>>PREVIEW
BLOOD MERIDIAN
Thursday, September 14
Liberty Lounge (MRC)
Most people dread turning 30. Whether it’s the reminder that your teen years are more than a decade behind you, or the fact that you are now expected to act like an adult, it’s a much-feared milestone. In the music world, with hit-makers getting younger, you’d think age would have more of an impact. Blood Meridian’s Matt Camirand disagrees.
"I’m one of those people who is looking forward to getting old and getting a porch sometime out of the city and playing guitar on it, with my dog," he says. "I’m one step closer to that."
Don’t worry, the creative force behind Vancouver’s roots-rock powerhouse Blood Meridian has his fair share of youthful rock ’n’ roll stories. He clocked time as bassist for Vancouver glam-punks The Black Halos until 2001. As a member of the buzz-worthy Black Mountain, he spent last year rocking arenas when they scored an opening slot on the North American leg of Coldplay’s last tour. These days, though, it’s the laid-back twang of Blood Meridian that gets Camirand excited.
"(I’m lucky that I’m) working with people who are cool enough to realize that this is a project that is my heart and soul," he says. "The other people in the band don’t put any pressure on me to give more time to one or the other."
It’s a good thing, too. Camirand puts the pressure on himself. For the last seven years, with one band or another, he has been writing, recording, playing and touring the world. When Blood Meridian burst on the scene in 2004 with their Teenage USA release, We Almost Made it Home, it was a revelation for young hipsters and old folkies alike. The songs appealed to Vancouver’s black leather jacket crowd, but before long the band was sharing stages with heavyweights like The Sadies on the festival circuit. The strength of that album landed them an international distribution deal with V2. Released on Outside Records in Canada, Kick Up the Dust has the same flavour as their debut, but the songwriting and arrangements have gained an insightful maturity.
"The new record has more rock songs on it, which comes from a lot of live shows – touring," says Camirand. "Just gaining confidence."
He admits that when the band hit the studio, making We Almost Made it Home, Camirand was running the show. He penned the songs and oversaw the arrangements as the band he had assembled got their legs under them. For Kick Up the Dust, the band was a road-tested entity with each member contributing to the sound.
"I’m really happy with what everyone comes up with. More happy than with what I came up with for them on the first record," he says. "Everyone was happy when we were making this record."
Part of that stems from the recording process. A few tracks were recorded at the Hive Studios with up-and-comer Colin Stewart, but most of Kick Up the Dust was tracked by the band at a friend’s studio at Shawingan Lake. The isolation provided by the remote location only improved the album.
"There was no interruptions," he says. "There was nobody coming into the studio that we didn’t know. It was a really nice experience for just us five to spend some time together and make something.
"Nobody could leave early and go home when their parts were done…. We had to be there you know and contribute. As a result, a lot of times people would end up sitting around when their part was finished, but they would be listening…. People were a little bit more involved that way when there was nowhere else to go."
The result is stunning. From the slow build of the title track, to the shimmering keys on the epic "Let it Come Down" to the driving energy of "Work Hard, For What?" Kick Up the Dust is the sound of a whole band hitting their stride. Camirand says budgeting two weeks at Shawingan Lake gave them more than enough time to meet their deadline, and the easygoing attitude shows on the record. Barely into his 30s, Camirand has already learned an important lesson about making music.
"When you are young, you want your point made quicker and louder. It’s like screaming babies and children," he says. "You don’t know how to get your point across without slapping someone in the face. You can’t articulate yourself as well when you are younger.
"When I was in the Black Halos, I got tired of running around stage like a monkey, flying around. There comes a point where I’m going to try and write a better lyric instead and get people’s attention that way. Instead of hitting them over the head with my distorted guitar."
SHAKE YOUR HIPS
The Top Three albums by The Rolling Stones according to Blood Meridian’s Matt Camirand.
1. Sticky Fingers
2. Exile on Main Street
3. Beggar’s Banquet |
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