In Conversation: Motorists
In Conversation:
Motorists
By: Shaun Lee
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Motorists are a power pop trio from Toronto who recently released their incredibly strong self titled debut on the Bobo Integral label. Packed with jangly guitar hooks and tight harmonies, their sound recalls a lot of the classic bands that defined Canadian rock in the 90’s, which we delved into after discovering a mutual fandom for one of Canada’s greatest guitar bands. I caught up with the guys on the patio of Pinbar prior to their set.
Shaun: What did you- what did you guys just come from?
Matt: Uh, different stuff? I was at the block party checking out some, some jams.
Shaun: Oh, yeah, you were at the (Julie)Doiron, or...?
Matt: Uhh... I was mainly there for Big Rig, they're a Vancouver band that we're playing on Tuesday.
Shaun: Oh, okay.
Matt: Uhhh... and yeah, I was just, like, also just, like, chilling out there. Like, it's like a very nice family vibe there. Yeah, great to a bunch of people that are like not shitheads like me that have children in their lives. We were all there. So, yeah.
Shaun: Oh, yeah. Sorry. State your names for the record. We'll start here.
ML: Matt Learoyd. I play the bass,
NK: Nick McKinley. Drums.
CF: And I'm Craig Fahner. I play the guitar.
Shaun: And yeah, if you're if you're if you're gonna say something sort of profound just to your name first, so that I can- when I'm transcribing, I know who the fuck is talking.
ML: (laughs) You all sound identical.
NK: I promise not to say anything profound. Only the dumbest idiot stuff
ML: The braincells that produce profound remarks have all died this weekend.
Shaun: I've done three Post shows now and every band has been kinda, like, very, like, you know, little- a little bit lit up. So it's been some interesting, long philosophical conversation. Yeah.
ML: Okay, well, that's a high bar. Yeah. this is pre show, baby. So it's all caveman brain.
Shaun: Ummm... obviously, this is your first Sled appearance. But-
CF: Yeah.
Shaun: But some of you guys have Calgary history, right?
ALL: Yeah.
Shaun: So let's chat about that for a little bit.
CF: Well, Matt and I grew up here and we we met when we were like 16. And pretty much have been playing in bands since then. So... a heinous amount of time playing music together. But yeah, we... we were in bands together like Feel Alright that played the festival. Like, I want to say 40 shows
ML: 40 times, at all 40 Sled Islands
CF: Yeah, we played the secret ones that weren't on the record. Yeah, so we, I think we've played every year.
ML: Yeah, except for 2019 is the only year that I didn't.
CF: Oh, yeah. Matt and I moved to Toronto around the same time, and he moved in 2017. And I moved in 2018. And at that time, we- when I moved, there was this idea of maybe keeping Feel Alright alive, I think, but we've kind of got together with our good friend, Jesse Locke, who was drumming in the band at the time and decided to just take a leap into making something completely new. And that's kind of been the focus of Leroyd's and I's musical collaboration. And then Nick has joined us. I guess it's- it's a whole year.
NK: Yeah, well, basically, I had moved into Jessie Locke’s house and then Jesse moved to Vancouver and Craig and Matt sent me an email that said "Nick, it only- now that you have taken Jesse's room, it only makes sense that you take Jesse spot as the drummer for Motorists", so it's very formal.
ML: We’re all about identity theft
CF: Yeah, yeah, just keep on using his name and his social insurance number.
ML: That way you don't have to change anything with the band.
Shaun: So, let's talk about that transition because I know Jesse is, like, a big fan of like seventies Kraut Rock and, like, really brings that to his drumming. Is- are you, like, in that milieu as well? Or do you have like- are you like- (laughs) how have you surpassed him?
NK: (Laughs) Well, surpass is not the word I would say. I think Jesse is a drummer and a person I admire really heavily and it's been, like, fun getting into his head, like, playing some of the older stuff. And then we've been developing new music too. And I think I'm a generally like... uhhh... yeah, I don't know, just a slightly.... dumber drummer than Jesse can be in certain ways. Or like, I feel like Jesse has a very, like, kind of specific sense of rhythm. And I'm kind of like, you know, just trying not to Dave Grohl the hell out of it all the time?
ML: But also Dave Grohl-ing the hell out of it in the best way.
NK: No, it's- It's more like, I feel like we came into this situation and I- I feel like I... it's like, uh, we were talking about this the other day. I feel like what we're trying to do is like, tough kind of jangle rock, like do something really sensitive but tough at the same time. So that's kind of like-
Shaun: Yeah, you c- th-th-, my read on the album. Was that like, this is a rock band, a guitar band. Like, to me it sounded like like basically Motorik(the genre) meets Sloan.
ML: Yeah, that is yeah, pretty much you got it.
CF: Yes. Yeah.
Shaun: So, on- on that.
ML: Don't- don't write that Dave Grohl stuff (laughs). We don't need his name in any of this.
Shaun: We will- we will be fact checking- checking all of this stuff. Don't even worry about it. So who are, aside from playing, who are you guys here to see? Number one- number one pick?
ML: At Sled Island?
Shaun: Yeah, like who- who's getting your uh, your goat?
ML: I had tw- I had two big ones. The first one was Low. I am, like, this is, like, my personal wheelhouse. The slow, loud area which is like very good... uhhh... a good zone for me to be in. And Low is, like, very crunchy and ver- just like deliver. I can tell everybody at the Legion was just like ready to party and then Got Low, it's just like snail's pace, just like “rrrrrr,” I loved it. And then Uranium Club was the other one that was-
Shaun: Yeah, that's the one that I had to miss.
ML: Massive. Massive.
Shaun: And all my friends were like sending me like clips.
CF: And it was opposite energy also.
NK: Yeah, that describes the two poles of my interest, I would say.
ML: I'm here to see Bozo, baby. That's why I'm here.
CF: I played with another band called Bozo that's playing later. I'm playing seven shows this Sled, so I've only been able to see things that are happening at the show I am playing.
Shaun: So, not only have you played every Sled, you're playing seven shows this Sled.
CF: Yeah, I play in four bands, this Sled.
ML: And that is not uncommon.
CF: No. Yeah.
NK: Working overtime.
CF: I'm worked overtime and loving it.
Shaun: Well, and you're here for free.
ML: That's what it's all about.
CF: Free is an interesting…There's a cost.
ML: Yeah, the spiritual.
NK: It costs a lot to drink this week.
Shaun: So- so given that, you know, l- like, I did kind of kind of pin sort of some influence stuff there. Like, what... let's just shout out three albums that are kind of like the main sort of... fed into the blueprint for your guys' sound because it is a pretty distinct key…like, you know, it's identifiable already. I'd say you guys have a brand of music now.
CF: Yeah, there's sort of like this.. this kind of boundary between like, the sort of more... kind of.... I don't want to say softer but sort of the kind of like Wipers kind of sound of like a Punk slash Post Punk band that really was kind of committed to like an economical sensibility with their instrumentation. Like I think that's been a big thing. So Is This Real by The Wipers is like, huge to me, but like, as much as they're, like, characterized as a punk band, they're really like, a lot of those songs are like, to me, they're like Power Pop.
Shaun: I- I would agree with that.
CF: Yeah, so there's like, sort of genre Jangle Punk is kind of interesting to me. And then you have, on the other side of that, bands like REM that, you know, their early records very much have that similar kind of, like, very economical, no frills kind of...
Shaun: So, you're talking about, like, Murmur,
CF: Yeah, Murmur is a big one for me, but I don't know you- you say the last one, Leroyd.
ML: Um, so... I mean, definitely those types. I mean, you said Sloan- Sloan, so I mean, we definitely all share like a healthy obsession. HEALTHY obsession, my favorite types of obsessions.
CF: We are Sloan to the bone.
Shaun: Like… (transcriber's note: I have no idea what was said here. Stop talking over each other, asshats. God, I need to get a real job)
Shaun: I'm impressed by how much you can get your voice to sound like Chris Murphy because that is a singing-assed motherfucker.
CL: Yeah, we like started sound checking at our Toronto show with Coax Me and I was, like shit, (a guffaw from ML here) would it be too on the nose to actually cover the song?
ML: Yeah, yeah, is it rude?
CL: But like it was kind of... it was exciting to hear myself singing that song. Oh, yeah. I could I could pass... as Chris (laughs all around)
Shaun: Yeah, I don't want to make you feel awkward but there's a- there's a hair/glasses thing that kind of, like, feeds into that. Unfortunately, you picked the wrong instrument to play in the band but...so you're safe, you’re safe no one's gonna get too- too pressed about it unless you play bass.
CF: I played shows with him before and he actually got kind of pissed the we- like we open for his other band tons, and he was like "you guys look exactly the same as us." Cause, they have like... uhhh...
ML: It's a style of guy.
Shaun: It is- it is a style of guy.
NK: It's not apeing, it's just a style of guy.
CF: Yeah, I happen to be that style of guy.
Shaun: So, what's- what's your- what's your Sloan ride or die? What's your album?
CF: Uhhh... that's really hard because I think I... have to say One Chord to Another is my all-time, (ML: Wow) like, it's a solid back to front. record. Even though I think there's-
Shaun: I would say that's kind of like the popular choice though. Right?
ML: Yeah, like it's a little pedestrian, Craig. Wouldn't you say?
Shaun: My- my controversial Sloan favorite is Between the Bridges.
NK: That's a great one. I'm a Between the Bridges-
Shaun: It's fucking epic, man. All the songs run into one another.
CF (To NK): And you're really bringing a Between the Bridges vibe to the band.
NK: Thank you.
Shaun: Yeah, that's- that's high praise because Andrew Scott is my number one Canadian drummer. Barring obviously, Neil (Peart). RIP, but...
ML: My, uhhh... what I want to say is Twice Removed, but the actual reality is it's, uhhh... Navy Blues.
CF: Navy Blues is great.
ML: Navy Blues... rocks,
Shaun: Ultimately, Twice Removed, the problem- it pops off my list because of that fucking Patrick song at the end.
ML: What! “I Can Feel It?”
Shaun: Ahh, I hate…
ML: That song’s great!
(transcribers note: I can't really tell what is happening here because a douchey guy has a loud car but the boys are all talking over each other and one of them is singing "I Can Feel It")
CF: I played that song. I performed that song at my friend's wedding and it-
Shaun: Okay, so if I got married, maybe it would change- sort of change my feelings.
CF: Yeah.
NK: Just get married, dude.
Shaun: Yeah, there you go.
CF: You don't realize who you're dealing with. We will debate you on everything.
Shaun: No, I'll debate Sloan all night long. Like it's- it's a- it's a- it's a fond activity.
ML: Definitely. And I feel like even since Nick has, like, has come on board, it's even more leaning more into like 90s Canadiana alt-rock stuff, like-
Shaun: So, you're gonna have a Thrush Hermit period here, or...
Motorists: (All talking excitedly at once) …
ML: listening to Fix Me by The Doughboys
NK: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
CF: So, like shifting further away from the 80s, you know, jangle janglepop/ powerpop thing and more into this like, territory of like, what I think I would have thought was very cringe like 10 years ago, which is like, mid 90s Canadian alt-rock.
Shaun: You reach a certain age where cringe things become, like, start to make sense. You know, like, at a certain point like you're like listening to Billy Joel and you're like, hey, this actually kind of applies to my life.
Motorists: (laughs)
NK: Oh, “My Life?” (everybody laughs)
Shaun: Final- final question, since this band is about to fire up, what's- what's next for you guys? What's the next plan immediately post-Sled?
CF: We have to drive- well, we're going to Vancouver to play a gig then driving we're back without playing any shows, Leroyd and I...
Shaun: Fun drive, guys.
NK: You're camping in (unknown), right?
CF: Yeah, we've had a pretty busy season of digging and doing some short tours of like, we have a couple bigger shows on the horizon. And I think after that we're gonna
NK: We're gonna tuck in and make the next great 90s Canadian alt-rock record, I think. For our second album, I think this is the plan. It's been too long since there's been a-
Shaun: You're gonna crush the sophomore slump.
NK: Yeah, we're sitting on almost a record for the (unknown), so we're going to try and do that.
Shaun: Nice! Nice! Fucking sick, guys. Thanks so much.
CF: Hey, thank you.
Shaun: Yeah, no, no happy to do it. And yeah, get- get in touch when the next record kind of drops in. We'll do a more in depth one about that too!
- Shaun Lee
Transcription by Max Maxwell
Learn more about Motorists here.