The Acorn Have New Sounds And New Help

The Acorn have their heads in the sand. The Ottawa band are currently deep into recording their second full-length album, to be released this fall. Lead Acorn Rolf Klausener wearily runs through the non-stop schedule of working day jobs, rehearsing, writing and recording, but is careful to make one point clear.

"I have lots of friends in other bands who work really hard and sometimes sacrifice the sanity or happiness of other band members," Klausener says. "We never try to be unrealistic."

This attention to detail, craft and work ethic, while still making room for real life, has always seeped into the music of The Acorn. And it's been a huge help as the five bandmates piece together an ambitious record: an interpretation of Klausener's mother's childhood experiences in her native Honduras.

"I was scared the project wouldn't work," Klausener says. "It was terrifying trying to get writing. I was constantly rethinking and rethinking and rethinking. That's what I did all last summer.

"But once I got over that crap and let the stories my mother told me percolate... I just started writing, and that's how it should be."

Sonically, too, the album will mark a departure for the band, with percussive and melodic influences taken from Klausener's studies in ethnomusicology and Honduran music. It sounds high-concept, but Klausener explains that the music is finally coming out organically.

"All of a sudden the feel of the record started to come through. We have time to re-record stuff, and it feels like the possibilities are endless. We've really let go of everything for this record."

The album will be released by Paper Bag, along with a re-release of last year's excellent Tin Fist EP. It's the first time that the band have had a little help, and Klausener is still trying to get used to it.

"Even now, I designed the print ads. But what's exciting is that there has been more help, and now we know we could maybe do a jaunt in the U.S., or something like that."

For now, The Acorn will stick to another cross-Canada tour. It's a chance for fans and new listeners to get a sneak preview of the new sounds.

"It will be interesting to see how the songs develop over time," Klausener says. "My only fear is coming back and wanting to re-record things."

Catch The Acorn in a town near you:

March 10 Toronto, ON @ WhipperSnapper Gallery
March 22 Thunder Bay, ON @ The Apollo
March 23 Winnipeg, MB @ Collective Cabaret
March 24 Saskatoon, SK @ Amigos
March 25 Lethbridge, AB @ Tongue 'N' Groove
March 27 Victoria, BC @ Lucky Bar
March 28 Vancouver, BC @ Gallery Lounge (UBC)
March 30 Calgary, AB @ Broken City
March 31 Edmonton, AB @ Velvet Underground
April 1 Regina, SK @ The Club
April 2 Winnipeg, MB @ Music Trader Record Store
April 3 Thunder Bay, ON @ Kilroy's
April 5 Barrie, ON @ Foundation
April 6 Guelph, ON @ Club Vinyl
April 7 Brampton, ON @ North Bramalea United Church
April 12 Toronto, ON @ The Drake
April 13 Ottawa, ON @ Babylon
April 14 Montreal, QC @ TBA