[If you missed this caveat last time, the difference between this format and other music items we run is that you cannot solicit your way into the Beat Laboratory. I just pick things I think are great and tell you guys about them.
Also - some of the people I mention here are friends of mine, or at the very least acquaintances (my own band recently played a show alongside the guys of touchitandyouwillsayow). But I show no favouritism.]
The first I learned of touchitandyouwillsayow was when I met band guitarist and vocalist Kelso Sorenson. At the time, he was sporting a smashingly-giant Gogol Bordello-style moustache, smoking a pipe and discussing science fiction. The whole scene was sort of bizzare-o cool – which is pretty much how I would describe the band. I knew I had to sit down with these guys for an interview.
I’m not sure how to talk about touchitandyouwillsayow’s music in a nuts and bolts kind of way – they don’t really sound like anybody else. Their eclectic, pop-but-not sound sort of reminds me of Flight of the Conchords meets the Beatles meets, maybe, Weezer (thanks for pointing it out, @tricotmiss!) and possibly some, I don’t know, Gordon Lightfoot (?) – but rather than even attempt to explain it, I’d suggest you just take a listen:
Tatiana: touchitandyouwillsayow
Anyway, my favorite part of touchitandyouwillsayow – besides the passion with which they tear up the stage live – is the story of the fortuitous manner in which the band came together.
“Somewhere around two years ago or so, Kelso started shooting out some lines over text messaging while he was in Peace River,” explains guitarist/vocalist Ashton Gibson.
“At the time I was reclaiming pasture land on the government pastures,” says Kelso. “There’s these communal pastures…that are throughout Alberta that get overgrown with brush…I went in there on a huge tractor… I just started having these ideas, and I started text messaging Ashton these strange lines while I was sitting there on the tractor, because we were planning on starting a band.”
Months later, Kelso returned to Edmonton from the underbrush; bass player Darren Parke joined not long after.
“I was walking down the street,” Darren explains. “I hadn’t played music for five or six years…and Ashton pulls up on the street next to me! Ashton, one time roommate, one time bandmate, in another project.”
Finally, Kelso met drummer Dave Mark on the job (Dave was his boss).
“He quit the day before I was going to fire him,” laughs Dave.
“Obviously it didn’t affect the friendship,” says Ashton.
“Oh, I hate him to this day,” jokes Dave.
As I mentioned, the band’s sound doesn’t lend itself to comparisons of one or two artists, or even a single genre. In a good way, of course.
“We like to try to make the songs complicated, I think.,” says Ashton. “We find that challenging.”
“In this band, it seems like there’s no idea that’s too crazy to try,” says Dave. “I broke my hand and these guys convinced me to do our next show with only my left hand.”
“How did you break your hand?” I ask.
“Beating up nosey journalists!” shouts Darren.
Everyone laughs.
“Any idea that comes out, they’re willing to try. That’s really something that’s pretty special about this band,” says Kelso.
When touchitandyouwillsayow members aren’t smacking around reporters, or quitting day jobs before being fired, you can find them playing locally; you can also check them out on facebook.
These guys were awesome on Saturday. I loved hearing them…unique sound and very fun.