TEENAGE FANCLUB at the Horseshoe (368 Queen West), Wednesday (September 22) and September 23, doors 8:30 pm. $25. RT, SS, HS, TM.
If you’re a musician who likes Teenage Fanclub, now would be the right time to move to Kitchener.
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Norman Blake of the cult Scottish power pop band relocated there with his family about eight months ago and is looking to collaborate.
“I’ve brought a lot of my recording equipment over,” he says, taking a break from scanning Craigslist for a pedal steel guitar. “I intend to set that up and then maybe work with some local guys to make a record. That’s something I’d like to do in the dark, winsome months.”
Before those arrive, the singer/songwriter will put out a record with his friend Euros Childs of the Welsh band Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci, under the name Jonny. And he’ll tour North America, Asia and Europe with the rest of the Fannies in support of their new release, Shadows (Merge), the group’s first since 2005’s grittier Man-Made.
Decidedly more soft rock than power pop, the subtly multi-layered album was recorded in England’s rural Norfolk with a more varied assortment of instruments than their last. The laid-back sound is a result of the studio’s pastoral atmosphere.
“The back door opened onto an orchard, which was pretty nice for a city boy like myself,” Blake says. “I’ve never experienced opening the back door, picking an apple and eating it. That was something else. I think they had a couple of pear trees, too, but don’t quote me on that.”
He concedes that Teenage Fanclub, who have been making music for 21 years, have mellowed somewhat in their middle age. Asked how his band circa 1989 would have felt about the 2010 version, he’s of two minds.
“Back then I remember thinking that someone who was 45 probably wouldn’t have much to offer. So if I’m being honest, I’d probably think that most people around the age of 20 or 21 won’t think our record has a lot to offer.
“Having said that, maybe if the young me had sat there and listened to it, I may have gotten some pleasure from it.”
Interview Clips
Norman Blake explains the difference between Teenage Fanclub’s new album, Shadows, and their last one, Man-Made
Nirvana was a huge supporter of the band. As for the recently-reunited Hole, Blake says that if they stopped in Kitchener, he’d probably check out the show
The musician explains why they changed their Toronto show’s venue from the Mod Club to the Horseshoe
Video Clip
The video for Fallin’, Teenage Fanclub’s 1993 collaboration with De La Soul, off the Judgment Night soundtrack:
Teenage Fanclub online
music@nowtoronto.com
