Plants and Animals [rank: 632] based on users subscribed

"Plants and Animals are a Canadian indie-rock band from Montreal, comprised of guitarist-vocalists Warren Spicer and Nic Basque, and drummer-vocalist Matthew Woodley. Plants and Animals' self-titled EP was released in 2004 via Ships at Night Records. In the fall of 2007, Plants and Animals released the four-song with/avec EP. Their full-length debut Parc Avenue was released on February 26, 2008 in Canada and on March 25, 2008 in the United States. The album features string parts by Sarah Neufeld of The Arcade Fire."

[reproduced or excerpted from the Wikipedia article "Plants And Animals" and its use is thus licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License]

Bandega Interview with Matthew Woodley of Plants and Animals (July 2008)

The poncho prophet and the mad scientist tangle with elves and faeries.

Q: How have your shows changed over the years? Has your perspective on performing live changed?
A: We used to be an all-instrumental band with lots of improvisation and our heads down. Now we get all sweaty and we sing and dance and stuff. Warren has turned into a poncho prophet, Nic a multi-instrumentalist/mad scientist and I've been inventing new, more exciting beats.

Q: Describe the most memorable live show you've played.
A: Last year we played at the Iceland Airwaves festival and some good folks from the northern part of the country invited us to play in a remote town called Akureyri. They flew us there, put us in a van and set us out on a full-day tour of the area around the town: volcanoes, geysers, various piles of steaming rocks, a couple hours in a hot spring, more steam piles, trolls, elves, faeries, stop for sandwiches, crazy mountains, glowing rivers. Then we're soundchecking and playing a show. It's in the local pub and the locals are out. The kids, the town crazies, the folkloric farmer people, all shapes and ages. It's us and Buck 65 and a couple groups of Icelandic rappers and that's what's happening tonight in Akureyri. They have this booze called Brenevin. The smoke machine is right next to Warren's face where he stands on stage and it keeps sputtering steam. Nic's playing tuba with Buck. Ayureyri. Pronounced "AH-ku-ray-ri." Holy.

Q: What venue do you consider to be your "home", where you feel most comfortable, with the crowd and the place itself?
A: The Divan Orange in Montreal. That means orange couch. We've been playing there for years, ironing it out. There are lots of great places to play in Montreal but nowhere that feels as family as that place. It's run by real good people, happy to be there, into music, unpretentious, wacky. So we've all made friends - Warren even worked there for a bit. The vibe's right at the Divan. People have fun.

Q: Describe the most enjoyable show you've ever experienced as a fan.
A: When I was a kid I went to see Zappacosta at the "Concert on the Hill" in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, where I grew up. Big outdoor show. I was old enough to go to the johnny-on-the-spots by myself (portable toilets, whatever they're called), so I did. The lineup was too long and I peed my pants. I tried to run to some trees to minimize the damage. Forget it. Soaked. I hid from my family until it got dark. I couldn't concentrate on Zappacosta. It was horrible. Oh shit I thought you said "memorable show" and I typed all this.

Q: How has Nic Basque's role as the band's official Quebecois representative influenced the band and its music? Is there an all-Quebecois-themed EP/LP in the band's future?
A: Well that would be crazy, wouldn't it? I'm sure Nic is secretly planning something like that. He's always talking about bouaîtes and gaz and propagandizing about Québécois celebrities and the like. I mean maybe we could do it. It would have to have all kinds of whirley doos and big band horns and stuff. Prog fans would like it and Pat Metheny would play on it. And it would be on time. In fact the record would be over before you even started listening to it because it would be so punctual. It would be hilarious and it would come in an extremely nice bouîte. That's Nic's influence.

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