Meet The Band: Pow Wows

We're not entirely sure we can do a better job of describing the sound of Pow Wows than the keywords on their Bandcamp page: "get hip rock garage psychedelic punk rock surf Toronto". That kind of sums it up, the raw, distorted, underground sound of the band playing our Pussy Riot benefit show on Thursday night at The Ossington.

You can check them out and steam their whole album on Bandcamp here. And find all the info about our Pussy Riot benefit on Facebook here.

How do you describe your music to someone who hasn't heard you before?

Matt: I know of another, much more famous band that was once described as "Tribal Psychobilly Blues".. I think we're drawing a bit from that pool. In terms of our genealogy, I'd say we're deeply indebted to Howlin Wolf, James Williamson and his associates, and a whole host of other early rock-n-rollers that popularized what was once obscure American roots music. That's all quite nerdy, so I'll just say what I said to my dad: "We're kind of like a punked-up CCR".

Ryan: Twang, clang, kerrang, and various other blips, blaps and booms.

If you could play one venue you've never played before, what would it be?

Ryan: San Quentin State Prison... or Napa State Mental Hospital. Some state run mad house filled with convicts and lunatics. At least they would move around more than certain other audiences do...

Your all-time, all-star supergroup?

Ryan: The 1992-1993 Toronto Blue Jays. Catch the taste.

What's the worst album you own?

Matt: I've got this Jackie Davis record called Hi-Fi Hammond. Picked it up for a couple bucks. I'm into lots of organ jazz, but I don't know, that one is a bit of a snoozer. I think most albums have at least a few redeeming qualities — if nothing else they're at least worth a few bucks as trade-ins at the local record shop.

Ryan: Matt is right, trade in your bum records towards new favorites! I've got a mint copy of The Clash - Cut The Crap, but I actually don't mind a few of the tracks!

If you absolutely had to get a face tattoo of album art from one record, which record would you want to have on your face for the rest of your life?

Ryan: Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass - Whipped Cream and Other Delights... 

What’s your favorite solo ever on your favourite instrument ever?

Matt: Not my favourite instrument ever, but probably by my favourite musician ever: Miles Davis fucking killing the organ for the entire duration of "Rated X", from his Get Up With It LP. It's like the sound of some musically-based apocalypse. There are these killer moments where the rest of his band breaks for a couple beats and the organ just keeps blasting away.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrjFtbGKqFk

Ryan: Can I sub in a dance routine instead? Cool:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBb9hTyLjfM

If you could switch places with another musician in some type of "Freaky Friday" type incident, who would you want it to be?

Ryan: Buddy Holly, and I'd sit out that plane ride. Imagine what tunes he would have wrote if he was around even a little bit longer.

If you were going to be a roadie for one band, who would it be?

Matt: I've gotta say - Miles' 1970 "Cellar Door Band", or his Isle of Wight group.

Ryan: Maybe Beefheart and his Magic Band? Or some Joe Meek group like the Moontrekkers or The Tornados. The Cynics, lots of guitar and tequila!!

Meet The Band is a regular feature where we introduce you to bands we like. You can find all of the rest of them here.