Friday, June 29, 2012
Southside
"Brian Buchanan almost died on White Lake.
The singer-fiddler-keyboardist for
Enter The Haggis went out into
the middle of the lake to finish up some lyrics during the recording of
the band’s sixth studio album, the aptly named Whitelake, and
tipped the canoe half a kilometer from shore. The ice had melted only a
week before, and he was fully clothed and without a life jacket.
Remarkably, he managed to swim the canoe to the far side of the lake but
faced the added challenge of a three-kilometer walk, shivering through
the dark woods on the way back to the band’s cottage / recording studio.
“If I’d died, there’s no doubt it would have been called a suicide,”
laughs Brian, tentatively. “I had just finished recording the vocals for
a song called “The Flood”, which talks about life being out of
control and water rising up around you.” Thankfully, the 29-year-old
from Guelph, Ontario survived to tell the tale as the band releases its
anticipated new album, the follow-up to 2008’s Gutter Anthems, which hit #2 on the iTunes World Music charts."
The band has been around for what seems to me forever. They return to Pittsburgh for the early show at Club Cafe this Friday with special Guest The Weathered Road. My thanks to frontman Brian Buchanan for participating in this edition of
First/Last.
The first album you ever bought?
I'm not entirely sure what the first album I purchased with my own money was.
To be honest, it was probably a fiddle album, Ed Gyurki or Al Czerny or
something. When I developed an interest in popular music, one of my older
cousins took me to Sam The Record Man in Toronto and told me to pick out three
albums (with the help of his own personal bias, of course). I got “Gish”, by
The Smashing Pumpkins; “Aenima”, by Tool and “The Bends” by Radiohead. I guess
his advice was worth something, as they're still three of my absolute favorite
albums.
Your last album bought?
I get a lot of music. I think the last thing I bought on iTunes was an album by
a band called First Aid Kit. It's called "The Lion's Roar", and it's
fantastic. I'm also really digging the new album from Of Monsters And Men.
Favorite album of all time?
“OK Computer”. There are a dozen others I could say with equal confidence on
any given day, but today that's the one.
Least favorite/most disappointing
album?
Interesting, I've never been asked that. I think I'd have to say The Smashing
Pumpkins' last album “Zeitgeist”. It's sort of a personal grudge though. They
were such a huge part of my formative musical years, and they wrote so many
amazing songs. I guess I was really hopeful that their first new album in years
would be great, and it really isn't. There's nothing more frustrating than
being disappointed by one of your favorite bands.
First concert attended?
Two answers. The first rock concert I attended was Richard Marx. Yes, let that
sink in for a minute. My father brought me with him to the Molson Amphitheatre
in Toronto. I barely remember it.
The first concert that I went to of my own volition was very different, it was
a triple bill with Veruca Salt, P.J. Harvey and Live (on their Throwing Copper
tour). To this day I remember the feeling of hearing the opening notes of ‘The
Dam At Otter Creek’ and getting full-body goosebumps. Every time I step on
stage I hope that some moment in our show will do that to someone in the
audience.
Last concert?
We played at Merlefest down in North Carolina a couple weeks ago. We only
played Friday, but we stuck around to watch some fantastic bands and artists on
Saturday, including what may have been Doc Watson's last live performance
before he passed. The highlight of the weekend for me was watching Chris Thile
and The Punch Brothers absolutely DESTROY the audience during a blistering
hour-long set. It was definitely one of the best live performances I've ever
seen. To give you some perspective, they followed Bela Fleck and the Flecktones
and were followed by Tedeschi/Trucks Band, and I think they blew both acts off
the stage. It was humbling.
Favorite concert ever?
Wow, that's really hard. Just a few weeks ago I had the chance to see Hey
Rosetta play in a tiny club in Dublin, Ireland. I was sitting in the second
row, dead center and about five feet from the stage. That was an incredible
show.
I'd probably have to say it was Radiohead at Molson Park back in 2000. They
were and still are my favorite band, and they were touring “Kid A” and “OK
Computer”. They closed with ‘Street Spirit’, and about 25,000 people sang it at
the top of their lungs, outdoors on a beautiful June night and I was swaying
arm in arm with a girl I'd just started dating and who I was stupidly in love
with. That's pretty hard to beat.
Least favorite concert?
Also a tough one, and again I'm going to give two answers. I saw Billy Corgan's
band Zwan play in Toronto on their only tour, and the sound was so terrible. The
bass was literally causing people to puke, and at least one person passed out.
I just got so annoyed TRYING to enjoy the show, and the fault lay with the band
(the bass player had two 8x10 bass cabinets, and they were firmly at eleven).
I'm pretty forgiving, but that was not a pleasant experience at all.
My other answer isn't really a fair one, but it was Creed's set at Edgefest
years ago (north of Toronto). It's not that they played badly. To their credit,
they sounded exactly like Creed…which I guess they have a right to do. The
thing is, they followed a Canadian band called The Tea Party, who are so
musically complex and adventurous, and they played such a unique and virtuosic
set full of Canadian alt/rock staples. I guess the contrast just wasn't
flattering for Creed. I know it's a little trendy to hate on glory-rock bands
like Creed, but I don't actually hate them. I just didn't want to see wind machines
and pyrotechnics right after a band that didn't need gimmicks to impress.
Any thoughts, experiences about
Pittsburgh?
I wish I knew Pittsburgh better as a city. I can say that I was pulling for the
Penguins both years they made the finals, and we Torontonians love Colby
Armstrong (who also played for the Wilkes-Barre Penguins). I'm brushing up on
my local dialect, but I think I'm still using y'uns incorrectly.
Pennsylvania will always hold a soft spot for us though, as we played our first
ever show outside of Canada at the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire years
ago. It's always a thrill to come back, especially now that we've known some of
our PA fans for a decade or more! Ok, now I feel really old.
Thanks, Brian. I love how your answers convey the sheer joy and excitement music can have over someone. And never say y'uns...say yinz! Your Pittsburgh cred will go up tenfold.
