The Interview Show with Scott Wood 2015

Viet Cong have rocketed out of to nowhere (truth be told: Calgary) to become one of 2015’s most talked about bands. The band’s self-titled debut has been quickly gathering rave reviews and intensely dedicated fans. A few months ago, I got a sneak preview of the record, huddling in the tour van with Matt Flegel  and “Monty” Munro. We talked about everything from making a new tour van “your own” to the night Matt’s previous band Women exploded onstage in a fistfight. Listen to our chat!

Tracks played on the show...
  
1) Viet Cong, Viet Cong (2015) "Continental Drift"
2) Chad VanGaalen, Soft Airplane (2008) "Molten Light" (background/partial)
3) Viet Cong, Viet Cong (2015) "Silhouettes"
4) Women, Public Strain (2010) "Eyesore" (background)
5) Viet Cong, Viet Cong (2015) "Newspaper Spoon"

ALL songs CANCON

The Interview Show with Viet Cong #173

Brody Dalle started performing in bands when she was barely a teenager in Australia. Just as she turned 18, she married Tim Armstrong, the frontman of Rancid. (Their divorce inspired many of the songs on Rancid‘s 2003 album Indestructible.) From there, Brody has led several bands, proving music is one of the true loves of her life. She is also currently a parent of two children with her husband Josh Homme, the frontman of Queens of the Stone Age.

I had a chance to sit down with Brody Dalle while she was on tour to promote the release of her current record, Diploid Love. (The first record she has released under her own name.) You have to listen to my chat with this complicated individual.

Tracks played on the show...
  
1) Brody Dalle Diploid Love (2014) "Meet The Foetus/Oh The Joy"
2) Brody Dalle Diploid Love (2014) "Parties For Prostitutes"
3) The Distillers Coral Fang (2003) "Drain the Blood"
4) Brody Dalle Diploid Love (2014) "Don't Mess With Me"
  
NO songs CANCON

The Interview Show with Brody Dalle #174

BadBadNotGood started as three school chums (Matt, Chester and Alex) who decided to post their jazzy interpretations of hip hop tracks online. Fast forward to a few years later and they are releasing a collab record with Ghostface Killah!

I talk to the band about how they write, Steely Dan, and what it’s like to get drunk off moonshine. Listen to our chat!

BadBadNotGood “Can’t Leave the Night” This is my favorite track off BBND‘s third record, III–their first record of original material.

BadBadNotGood “Bastard/Lemonade” This cover/mashup of Tyler the Creator‘s “Bastard” and Gucci Mane‘s “Lemonade” is one of the only older BBND tracks the band still performs live.

Tracks played on the show... 
  
1) BadBadNotGood III (2014) "Can't Leave the Night"
2) BadBadNotGood BBNG2 (2012) "Bastard/Lemonade"  (background) (Tyler the Creator cover)**
3) Ghostface Killah & BadBadNotGood Sour Soul (2015) "Six Degrees" (featuring Danny Brown) 
4) BadBadNotGood III (2014) "Hedron" 
5) BadBadNotGood III (2014) "Confessions" (featuring Leland Whitty)
  
ALL songs CANCON, except **

The Interview Show with BadBadNotGood #175

I was all set to meet Irish singer songwriter James Vincent McMorrow at his soundcheck when word came that his tour van had caught FIRE and he was stranded on the highway somewhere between Vancouver and Seattle. The promoter would need to send someone down to collect JVM, his band and all their gear to try to make the show.

James Vincent McMorrow ended up arriving barely 30 minutes before his set was supposed to start. Always one to meet his commitments, James walked right off stage (after a beautiful performance) and met me in the alley behind the Rio for a chat. (Yeah, I ask him about all those Bon Hiver comparisons.) Listen to the interview!

Tracks played on the show...
  
1) James Vincent McMorrow, Post Tropical (2014) "Cavalier"
2) James Vincent McMorrow, Early in the Morning (2010) "We Don't Eat"
3) James Vincent McMorrow, "Higher Love" (Steve Winwood cover)
4) James Vincent McMorrow, Post Tropical (2014) "Red Dust"
  
NO songs CANCON

The Interview Show with James Vincent McMorrow #176

Asher Roth is yet another hip hop artist who’s promising career was sidetracked by music industry politics. In 2009, his track “I Love College” was the soundtrack to keggers. Five years later, Roth is back with a new record RetroHash.

I met up with Asher Roth when he came thru Vancouver and we cooked in his tour van one sweaty August afternoon. We chatted about everything from where he’s been to that Eminem beef to what exactly would happen if we smoked some RetroHash. Listen to our chat!

Asher Roth's “Tangerine Girl” is the debut single off Asher‘s latest record RetroHash. Asher made sure to make prolonged and direct eye contact with me while he told me exactly what this song is about.

Tracks played on the show... 
  
1) Asher Roth, RetroHash (2014) "Tangerine Girl"
2) Asher Roth, RetroHash (2014) "Fast Life" (featuring Vic Mensa)
3) Asher Roth, Asleep in the Bread Aisle (2009) "I Love College"
4) Eminem, The Marshall Mathers LP 2 (2013) "Asshole" (partial) 
5) Asher Roth, RetroHash (2014) "Parties at the Disco" (featuring ZZ Ward)
  
NO songs CANCON

The Interview Show with Asher Roth #177

Have you ever found yourself at a crossroads? Asking yourself, “Where do we go from here?” The Dodos did when they started their 2013 record Carrier. They had just lost a band member--guitarist Chris Reimer died in 2012. And The Dodos founders Meric Long and Logan Kroeber found themselves questioning everything, including the band’s existence. I caught these guys in a rare mood and we talked candidly about life in an indie band. Listen to our chat!

Tracks played on the show... 
  
1) The Dodos Carrier (2013) "Confidence"
2) The Dodos Carrier (2013) "The Ocean"
3) The Dodos Visiter (2008) "Fools"
4) The Dodos Carrier (2013) "The Current"

NO songs CANCON

The Interview Show with The Dodos #178

I was a little worried when I heard that Dylan from Cloud Nothings was a man of few words. (This is usually a sign of certain doom for an interviewer.) After a rough start, I finally got super nice guy Dylan chatting… But then our interview was attacked by the denizens of the alley behind the Rickshaw! You’ll have to listen to our chat to find out if we survived!

Tracks played on the show...
  
1) Cloud Nothings, Here and Nowhere Else (2014) "I'm Not Part of Me"
2) Cloud Nothings, Cloud Nothings (2011) "Forget You All the Time"
3) Cloud Nothings, Attack on Memory (2012) "Fall In" (partial)
4) Cloud Nothings, Attack on Memory (2012) "No Future/No Past"
5) Cloud Nothings, Here and Nowhere Else (2014) "Psychic Trauma"
  
NO songs CANCON

The Interview Show with Cloud Nothings #179

Sweden’s Holograms are a punk band that incorporate synths into their sound. They are signed to New York’s Captured Tracks label (home of talented and controversial bands like Mac DeMarco, DIIV and Perfect Pussy). When I found these guys backstage, they were a few beers into their night. Trying to get this drunk punk band to answer some questions was equal parts challenging, frustrating and FUN. Listen to our hilarious chat. (They even manage to crack me up.)

Tracks played on the show...
  
1) Holograms Forever (2013) "Flesh and Bone"
2) Holograms Forever (2013) "Meditations"
3) Holograms Holograms (2012) "Transform"
4) Holograms Forever (2013) "Lay Us Down Forever"
  
NO songs CANCON

The Interview Show with Holograms #180

I met Stuart aka Lapalux on the last day of his North American tour (to promote his record Nostalchic). Most bands tend to party hard on the last few days of a tour and Lapalux was no exception.

London’s Lapalux is often called one of the “most accessible producers” on the Brainfeeder label. Brainfeeder is the label started by Flying Lotus (the legendary experimental multi-genre music producer, electronic musician and rapper based in LA). It is home to a diverse roster of acts like The Underachievers, Thundercat, Mr. Oizo, Daedelus, among others.

Lapalux was hideously hungover when we chatted, but I still got him to talk about how he works and how he feels about being called so “accessible.” Listen!

Tracks played on the show...
  
1) Lapalux, Nostalchic (2013) "Guuurl"
2) Lapalux, Nostalchic (2013) "Without You"
3) Lapalux, Nostalchic (2013) "Swallowing Smoke" (background)
4) Lapalux, Nostalchic (2013) "Flower"
  
NO songs CANCON

The Interview Show with Lapalux #181

When I met with Paul from PS I Love You in the alley behind Vancouver’s beautiful Vogue Theatre to chat, he had been running around all day in search of a new guitar pedal. Paul was 99 of SPIN magazine’s 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. (He beat out Skrillex at 100.)  We talked about everything including what its like to beat out Skrillex (who is not really known as a guitarist) and whether or not Paul still constantly dreams about his death. You’ll have to listen!

Let's talk about the PS I Love You track, “Friends Forever.” You might be tempted to think this track is about the friendship between Paul (vocals/guitar) and Benjamin (drums)–the heart of this band. You’ll have to listen to my interview to hear the truth!

Tracks played on the show... 
  
1) PS I Love You, For Those Who Stay (2014) "Friends Forever"
2) PS I Love You, For Those Who Stay (2014) "In My Mind At least"
3) PS I Love You, Death Dreams (2012) "Sentimental Dishes"
4) PS I Love You, For Those Who Stay (2014) "Limestone Radio"
  
ALL songs CANCON

The Interview Show with PS I Love You #182

The heart of UK modern soul collective Jungle is two childhood friends J and T.  I was supposed to chat with these two talented hooligans after soundcheck, but they disappeared from the venue before I had a chance to grab them. Jungle‘s self-titled debut was one of my favorite releases of 2014, so I wasn’t going to give up. Soon I found J and T‘s carefully hidden tour bus and stormed the cabin for my interview. (They should have know better than to try to escape me!) This talk turned out to be one of the funnier interviews I’ve done this year. Check out my chat with these two cheeky monkeys!

The Jungle track “Drops” was created in a bedroom studio. At the end of our chat, J and T tell me about how a funny accident lead to one of the weird samples on this track.

Tracks played on the show...
  
1) Jungle Jungle (2014) "Busy Earnin’"
2) Justice Audio, Video, Disco (2011) "Stress" (background/partial)
3) Jungle Jungle (2014) "Platoon"
4) Jamiroquai Emergency on Planet Earth (1993) "Virtual Insanity" (background/partial)
5) Born Blonde What The Desert Taught You (2012) "Radio Bliss" (background/partial)
6) Jungle Jungle (2014) "The Beat"
7) Jungle Jungle (2014) "Drops"
  
NO songs CANCON

The Interview Show with Jungle #183

The Perfume Genius track “Queen” was one of my favorite songs of last year and the song is the jewel in the crown of Perfume Genius‘ triumphant third record Too Bright.

I caught Mike Hadreas aka Perfume Genius behind the Vogue Theatre when he was in town opening for Belle & Sebastian. He had snuck out back for a quick vape and I got him to talk about his bubbling anger, his growth as a songwriter, the fact that every article about him uses the word "sexuality" and more. Listen to our chat!

Tracks played on the show...
  
1) Perfume Genius, Too Bright (2014) "Queen"
2) Mary Margaret O’Hara, Miss America (1988) "Body’s In Trouble" (background/partial) **
3) Perfume Genius, Too Bright (2014) "Grid"
4) Perfume Genius, Put Your Back N 2 It (2012) "Normal Song"
5) Perfume Genius, Too Bright (2014) "Fool"
6) Perfume Genius, Too Bright (2014) "All Along"
 
NO songs CANCON, except ** 

The Interview Show with Perfume Genius #184

Toronto’s latest hype band Moon King is two best friends: Daniel Benjamin and Maddy Wilde. These two have been making music together for most of their lives. They started Toronto youth-pop band Spiral Beach when they were barely teenagers (along with Daniel’s brother Airick who is now the man behind Montreal buzz band Doldrums).

I chatted with Daniel on a busy Friday night Robson Street. We talked about everything from surviving a band break up, what it’s like working for his brother Airick (as the drummer in Doldrums) and that strange song Daniel wrote about Jupiter having sex with Mercury. You have to listen to our chat!

Daniel told me that the Moon King “Only Child” is the track Moon King fans know his band for the most, but do Moon King fans know what (and who) this song is about? You’ll have to listen to our chat to find out.

Since I talked with Moon King, the band has signed to indie powerhouse Last Gang Records (home to DFA 1979, Purity Ring and Ryan Hemsworth among others) so expect to see BIG things from these two in the near future.

Tracks played on the show...
  
1) Moon King Obsession I EP (2012) "Only Child"
2) Moon King Obsession I EP (2012) "Sleeping In My Car"
3) Moon King Obsession II EP (2013) "Appel"
4) Moon King Obsession II EP (2013) "Dream Trap"
  
ALL songs CANCON 

The Interview Show with Moon King #185

East India Youth is an electronic act the UK. The debut album, Total Strife Forever was nominated for the prestigious 2014 Mercury Music Prize Album of the Year award.

I woke up William Doyle aka East India Youth from a nap before I led him out to the alley behind Vancouver's Fox Theatre. Although groggy, the always stylish William was ready to chat about his latest record, Culture of Volume.

We talk about being mentored by Brian Eno, why it takes William sometimes a year to write new material and what embarrassing object I would find on his work station. Listen!

Tracks played on the show...

1) East India Youth, Culture of Volume (2015) "Turn Away"
2) East India Youth, Culture of Volume (2015) "Beaming White"
3) East India Youth, Total Strife Forever (2014) "Dripping Down"
4) East India Youth, Culture of Volume (2015) "Carousel"

NO songs CANCON

The Interview Show with East India Youth #186

Even if you've never heard of Christian Berishaj aka JMSN (pronounced Jameson), you have already heard him sing. JMSN sang back up vocals on many of the tracks on Kendrick Lamar's now classic debut record good kid, m.A.A.D city--including the big single "Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe." 

Before that Christian was already an industry veteran, He was part of two major label acts. He was the frontman of a punk band called Love Arcade and he was part of an embarrassing pop project called Christian TV. These two projects taught Christian that he'd rather make music his own way.

Even though JMSN sounds a lot like Justin Timberlake, his music is often called PBR&B or Hippy R&B because JMSN looks like he should be working in a marijuana dispensary instead of dancing in his suit and tie. 

As I walked into the backstage area of the Electric Owl, tendrils of smoke swirled from behind JMSN's dressing room door. Two beautiful women darted past me as JMSN's manger ushered me inside for the interview.  Listen to our chat!

Tracks played on the show...

1) Kendrick Lamar, Good kid, mA.A.d city (2012) "Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe" (background/partial)
2) JMSN, JMSN The Blue Album (2014) "Street Sweeper"
3) JMSN, JMSN The Blue Album (2014) "All Apologies"
4) The Game, Jesus Piece (2012) "Pray" (ft J. Cole & JMSN) (background/partial) 
5) JMSN, Priscilla (2012) "Do U Remember the Time"
6) JMSN, JMSN The Blue Album (2014) "Score"

NO songs CANCON

The Interview Show with JMSN #187

Bethany Cosentino, the frontwoman of Best Coast, once tweeted, "Dude, No Joy is the best band ever. Two hot blonde girls just shredding away. Sooooo amazing."

I had no idea what to expect when I climbed into the Montreal shoegaze band's deluxe tour van. It quickly become clear while talking with the core of No Joy (Jasamine White-Gluz and Laura Lloyd) that nothing would be held back. This interview has it all, including: air-conditioned butts, Nashville (the TV show), spontaneous dance parties, tense moments, murderous bass players, bands that suck, amp genius, gay husbands, Sophie B. Hawkins "Damn, I Wish I Was Your Lover", the stink eye, and more. You'll have to listen. 

Tracks played on the show...

1) No Joy, More Faithful (2015) "Everything New"
2) No Joy, Wait to Pleasure (2013) "Hare Tarot Lies"
3) No Joy, More Faithful (2015) "Moon in my Mouth"
4) No Joy, More Faithful (2015) "Remember Nothing"

ALL songs CANCON

The Interview Show with No Joy #188

Ryan Lindsey and his Oklahoma indie rock band BRONCHO have had a great past few years. They've got a lot of attention for the song "Class Historian" and other BRONCHO tracks have been used in the HBO TV series Girls and other commercials--but more importantly these guys know how to rock. 

Outside Vancouver's Electric Owl Social Club, I watched BRONCHO frontman Ryan Lindsey dig into his pockets while looking for cigarettes. I could not believe everything he was able to fit into those coat pockets. This interview had a lot against it (a noisy soundcheck and a drunk Canada goose--to name two interruptions), but Ryan was nice enough to make sure I recorded a great chat.

What strange objects does Ryan have in his bottomless pockets? Which band relative crashes our interview? How does adding two girls change the band dynamic? What is Ryan listening to in the tour van these days? What is the secret story behind "Class Historian" ? You'll have to listen to our chat to find out all the answers!

Tracks played on the show...

1) BRONCHO, Just Enough Hip to Be Woman (2014) "Class Historian"
2) BRONCHO, Just Enough Hip to Be Woman (2014) "It's On"
3) BRONCHO, Just Enough Hip to Be Woman (2014) "NC-17"
4) BRONCHO, Can't Get Past the Lips (2011) "Get Off My Reservations"
5) BRONCHO, Just Enough Hip to Be Woman (2014) "Stop Tricking"

NO songs CANCON

The Interview Show with Broncho #189

Like fellow indie music weirdo Ariel Pink, Montreal's TOPS get a lot of credit for subverting pop music. TOPS is also a very well-connected band at the centre of the flourishing Montreal indie scene with music pals like singer-songwriter Sean Nicholas Savage and rapper Cadence Weapon. In fact, TOPS bestie and indie superstar Mac DeMarco even flashed his testicles in the TOPS video for "Way to be Loved."

I wanted to do the interview in the tour van, but TOPS members Jane Penny (vocals), Jenny Roberts (bass) and David Carriere (guitar) were afraid I couldn't handle the intense smells inside. What strange odors were inside the TOPS tour van? How does it feel when one of your friends flashes his nuts in your music video? What does "Viva Las Vegas" have to do with any of this? If you listen, you'll find out all this and more!

Tracks played on the show... 

1) TOPS, Picture You Staring (2014) "Outside"
2) TOPS, Picture You Staring (2014) "Way to be Loved"
3) TOPS, Tender Opposites (2012) "Evening"
4) TOPS, Picture You Staring (2014) "Change of Heart"

ALL songs CANCON

The Interview Show with TOPS #190

Absolutely Free is an indie art rock band from Toronto. The band formed from the ashes of DD/MM/YYYY, a legendary experimental band known for their incredible live shows, so I was really looking forward to seeing Absolutely Free perform and spending a bit of time with them.
 
The band enlisted Mike Haliechuk (guitarist from Toronto hardcore punk band Fucked Up) to produce their self-titled debut record and the record was nominated for the 2015 Polaris Music Prize. 

I climbed into the tour van with three members of Absolutely Free on a frosty autumn night and the windows fogged up while we covered topics including working with Mike, Frank Zappa, Elvis and Gordon Lightfoot. Listen!

Tracks played on the show...

1) Absolutely Free, Absolutely Free. (2014) "Beneath the Air"
2) The Mothers of Invention (Frank Zappa) Absolutely Free (1967) "America Drinks & Goes Home" (background)  
3) DD/MM/YYYY, Black Square (2009) "Digital Haircut" (background)
4) Absolutely Free, Absolutely Free. (2014) "Visions" 
5) Fucked Up, The Chemistry of Common Life (2008) "Crooked Head" (background)
6) Absolutely Free, Absolutely Free. (2014) "Burred Lens"

ALL songs CANCON except The Mothers of Invention (Frank Zappa) "America Drinks & Goes Home"

The Interview Show with Absolutely Free #191

As soon as I sat down in the van, Kim Churchill offered me a mint and we both slurped away watching the rain outside. Australia's favorite one man singer songwriter was back in Canada to tour his latest record Silence/Win. This time, he's found himself at a new level of confidence about what he does. 

What did busking teach Kim about a career in music? Which new song was inspired by a music festival experience?  What is on Kim's "gratitude list?" Which friend would play an April Fool's joke on Kim? Which alcoholic beverage makes Kim drowsy? You'll have to listen to find out all these answers and more!

Tracks played on the show...

1) Kim Churchill, Silence/Win (2014) "Some Days the Rain May Fall"
2) Kim Churchill, Silence/Win (2014) "Window to the Sky"  
3) Kim Churchill, With Sword and Shield (2010) "Loving Home" (partial/background)
4) Kim Churchill, Silence/Win (2014) "Fear the Fire" 

NO songs CANCON 

The Interview Show with Kim Churchill #192

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 2015

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