What do you think of the Canadian music scene at present, or the state of music in general as we approach the dreaded end of the millennium?

Downie: It'd be nice to make a record a week. If that were the case, if that were the norm, then that would be topping the charts. I read in the [Toronto] Star this week about "The Year Pop Went Pffffft," and I just thought, "God, you're just not even looking hard enough. Not even close to hard enough."

You guys are going to be playing the first concert in the new Air Canada Centre in Toronto. Have you had any indication of what that's going to sound like? Have they made it very acoustically friendly?

Downie: I think these days, when they're making these rinks, they know that it's not just for hockey and basketball anymore. You should see the transformation of The Molson Centre - The Keg - in Montréal. It's pretty nice. My brother works in The Fleet Centre in Boston, so he sees all the bands come in, and it doesn't get a great review. But I think this one will be good. It's a pretty big crater to fill in this place.

Contreras: We're gonna set up close to each other, that's all I know.

Downie: It would be nice if it was the Northrop Frye Memorial Gardens or something.

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