CMW 2007: Cadence Weapon

03/09/07 10:00am

by Noah Love (CHARTattack)

Hometown: Edmonton, AB
Official Website: www.cadenceweaponmusic.com
Members:
Cadence Weapon (vocals)
DJ Weasel (turntables)

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?
Cadence Weapon: When I was younger, I must have been 14, I created a demo largely in my friend's apartment under a bunch of couch cushions. It was pretty poor quality. I wasn't making my own beats yet. I made a bunch of copies of it, went to a Blackalicious show at Red's and threw demos on stage at Gift Of Gab. If someone did that to me today, I wouldn't know what to do. But I would take it, because I did it. Afterwards I ended up talking to Lateef, The Truth Speaker, and he accepted it, which I guarantee he never listened to. But hey, that's cool. I'd rather they didn't listen to it.

What's the last thing you do before you go on stage?
I'm keeping it real. I always keep it real. Almost like clockwork before a show I take a shit. It's probably just nerves. I'm not nervous on stage, I don't know why. I used to be an actor, not major or anything, but the one thing I learned was that you're not supposed to eat before you're performing on stage because you digest like mad on stage.

Describe your best and worst gigs ever.
Best gigs, some of them were fairly recent. I loved playing the Hillside Festival [in Guelph, Ont.]. That was really fun. The nature of the festival is very earthy and there's a sense of togetherness. People were so open and ready to have fun. Another one was Pop Montreal. The worst show, one show I did in Toronto at the Harbourfront.

I was at that, the sound was fucked up.
The sound fully blew out. It happened to me a couple times. That was actually the second time that happened to me, where there was a full blackout of sound. And people were moving around the monitors trying to help, which was really nice. But it was like, "I don't think that's it." [laughs] But it was so weird because you're rocking, you're in total control, and then... Then I read a blog about that show and it was like, "You know, I'd heard all this hype about Cadence Weapon and I don't know, I don't think he was really into it." [laughs] Well, sorry!

How important is it for your band members to circulate in the audience before or after the show?
I definitely like to be at a venue a certain amount of time before a show because I like to feel comfortable with the space, because the more comfortable I am with it, the more I can play around with it during the show. I love interacting with people. I've never been interested in going to a show where it's totally passive and it's just this guy standing on a pedestal yelling shit at me. I kind of like the idea of having direct interaction with people and having an experience that's unlike any other show you might go to. I try to involve people in a really personal way. If it's not jumping into the crowd dancing with people, then it's like asking someone a direct question. It's interesting because people aren't used to being connected directly in that way. It's just a different approach.

Have you ever stolen from someone else's rider? If so, who was it and what did you take?
No, I have never stolen from anyone's rider, because usually it's stuff I would never want anyway. Because it's usually so specific. Lady Sovereign had a full turkey. Like, what the fuck?

Have you ever been graded before according to ChartAttack.com's Rock 'n' Roll Report Cards?
I got it last year. I did pretty well. I think I got a 93.

Ninety-two.
Shout Out Out Out Out got the highest of all. I'm trying to take them down a peg. You know what I'm saying? You can print that. What did they get, a 98? [Shout Out Out Out Out scored 97 per cent on the CMW 2006 report cards...]

How did the grade make you feel?
It made me feel great. However, some of the things they told me to work on, I don't know what I can do about that. You know, indie rock shoes? Come on, I gotta wear Chucks, but I didn't bring Chucks. What am I gonna do?

Have you done anything new or interesting this week?
I watched all episodes of Heroes. I think it's a great program. I don't watch TV. I don't have cable. But the hype got to me. I got my torrent game on and wow, I recommend that show to anyone. Oh, and I just did a remix for Busdriver yesterday that I think is really, really cool.

Cadence Weapon play the Horseshoe Tavern on Friday, March 9 @ 11 p.m. as part of the annual Chart/Horseshoe/Canadian Music Week showcase.