We may not like hockey as much as our friends north of the border, but a universal love for rock n’ roll renders borders and lines meaningless.
Canada has been sharing Vancouver’s Theory of a Deadman with us since 2002. The band’s latest offering, Scars and Souvenirs has produced major airplay for first single “So Happy.” Guitarist Dave Brenner took time following a sound check in Hattiesburg, Miss. to talk about the new record, blurring country and city lines and even a bit about the NHL playoffs.
He said expectations for the third album were more about fun and stepping outside traditional Theory boundaries, rather than just trying to meet deadlines and succumbing to common recording stresses.
“As far as our expectations, we wanted to enjoy ourselves a little bit while we were doing this record and try to get away from the pressure,” said Brenner. “We had a good time recording. We tried to think outside the box and not really just close ourselves up to do what Theory of a Deadman would do, just play whatever felt good.
“We ended up recording quite a number a songs, 18 or so, narrowed it down to 13 tracks for the record. We’re really proud of the record.”
Besides “So Happy,” the album features tracks such as the heavy “By the Way” featuring Chris Daughtry, “Hate My Life,” a slow starting, then up tempo ballad of life’s pressures, and “Little Smirk,” a tale of sticking it to a cheating significant other.
“Obviously, the first single, So Happy, has done tremendously well for us, better than any other single has on our past, so we’re feeling pretty good right now,” Brenner said.
TOAD slows it down a couple of times as well, most notably on “Wait for Me,” which speaks of missing family back home.
“So Happy” is in heavy rotation on Sirius Satellite’s Octane 20, but Brenner says traditional radio still has its place. In fact, maybe a better place.
“I think satellite radio is kind of cool in what it is,” he said. “I kind of feel like I like the individual stations in every town and what they bring to each town in a way. It gives you a better idea of where people are digging your stuff. We’ve always had real good followings in certain markets and we could always follow that. I’m for everything man. I just want people to be able to hear the music.”
Recording this record wasn’t only less pressurized. Brenner said it seemed easier.
“I think it’s gotten a bit easier for us in the fact that I think we’ve become better musicians, one,” he said. “I think we’ve become better songwriters too, which I think are two crucial things to recording records.
“We knew what to expect. We knew how to prepare ourselves. When we got into the studio, everything was really happening fluidly and everything went nice.”
One difference in how audiences are introduced to new bands in Canada and the US are Canada’s can-con laws (Canadian Content).
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission requires radio and television broadcasters, including cable and satellite, to air a certain percentage of content at least partly written, produced, presented or otherwise contributed to by persons from Canada.
“I think that really helps Canadian bands,” Brenner said. “I think that’s one of the reasons we’ve done really well in Canada.”
Both of TOAD’s previous two records (2002’s ST and 2005’s gasoline) went platinum there.
“People always wonder if it’d different from one city or one country to the next, but as long as everybody is just there for rock n’ roll, they’re the same,” Brenner said. “People that love the rock n’ roll down here in Mississippi, they’re different culturally, but they’re the same as people that love rock n’ roll up in Vancouver.”
With plenty of free time on the bus from city to city, Brenner and the boys do make time for video games and blowing time, but don’t expect Brenner to let TV and DVD distract him from his unique opportunites.
“I just recently got into photography,” he said. “One of the reasons I wanted to do that is because I feel like I’ve got a great opportunity to go around to all of these different beautiful cities and states in America and Canada and hopefully outside of America as well.
“I think it’s a good excuse to get me off the bus and away from the video games and away from the TV and try to enjoy some of the sights of these places. We do so much traveling and I just don’t feel like I’ve really experienced enough of the history of a lot of different places. There’s so much cool history in this country and I just want to go experience it.”
There’s still time for the TV though.
“We’re definitely big sports fans. Right now we’re keeping an eye on the NHL playoffs,” he said.
With the home favorite Canucks out of the playoff picture this season, cheering options are a little more open.
“Right now we’re kind of rooting for a couple different teams,” Brenner said. “I’m rooting for Pittsburgh and kind of rooting for Montreal cause I’d like to see one Canadian team get to the final, but it’s sort of tough to decide.”
Upcoming Dates:
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5/3/2008
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Cattle Annie’s - Lynchburg, VA
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5/4/2008
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Ladson Fairgrounds - Charleston, SC
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5/7/2008
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House Of Blues - N. Myrtle Beach, SC
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5/8/2008
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Germain Arena - Estro, FL
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5/9/2008
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Jacksonville Equestrian Center - J’ville, FL
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Release:
