|
|
Text: Maytina
|
Photos: The Delegates/Gen L Watson
|
|
|
|
I don't even know where to start. I don't usually gush, but I can't say enough good things about this band. The Delegates are a very talented six piece from Montreal, they have managed to incorporate two trombones, a keyboard, six guitars, and two basses. And this isn't anything like that terrible ska-hybrid band you saw, these guys are one of my personal faves. Just download the song and see, and then head over to the Multimedia page and download the whole album. Asch did an email interview with me in June/06.
How did songwriting come together on the new disc?
Asch: Song writing for this disc was a group effort. Basically, we all came up with various ideas for tunes and hashed them out together. I can't say this is the most efficient or painless way of writing but it caters to our democratic approach to everything we do. The songs were never finished until we got to LA and sat down with our producer Mike Trujillo and went thru and tweaked, rearranged and trashed stuff. Even today we are still working on songs that have been recorded, finding new feels...ways to keep them fresh.
|
|
What was behind the decision to offer your new disc for free download?
Asch: We wanted people to have the music. Our label and distributor were doing absolutely nothing to promote the album. For a variety of reasons we haven't been playing many shows, so our album was just sitting around, getting stale...We don't make any real money thru CD sales outside of shows, so we stand to gain the most by getting as many people familiar with us as possible. When we do play their town, people will show, they will know the tunes and they will be stoked.
|
We also subscribe to the idea that this is the future. Music is already free, and suing downloaders is not the answer. It is just prolonging the inevitable. Where all music is free digitally, and musicians support themselves by touring, selling merch and publishing rights.
We have plans to expand DublePlus Music (www.dubleplus.org, where the album is available for free), making available other bands releases that subscribe to this same philosophy.
Promo plans for the release? Touring any time soon?
Asch: Actually, we are actively promoting Dubleplus.org and the release with a online and print campaign as well as a college and online radio campaign.
|
|
|
Do you feel that you have any specific challenges or advantages being from/based in Montreal?
Asch: Montreal is one of the best cities in North America (although New York isn't too bad either). For us, Montreal has been an excellent place to have as home because the low cost of living and cheap practice spaces make it possible to spend more time working for the band and less time working our amazingly shitty jobs. On the other hand, there is the language barrier to conquer, which makes finding decent jobs, flexible enough to accommodate our schedules difficult.
|
|
Asch on the good and bad about being in Montreal
|
'Montreal has been an excellent place to have as home because the low cost of living and cheap practice spaces make it possible to spend more time working for the band and less time working our amazingly shitty jobs. On the other hand, there is the language barrier to conquer, which makes finding decent jobs, flexible enough to accommodate our schedules difficult.'
|
|
Who are some of your favorite local bands to play shows with?
Asch: I don't really want to venture an attempt to answer this questions as there have been so many both from Montreal and from all over Canada and the U.S. I'd get my ass wiped (or at least a few nasty emails) if I forgot to mention a few...so I'm just gonna change the subject...Yes, our van smells really bad...and its not just from the throw up, the spilled piss bottled or all the missing socks stashed under the seat.
What are some of your favorite local venues to play?
Asch: Salle de L'X was the classic. Amazing downtown location, all ages, with a communtiy compost heap in the back and two dollar beers at the bar where you were happy that they used plastic cups cause nothing appeared to be that clean.
Are you looking for label support? What are you looking for in a label?
Asch: Well, we actually had a label release this CD, but it proved to be considerably more trouble, stress and angry phone calls than it was worth. I think I'd rather spend a week at the dentist having all my teeth pulled without anesthetic then going through that experience again...But under the right circumstances, Yeah, it would be nice to have a competent label behind us.
|
|
|
How important is it to you to be hands on about all the non musical aspects of The Delegates? (fliers, cd artwork, web design)
Asch: If you have people that you trust, that are creative and willing to make their creations a team effort, then we might be able to consider letting go. But finding these people has been pretty much impossible, so we take care of everything.
What are you reading right now?
Asch: I love this question cause I just finished two awesome books, "The Water Method Man" by John Irving and "Jitterbug Perfume" by Tom Robbins.
|
|
The Playlist
|
Asch's Playlist
My computer is too old to even attempt to make a playlist but lately I have been digging...
1. The Bronx
2. Doomriders
3. the new Belle and Sebastian
4. Islands and Death
5. Death by Stereo
|
|
|
|
