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THE BASICS Name : Mike (M) & Liam (L) Band : Cancer Bats Job In Band : (M) Drums (L) Singer Website Address : www.cancerbats.com HOME Hometown : Toronto, Ontario, Canada Best thing about the music scene in your hometown (M) There are a bunch of bands coming out of Toronto that are killing it all across the world. Its really encouraging to see and it makes me just want to work harder. (L) Yeah it’s cool to be encouraged seeing all of your friends bands doing really well it makes you want to work harder and get your own project to the point where you can be out touring together and having a blast. Most influential band to yourself that’s come out of your home town (L) For all of us I would say our home town heroes growing up would be The Swarm. They are one of the most brutal and amazing, and seeing that live as a kid really set the bar high for what a live show is like. Best up and coming band from your home town would be (M) Sights and Sounds who are a new band featuring Andrew Neufeld from Come Back Kid on guitar and vocals. They sound like Quick Sand and Foo Fighters, and live they'll have the intensity of a hardcore band. They’re going to blow up, guaranteed. THE BAND What’s the story behind the band name? (M) Sounds Cool. Liam came up with it. He’s pretty wacky. (L) Yeah I’m just a wacky guy with wacky ideas haha When did the band begin and how did it come about? (M)The band started in the summer of 2004. Basically a Bunch of friends came together to start a band that rocks hard, and have a shit load of fun doing it. (L) Yeah we started it up with the idea of a fun band to play shows and tour. We never thought that things would get this big so that it would catch on this fast, it rules! How would you describe your sound to the average Joe on the street? (M)Rock and Roll meets heavy metal! (L) I always ask people what their favorite bands are, and then I just tell them we sound like that….but heavier. What’s your current release? Tell us a little about it… (M)It’s called “Birthing the Giant” It’s our first full length record. It’s 11 songs that’ll make your head bang and your hips shake!!! (L) yeah it’s a good time for the ears! Like a party in your brain! What image do you think / hope your music conveys? (M)We try to convey a positive image. We live by the idea that life is short and we only get one. So don’t waste it doing something you hate. Just follow your heart to what makes you happy. (L) DO WHAT YOU FEEL IS REAL! In five years time the band will be… (M)Still Kicking ass all across the world!!!!! (L) Our five year plan has always been to build a loyal audience, and then to put out ska records until we’re too old to “skank” OFF THE STAGE What was your first introduction to music that made you think seriously about playing it? (M) My parents would take me to this Saturday night concert that happened once a month at their church. The drummer was super cool, and totally got me stoked on drums. He later gave me lessons. (L) I was raised by wolves and would fall asleep to the howls of my mother and father wolf. What was your first band name and what style did you play? (M)The first band I ever played a show with was called Asterfall and we were a metalcore band. Ripped off Earth Crisis and Morning Again a lot. I was 16 (L) My first band was a ska-punk band (seriously) called Another Heather. I wish my first band was as cool as Mike’s hahaha we just really liked Goldfinger Tell us three albums you couldn’t live without in your collection (M) Gorilla Biscuits – start today Converge – Jane Doe The Smiths – Hatful of Hollow (L) Ink&Dagger - Drive This 7 inch Steak Through My Philadelphian Heart Hot Snakes - Automatic Midnight Against Me! - As The Eternal Cowboy Best piece of musical advice you’ve been given. (M)Practice to a metronome (L) Don’t have sex on a beach….it’s like getting sand in you shoe. Two groups/artists you’d love to take out on the road (M) Holly Springs Disaster from Canada (L) Sights and Sounds also from Canada Favorite song of your group? (M)Firecrack this (L) We have a new song called “Let It Pour” that’s coming out on a split 7inch with This Is Hell. We’ve been playing that song live and It gets me so stoked The thing you most look forward to just before a tour is, (M) Depends where the tour is but usually we all talk about the food that’s going to be in the area. We’re not the most in shape band. (L) I’m always super broke before we leave for tour so I’m always stoked to get per diums again and be able to eat The thing you least look forward to before a tour is. (M) My phone bill when I get home. (L) Tour is super hard on relationships so that aspects sucks. When your not doing band related stuff, what are you usually found doing? (M) Liam and I ride bikes a lot, but mostly just hanging out with friends (L) I love my bike more than anything in the world! When we’re home we’re usually just trying to catch up with all of our friends we haven’t seen in forever. ON THE STAGE / ROAD What gear do you use? Drums - Tama Star classics, Sabian Cymbals Guitar - Diesel Amp and Cabs, First Act guitars Bass - Morris bass pedal that sounds insane and a mesa power head run through 2 ampeg 8x10 cabs\ Vocals - Liams throat and a SM 58 Favourite place (city/town/country) you’ve toured… and why? (M) There are so many places. I love touring Canada because no matter what city I’m in I feel like I’m at home. In the states I love the Pacific Northwest area, Seattle, Portland. Those cities are so chill and laid back I love it. Then Europe is so cool altogether. Prague is the coolest city I’ve been to so far. The architecture is so rad!!! (L) Mike stole all my answers on that one…I think that’s why were best friends, we love all the same towns! The best show you’ve ever played was… and why? (M) This past spring we played a couple of headlining shows in Toronto and they were totally packed out and so much fun. It’s really a hard question though; we’ve played so many amazing shows over the last couple of years. (L) We were trying to figure out a way to get into the Against Me! Show in Toronto, and then we ended up being asked to play the show! It blew my mind. It was the best show, and they were all the best dudes ever! Who hogs the stereo in the van the most? (M) Whoever is driving (L) We have this rule that whoever is driving gets to pick the music, as an incentive to drive. I just listen to loud metalcore all night to stay awake. After a week in the van/bus on tour which band member will have the messiest section, and what would we most likely find stashed there? (M) Scotty, you’ll find food wrappers, other garbage, wet show shirts. All kinds of stuff. (L) Yeah Scott is our messiest dude by far, but in his defense it’s because he has so much on his plate between playing guitar and being the mayor of a city in Canada Who in your group has the worst “bad habit” on tour, and what is it? (M) We all have our bad habits, I don’t know whose is the worst. They all get annoying sometimes but we just have learnt to live with them. Collectively I’d say we all like to sleep in which sometimes leads to us getting to shows late, but we are getting better!!! (L) As a band we are always late for everything, just because we’re lazy and some of us looooove the internet way too much. Give us a good quick ‘on the road’ story, funny, embarrassing, memorable, whatever… (M) Funny story, there is a venue in San Diego called The Soma. We’ve had two shows there and on the way to both shows we’ve broken down and not made the show. I think the venue is cursed. I don’t know if we’ll ever get to play San Diego or if we’ll just always breakdown. Your manager calls and says the venue you are about to play really wants to keep you happy, what’s the first thing you chuck on the rider? (M)Probably more food so we can save some money on the road. (L) We don’t have a manager and we’re probably one of the most easy going bands. We really don’t put up fuss about anything. If anything we’re surprised when we show up and there’s anything for us. RIGHT NOW What’s getting the most spins in your stereo right now? (M) Every time I die – The Big Dirty (L) Electric Wizard - DopeThrown Tell us a band or artist everyone should check out and why Sights and Sounds, great rock band from Canada featuring a member of comeback kid. www.myspace.com/sightsandsoundsmusic If you could change one thing about the music industry today, what would it be? (M) They’d stop pushing shitty bands that don’t write there own songs on kids and start supporting hard working bands more. (L) yeah I’m with Mikey on that one. As soon as I’ve finished answering these questions I’m about to… (M) watch the end of 300, got to finish that shit. (L) Yeah peace out bombshellzine! I’m gonna go drink more coffee and get ready to dominate your land down under! |
