Thunderbird Interview Hell (questions by Evan Symons)Lungbutter from Stratford Ontario: Pictures
Who are you? (names, instrument of 4/4 destruction, hairstyle, choice of facial hair)
Lennie Haggerty ? Drums
Nick Kuepfer ? Guitar/Vocals
Colin Fisher ? Guitar/sax
Tim Nicholls ? BassWe’re crazy! hair growing everywhere! manwhores apparently
Tell us some of the highlights of your tour so far.
When our van broke down for the first time we thought we’d have to abandon the van and the tour because the mechanic at Slims Auto in Marathon ON tried to convince us that we needed $600 to $800 to fix it. A second opinion suggested we get a $4.00 bottle of gas line anti-freeze which fixed it.
Nick from Lungbutter books shows in Stratford Ontario. Name and described some of your favourite bands who you’ve booked.
Da Bloody Gashes, The First Day, Slight Return, Two Minute Miracles, Gaffer, Mach Tiver, A few of the improv shows with Colin Fisher (of Lungbutter) and a few other guys from Toronto, Evan Symons, Projecktors, Paperbacks, Joel and The A Minus, Cities To Drown In…pretty much every band that’s booked I really like because there’s no point in booking something you don’t.
What percentage of your set is improvised and how could an audience tell?
It varies from show to show. The improv is just as tight as some of the composed material.
Are all members of math rock bands good at algebra?
We suck at math (and direction) and to set things straight, we’re 401 core! 2+2 is 4; 2+2 is 4; 2+2 is 4; 2+2 is 4.
What do people do for work in Stratford when Shakespeare season is over?
We starve but drink more and have children.
Are bands from southern Ontario spoiled compared to the rest of Canada given the shorter distances between shows? Where would Lungbutter commonly play outside of Stratford? Who might you play with?
We play around Ontario a fair bit as well as neighbouring province Quebec. Montreal has a good scene. The shorter distances between cities don’t matter because few cities have good scenes and places to play. We play with punk/hardcore bands, rock bands, improv bands and many others. We’ve driven too much this tour, that’s for sure.
How many practices does it take for Lungbutter to get a song down?
Three or four usually depending, of course, if everyone is present. They tend to work themselves out pretty quick.
Close friends of yours passed away shortly before you left on tour. At a show in mid-September of 2001, one of them gave away an "Osama Bin Laden Is My Hero" Tee-shirt. Please take this opportunity to eulogize your friends and explain how it has affected your tour.
When something like that happens within a group of friends, it really hits home. It definitely brought out a lot of feelings from everyone. Not just us, everyone. We brought those feelings with us. We brought them with us. This tour is for them, and it’s given us direction. We miss them and I think I speak for everyone who knew them when I say "Stay strong, stay together, and try and remember!" We miss you Barry and Lubby.
Ask yourself a question a question and either stretch the truth about the answer or lie outright.
What music has influenced Lungbutter and how has your music changed? Drive Like Jehu, Polvo, Sonic Youth, Fugazi, AC-DC, Rush, John Zorn, Captain Beefheart, Joe Morris, Massacre, Erectus Monotone, Flaming Lips, Mr. Bungle, Archie Shepp, Nake City, etc. The music has grown from its hardcore roots to incorporate even more complexity and more improvised ideas.
Discography…
Bizwip CD ? Red Elephant Records ? 1998
Donk EP ? Red Elephant Records ? 2001
Dr. Rush’s Tranquilizer ? 2002Please list website and contact info including email address.
www.geocities.com/sunsetstrip/vine/4872
www.mp3.com/lungbuttered
lungbut@hotmail.com
Nick: (519) 272-1604 Colin: (519) 273-1919
Tim: (519) 273-7475 Lennie (519) 273-0437
