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In print | November 9, 2006

The New Pornographers, a Canadian supergroup and indie rock darlings, promise to put on an excellent show for this Friday’s Large-Scale Event. With catchy, upbeat pop tunes, the New Pornographers should get Swatties up and dancing. Phoenix reporter Madalyn Baldanzi got a chance to talk with Blaine Thunder, the group’s keyboard player.

MB: Are you excited to play a college show?

BT: Yeah, college shows are fun.

MB: How are they different from all-ages shows?

BT: Not that different, really. I just find that younger crowds are more enthusiastic. We played a college show a few months ago here in Vancouver. They had a beer tent. The whole crowd turned into one giant mosh pit/orgy. I was almost sorry I had to play that one. I’d rather be in the crowd.

MB: What songs are your favorites to play, that you wish you could be dancing around to in the crowd?

BT: Well, I don’t usually wish that. Only when there’s a mosh pit/orgy going on. But I’d have to say “Slow Descent.” I did jump into the crowd once in Madison. We covered “Cruel to be Kind” and there was some faux-dirty dancing going on in the front, so I jumped in the middle. The crowd went nuts.

MB: Excellent. Can Swarthmore expect some stage-diving?

BT: We shall see. You guys have to get it started. That’s a direct challenge.

MB: I know that some people are disappointed that Neko Case will not be joining you guys. With such a large band with so many diverse musical interests, how do you guys decide when to perform and who to perform with?

BT: We perform when we can. Usually, our schedule decides for us. It usually works out, especially now that we have Kathryn. She is sooo effin’ awesome.

MB: Would you guys ever consider coming to any Swat after-parties??

BT: Hell yeah. Often, though, these things don’t work out.

MB: Why not?

BT: Well, it’s kind of a classic thing that happens on the road. A fan will invite you to an awesome party or club after the show, and he usually gets lost, or the party’s over or the club is closed or it’s a bunch of sullen guys standing around with no booze. But when it does work out … LOOK OUT!!!

MB: Art Brut came to Haverford last year and apparently there was a pretty wild after-party. Maybe we can outdo that.

BT: Another challenge. Love it!

MB: What about partying in Philly? On your stops through Philly have you ever found anywhere you particularly like to party?

BT: Last time we played the Trocadero. It got pretty wild after the show. I have to say, though, the best after-party was in Portland. We were touring with Belle and Sebastian and we had a night off. Death Cab for Cutie was playing with Franz Ferdinand and our sound guy is good friends with Ben Gibbard. To make a long story short, we ended up at a late-night karaoke place and members of the New Pornographers, Belle and Sebastian, Death Cab and Franz Ferdinand all did karaoke. That made the gossip column of the Portland daily paper.

MB: What was it like touring with Belle and Sebastian?

BT: I’m trying to think of a word to express how great it was … there isn’t one. How about … perfect? I’ve loved their music for so many years, it was amazing to hang out with them every day for three weeks. Not to mention the fact we got to see their amazing set night after night.

MB: If you could theoretically tour with any band at any time in history, who would it be and where?

BT: Hmm … Mötley Crüe? Kidding! Off the top of my head, I’d pick Blondie. They were one of the greatest pop/rock bands of all time, song after amazing song. I would not stop dancing. And as long as we have a time machine, I’d like to go back and open for Mozart.

MB: How does if feel to continually be categorized as a “supergroup”?

BT: Originally, we never expected to be anything more than a local band. In the context of Vancouver, we were almost kind of sort of a supergroup in a purely local sense. That word must have got left somewhere in the press kit because every writer picked up on it once people outside Vancouver starting listening to us. But supergroup implies that everybody in the band is famous, which we weren’t.

MB: You are also a filmmaker and do the New Pornographers’ videos?

BT: Yes, I’ve done three. “Laws Have Changed,” “All for Swinging You Around” and “Use It.”

MB: What’s it like making the video for a song that you play?

BT: To be honest, I like our music. It’s embarrassing to say that but it’s logical. It’s much easier when you like the music you’re making the video for.

MB: One final question. If you could only listen to one band or artist for the rest of your life, who would it be?

BT: Johann Sebastian Bach. That was an easy one.

To hear an exclusive interview with The New Pornographers, tune into WSRN at 5 p.m. this Friday, before the show.

Madalyn can be reached at mbaldan@swarthmore.edu.

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