Rating: NNNNN
Sunshiny Scottish sweater-pop crew smile on the Phoenix (410 Sherbourne) Sunday (August 26). $21.50. 416-870-8000.
What Toronto restaurant do you like to eat at before a show?
I haven’t gotten to eat at a Toronto restaurant yet. Are they good? My culinary experiences thus far amount to hotel room service, a gin martini in the bath, several hurried but excellent veggie hot dogs from a very quiet man vending near the Horseshoe and some decidedly non-excellent-but-I-was-desperate take-away shovelled down backstage. Maybe this time will be different!
Most memorable border-crossing experience heading to Toronto?
Oh, I hate that bit. We’re there to play shows because people want us to, we have the correct paperwork and visas, and yet we’re faced with nothing but suspicion. What sticks in my mind is reading those creepy, sad posters for missing children that are up in the office.
What was your biggest misconception about Toronto?
That it wouldn’t be such a big, important, proper city.
What club do you hit when you want to party after the gig?
I don’t often feel like partying after gigs. Playing is a big high, and then I seem to come crashing down and can’t wait to disappear for a bath and some peace and quiet. We stay up most nights and have drinks together in somebody’s room. If we’re lucky enough to be in a hotel in an exciting district, we might go out into the night and seek a cocktail and some AC/DC.
What’s the wildest time you’ve ever had in Toronto?
Listening to the same song – Mendocino by the Essex Green – three times in a row and with increasing enthusiasm in the tour bus on the way from the gig to the venue. I understand that that isn’t really wild. Actually, there were some goings-on one night, but I am disappointingly discreet.
