Two Hours Traffic: CMW '09 Special

02/23/09 4:18pm

by James Tennant (CHARTattack)

The Polaris Music Prize-nominated Two Hours Traffic are back in the studio with longtime producer Joel Plaskett. Alec O'Hanley spoke with CHARTattack about sugar angels and peanut butter.

Hometown:
Charlottetown, P.E.I.

Members:
Liam Corcoran (guitar, vocals)
Derek Ellis (drums)
Alec O'Hanley (guitar, keyboards, vocals)
Andrew MacDonald (bass, vocals)

Official Website: www.twohourstraffic.com

CHARTattack: 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?
Alec O'Hanley: On our last record, we got somehow involved in this viral video campaign, and the company we were working with suggested... well, I'm not going to get into all this, but we ended up doing snow angels in a pile of sugar.

What's the hardest part about being an up-and-coming band?
Finding creative ways to feed ourselves.

How important is it for your band members to circulate and flirt with the audience before or after the show?
We used to like to muck it up when we first started doing these kinds of shows, but, you know... we're not adverse to being friendly.

Have you ever stolen from someone else's rider? If so, who was it and what did you take?
We've taken our share of Gatorade bottles from Joel Plaskett over the years. Other than that, maybe a corn chip or two from Hedley — nothing too serious.

Have you ever been graded before according to CHARTattack.com's Rock 'N' Roll Report Cards?
Yes. I think we did well. I can't remember. (See how they fared at CMW 2007 here.)

Have you done anything new or interesting this week?
I've eaten a lot of peanut butter... That's not even remotely interesting. Watching Twin Peaks?

Two Hours Traffic play Toronto's Horseshoe Tavern on March 14 at 11:10 p.m. as part of the annual CHARTattack/Horseshoe/Canadian Music Week showcase.

Check out CHARTattack's official CMW microsite HERE.