If you ask Canadian musicians to name a band they especially admire, the name you'll hear the most will be Guelph's Constantines. Bry Webb fronted the Constantines until the band decided to go their separate ways in 2010. After a break from music, Bry returned with some solo records.

I hung out with Bry Webb for a bit in Vancouver "friend band" Ladyhawk's tour van. The Constantines were back together for a reunion tour and we chatted about the end of that band, what got him back into music, and the Constantines reunion.

Why did the Constantines decide to call it a day? Who inspired Bry's return to music and his solo work? What's it like to write music on a dad's schedule? What embarrassing thing is Bry afraid his son will find out when he googles his dad? What bizarre career did his grandmother want Bry to try? How is the Constantines reunion tour going? Why is campus radio so important in the current media climate? What weird object do I find in Ladyhawk's tour van? You'll have to listen to find out!

Tracks played on the podcast edition of the show...

1) Constantines, Tournament of Hearts (2005) "Working Full-Time" (background)

2) Bry Webb, Free Will (2014) "Prove Me Wrong"

3) Bry Webb, Provider (2011) "Asa" (partial)

4) Bry Webb, Provider (2011) "Asa"

5) Bry Webb, Provider (2011) "Undertaker"

6) Constantines, Kensington Heights (2008) "Time Can Be Overcome"

7) Bry Webb, Free Will (2014) "AM Blues"

ALL songs CANCON

The power of one song can completely change a band's life. "Young Blood" was released back when most of the members of New Zealand indie electronic band, The Naked and Famous, were still living with their parents. Before they knew it, the band was touring all over the world and contemplating a move to either London or LA--so they could conquer the world.

I hung out with Alisa Xayalith and Aaron Short backstage at Rogers Arena. They were opening for radio rock supergroup Imagine Dragons--and you can hear the Imagine Dragons support crew finishing the Imagine Dragons soundcheck in the background. Alisa and Aaron were running on less than four hours sleep when we chatted and they were super nice to do this interview when they could have been resting before the show. I tried to make our time together fun, since I love what these guys do.

What's a quick way to tell New Zealanders from Australians? What 90s legend inspired the band's name? What was it like to leave New Zealand to grow the band's career? What's it like to do an arena show for the first time? When does inspiration hit? Which TNAF song nearly didn't make the first record?

What's the weirdest offer the band has received to license their music? Which member of the band do they describe as Sauron from Lord of the Rings? What's the weirdest object Alisa and Aaron have in their suitcases? Which TNAF song was inspired by the death of Alisa's mom? You'll have to listen to find out!

Tracks played on the radio edit of the show...

1) The Naked and Famous, In Rolling Waves (2013) "Hearts Like Ours"

2) The Naked and Famous, Passive Me, Aggressive You (2010) "Young Blood"

3) The Naked and Famous, Passive Me, Aggressive You (2010) "Punching In A Dream"

4) The Naked and Famous, In Rolling Waves (2013) "I Kill Giants"

NO songs CANCON

I hung out with both members of electronic dream pop band AQUILO, Ben Fletcher and Tom Higham, backstage at the Commodore Ballroom right after they walked off stage. They were opening for their friend UK singer-songwriter electronic artist Låpsley. (In fact you can hear Låpsley in the background backstage warming up her singing voice while we chat.) Generally I don't like to do interviews after the band's set because the band is distracted by many other more fun things to do like beer. But Ben and Tom were game to try an interview and half the fun of this hang sesh is all of the crazy interruptions.

How do the band react when I pronounce the band's name wrong? How did Tom and Ben meet? What it was like to work with performer and record producer SOHN on some songs? What strange skills do Ben and Tom especially admire about each other? Which AQUILO song got Tom's Dire Straits fan Dad to take notice of his songwriting? What was it like traveling to Iceland to work with producer Ólafur Arnalds (the producer who did the music for the UK version of the Broadchurch television show)? Who interrupts our interview? How many interruptions are there? What are Ben and Tom like after a few beers? You'll have to listen to find out!

Tracks played on the radio edit of the show...

1) AQUILO, Aquilo EP (2014) "You There"

2) AQUILO, Silhouettes (2017) "Human"

3) AQUILO, Silhouettes (2017) "I Gave It All"

4) AQUILO, Silhouettes (2017) "Silhouette"

NO songs CANCON

I hung out with both members of electronic dream pop band AQUILO, Ben Fletcher and Tom Higham, backstage at the Commodore Ballroom right after they walked off stage. They were opening for their friend UK singer-songwriter electronic artist Låpsley. (In fact you can hear Låpsley in the background backstage warming up her singing voice while we chat.) Generally I don't like to do interviews after the band's set because the band is distracted by many other more fun things to do like beer. But Ben and Tom were game to try an interview and half the fun of this hang sesh is all of the crazy interruptions.

How do the band react when I pronounce the band's name wrong? How did Tom and Ben meet? What it was like to work with performer and record producer SOHN on some songs? What strange skills do Ben and Tom especially admire about each other? Which AQUILO song got Tom's Dire Straits fan Dad to take notice of his songwriting? What was it like traveling to Iceland to work with producer Ólafur Arnalds (the producer who did the music for the UK version of the Broadchurch television show)? Who interrupts our interview? How many interruptions are there? What are Ben and Tom like after a few beers? You'll have to listen to find out!

Tracks played on the podcast edition of the show...

1) AQUILO, Aquilo EP (2014) "You There"

2) AQUILO, Calling Me EP (2015) "Calling Me"

3) AQUILO, Silhouettes (2017) "Human"

4) AQUILO, Silhouettes (2017) "I Gave It All"

5) AQUILO, Human EP (2014) "Losing You"

6) AQUILO, Silhouettes (2017) "Silhouette"

NO songs CANCON

Clipping (often stylized as clipping.) is an experimental hip hop group from LA. The group is three people: rapper Daveed Diggs and producers William Hutson and Jonathan Snipes. (You may know Daveed from his Tony Award winning role of the Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson in the Broadway musical Hamilton.)

I was nervous (and sick as a dog with the flu) when I got to hang out with the folks in clipping. The trio were in town to support their 2016 album, Splendor & Misery on Sub Pop Records. The record is is an Afrofuturist, dystopian concept album that follows the sole survivor of a slave uprising on an interstellar cargo ship, and the onboard computer that falls in love with him. The band is always pushing boundaries. Their Sub Pop debut, CLPPNG, omitted “I” in lyrics to "vacate rap of its traditional center."

What do the band have to say to defend the "concept album"? Was it hard work creating authentic sci-fi "space sounds" for the Splendor & Misery? What is the group's take on using gendered pronouns in lyrics? Is using the word "bitch" in lyrics still problematic? Is it hard to collaborate when the music the band makes is so unique? Do they write for specific featured artists? How does the band work together? What weird joke does the band make about Canadians? You'll have to listen to find out!

Sadly all clipping.'s songs contain adult language, so I won't be able to release a radio edit. A shame, since these guys are doing some really interesting work.

Tracks played on the podcast edition of the show...

1) clipping. Wriggle EP (2016) "Shooter"

2) clipping. Splendor & Misery (2016) "The Breach"

3) clipping. Splendor & Misery (2016) "Air 'Em Out"

4) clipping. Splendor & Misery (2016) "Interlude 02 (Numbers)" (background)

5) clipping. Midcity (2013) "intro"

6) clipping. Wriggle EP (2016) "intro"

7) clipping. Splendor & Misery (2016) "A Better Place"

8) clipping. CLPPNG (2014) "Work Work" (featuring Cocc Pistol Cree)

9) clipping. CLPPNG (2014) "Summertime" (featuring King T) (background/partial)

10) clipping. CLPPNG (2014) "Summertime" (featuring King T)

11) clipping. Midcity (2013) "bout.that" (featuring Baseck)

NO songs CANCON

Mint Records fans were thrilled to tune into the Netflix and CW TV show Riverdale and spot a Tough Age poster above the bed of main character Archie Andrews. Vancouver's favorite indie pop band was now a part of that show's world of sex, murder and intrigue.

Although Tough Age started as a Vancouver band, the band recently reformed back east when founding members Jarrett and Penny moved to Toronto, adding old friend Jesse on drums. I hung out with the band in the van right before the last show of a west coast tour in their old hometown Vancouver.

What's it like to get your band merch on a big time TV show? Which Tough Age song does Archie need to hear the most? What are the band's crazy Riverdale fan theories? Who are the New Zealand band The Clean and why are Tough Age such big fans? What's it like to stand in the crowd before your set and hear people in the crowd talk smack about you? Which Tough Age song came from a cursed band? Will a mysterious stranger interrupt our interview? Which Tough Age song is about Jarrett's frustration with the Vancouver scene? What's the east coast versus west coast, Toronto versus Vancouver rivalry like when you've lived in both places? You'll have to listen to find out!

Both Jarratt and Penny work in a major Toronto comic book store so in the podcast edition of the show, we get to talk about comics!

Tracks played on the radio edit of the show...

1) Tough Age, Shame (2017) "Shame"

2) Tough Age, Shame (2017) "Unclean"

3) The Clean, Boodle Boodle Boodle (1981) "Point That Thing Somewhere Else" (background/snippet) **

4) Tough Age, Shame (2017) "Piquant Frieze"

5) Tough Age, Tough Age (2013) "Cocaine Vouchers"

6) Tough Age, Shame (2017) "Me In Glue"

ALL songs CANCON except**

Mint Records fans were thrilled to tune into the Netflix and CW TV show Riverdale and spot a Tough Age poster above the bed of main character Archie Andrews. Vancouver's favorite indie pop band was now a part of that show's world of sex, murder and intrigue.

Although Tough Age started as a Vancouver band, the band recently reformed back east when founding members Jarrett and Penny moved to Toronto, adding old friend Jesse on drums. I hung out with the band in the van right before the last show of a west coast tour in their old hometown Vancouver.

What's it like to get your band merch on a big time TV show? Which Tough Age song does Archie need to hear the most? What are the band's crazy Riverdale fan theories? Who are the New Zealand band The Clean and why are Tough Age such big fans? What's it like to stand in the crowd before your set and hear people in the crowd talk smack about you? Which Tough Age song came from a cursed band? Will a mysterious stranger interrupt our interview? Which Tough Age song is about Jarrett's frustration with the Vancouver scene? What's the east coast versus west coast, Toronto versus Vancouver rivalry like when you've lived in both places? Who is Jarrett's current comic book character crush, Storm or Jubilee? You'll have to listen to find out!

Both Jarratt and Penny work in a major Toronto comic book store so in the podcast edition of the show, we get to talk about comics!

Tracks played on the podcast edition of the show...

1) Tough Age, Shame (2017) "Shame"

2) Tough Age, Shame (2017) "Unclean"

3) The Clean, Boodle Boodle Boodle (1981) "Point That Thing Somewhere Else" (background/snippet) **

4) Tough Age, Shame (2017) "Piquant Frieze"

5) Tough Age, Tough Age (2013) "Cocaine Vouchers"

6) Tough Age, Tough Age (2013) "The Heart of Juliet Jones"

7) Tough Age, Shame (2017) "Me In Glue"

ALL songs CANCON except**

I chat with Vancouver's experimental sparkle noise pop duo, Mi'ens. Yes, I had exactly the same question as you. How the hell do you pronounce that band name and what is it all about?

Mi'ens is longtime Vancouver scenester Miss Kim (electric guitar and feedback loops) and Evan (unconventionally rhythmed drums). The band's late-2016 record, Challenger, charted very well on all the 2017 local campus radio year-end charts. I hung out with Kim and Evan from the band in their rehearsal space shortly before Challenger was released. (In the background, you can hear another band practicing upstairs.)

What is up with the name? How do you say Mi'ens? What many meanings does it have? What is math-rock? Is math-rock a derogatory term? Why is the Portland Porch Couch Fest poster so meaningful to Mi'ens? What was in the Craigslist ad that brought this duo together? Is a robot the band's unofficial third member? Would they ever take on a human third member? What does Neil Hamburger have to do with any of this? You'll have to listen to find out!

Tracks played on the radio edit of the show...

1) Mi'ens, experimentalsparklenoisepop (2014) "Sparklecore"

2) Mi'ens, experimentalsparklenoisepop (2014) "Pointillist Pilot"

3) Mi'ens, experimentalsparklenoisepop (2014) "Babe Vigoda"

4) Mi'ens, experimentalsparklenoisepop (2014) "Smitten"

ALL songs CANCON

Montreal's genre-defying SUUNS (pronounced SOONZ) recently announced a new album, Felt, with the first single, “Watch You, Watch Me.” I can't wait to hear the new music. If you forced me to define SUUNS, I'd say they make a mixture of indie, kraut, and shoegaze rock, but it's not easy to define them and that's what makes SUUNS special.

I hung out with Joseph Yarmush (guitar and bass) and Max Henry (bass) from the band the last time they were in Vancouver touring their fourth record, Hold/Still. We chatted in a busy alley behind The Rickshaw and while I set up, Joe had the cutest conversation about a double rainbow with his young son.

How does Joe experience music with his son? Which band member does not like Massive Attack? Which song from Hold/Still did SUUNS work on for over two years? Why are SUUNS songs constantly evolving? Which song off Hold/Still is actually a reworked old SUUNS song from the very first record? What was it like working with an outside producer, John Congleton--for the first time? What delicious meals do these guys cook each other for dinner? How does the band decide who gets to control the music player in the tour van? What are Joe and Max listening to right now? Who do they think is cool? You'll have to listen to find out!

Tracks played on the radio edit of the show...

1) SUUNS, Hold/Still (2016) "Paralyzer"

2) SUUNS, Hold/Still (2016) "Translate"

3) SUUNS, Images Du Futur (2013) "2020"

4) SUUNS, Hold/Still (2016) "Brainwash"

ALL songs CANCON

Montreal's genre-defying SUUNS (pronounced SOONZ) recently announced a new album, Felt, with the first single, “Watch You, Watch Me.” I can't wait to hear the new music. If you forced me to define SUUNS, I'd say they make a mixture of indie, kraut, and shoegaze rock, but it's not easy to define them and that's what makes SUUNS special.

I hung out with Joseph Yarmush (guitar and bass) and Max Henry (bass) from the band the last time they were in Vancouver touring their fourth record, Hold/Still. We chatted in a busy alley behind The Rickshaw and while I set up, Joe had the cutest conversation about a double rainbow with his young son.

How does Joe experience music with his son? Which band member does not like Massive Attack? Which song from Hold/Still did SUUNS work on for over two years? Why are SUUNS songs constantly evolving? Which song off Hold/Still is actually a reworked old SUUNS song from the very first record? What was it like working with an outside producer, John Congleton--for the first time? What delicious meals do these guys cook each other for dinner? How does the band decide who gets to control the music player in the tour van? What are Joe and Max listening to right now? Who do they think is cool? You'll have to listen to find out!

Tracks played on the podcast edition of the show...

1) SUUNS, Hold/Still (2016) "Paralyzer"

2) SUUNS, Hold/Still (2016) "Translate"

3) SUUNS, Images Du Futur (2013) "2020"

4) SUUNS, Hold/Still (2016) "Brainwash"

ALL songs CANCON