Three grand might sound like a lot to splash on a night out at The Wall (這牆) - which is roughly how much it will cost if you see Broken Social Scene on Tuesday and consume two drinks in the process - but think about it this way: pretty much every notable Canadian indie band has members in this sprawling 20-musician collective, or, if not, then they are probably somehow closely related to it. Another way of saying this is that Broken Social Scene, whether as the collective itself or through the side projects and solo acts of members such as Emily Haines and Leslie Feist, can claim responsibility for some of the best indie-music records of recent years.
The group that spearheaded the Canadian invasion of the US indie charts has a sound that's as diverse as the number of its components: catchy pop tunes and homages to Pavement; groovy semi-falsettos and jazzy crescendos; psychedelia, funk, post-rock and blues; strings and horns in full effect; and a 10-minute opus called It's All Gonna Break described in the liner notes to the Juno Award-winning album, You Forgot It in People, as "Bob Seger on acid."
Unfortunately, the Wu Tang Clan of indie-rock does not tour with its full complement of musicians. Only six - Kevin Drew, Brendan Canning, Justin Peroff, Andrew Whiteman, Charles Spearin, Sam Goldberg - are making the trip to Taipei. Then again, that's probably about as many as will fit on stage at The Wall.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF ARTS AND CRAFTS
Broken Social Scene has won four Juno awards - Canada's equivalent of a Brit Award - including twice in the category of Alternative Album of the Year. Tour manager David Schein answered a few questions submitted by e-mail earlier this week.
Taipei Times: I heard last year that Broken Social Scene was one of the better-selling groups at White Wabbit Orange, the indie record store run by the people who are bringing you to Taipei. Why do you think your music has been relatively well-received in Taiwan?
David Schein : Since I've never been to Taipei it would be very difficult to answer this. Possibly because our sound cannot be confined or defined to merely a North American audience.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF ARTS AND CRAFTS
TT: Being such a large group and having members with other bands and solo projects, how have you been able to cope with the demands of becoming an international touring band?
DS: Fortunately we have been touring with Stars and Feist [two indie-pop groups related to Broken Social Scene] as of late so we have been borrowing from their bands. Otherwise, we just do our best to put together a good lineup for ourselves and the shows.
TT: Tell me about what your Taipei show will be like. Which albums will you draw your set list from?
DS: We'll play a little from [You Forgot It in People, which won the 2003 Alternative Album of the Year Juno Award] and [our] self-titled record [Broken Social Scene, winner of the 2006 Alternative Album of the Year Juno Award] as well as Spirit If [the 2007 album by side project Broken Social Scene Presents Kevin Drew] and some new tunes.
TT: Not everyone associated with Broken Social Scene tours with the band. How do you adapt your music for live performances?
DS: We are like chameleons.
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