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After putting the modern in modern rock with their electronica-influenced CD Slomotion, the band of ex-Winnipeggers is taking the same seamlessly groovy, cutting-edge approach on its new tour, says bassist Ken Tizzard.
"So many of the songs have loops and samples in them, so on my side of the stage, just to make the show flow, there's a computer, foot pedals, a mixer and a whole bunch of other computer and electronic doohickies," says the 32-year-old. "Along with the turntables, of course."
That's right, turntables. On this tour, Tizzard isn't just the band's bassist -- he's also serving as in-house deejay, serving up beats as opening acts Smoother and By Divine Right move their gear.
"I'm going to be deejaying between the bands up there onstage, instead of us just having somebody throw Red Rider's greatest hits on the PA," he laughs. "It'll be mostly drum 'n' bass stuff and then just some house -- sort of the more popular stuff.
"Plus, I'm sneaking in a lot of my original stuff here and there," says Tizzard, a budding deejay who also plans to spin at a local nightspot after the gig. "For me it's kind of a hobby. This is the first time I've done it on tour. It's something I really dig doing but I am a little bit nervous about it.
"I'm not getting fancy. It's basically moving it from one track to the next. I'm by no means a turntablist, although that is something I want to get into."
Computers, turntables, electronica, dance grooves -- it's all a far cry from the guitar-based rock of the band's early days, admits Tizzard, the only member of the band not from Winnipeg.
"For a bunch of rednecks from the Prairies and a skinny Newfoundlander, we have come a long way. And a lot of it has to do with keeping an open mind about things. But you know, at the same time, you can take any one of these songs and play it on a piano or an acoustic guitar with Danny (Greaves) singing and it would sound f--ing great. It's still about writing great songs."
And while guitarist Joey Serlin is the only member who still lives in Winnipeg -- new dads Greaves and Tizzard both live in or near Toronto -- the band still thinks of Winnipeg as home.
"When we do a tour, Winnipeg is definitely a special place," he says. "There's so much family there and so many friends and so much history. You know where you're going to go for coffee in the morning and where you're going to have lunch. Every moment is planned out a month in advance."
As if they won't be busy enough, the band will also shoot a video for the song Holiday here in town.
"Since you're a Winnipeg paper, I should say there's a great nostalgic element to the whole idea, but the reality is it's the way the schedule worked out -- it's our day off," says Tizzard. "Of course, there is some excitement about shooting there."
One topic he does feel nostalgic about is former drummer Sammy Kohn, whose shoes are being filled by local player Ryan Ahoff.
"It's very different being on tour without him," Tizzard admits. "Last night, I was in the back of the van and somebody told a joke and everybody started laughing. Sammy has this really distinctive laugh, and I realized it wasn't there, and I had this pang. That's the first time it hit me on an emotional front -- that he's not with us. He was a funny guy, an emotional guy. I miss him."
Musically, though, he says the band has never been stronger.
"The live songs now are just huge, with the double drums -- the live drums and the loops. It was shocking when we first heard it, because everything is so big. You really notice it on the older songs. Plus Ryan is so rock-solid it's unbelievable. I have the same confidence in Ryan I had in Sammy."
And if things go wrong -- well, he can fire up those turntables.