Speedway
head | phone | over | tone
The Woodchoppers Association
Clover Honey
Destroyer
Mean Red Spiders
Someone is Flying
Superex
I Am Robot And Proud

SPEEDWAY
WAVELENGTH #30 SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 3, 11PM

Here are the words of Speedway to explain Speedway:
Formed out of an interest in simply doing something that doesn't sound like every other band, Speedway spent considerable time holed up in a disused auto-body repair shop known as the Chameleon Cafe. Tinkering and rewiring riff-rock rhythms with their own cataclysmic chirps and squeals they soon found themselves far outside easily pinpointed categories.
With literally hundreds of hours of recording under different line-ups compiled over the last five or six years, only forty-five minutes has ever been made available to the public.
Painfully slow at times and awash with slide/feedback guitar counter-point, their 1996 cassette-only release boasted individual covers complete with conflicting track listings, personnel data, and album titles known to some as farewell to the last golden era, or as dead doctors don't lie or killcityhills to others.
Speedway's sole musical document to date is still a debut of astonishing intensity which inevitably drew favourable comparisons to The Verve, Spiritualized, Spectrum, Radiohead, and The Dandy Warhols.
They've spent plenty of time perfecting their live show. Controlled one moment, deranged the next, at a Speedway show you never know what's going to happen next.

| head | phone | over | tone |
WAVELENGTH #30 SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 3, 10PM

The two unsuspecting gentlemen have played together for about ten years in various projects. But it wasn't until last year that they realized that they were searching for and developing similar sounds, ideas and musical philosophies. At this present moment they have expanded to include a vocalist from Mexico, Ignea Neblina. What follows is from another string of thought...

How would you describe the music that you guys do?
Calvin: Personal, spiritual, transcendental, allows the mind to wander, it is the accompaniment/documentation of the cycles of seasons, the heavens and the changes in our lives.
Daniel: Watery, nebulous, open, spontaneous, alive, free, fresh... it might get inside you. It's the soundtrack to a dream, which is appropriate because it might put you to sleep. I suppose I could say it is the sum of our joy and frustration, at any particular time... but, all music is.

Has this changed with the introduction of Ignea Neblina?

Calvin: The music hasn't changed. The peaks are higher.
Daniel: The light is brighter... she brings another colour to our sphere. Our music likes her voice, and vice-versa. We've recently completed a few hours of recordings with her. Unfortunately, she'll be returning to Mexico soon, so this is her only show with us, for now...

On the new CD, summer of love (pleasing media), there is a conscious effort in achieving a cinematic quality to the recordings as a whole. Does this differ from your live performances?

Calvin: Most of the recordings were improvisational pieces, recorded directly to hard disk, some songs required later overdubs and tweaking, but for the most part what you hear on summer of love are first takes, so the sound is consistent with our live performance.
Daniel: Cinematic in what way? I'm not certain we made a conscious effort to do anything besides create an original sounding record. I believe we succeeded in doing that. If it sounds widescreen, that's great.

What are some movies that inspire you?

Calvin: The director's cut of my life... although good cinematography is always an inspiration.
Daniel: Most films I appreciate use music in a subliminal way. Background music should consist of exclamation points, commas, hyphens, etc. - what some people might not even consider to be music. But I believe the purpose of movie music is to underline the drama, not undermine it or sit beside it.

Has this been a summer of love?

Calvin: Yes, to me the phrase summer of love refers to the points in our lives where we feel that we are peaking creatively and emotionally and feel that everything is beautiful.
Daniel: Yes. In several ways. I knew it would be, so I'm glad we settled on that as the concept/title.

THE WOODCHOPPERS ASSOCIATION
WAVELENGTH #31 SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 10, 10pm

Fifteen back-to-school tips with Dave Clark from improv orchestra The Woodchoppers Association (as quizzed by Doc Pickles).....

1. What are the benefits of joining the chess club?
You learn all the right moves.

2. How do I open my locker if I forget my combination?
I don't remember.

3. How do I get girls to notice me?
Wear a chicken suit to school.

4. What are Gym teachers trying to prove when they wear nylon pants?
The effectiveness of jock itch spray.

5. How do you make the cafeteria food taste better?
Ask the "stoners" out in the smoking area.

6. What is the best desk to sit in?
The one beside the person who turns you on.

7. How long can you stay in a portable classroom before you get a respiratory illness from the toxic mold?
You can stand toxic mold until it quits Husker Du. (Actually, it was Grant Hart - SST Collegiate graduate ed.)

8. If Economics teachers know so much about economics, why don't they quit teaching, go into business, and become millionaires?
I don't know. Why don't they quit teaching and write a million eco-comics about air?

9. If you're a vegetarian and you're forced to cook ground beef in Home Ec, can you be a conscientious objector?
If you get cooking at home and grind your beef into a vegetarian economist, can you be a licentious injector?

10. Why did they tear down all the monkey bars and replace them with tupperware?
They replaced them to sadden the orthodontists who depend on clumsy kids to make a living.

11. What is the funniest song a high school band has ever played?
Ask the "stoners" eating in the cafeteria.

12. What song has never been played by a high school band, but really should be? ("Another One Bites the Dust" doesn't count.)
"Back in Black" by AC/DC.

13. Does the Art teacher smoke pot in his car at lunch hour?
Sure. He'll let you in on it too, if you're keen.

14. Drama students: why don't they ever shut up?
Because they're not shut in.

15. Do you have a favorite character from The Breakfast Club?
Ya, the guy who does the Tetley Tea dance on my head every morning.
Peace and thanks.
Stay in school.
Eat well.
Use condoms.
Find out for yourself.
- DC

CLOVER HONEY
WAVELENGTH #31 SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 10, 12AM

ROCK'N'ROLL HIGH SCHOOL IS NOW IN SESSION...

Clover Honey is a fine new trio of rocking girls (Anita L. Binder, Lauree Thomlinson, Amy Brannen) coming at ya from Vancouver, British Columbia.
Their debut album, Go Horse Go, on Lance Rock Records, is a definite pop treat - sassy vocals, rockin' guitars and propellant drums. I asked them a few questions via email and they were swell enough to rise above and beyond the occasion with their answers - although I do want to make them a mix tape so they can learn the joy of "High School Confidential" and "To Sir With Love".
- Zombiegirl

(The following were answered by Anita L. Binder...)
Please grade the following songs (using the standard A-E scale) for enjoyment and listenability. Feel free to make additional comments.
a) Alice Cooper "School's Out" A The ultimate emancipation song
b) The Beach Boys "Be True to Your School" C Pretty soft-core lame
c) Ramones "Rock'n'Roll High School" A+ Possibly the most catchy song ever
d) Rough Trade "High School Confidential" N/A (not familiar with)
e) Van Halen "Hot For Teacher" A+ Bonus points for killer video
f) The Flashing Lights "Highschool" A Great drumming and lyrics
g) Spinal Tap "Bitch School" A Ya can't go wrong with Spinal Tap
h) Guided By Voices "Big School" N/A (not familiar with - I know we lose indie cred for this one)
i) Crosby, Stills and Nash "Teach Your Children Well" N/A (not familiar with and sounds like it's better that way)
j) Lulu "To Sir With Love" N/A (not familiar with)
k) Beastie Boys "The Sounds of Science" A+ "Dropping science like Galileo dropped an orange", my favorite record ever!
l) Paul Simon "Me and Julio (Down by the School Yard)" A-

What are the five best things about the Vancouver music scene?
1. The Brickyard (one fine rock venue)
2. The Good Jacket Presents: Vancouver Special (Mint Records CD comp.)
3. Mint Records
4. Shindig competition (CITR [UBC radio] battle o' the bands)
5. Cool music supporters like SuperFans Brian, Janet and Chris

The five worst?
1. Loading gear in the rain
2. Geographic isolation (few nearby cities henceforth many bands bypass when touring especially American ones who are prone to cavity searches... not joking!)
3. Lack of venues
4. General apathy of audiences (sometimes)
5. Expensive practice spaces

Clover Honey would be a great name for a super-hero and/or Russ Meyer super vixen style actress. Describe what Clover Honey would look/act like if she was a person.
Lauree's version of the character Clover Honey:
She's a superhero by day, traveling the world on a search-and-destroy mission to conquer evil, famine and bad hair. By night she's a Russ Meyer super vixen; a bodacious babe with big hair and dressed to kill. A lush cushion of evil perched on the throne of immorality. A captivating rock wonder, telling off the audience the way that Angel tells off Bert in Good Morning And Goodbye. She has a certain je ne sais quoi that makes all the men flock to her. (P.S. One day we want to get big boofy wigs and purchase some DD-size bras which we will then stuff with socks, and play a show as supervixens. Wouldn't that be a good theme show?)

Here's a chance to play advice columnist. Give some advice on how to make friends for people starting new schools this year.
- breathmints
- cool footwear
- drink just enough alcohol to make you more talkative, but not enough to make you puke, unless you're fond of those "oh my god you were sooo wasted last night..." post-party brag-fests (Lauree's advice)
- go out and get stinkin' drunk every night. Everybody loves a drunk! (Anita's advice)
- be nice; don't be a jerk
- have good hygiene; this means brush your teeth at least twice a day and wash your hair once in awhile
- catch up on your soap operas, if you want to bond with the other girls on your floor (Lauree's advice)

The Salteens' Scott Walker vs. Zumpano's Carl Newman: Who is the West Coast heart-throb?
Neither. Nardwuar all the way, baby!!!

When did you rockin' ladies hook up and decide to play music together?
Anita and Lauree hooked up with guitarist Omar in September 1997. Soon after, Omar announced his departure for Ottawa, and once Lauree and Anita stopped crying, found Amy, who was a perfect fit. This was in January 1998. The rest is Clover Honey history, and it's been smashing.

You write some great lyrics. Do any of you dabble in poetry? If so, would you be kind enough to share some with Wavelength readers?
Lauree says: Anita writes good lyrics... She has a way with words, and was born to write metaphors. I try, but everything that comes out sounds cheesy to me. Most poetry annoys me, so it's difficult to write lyrics that are sing-worthy. Amy comes up with good stuff right on the spot.. she's a little whippersnapper, that one.

Anita's fully lame poem:

We're gonna play Ted's Wrecking Yard
I hope I get in since I was previously barred
I got into a fistfight with a hoe after my man
At that point the bar-brawl began
The place erupted into utter chaos
A couple of my teeth I lost!
I bolted for the door
Big bouncer announced I'm welcome no more
I'm smarter than they think
I've since dyed my hair in the sink
Blonds have more fun, right?
Well, come check us out on Sunday night!

DESTROYER
WAVELENGTH #31 SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 10, 11PM

Destroyer is singer/songwriter Daniel Bejar and a revolving cast of Vancouver scenesters (including Jason Zumpano of Zumpano), and three thousand miles of continent have prevented Toronto from experiencing the joy of their music firsthand.
But Lady Luck has smiled on Wavelength, and Dan Destroyer will be here on the 10th for a special solo show. Jonny Dovercourt corresponded with the man via electronic mail.

By now you must have come up with some sassy comebacks whenever anyone jokes about Destroyer being a KISS cover band. Could you share them with us?
Uhhhhhhh.

Are your records available in Ontario, and if not, will you bring some with you so you can make some money? (posed by Zombiegirl)
I think some Destroyer records are available in Ontario, definitely in Toronto. I was planning to bring some as an experiment in sales. I'm also not opposed to bartering.

Is Jason Zumpano as much of a loverboy in real life as he is in the video for "The Party Rages On"?
Follow the trail of broken hearts to your answer.

Which song on Thief causes the most controversy and sordid backstabbing amongst your circle of friends?
None of the Thief songs have landed me on a shitlist, that I know of. "The Temple" has been misconstrued here and there as being something it is not. "Canadian Lover/ Falcon's Escape" raised an eyebrow or two.

Tell us about your involvement in the film Low Self Esteem Girl and how this brings you to our smog-filled metropolis?
My friend and then-roommate Blaine was shooting scenes in our house. I was roped in early on to get the ball rolling, though my screen-time is minimal and I essentially play myself. It's now going to the T.O. Film Fest, and The New Pornographers, the band I play in with Blaine and one of the main stars - Carl Newman - was asked to play an industry schmooze-up. Since three of our five members were going to be out there anyway, they offered to fly the remaining two out rock-star syle.

Any decent greasy spoons in Vancouver?
The Nice Cafe truly lives up to its name.

Which comes first, music or lyrics?
Lyrics, though these days both at the same time. I'm the guy on the bus humming to himself with a confused look on his face, but upon closer inspection you find that he's actually singing some song no one's heard before, nor will ever hear again. I think I've said too much.

What are we going to do about Matthew Good?
I'd like to think that, in the end, these people take care of themselves. Perhaps this is too rosy a view of the world. All this being said, the idea of somehow scaring him into silence is not one that should be discarded lightly.

Hammock + cold beer + good book = paradise. Discuss.
I sense a fourth element missing, though I'm not exactly sure what it is. However, if every man, woman, and child were provided with these things, I can't see the world not being a happier place.

I love these lines from "The Way Of Perpetual Roads": "It's a long climb down from obscurity/ So cancel the keys to the city, please/ Upon which are etched the inextricable failures of Popular Wisdom and Popular Music". What was on your mind when you wrote that?
For one thing, the only other "Popular" term I could think of was Popular Mechanics, and Pollard got that one a few years back. It's more just riffing on the idea that these are things which will deliver you the brass ring in the world of song, that they are entwined, and in the end they are a bit of a sham. Maybe. Elevate the peripheries of Popular Song to being that which one should aspire to, though it might result in obscurity. All this bringing you to the somewhat-fucked crossroads of: "Why would you bother takin' on the 'pop song' as your form of choice if you think so much about it and its forum?"

For the benefit of all those first-year students out there, and based on your educational experience, rank the following in order of priority: attending lectures, coffee, beer, books, boys/girls, rock'n'roll, sleep, staying up late philosophizing, studying your notes.
attending lectures
studying your notes
rock'n'roll
boys/girls
staying up late philosophizing
books
coffee
beer
sleep
I did these things in the opposite order of how they appear above, so I can say as the voice of experience that it was the wrong order.

MEAN RED SPIDERS
WAVELENGTH #32 SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 17, 11PM

Can you listen to Starsandsons or are you all currently taking a break from it?
Adam: I listened to it this morning. I could listen to it every day, I feel it's important to because it keeps me believing so strongly in our art.
Minesh: I'm currently taking a break from it.
Dave: I heard it at a party not too long ago but I'm definitely taking a break. Although we practice the songs every week so it's hard to be totally free from it.

"Secret" is a beautiful and hypnotic song. Who made the video and what's it about?
Greg: Alastair MacLeod, the old bassist from Neck, is a film student and he really wanted to make a video for us. We enjoy getting our artist friends involved with the Spiders so we thought it was a good opportunity to work together.
Lisa: Basically Alastair was travelling in Europe and brought along a Super 8mm camera, so the video is images from his trip. We're very pleased with how it turned out.
Dave: There's a great juxtaposition to it because the song is so slow while the images are changing quite rapidly.
(History ed. note: "Secret" was originally performed by Magic Lamp, featuring Greg and Adam along with Neck's Dave Rodgers and former A Tuesday Weld vocalist Elisabeth Kurtis. And Alastair can now be found strumming and screaming in Folk Festival Massacre.)

Who do you feel is making interesting music these days?
The Beta Band, Mogwai, Neck, Do Make Say Think, Massive Attack, Southpacific, Kid Sniper.

What is the biggest difference between your first release and Starsandsons?
Greg: Starsandsons is definitely a full band effort while our first, Places You Call Home, was recorded over a long period of time, so this new one is truer to what the band is all about.
Minesh: We were a hell of a lot more emotional about this record.
Lisa: There were some fistfights but the police weren't involved.
Greg: Plus everyone in the band is smoking drugs again so there's more of a consistency on this record. (Everyone bursts out laughing.)

Finish this sentence: "Happiness is..."
Adam: Right now.
Greg: I'd agree with that, we're pretty Zen right now.

Rob Boak is the bassist in Interstellar.

SOMEONE IS FLYING
WAVELENGTH #32 SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 17, 10pm

Where are they going? What is their cruising speed and altitude?
Far away always cruising at 5 foot eleven.

Is there any machinery involved? Are they checking their instruments, or navigating by sight or sonar?
Th' dashboard's got a Super Feedbacker. There's 5 where there used to be six. It's all sonar baby.

What is the movie? What snacks are provided?
Movie: Vanishing Point.
Snax: Jimmy P.

In case of an in-flight emergency, please follow this procedure: _________________________________.
Pull on th' oxy. Smile. See ya on th' other side.

Do high-flying pressurized cabins make people afraid to say what they think?
Did. Made. Said. Thought. Nice.

Please comment on the rumours that Amelia Earhart was kicked out of the band for missing too many rehearsals.
What?

Is there anything you would like to say to Britney Spears?
How's yer marriage to Brian Cram going?

SUPEREX
WAVELENGTH #33 SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 24, 10pm

Super Ex has most likely metamorphosized since our last encounter in December 1996. Who comprises the band now and in what direction(s) are you moving?
Stig: It's looking like it's gonna be a great season.
CGHJ: We're going to get out there and give it our all.
Overdressed Man: It's not about any one member, but the whole team!
Bias Ply: Band.
Overdressed Man: Yeah, band.
Stig: But there's a lot of good teams.
Bias Ply: Bands.
Stig: Yah, bands, and good players too.
Cino Evil: Of instruments.
Stig: Ya, instruments. It's looking good...
CGHJ: Our name is SUPEREX. Stig: We made some trades and the line-up looks great. Cino Evil: We're leaner than before and more focused.

Have you ever been to the Ex? Was it indeed Super?
(Giggles and blushes.) No, uh, yes... or yes and then no... next question please.

Name your favourite Augustus Pablo track.
(Nervous silence lasting half an hour.) "Jah Mouly Ital Sip" from the Rockers Meets King Tubby in a Firehouse LP. But the runner-up was "Rockers Dub" from Original Rockers. And having to narrow it down to one song is like having to choose which limb to keep. Our name is SUPEREX.

Which monster best represents SUPEREX: Godzilla, Mothra, Gamera or Rodan?
CGHJ: Gamera.
Bias Ply: Say, what was the name of the flying turtle...?
Overdressed Man: Shut up, dick.
Stig: What's he doing here?

Tell us about your future plans for recording and/or releasing your most excellent tunage.
We have future plans for recording and/or releasing our most excellent tunage.

Response to Question 6:
Well, to answer this and avoid any legal implications, we'd like to quote Lighthouse's front of house engineer, "There's nothing like mixing a good dub band..."
Question 6 was never transmitted. SUPEREX can read our thoughts...!

I AM ROBOT AND PROUD
WAVELENGTH #33: SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 24, 10pm

Are you a good robot or a bad robot?
We're like Tetsuwan Atom, with the iron arm.

How did you hook up with Catmobile in the U.K.?
Claire is one of the people who runs the label and she heard some songs over the internet. We've been talking for a few months about putting out a record. She does an electronic music project called Printed Circuit as well.

What makes your music more unique than that of humans?
In 2000 A.D. when the SECOND IMPACT occurred, half of the world's population died. The EVA and the children were mankind's only hope for survival.

If you were stuck on a desert island for a few months, what one CD and who of the following would you take as your companion - Bender (Futurama), Rosie (The Jetsons), Number Five (Short Circuit [80's movie with Ally Sheedy]), The Iron Giant (movie of the same name) or R2-D2 (Star Wars)?
The Low End Theory by A Tribe Called Quest and Johnny Five. I think we might change the band name to The Johnny Five.

What are the three most embarrassing albums in your collection?
Choose any three Dirtstyle records. SCCCRRRAAAATCCCHHHH!

What makes you so proud to be a robot?
OK, I'm not really a robot and no one I play music with is either, so I hope people don't come to the show expecting to see robots. We'll make a better tomorrow with music only.