FOR THE GROMMIES | PAT LAZO | CHICKS FLIP OUT! | SKATECAMP | PHOTO FEATURE | COMEBACK KID

2_PRODUCT REVIEW Comic book characters and skate pucks.

3_FOR THE GROMMIES Shredding for clout and a good cause.

4_PAT LAZO Recently celebrated with the Future Leader of Manitoba Award, Lazo sits down with BigWoop! to discuss skateboarding, art, and tattoos.

7_CHICKS FLIP OUT!The ladies of SLAG embark on a 14-day tour, visiting cities across North America with a stop at the Edge Skatepark.

9_SKATECAMP BigWoop! sips brewskies and talks boy bands with Sean Malto, Mikey Taylor, Chris Anderson, Tyler Bledsoe, and Davis Torgeson.

JUSTIn SCHAFER Editor, Art Director, Publisher

TOny BEAUDOIn Writer, Circulation Manager, Advertising Manager,

DAVE BELLIS Advertising Rep

DUnJA KOVACEVIC Associate Editor

MATT STEVEnS Graphic Design, Layout, Associate Art Director

MICHELLE HOOEy Writer, Design

CRIZELLE DELACRUZ Writer

DAVE SEBURn Photographer

DAn nEUFELD Photographer

JAMES VAnDAL Photographer

CAM nIKKEL Photographer

SAM MCGUIREPhotographer

COnTRIBUTORS

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16_COMEBACK KIDFounding guitarist Jeremy Hiebert speaks upabout the band and the importance of stayingtrue to your roots.

(cover) JAMIE MOSPANCHUK_360FLIPneufeld photo

S n o w | S k at e | w a k e

Winnipeg’s premier lifestyle store since ‘92.

www.boardersanonymous.ca8 4 4 S t . M a r y ’ S r d .2 0 4 . 2 5 4 . 4 3 4 3

COnTACT & OnLInE InFObigwoopmagazine@gmail.com bigwoopmagazine.blogspot.com

The Skate Puck is the invention of Linc Graves from Madison, NH. It basically makes mounting a deck on your wall incredibly easy. Consisting of a wooden base that screws into the wall and four pegs that go through the truck holes into the puck, you can have it all set up within a couple minutes. I like to buy an extra deck to have on hand if mine snaps, so I stick it on the Skate Puck to have some wall art. If you’ve been looking for an inexpensive way to put up some decks the Skate Puck is worth checking out. www.skatepuck.com

GRAPHIC IMAGE SKATEBOARDS

Graphic Image Skateboards is a company that brings together the best of both worlds: comic books and skateboarding. Andrew Brousseau, the founder of GIS, is a local boy and one of the nicest people I’ve met. Months ago, Andrew popped by the shop (West 49) to show off a couple of the newest decks, and we mustered up a deal. He gave me a couple of boards to pass onto our flow team to test out. Image skateboards are pressed on the same wood as Powell and they boast a 30-day guarantee against breakage. I questioned Andrew about the guarantee and he stood by it. Having skated for 10 years, I know all it takes to snap a tail is one misplaced foot. I was skeptical at first, but was proven wrong. Here’s what the boys had to say: “I lost my board on the road and watched a car run over it right in the middle of the deck. The entire board just flexed to the ground and popped back up. It didn’t snap and I’m still skating it” - Colin Mousseau

“ This board is lasting a lot longer than the Redstar boards I usually pick up” – Jesse Hilderman

THE SKATE PUCK

TExT By JUSTIN SCHAFER

LottΣryβBureaucrΔcy

SorΘrityFraternitΨ

www.skateboardcoaltion.mb.ca for details and more local skateboard content / info

2010 iS upon uS...

PRODUCT REVIEWS

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Needless to say, everyone had a great time despite the fact that the paramedic was called a few times to treat some bruised shins and ankles. With over 1200 dollars raised in just over a month and the grommies having the opportunity to rip the ramps and rails in a competition designed just for them, the event was a huge success.

The key is opportunity. FTG provided an opportunity for young, talented kids to enjoy the experience of their own skate comp. Simultaneously, we were able to raise money for St. Amant’s ABA program; money that will provide necessary teaching materials and fund outings with the goal of cultivating the positive memories and learning opportunities that normally developed children get to experience.

Due to the huge success of the first For the Grommies competition, there is already talk of possibly making it annual event to promote awareness of ASD, and to continue to nurture the growth of our kids. “It’s that simple. It’s that sweet.”

FORTHEGRO MMI ES

THIS WAS THE BEST SKATE COMPETITIOn EVER!” a youngin’ calls enthusiastically over the crowd amassed at the Edge Skatepark, one Saturday afternoon. All kids have something unique to offer the world. They serve as a reflective reminder to the rest of us to be as keen, enthusiastic and fearless about life as we were twenty years ago. Working, raising, or simply growing up with kids not only opens up our eyes, but introduces a world of opportunity to learn and grow with them. So, as a way of giving back to all the kids, a team of staff from both St.Amant’s ABA Program and West 49 came together converging fundraising and skateboarding to create an event we called For the Grommies.

For the Grommies began with two important goals in mind: to raise funds and awareness for kids diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a prevalent developmental disorder characterized by a wide range of symptoms such as: difficulty engaging in social situations, linguistic and communicative impairments, and a tendency to engage in repetitive routines and behaviors. In order to raise awareness for this growing epidemic, a skateboarding competition was held for kids between the ages of 10-15 at The Edge on Saturday, August 8th, 2009. The popularity and influence of skateboard culture became not only a means of reaching out to educate future generations about ASD, but also presented an opportunity for kids who skate to grab the spotlight.

The day of the competition, we had almost 30 kids signed up, who, accompanied by their friends and family, came out to skate hard and help raise money for ASD. Green Apple shop owner, Mike McDermott, and his team came down to give out some schwag, and ride with the kids.

TExT By CRIzELLE DELACRUz PHOTOS DAvID SEBURN

(left) MISH BAERG_5-0

(above) SKyE SPENCE_NOSESLIDE

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It may sound cliché to say that someone has really left their mark on a city, but when it comes to Pat Lazo - there’s just no other way to put it. His artwork can be seen hung in galleries, on building walls throughout Winnipeg, and on the bodies of its residents. It seems no matter what the medium is, Pat succeeds. This was recognized earlier in the year when he became a recipient of the Future Leaders of Manitoba Award. Three days after he had finished tattooing my leg, and Dave’s arm, we all sat down with some beers to talk about how he got to where he is.

Vandal photo

THe InDeLIbLe MARk oF

TExT By TONy BEUDOIN

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As far as wall murals go, where in the city can people see your work?

There’s two I did on Osborne in 2000: the big blue face above Desart and Wasabi. Also, on the opposite wall that faces north, a hand on turntables. Another one in the Hi-Fi Club and at King’s on Portage. Stuff at the Graffiti Gallery on Higgins and at Bar Italia

What’s you position at the Graffiti Gallery?

I am the artistic director. I’ve been there since 1998; since it began.

When and where did you start tattooing?

I started my apprenticeship in 2006 at Electric Babylon. From there, I moved to Kapala. Now I’m at Osborne village Ink.

Was it a natural progression to go from graffiti into tattooing?

yeah, and I had a great opportunity. I traded a mural for my apprenticeship; that afforded me my way into the world of tattooing- which is definitely not very inviting to young artists. I tried getting into it when I was 18 and 19 and was not met with open arms, that’s for sure. But, once I did get in, I found it the most challenging medium I’ve ever worked in. I’m still relatively new to the medium and find myself learning things everyday.

When did you get your first tattoo?

I got it in 1997 on a dirty couch in Lake Louise.

you got a couch tattoo when you were legally old enough to get one in a shop?

yeah. A guy from Winnipeg was coming out to visit and he brought his equipment to pay for his trip. I don’t talk to him anymore because he’s a rat.

So, I guess we’ll start with when you first got involved with skateboarding?

I started skateboarding in ’88. A year after SK8 first opened on Sherbrook.

What was the scene like back then?

The scene was actually very small in comparison to how it is now. It seemed like such a tiny sub-culture and everyone seemed to know each other.

you ever get beat up by bangers like Dave and I used to?

No, I never got beat up by bangers but- I remember back in the day, we used to get into fights with our skateboards.

I think that happened to everyone. you worked at SK8. When did that start, and what was your involvement over there?

I started working at SK8 in 1997, after I moved back from Lake Louise for a season. I started there, selling snowboards and skateboards, when it was on Pembina. I was just a sales dude.

When did you start doing art in the skateboard community?

I guess I started getting involved with the Graffiti Gallery in 1998, because my partner at the Gallery put up a poster at SK8 looking for graffiti artists. I started doing a bunch of different murals, but I also did artwork for Lumber and for SK8. Lately I’ve been in charge of artwork at The Forks for the outdoor gallery there and also designed the skateable sculpture at The Plaza. I also did branding for Roger’s WAM, putting up tags.

When did you start making art?

I’ve been making art as long as I can remember. The public murals only started after I started doing aerosol and graffiti which was in ’93. Just being involved in the graffiti thing kind of made my artwork more public. I had always painted, but, doing it on walls got it out there.

So, when you started; were you getting paid for aerosoling the walls or were you running from the cops for aerosoling the walls?

I started illegally. That’s how I got into graffiti. Again, it was a really small community and now it’s nothing like it was back then. It was far different than it is now, where every kid’s a graffiti writer and that sort of thing. you know, back then- there was 10 of us, maybe, and we knew everyone who did it. Now everyone’s on the internet. It’s kind of funny.

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Mish Baerg 5-0

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When I told Johnny Downtown I was coming to see you for a tattoo, he laughed and said he got his chest done by you. He told me it’s like getting tattooed by a gorilla.

I don’t know. I’ve been called ‘Pillow Fingers Lazo’ because of my soft touch… so I’m not sure where he gets that from.

It wasn’t nearly as bad as he said it was gonna be. The color hurt like a bastard, but I’m sure that’s gonna be the case no matter who (the hell) does it. Any funny stories you want to end with? Like the time you knocked a guy out in a parking lot by head butting him while holding a six pack?

I haven’t had any recent experiences like that because now, I work with kids and I’m a much more responsible human being than I once was.

How can people get in touch with you to purchase your artwork?

I do commissioned artworks and murals. you can contact me at the gallery at 667-9960 or at my email patricklazo@gmail.com.

(clockwise from left)

ARTWORK By PAT LAzOVandal photo

BILL ACHESON KICKFLIPS ON PAT’S CREATION AT THE FORKS PLAzASeburn photo

SKATEABLE ARTSeburn photo

“W innipeg—where is that on the map? 1403 miles away...okay, let’s do it,”

responded nancy Chang, Co -Director of Washington’s SLAG (Skate Like a Girl), to Jacqui Compayre about jumping on board for Chicks Flip out. Rugged Riders teamed up with the Skateboard Coalition of Manitoba to present Chicks Flip out, an all girl skate contest. First held at the Forks Plaza in August of 2008, the contest lived to see another year.

WORDS By MICHELLE HOOEyPHOTOS CAM NIKKEL

This year, the event was held at the Edge Indoor Skatepark due to the weather. The ladies of SLAG, on a 14-day tour, visited cities across North America boasting an impressive crew ranging from 17-33 in age. Among them: Fred Lavet who hails from Quebec-killin’ the bowl jam, and Tamara Drybrough of vancouver who placed first in the advanced category. Chrissie Lathrop of Seattle, Washington, claimed best trick by busting out a b/s board flip. Team manager, Nancy Chang, taught morning clinics for novice skaters. The girls got a chance to kick it in Winnipeg for a few days, so they managed to check some sweet spots-like the Forks and the “vag” banks-before the rain set in.

And the biggest surprise of the contest this year? “I would have to say a 15-year old skateboarder named Sarah from Saskatchewan. She came out of nowhere and just killed it. I don’t think she smiled once. She just showed up, threw down, and took second place. She’ll be a force to be reckoned with next year.” Sarah Molder has been skating since she was nine years old, and now-at 15-is

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FRED LUyET_FRONT SMITH

sponsored by Plan B, RDS, Tiki Room and Centre Dist. Even if she didn’t look it, Sarah was stoked on the win, saying, “Well, the coming home with a thousand dollars part was definitely a great moment. Haha. I’ve never had close to that much money before. It was also awesome to see all the girls, I knew some of them but some I met for the first time—so that was pretty cool.”

Nancy seems optimistic about the future of women’s boarding: “Right now—girls are still pushing the envelope on girls skating, and creating a broader image of what girls skating looks like. And this trip is really important to set an inclusive tone that doesn’t pigeonhole girls skating as a certain style, or only exclusive to one group.”

Jacqui, and the SCM, are planning to capitalize off current momentum by attempting to make the contest bigger and better. “We are pushing to have it when no other women skate crews have contests or tours, in order to get more contestants out. This means it may be near the very beginning of summer, or the very end.” The contest will also assume a new name, as it will be run solely by the SCM so stay tuned.

Chicks Flip Out: www.chicksflipout.com

Skateboard Coalition of Manitoba: www.skateboardcoalition.mb.ca

SLAG: www.skatelikeagirl.com

Rugged Riders: www.ruggedriders.com

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CHRISSIE LATHROP_FRONT BOARDSLIDE

This past summer, bigWoop had a chance to talk over some beers with Sk8 Skate’s Genico Aiello, Alien Workshop flow rider Chris Anderson, as well as the etnies team including: Mikey Taylor, Sean Malto, Tyler bledsoe, and Davis Torgeson. What began as an interview about skate camp, turned into a breakdown of Mikey’s new Rap-Rock band.

SKATECAMP09_GEnICO AIELLO

CHRIS AnDERSOnMIKEy TAyLORSEAn MALTOTyLER BLEDSOEDAVIS TORGESOn

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Seburn photo

WORDS By JUSTIN SCHAFER AND DAvID SEBURN.

BW! So I guess we’ll start with you, Genico. What’s skate camp all about?

Genico: Well, when the plaza opened, Investors Group came along and said they’d be interested in helping out with some type of community based event related to skateboarding and the plaza. It was a perfect fit because I’d planned on running some skate camps anyway.

This is our fourth year and most of these guys have been here since the beginning, like Mikey, Chris, and Tyler. [They] were all here for the grand opening of the plaza, so, the contact was already there and they were dying to come back to Winnipeg. It was just a great opportunity [for them to come back]. So skate camp is basically an opportunity for local neighborhood kids to get involved, and spend some time with the pros interacting with them and having a great week. For a lot of the kids, I think its’ now the highlight of their summer. Its’ really cool to see some 13 year old skate with Mikey Taylor. It’s kind of a big deal for them, and it’s cool of these guys to give up their time to come out. Obviously summer is a busy time, so, for them to help out, it takes the camp to another level.

And this year Etnies was really cool. They had heard about us from the guys and they really supported the idea. They knew these guys wanted to come out so, Etnies stepped up and helped sponsor the camp.

BW!: How is skating with the kids?

Mikey: Fun. It’s cool. It’s crazy ‘cuz the same kids show up from years past and they’ve been getting really good.

Chris: you can definitely see the progress.

Mikey: They just go for it, yeah. Shit, like the kid ollieing the 8 today! It’s just fun.

Genico: It’s really cool to see the friendships the kids forge with these guys. When they ask about skate camp it’s ‘Oh, is Mikey coming back’ or ‘ Is Chris coming’, so I’m really happy to have the same guys back every year to build on that.

BW!: Funniest thing a kid has asked or said?

Mikey: Right when I came in, I was setting up a board, and one of the kids came up to me and asked what kind of board I had. I was like, “Alien Workshop”. He went “Pfffft. Ugh.”-all bummed. So I asked: “you don’t like Alien?”, and he said no. When I asked what he did like, he’s like: “GIRL!” It’s kinda like, oh sorry dude.

Malto: The first time I came to Winnipeg, I flew in and all these guys hadn’t arrived yet. I didn’t even have my board because they lost my luggage. So, I’m just walking around the park and I hear some kid yelling at me and I’m like “WTF”. When I get closer to him, I realize he’s yelling: “GOOO HOME, GIRL SUCKS! GO BACK TO CALIFORNIA!” I just put my head down and walked out of the park.

Chris: I remember that too.

Malto: yeah, you were like “I’mma beat him up!”

[laughs]

Mikey: We were telling him how awesome and how fun it was here, and within ten seconds someone’s yelling at him to go home. What about the hundred kids who ask why you’re not skating, on the daily?

Malto: yeah, every single kid at the camp will ask me every single day, why I’m not skating. I’ll tell them I dislocated my elbow and they’re like, ‘Oh, really? Okay’. Sure enough, the next day: “hey Sean, uh, why aren’t you skating?” I’m like, “Uh, The same reason I gave you yesterday”. [laughs]

BW!: Best trick from the kids?

Mikey: Some kid switch big spin heeled the three.

Torgeson: No, no--that was regular.

Mikey: That was regular? Like, he’s goofy? Naah.

Torgeson: He threw it down perfectly- I swear it was regular! I swear!

Mikey: [laughing now] Either way, it was sick.

BW: Have you skated any street since you’ve been here?

Mikey: Pfft. [laughs] Of the four years we’ve been out here, we’ve maybe skated an hour of street.

Malto: Hey- last summer when I was here, I had 2 photos.

Mikey: But that wasn’t during skate camp.

Malto: Well…during the 4star demo, yeah.

Genico: ‘cuz our ground is too rough for you. It’s not California out here.

Mikey: Nah, city hall is good. It’s marble. We’ve just never skated it.

BW!: So the Etnies skate and create; so good! What was that like?

Malto: Well, I mean, we could all say it was super fun but—I don’t know, it was weird. you have to spend every day, all day, inside a warehouse for eight days straight.

Torgeson: you’re not exactly in the middle of nowhere but it’s in a suburban town. you’re staying in some hotel, right down the street from some industrial park, where the warehouse is. There’s no where to go.

BW!: So what do you do?

Malto: Not a lot.

Mikey: And there’s a lot of down time.

Torgerson: Just sit there.

Malto: But, I mean, there were unlimited beers so that was super cool, but harsh at the same time.

BW!: Did you have a lot of input on the project?

Malto: yeah, they asked us what we wanted to skate. I mean, we all kinda helped build it—there were a lot of people who worked hard.

[The Waitress comes bearing beer] So, what are you guys doing here?

Mikey: Like, right now?

Waitress: Well, like why are you in Canada?

Mikey: Well we’re in a band …

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[Laughs all around]

Waitress: A band? Like a rock band?

Mikey: yeeeah, it’s more like half ‘n half.

Waitress: Oh, okay.

Mikey: This is our front man.[He points to Chris]. He raps.

[More laughing]

Waitress: Are you guys making this up?

Mikey: Nooooo.

Waitress: Do you guys think I’m some gullible Canadian here?

Mikey: Everybody seems to have that impression, so we just expect jokes.

Waitress: Oh okay.

Mikey: So, we’re in this band and its rap, but we play music too--

[The Waitress cuts in] - I don’t believe you.

Mikey: What! Why?

Waitress: Because they’re all laughing.

Mikey: Because it’s a funny idea.

Genico: We’re laughing because it’s the worst band we’ve ever heard, that’s why.

Waitress: Okay, you guys are probably just hunting or something…

[everyone is laughing now]

Genico: yeah, we’re hunting…we’ve got the plaid shirts on.

Mikey: No, check it out--he’s the drummer (Bledsoe), and he’s the bassist (Torgeson).

[Laughs]

Waitress: Are you snapping pictures of me?

Seburn: No… [he was snapping pictures of her]

Mikey: What do you think he is (points to Malto)?

Waitress: Maybe the tambourine guy?

[More laughs]

Genico: - yeah, and I’m their manager.

Waitress: you guys are such bullshitters.

Mikey: Look what we’re doing right now! We’re doing an interview. For a magazine.

Waitress: There’s no way that’s true..

[more laughs]

Mikey: Okay. Do you wanna know for real? For real…bowling.

Waitress: Bowling. I can see that.

Mikey: Bowling.

Genico: Bowling champs right here.

Waitress: That’s more like it [laughs and leaves].

[more laughs]

Mikey: you like that?

Bledsoe: Bowling?

To see the entire interview visit www.bigwoopmagazine.blogspot.com

WHEn I GET CLOSER TO HIM, I REALIZE HE’S yELLInG: “GOOO HOME, GIRL SUCKS! GO BACK TO CALIFORnIA!” I JUST PUT My HEAD DOWn AnD WALKED OUT OF THE PARK.”

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(left) CHRIS ANDERSON_BLUNT TO FAKIEMcGuire photo

(above) MIKEy TAyLOR_NOSEBLUNTMcGuire photo

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PHOTO_FEATURE

JOE MCDOnALD_nOLLIE 180Seburn photo

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JARED ARnASOn_InDy SHIFTynikkel photo

KEVIn FREISEn_FS FLIPneufeld photo

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COLIn LAMBERT_BS LIPSLIDEneufeld photo

PHOTO_FEATURE

WORDS By JUSTIN SCHAFER PHOTOS DAvID SEBURN

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Comeback kid is the heart of Winnipeg hardcore. What started out as a side project, has, 8 years later, become one of the biggest names in the scene today. With four major albums and multiple world tours under their belts, it’s nice to see a successful band that hasn’t let it go to their heads. While the boys were back in town to play the Skate 4 Cancer show, I caught up with founding guitarist Jeremy Hiebert.

When is the next album due out and what can we expect?

We’re shooting for 2010 sometime. Still looking for a producer and where we wanna record, but shooting for summer. What to expect? If you’re familiar with our records, you’ll notice they’re all in the same vein but very different from each other. We don’t really sit down and say, ‘we need a record that sounds like this’; we just have riffs and ideas and work with them. And if they work they work and if they don’t, they don’t. It’ll still be a CBK album with influences from pop to metal to punk to everything in-between and beyond.

With Andrew in Sights and Sounds you probably have a little more downtime. Is there a Jeremy side project kicking around?

I’ve always wanted to do other things, but I’m also well aware of how hard it is to put a band together these days. I also like having a vision for a project, so you can immediately limit the pool of people you can work with. I’m a little more political, so, if I was to do another band, I’d like us to be on the same page politically, morally or ethically just ‘cuz I also find a lot of meaning in that when it’s coupled with music. So yeah, I hope to someday put something together. On my laptop, I’m always recording on garage band and putting all my ideas on there so, there’s lot of material to work with.

Growing up in Winnipeg, what was the hardcore scene like and who did you go see?

Well I actually didn’t grow up in Winnipeg. I was born in Portage la

Prairie. My parents moved a lot so we’ve lived in rural Manitoba, Saskatchewan and even Central America--in Belize for two years. So, I never really set down roots in any scene or place and I moved here at 18 with no knowledge of any local scene. And it took me awhile to find a group of people I felt I connected with, in hardcore terms. Back then, there was no internet. I didn’t get an email ‘til 8 years ago. So, in ‘94 when I moved here, I remember bands like The Kittens, Malefaction, Hard Boiled, and Into Fadda; just some of the older punk rock and metal bands.

you’ve had a lot of success. you’re still on Winnipeg’s Smallman (Records) and they’re still managing you. Can you tell me what it means to be signed with them and what they’ve done for CBK?

The biggest advantage of being with a record label and management company that’s a lot smaller than most bands on the same level as us, is, that

we will get a lot more help when we really need it. Especially on the road. Whereas, when you’re a small band, working with this huge major label, you’re last in line when crisis hits. And it’s easier to connect with people when you’re on a smaller level; [it’s easier] for them to see your vision and what you want to do with music. I mean, we want all the success in the world but we don’t want to sell out on whatever level—I think other labels or management want you too. Money and success aren’t everything. you want to have fun while you’re doing it. We wanna tour with bands we wanna tour with, and, we wanna put out records that we like. Smallman is definitely much easier to work with and it’s nice to have them at home. Its one thing to talk on the phone but, it’s another thing to bike 10 minutes and be right at the office to talk about stuff.

When you come back to play a show in Winnipeg, is it still special or has it begun to feel like that same old Garrick show every time?

Oh, it’s starting to feel that way now so it’s like, we definitely don’t wanna play there for awhile. I don’t know how many times we’ve done it, but we’ve done bigger shows and tours too- at the MTS or convention centre and its fun for what it is, but, there is also something about doing things on another level. Like this; it raises awareness for something important. It’s a free show so everyone who can’t afford it can come now, and it’s a different setting—outdoors. It’s fun to try something new. And tomorrow we’re doing a small show in a small room because we miss doing that at home.

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What’s the grossest thing you’ve eaten on tour?

Well I’m vegan now so I’m not going to be gnawing on any weird animal parts like I used to. But, back in 2002- this was actually with Figure Four- we were in Brazil and it was our first international tour and this guy tattooed us. We had a couple days off and he was like, “me and you hardcore brother I tattoo you”. He was this big, strong, really intense guy so we were like, “yup. you’re gonna tattoo us- that’s cool.” We went to his house afterwards, and him and the wife, they made us some food. I was chewing on this one piece, and I mentioned the texture was kinda weird and he’s like, “yeah, that’s the pigs ear. ” That freaked me out.

Any pranks or stories off the road?

Well, I’m not a very good storyteller, but I remember this one time- I pulled a good one Andrew and our roadie. I was sleeping in the van, on the backbench, and we were parked at the venue. I was tired ‘cuz I probably drove all night and they took the van to go get some food. They had no idea I was in there. It just started moving and I was like, ‘uh, whatever, I’ll just stay in here.’ So, they stopped and got food and I thought I’d pull a fast one on them. I just got behind the wheel and started driving away. Andrew comes out just running across the road, ‘cuz he thought the van was getting stolen. I was just gonna drive around the block to freak them out a bit—and yeah, that’s the best prank I got at this point.

As the long-standing driver in the band, is there an 18-wheeler career somewhere down the road?

Funny, I was actually thinking about that the other day. Everyone is always asking like, ‘what are you gonna do after this?’ And, you know, I’m quite content doing what I do. I live day to day and don’t really have any plans, but I could see myself being that guy who drives bands around. I like just sitting behind the wheel and passing time listening to talk radio or whatever. I don’t think I’ll do it, but I won’t rule it out.

Last words?

It’s good to finally play a different show in Winnipeg. We lucked out with a beautiful day, so I’m stoked.

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