The Blood Lines Have Connections In China And Moose Jaw

Saskatoon melodic rock whippersnappers The Blood Lines have no time for your clock-killing shenanigans. While other bands lollygag and goof around, this bunch have racked up a resume in their less-than-two-year existence that would make veteran rockers green with envy. These accomplishments include a conquering set at indie-tastemaker festival CMJ in New York City, being hand-picked to open for The Dears, and stealing hearts in the People's Republic Of China.

"I saw people who could barely speak English singing along to a couple of our songs," recalls keyboardist/vocalist Maygen Kardash of their set at the Beijing Pop Festival. "The audience had been exposed to our music already, as the only international radio station, HitFM, had been playing our music sandwiched in between Beyonce and Justin Timberlake. When I went to the front of the crowd when we were done, the cameras and outstretched hands were overwhelming."

Success has also been steady at home for the sibling-filled four-piece (Maygen and S.J. Kardash are brother and sister, while Paul and Barrett Ross are brothers). Their debut album beat out such notables as Comeback Kid and You Say Party! We Say Die! to scoop up outstanding rock recording honours at 2007's Western Canadian Music Awards, and the record (namely the rousing single "Modern Science") has received sizable airplay on CBC Radio 3 and XM Radio's The Verge. The band are quick to give credit to their home province's SaskMusic program for its assistance in furthering their development.

"SaskMusic has always been a loyal supporter of us, and we are eternally grateful for that," says guitarist/vocalist Paul Ross. "Bands would simply not exist without them."

"There are six acts from Saskatchewan [The Blood Lines included] showcasing at South By Southwest," adds S.J. "SaskMusic has hired a publicity company from New York to help elevate the Saskatchewan presence during the festival. We're really fortunate to live in a province where the arts are nurtured the way they should be."

In addition to braving the hipsters and A&R weasels on behalf of Saskatchewan in Austin, Texas, the band will soon go into the studio to record with Juno Award-nominated producer Kevin Churko. How does a relatively unknown band acquire the services of the guy who produced Ozzy Osbourne's last record and served as engineer for pop goddesses (Britney Spears, Celine Dion and other singers with fragrance lines)? Well, being from the same hometown is a start.

"I've known Kevin's family forever, so that makes things a bit easier for me," says Paul, flexing the small town connections that come with being raised in Moose Jaw.

The band possess a polite brand of confidence about the new record.

"At the end of the day, all you can hope for in a new record is that it sounds better than the last," notes Paul. "I think we can do that, and more."

If The Blood Lines can keep the pace of their rapid ascent, it will be hard to prove him wrong.