CMW 2006 Spotlight: Sylvie

02/24/06 2:30pm

by Shawn Despres (CHARTattack)

Hometown: Regina, SK

Official Website: www.sylviemusic.com

Band Members:
Joel Passmore
Riva Farrell Racette
Chris Notenboom
Jeff Romanyk

So, you're about to play the big industry event that is Canadian Music Week. What's the most shameless thing you've ever done to promote your band?
Joel Passmore: Most shameless thing? Actually we tend to keep the band promotions on the shameful side.

What's the hardest part about being an up-and-coming band?
Nothing is super-hard. For me the hardest part is going back to work after touring. When we're on tour we get into a routine. You get used to playing shows, spending time in the van and inside jokes.

Describe your best and worst gigs ever:
I think the most fun I've had on stage was in Winnipeg when we played with Death From Above 1979. Not sure why, it was just one of those shows. Some other great shows were in Vancouver on this past tour and Fredericton on the Controller.Controller tour. I'm sure our best shows are still to come.
For me the worst show was in Yorkton, Saskatchewan. Kids were getting drunk in the parking lot while we played. They were waiting for the band after us. Someone threw a full roll of duct tape at us. It missed, but we took that as a sign to cut the set short.

How important is it for your band members to "circulate and flirt" with the audience before or after the show?
I like to see my friends before and after shows. We're not much of a "circulate and flirt" band. We'll hang out and talk, but not in a way that's false. I hate schmoozing with the execs types, but am never rude enough to tell them that.

Have you ever stolen from someone else's rider? If so, who was it and what did you take?
We stole Controller.Controller's humus on the first show of the tour. We admitted to it the next day out of guilt. They didn't care and we weren't hungry so all was well.

Have you ever been graded before according to ChartAttack.com's Rock 'n' Roll Report Cards?
No.

Last question, have you done anything new or interesting this week?
We almost got sprayed by a skunk on an indoor patio in Toronto. I've never smelt a skunk's spray so close. I felt like I had acid reflux for the rest of the night. It was very, very gross.

Sylvie play the Horseshoe Tavern on Saturday, March 4 @ 1 a.m. as part of the annual Chart/Horseshoe/Canadian Music Week showcases.