go Outside “Maybe Now”
3) Hot Panda Go Outside “One in the Head, One in the Chest”
4) Hot Panda Go Outside “Language”
  
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The Interview Show with Hot Panda #130

When I caught up with Joseph Mount, the founder of UK electronic band Metronomy, he was a few drinks into his night and in a fun mood. While he puffed away on a cigarette, I got him to talk about good and bad band girlfriends, getting “too commercial” and great stoner records.

Tracks played on the show...

1) Metronomy, The English Riviera “The Bay”   
2) Metronomy, The English Riviera “The Look”  
3) Metronomy, Nights Out “Radio Ladio” 
4) Metronomy, The English Riviera “Trouble”  
 
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The Interview Show with Metronomy #131

Vancouver’s Yukon Blonde are the perfect music for a sunny summer evening at the lake.

I’ve been wanting to talk to the band for a while now, but I think this interview was cursed. I was sick and we had to move locations a couple of times to avoid 1) soundcheck at the Commodore Ballroom, 2) a rainy Vancouver night, 3) a security guard on his smoke break, and finally 4) a loud alley air conditioning fan. Still I got some funny stuff from the guys in Yukon Blonde. (The origin of the band name is hilarious!) Listen to our chat.

Tracks played on the show...

1) Yukon Blonde, Tiger Talk “My Girl”
2) Yukon Blonde, Tiger Talk “Stairway”
3) Yukon Blonde, Yukon Blonde “Babies Don’t Like Blue Anymore”
4) Yukon Blonde, Tiger Talk “Guns”
  
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The Interview Show with Yukon Blonde #132

Portland, Oregon’s Wampire are releasing their debut record Curiosity this week (May 14th). Wampire make “spooky” off-kilter synth pop.

I caught up with Rocky and Eric while they were on tour with Portland bro-bands Unknown Mortal Orchestra and Foxygen. There is one thing that the guys from Wampire HATE getting asked. Don’t worry. I ask them!

Tracks played on the show...
 
1) Wampire Curiosity “The Hearse”   
2) Wampire Curiosity “Train”   
3) Wampire The Hearse single “Das Modell” (Kraftwerk cover)  
4) Wampire Curiosity “Spirit Forest”   

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The Interview Show with Wampire #133

When I snagged Zachary Gray from The Zolas, backstage at his sold out show at the Vogue Theatre (with Calgary band The Dudes), Zach was a little preoccupied, juggling his two “strapping Scandinavian” merch guys and getting family into the venue. He was also being haunted by the ghost of legendary musician Prince (who had performed at the Vogue the night before). This is probably how I got him to spill all the details of his first girlfriend, among other things. Listen to our chat.

Tracks played on the show...

1) The Zolas Ancient Mars “Knot In My Heart”
2) The Zolas Tic Toc Tic “You’re Too Cool”
3) Grizzly Bear Veckatimest “While You Wait for the Others” (partial/background) ***
4) The Zolas Ancient Mars “Observatory”
  
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The Interview Show with The Zolas #134

Montreal’s SUUNS are often called an experimental band because they mix electronic music with guitar-heavy indie rock. I talked to Ben and Joe from the band about everything, including strange band backstage riders, what a SUUNS Barbie looks like, and the show in Syracuse NY that nearly destroyed the band. (It involved waffles.) Listen to our chat to hear all the grisly details.

Tracks played on the show...
  
1) SUUNS Images Du Futur “Sunspot”
2) SUUNS Images Du Futur “2020”
3) SUUNS Zeroes QC “Armed for Peace” (partial/background)
4) SUUNS Images Du Futur “Mirror Mirror”
  
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The Interview Show with SUUNS #135

Toronto’s METZ make 90's grunge-influenced punk tunes and it should be no shock that this band is on the influential Sub Pop indie record label. Their first self-titled release has turned a lot of heads.

I met Alex from METZ outside the Biltmore. While we chatted in the tour van, METZ‘s tour manager was cooking burgers on a portable mini-BBQ. Can anyone say curbside BBQ party?

If you listen closely during our chat, you can hear poor Alex sniffling. He had a bit of a cold. If you also listen closely you can hear my stomach growling. Those burgers sure smelled good!

Tracks played on the show...

1) METZ, METZ “Wasted”
2) METZ, METZ “Headache”
3) METZ, METZ “Wet Blanket”
4) METZ, METZ “Nausea”
  
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The Interview Show with METZ #136

Unknown Mortal Orchestra (sometimes known as UMO) is one of those mysterious bands who seem to burst out of nowhere. One track appears on a blog and suddenly everyone wants more music. This is the situation that UMO songwriter Ruban Nielson found himself in. Weird thing is… Ruban had given up making music.

I called Ruban one late night and he told me the incredible story of how he went from being an ex-punk rocker, turned film intern at an Oregon production company to the frontman for one of Portland’s most hyped bands.

Tracks played on the show...

1) Unknown Mortal Orchestra II “Swim and Sleep (Like a Shark)”   
2) Unknown Mortal Orchestra II “So Good At Being in Trouble”   
3) Unknown Mortal Orchestra Unknown Mortal Orchestra “FFunny FFrends”  
4) Unknown Mortal Orchestra II “From the Sun”   

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The Interview Show with Unknown Mortal Orchestra #137

Vancouver rapper CityReal met local blues artist Wes Mackey while out with his girlfriend on NYE.  Immediately CityReal knew Mackey and CityReal had to make a blues-hip hop fusion record together. The collabo record Good Morning Blues came out this year. It’s an interesting move for a new rapper, so I had to find out more.

CityReal wanted to meet up the night has was opening for Method Man from Wu-Tang. Somehow I tore CityReal away from backstage. Listen to how fast CityReal talks in this interview. You can tell he really wants to get back to the party backstage–and who can blame him? (I just wish he’d taken me back with him!)

Tracks played on the show...

1) CityReal & Wes Mackey Good Morning Blues “Passing Me By”
2) CityReal & Wes Mackey Good Morning Blues “Hell Hound” (featuring Mad Child)
3) CityReal & Wes Mackey Good Morning Blues “Nightlife”
4) CityReal & Wes Mackey Good Morning Blues “Angel” (featuring D-Sisive)
  
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The Interview Show with CityReal #138

King Tuff makes garage-y pop music, perfect for a summer day. The band has recently re-released their hard-to-find first record, Was Dead, and are on tour this summer so you have a chance to see them live again.

I chatted with Kyle and his crazy crew while they ate their dinner. When you listen to our chat, you can see why I like to call this one, “My Dinner with Tuff” or “Scott Wood vs. King Tuff.” Enjoy!

Tracks played on the show...

1) King Tuff King Tuff “Alone and Stoned”   
2) King Tuff King Tuff “Bad Thing” 
3) King Tuff King Tuff “Keep On Movin” 
4) King Tuff King Tuff “Swamp of Love” 

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The Interview Show with King Tuff #139

The Interview Show producer and host Scott Wood climbs into the tour van to hang out with your favorite indie bands. This podcast covers all kinds of music--anything from electronic to hip hop to indie to punk to metal. Listen!

The Interview Show with Scott Wood 2013

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