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| The Stanfields Photo by Scott Blackburn |
September 12, 2012 – Very few things are as exciting as finding something new you love. Much like archeologists that dig to find hidden treasures, we here at T-Mak World really enjoy trying to find new bands that we love. Once we find such bands, we approach our favourites to request interviews for our Emerging Artist Spotlight series. Today we set our focus on a band from Halifax named The Stanfields. All bands we talked to are asked similar questions to each other so we can get to know them better. The description on The Stanfields’ website reads:
Everyone has a story to tell about The Stanfields – if you don’t, give it time. Inciting mosh pits and still making Mom proud, The Stanfields attract fans of all classes and creeds with their rhythm-fueled hard rock laced with traditional roots sounds. There are no glamorous motives – just five working class Canadians with an honest desire to entertain. With the help of iconic producer Mike Fraser (AC/DC, Metallica, Aerosmith) The Stanfields better capture the intensity of their riotous live show on Death & Taxes (coming September 18) with harder, faster and full-on thunderous waves of rhythm and roaring harmonies behind menacing leads. “We’ve grown to be louder, faster versions of ourselves. Many thousands of road and air miles, and all the trappings therein, tend to have that kind of effect on a band like ours,” Jon explains. “Where Vanguard is all over the place stylistically, Death & Taxes is more focused on our rock and roll influences.” And that’s where The Stanfields’ culture meets their simple desire to entertain – the stuff stories are made of.
Here is what they had to say to us:
1. Hey, thanks for taking the time out to talk to us. Let’s start off with the obligatory introductions. Who’s in the band and what instrument does everyone rock?
THE STANFIELDS:
Jon Landry – vocals, guitar, wooden clog technician
Jason Wright – bouzouki, vocals, butt double
Jason MacIsaac – guitar, vocals, hero biscuit
Craig Eugene Harris – bass, vocals, scientific historian
Mark Murphy – drums, historic scientician
Jason Wright – bouzouki, vocals, butt double
Jason MacIsaac – guitar, vocals, hero biscuit
Craig Eugene Harris – bass, vocals, scientific historian
Mark Murphy – drums, historic scientician
2. How about the history of the band, when did you get started and how did it happen?
THE STANFIELDS: Basically, the five of us would gather on weekends for acoustic jams in my (Ed. Note – Jon Landry is answering) apartment. We were having so much fun doing it that we decided to plug it in and take it on the road. We haven’t really looked back. We are really excited to get on the road and bring our new album, Death & Taxes to the people. Full steam ahead.
3. Who are some of your musical influences?
THE STANFIELDS: ACDC, Planxty, John Prine, Bruce Springsteen, our families and friends.
4. So based on the above how would you describe your music to someone that has never heard it?
THE STANFIELDS: People throw around the term Roots/Rock a lot, but for us I prefer Rock/Roots. We aren’t some plunky little pub band from the east coast, at least not in our minds. It’s fairly robust music, danceable at times, loud, fast, and honest if nothing else.
5. Why should a music fan come and see your show instead of all the other choices available to them on any given night?
THE STANFIELDS: Tough question. It’s not a competition, but if one enjoys rock and roll, hijinks, blood and hair, then they should give us a try
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6. What is your favorite single line of lyrics the band has written and why?
THE STANFIELDS:
I’m not sure. They are all equally mind-blowingly brilliant. Haha. I really don’t know. They are all important parts of a story.
7. What does the rest of 2012 and 2013 hold for you?
THE STANFIELDS: Touring, eating crappy gas station hotdogs, crashing on people’s floor, writing music with the boys, touring, and probably more touring after that haha.
8. Imagine that you were asked to be the opener for any band’s world tour (both current and historical). Which band and tour would be your dream opening gig?
THE STANFIELDS: It’s a tossup between ACDC and Springsteen. At the moment, I would say Springsteen. I’m in a wholesome mood these days.
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| The Stanfields |
9. What is the future of the music industry? With the concept of the album and physical CDs facing extinction, how will we be consuming music in 10 years? Are the economics feasible for emerging artists?
THE STANFIELDS: There will be biological/robotic hybrid overlords who will draw a royalty every time you dare whistle a tune. Kids will be sued for singing happy birthday at Chuckie Cheese and the auto-tuner will reign supreme. But that is at least 30 years away, well most of that anyways. In the meantime, I think that music will return to a singles-driven market, rather than revolving around albums. I think this presents a great opportunity for bands to be constantly engaged with their fans, rather than dropping off the map for a certain period of time after an album cycle.
10. Where can people get your music/CD, is it being sold anywhere?
THE STANFIELDS: It will be available wherever fine and mediocre records are sold!
11. At the end of 2011 we did our picks for top 10 albums of 2011. What album do you think we should include in our top 10 albums of 2012 article?
THE STANFIELDS: Springsteen’s Wrecking Ball BETTER be on there. The Stanfields – Death and Taxes (the bribe is in the mail ;-)
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| The Stanfields |
12. Any closing remarks for our readers?
THE STANFIELDS: Here is a toast to another thousand years of good, hard rocking. Cheers!
Thanks so much to The Stanfields. We hope that you can see them live during their cross-Canada tour this fall!
The Stanfields – Canadian Tour Dates:
(* = w/ Gloryhound)
September 14 – Victoria, BC @ Victoria Events Centre (Rifflandia)
September 15 – Victoria, BC @ Royal Athletic Park Side Stage (Rifflandia)
September 15 – Vancouver, BC @ The Shark Club
September 18 – Halifax, NS @ Seahorse Tavern (CD release show)
September 29 – Shearwater, NS @ Sea King Club
October 6 – Truro, NS @ Split Crow
October 10 – Ottawa, ON @ Zaphod Beeblebrox*
October 12 – Toronto, ON @ El Mocambo*
October 15 – Dauphin, MB @ Watson Arts Centre*
October 16 – Saskatoon, SK @ Amigos Cantina*
October 17 – Calgary, AB @ The Gateway*
October 18 – Edmonton, AB @ Pawn Shop*
October 19 – Red Deer, AB @ The Vat Pub*
October 24 – Vancouver, BC @ Venue Nightclub*
October 25 – Nanaimo, BC @ The Cambie Pub*
October 26 – Victoria, BC @ Lucky Bar*
October 29 – Banff, AB @ The Devil’s Gap*
October 30 – Regina, SK @ The Exchange*
October 31 – Winnipeg, MB @ The Zoo*
November 1 – Thunder Bay, ON @ Black Pirates Pub*
November 2 – Sault Ste Marie, ON @ Lop Lops*
November 3 – St. Catharines, ON @ The Mansion House*
November 4 – Peterborough, ON @ Red Dog*
November 5 – Hamilton, ON @ Casbah*
November 6 – Guelph, ON @ e-Bar*
November 8 – Montreal, QC @ Underworld*
November 10 – Liverpool, NS @ White Point (Nova Scotia Music Week)
November 16 – New Glasgow, NS @ New Glasgow Theatre
November 23 – Yarmouth, NS @ Red Knight
The band’s website is www.thestanfields.ca and as you would expect they are on twitter.com/thestanfields and http://www.facebook.com/thestanfields. In the meantime check out their video below from YouTube.
