11 Question with...SitDownTracy

On Saturday, April 21st, local act SitDownTracy is releasing its second record, Twenty Something Winters, at our friendly neighbourhood Lo Pub. Also on the bill are Modern Romantics and Scotch+Tape.

I caught up with the band in advance of the show and threw 11 questions its way. Here's what Matt, Sean, Janelle, Trevor, and Aaron had to say:

11 Questions…

1. Where are you right now?

Matt, Sean, Janelle, and Trevor: Band HQ (The Fontana)
Aaron: Aaron: At home nursing my inconveniently timed throat infection!

Let’s talk Winnipeg…

2. Who is the most underrated Winnipeg-based band/musician?

Janelle: Our friend Dana Moore aka Gt. Dane
Matt: He's constantly working, always writing, and he's still a big part of Winnpeg music, even though he's temporarily based out of Toronto.
Trevor: Dana's a great musician. He's the unique songwriting style people would remember from All of Your Friends. It's always a treat to work with him.
Sean: He had us out to his cabin for New Year's Day and took me skating on Falcon Lake. I am indebted to this man for life. I'm not saying I would take a bullet for him; I'm saying I already have.
Aaron: In addition to being a stellar musician and amazing friend, Dana did the cover design for our album and is also my personal stylist.

3. What is your favourite local venue?

Sean: That's easy. It's the Lo Pub right?
Matt: Oh yeah, it's gotta be. That place kind of reminds me of my parent's basement: cozy.
Trevor: They have a lot of great acts there, like this local act everybody's been talking about: SitDownTracy.
Janelle: Yeah, I hear those guys are on fire.
Aaron: That must hurt! Lo Pub is definitely our favourite. Also worth mentioning is the upstart alternative venue Atomic Gallery. They've been doing some really great stuff since opening less than a year ago!

4. Where do you shop for music?

Sean: Value Village and garage sales.
Matt: In many ways, the hunt for music is even better than going to a store and knowing you can find what you're looking for.
Aaron: And of course we'll be stopping by the impeccable Into the Music for this year's Record Store Day, and perhaps even a live performance... who knows!?! (hint hint, nudge nudge, say no more, say no more)

5. Where is the best place in town to catch a bite?

Sean: Vjs – Burger/Fries/Shake; The Wagonwheel - Clubhouse
Matt: New Hong Kong on Notre Dame – Shrimp Dumplings, Sweet Bean Bun, Peking Perogies
Matt: There's 10 things on the menu, they are ALL good.
Janelle: Ken Hong's (aka Shanghai Shwartz) – Wanton Soup
Aaron: I'd say Sals House but it's all gone down hill since Burton Cummings sold his shares. Late-night menu? What the hell is that?

6. How many Winnipeg Jets games have you watched this year?

Trevor: Matt and I saw Will Arnett and Sam Katz at the same Jets game. Sam wouldn't buy us a beer for some reason.
Matt: We asked him to. He said no.
Janelle: I saw the same game, but I was in the nosebleed section having quality time with my daddio. We had burritos.
Aaron: I think I watched a game once but it was mostly just an excuse to drink beer (aka. our national pastime).

7. What’s the worst bus route in the city?

Sean: Taking the 16 north out of South Osborne is the most insulting transit experience in the city. Because the transit station is right down the street, there are like 5 times more “Not In Service” busses than there should be. Your hopes are dashed every few seconds.
Janelle: Well, at least they apologize for that now.
Sean: Yeah, that's nice.
Matt: I don't take the bus.

Let’s talk music…

8. What are some albums that completely changed your life?

Trevor: Fleetwood Mac – Tusk; The Beatles – Magical Mystery Tour; New Pornographers – Mass Romantic; B52's – Self-titled; The Misfits – Legacy of Brutality
Janelle: The Sadies – Favourite Colours; Moody Blues – Days of Future Passed
Matt: Nirvana – Nevermind (made me want to become a drummer); NIN – The Downward Spiral; Portishead - Dummy
Sean: The Mars Volta – Deloused in the Comatorium
Janelle: Niiiiiiiice!
Sean: Huey Lewis & The News – Fore!; ELO – A New World Record; Beirut – Lon Gisland EP
Aaron: T.Rex - Ride a White Swan 7"; Devo - Are We Not Men?; Ty Segall - Goodbye Bread; The Besnard Lakes - Are the Roaring Night; Chad Vangaalen - Skelliconnection/Soft Airplane

9. Of the albums you own, which has the best cover art?

Matt: Sniff 'N' The Tears – Fickle Heart; I wish I owned a Cannibal Corpse album so I could say that
Trevor: Neil Young & The Shocking Pinks – Everybody's Rocking
Janelle: Rolling Stones – Metamorphosis

Aaron: It's a toss up between two of Canada's "great" acts: Loverboy's Get Lucky VS. Burton Cummings' My Own Way to Rock. They are two sides of the same horrendous coin.






10. What’s one piece of equipment absolutely vital to your live show?

Sean: The 9V Battery
Trevor: My guitar, without it all I'm playing is a patch cord through an amp.
Janelle: Patch cords... patch cords that work.
Matt: The rug under my drums.
Aaron: The wind beneath my wings.
Trevor: Oh, I understand this question now. My answer would be... the gifts that I was born with.
Aaron: Yeah, I don't envy your mother Trev... having to push you out with that hollow body guitar and all.

11. And finally, after a show (or during!), what adult beverage do you like to consume?

Janelle: Adult beverage?
Aaron: Beer. Or maybe homemade wine.
Trevor: Beers.
Matt: Beer.
Sean: Matt's beer.