Polaris Nominee Q&A: Great Lake Swimmers + Elliott BROOD

September 18th, 2009

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Only a weekend away from the Polaris Prize soiree! If you missed Q&A with other nominees, don’t fret: you can read interviews with Metric + Joel Plaskett, Chad VanGaalen + Patrick Watson, and K’Naan + F***ed Up. Don’t forget that you can listen to all nominated albums here! And now for today’s Q&A, with Great Lake Swimmers and members of Elliott BROOD…

TONY of Great Lake Swimmers

Where was the nominated album recorded? How long were you in the studio?
The album was primarily recorded in the Thousand Islands region of Ontario and New York, including locations such as a church (St. Brendan the Navigator) and a castle (Singer Castle on Dark Island). It was mixed by Andy Magoffin at the House of Miracles in London, Ontario. The whole process took about 4 to 5 weeks.

What’s your best memory about recording this album?
Exploring the beautiful Thousand Islands region and learning more about the history of island life and life on the St. Lawrence River.

Which is the album’s stand-out song and why?
One of the standout songs for me is “Pulling On A Line” which I think is because of the creative chemistry of the band members.

When did music become your ‘life’?
I was laid off from a job at a film company in late 2004 and took the plunge into music as a full time career after that. Haven’t looked back since.

Who named the band and why?
Me (Tony). It was originally the title of a song, which appears on the first, self-titled record (it’s the final track).

When was the current line-up created?
It’s been a rotating cast of characters since the band’s birth in 2003, but the current lineup has been touring together for the last couple of years. Erik has been with the group the longest.

What was your most embarrassing moment on stage?
Forgetting lyrics.

Who’s the funny one?
Erik.

Who’s the serious one?
Tony.

Who’s the tyrant?
Greg.

Favourite song of all time?
“The Lakes of Canada” by the Innocence Mission.

Favourite band of all time?
The Band.

Favourite singer of all time?
Joni Mitchell.

What band would you love to share a bill with?
Neil Young & Crazy Horse.

What career other than music would be ‘you’?
Veterinarian.

What is your most treasured piece of your memorabilia – and why?
Eagle feathers found on Wolfe Island, after a magical show in Kingston, Ontario at the Grad Club.

What is something fans don’t know about you?
I am an excellent swimmer.

What is your guilty pleasure?
Disappearing into the wilderness.

What was your first concert?
My high school band played at the talent show. That was one of my first performances.

What was your favourite concert?
Opening for Robert Plant and Alison Krauss at the Molson Amphitheatre in Toronto.

How old were you when you started playing music?
16.

Who was your first music teacher? At what school did she/he teach?
I’ve never taken a single music lesson – I’m self-taught.

What instrument did you play in the school band?
I played guitar and wrote songs with friends, but not in the school band.

Who is your biggest inspiration? Why?
Leonard Cohen, because he has approached a monumental state of grace in his writing and music. He is a guiding light.

What five bands are you listening to now?
Timber Timbre, Wooden Birds, Sharon Van Etten, Sunbear, Roky Erickson.

Do you think you can dance?
No.

Elliott BROOD

(Banjo/guitar/lead vocals Mark Sasso)
(Percussion Steven Pitkin)

Where was the nominated album recorded? How long were you in the studio?
Mark: “Mountain Meadows” in a handful of locations all across Canada, from garages and front rooms to places like Healey Lake Lodge (Ontario) to Wayne Town Hall (Alberta) to Mt. Robson Lodge (BC). The whole process took the better part of a year to accomplish. For the last month or so holed up at Green Door Studios in Toronto (John Critchley 13 Engines) to record extra songs/over dubs and then mix it all together.

What’s your best memory about recording this album?
Mark: Recording background vocals for the song “Write it all Down for you” with Casey in my garage in the dead of winter.
Steven: The Mormon family cooking us dinner in the ghost town.

Which is the album’s stand-out song and why?
Mark: For me its “31 Years” which was written and recorded by Casey in his front room . It seems to encapsulate the entire album feel/story in one song. It just has a certain feel that couldn’t be captured any other way. I had to talk him out of trying to re-record it as it was the first and only take of the song. Sometimes you just get it right the first time.
Steven: I like the “Without Again” sounds and feels, plus Mark and Casey share lead vocals.

When did music become your ‘life’?
Mark: One of my first memories as a child is hearing “Don’t Stop” by Fleetwood Mac in a car in the heat of summer when I was 4 and it moved me so much that from then on I was always drawn to music and it’s energy.
Steven: 11-years-old in the Ambassadors Drum & Bugle Corps.

Who named the band and why?
Mark: I guess I did. I never wanted to play in a band that was named after a person in the band. It was also inspired by a band in Toronto at the time called Wayne Omaha. It seemed a great idea to have a name that seemed as if someone in the band could be that person but you just weren’t sure.

When was the current line-up created?
Mark: 2003

What was your most embarrassing moment on stage?
Mark: Forgetting words to songs you wrote. All you can do is smile.
Steven: Our first encore as a trio was so poor that I ran offstage in a quandry.

Who’s the funny one?
Mark: Casey and Steve but Casey is funnier.

Who’s the serious one?
Mark: I would say me.
Steven: Steve

Who’s the tyrant?
Mark: Me (not so much a tyrant, I’m just focused)
Steven: Mark

Favourite song of all time?
Mark: Tough question…
Steven: “Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac

Favourite band of all time?
Mark: Grant Lee Buffalo
Steven: Led Zeppelin

Favourite singer of all time?
Mark: John Lennon/John Fogerty
Steven: Chet Baker

What band would you love to share a bill with?
Mark: The Jayhawks (no longer together)
Steven: Ween

What career other than music would be ‘you’?
Mark: Professional Baseball player
Steven: Statistician? Architect? Escort?

What is your most treasured piece of your memorabilia – and why?
Mark: An old fuse that I found at Henry Ford museum when I was a kid. Worthless to everyone else but me.
Steven: My Wrestling Posters from Keswick Arena because they are signed by Andre the Giant and Haystack Calhoun.

What is something fans don’t know about you?
Mark: I like to write song in the bathroom (best acoustics). I wish we could record albums in there.
Steven: How much I cherish mes enfants.

What is your guilty pleasure?
Mark: TMZ
Steven: Tom Keene’s “Bloomberg on the Economy” podcast

What was your first concert? What was your favorite concert?
Mark: First – Kenny Rogers, Favorite – The Jayhawks @ Lee’s Palace
Steven: First – Black Sabbath, Favourite – Neil Young solo at Kingswood Music Theatre, Aug 26, 1989

How old were you when you started playing music?
Mark: 5-years-old
Steven: 8

Who was your first music teacher? At what school did she/he teach?
Mark: Mrs. Zonzic. She taught piano in her home.
Steven: Mr. Stickland at Newmarket High School

What instrument did you play in the school band?
Mark: Didn’t
Steven: left-handed drums

Who is your biggest inspiration? Why?
Mark: Neil Young (everything he does is done with passion)
Steven: My wife is a wellspring of inspiration.

What five bands are you listening to now?
Mark: Pete and the Pirates, The Jayhawks, CCR, Edith Piaf, SPOON and Cat Power. I know that’s six.
Steven: Grizzly Bear, Imogen Heap, Damien Jurado, Air, BNL-1

Do you think you can dance?
Mark: Yes I can dance but only to Motown tunes.
Steven: You should see me without an audience. Absolutely amazing.

Tags: Elliott Brood, great lake swimmers, Polaris, polaris music prize 2009