‘I’m not going to drive across the country. I’ve done it already, and it sucks’ — Bil Hetherington (sans Asian Tigers) ponders the benefits of school-bus based touring

For those concerned that the rise of Bil Hetherington and the Asian Tigers means the end of Calgary garage-rock mainstays The Neckers, put your fears aside. It’s not a matter of trading in sweaty rock for pretty pop music. In fact, for dual-bandleader Bil Hetherington, the two bands have always existed simultaneously. For years, Hetherington has been performing solo at various venues around Calgary. There was always that Neckers grittiness — the careless but confident manner with which Hetherington shoved his words into the microphone and the personable and instantly likable rapport he had with his audience. There was always something being honed, though — a more subdued, dare I say “prettier” sound was becoming evident.

“I’ve always kind of written whatever,” admits Hetherington. “Some of it would work for The Neckers and some of it wouldn’t. There are at least one or two songs on the album that I tried with The Neckers that didn’t really catch on — you know, where the guys [wouldn’t] say ‘hey let’s play that song again!’ Instead, those songs ended up coming over to the Asian Tigers side.”

Backing Hetherington is a motley group of friends and bandmates, including Neckers bassist Steve Elaschuk, drummer Ian Russell and guitarist Jon Hopkins from The Fake Cops and The Dudes. Dubbed the Asian Tigers, Hetherington admits the name is just “one of those things.”

“I was in an international political economy class,” says Hetherington. “The Asian Tigers are Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong and South Korea. In the early ’90s they all had really fast-growing economies, and then I think it was 1997 they had a big crash, and now they’re resurging and their economies have been recovering pretty well. So the analogy goes that they do really well and then there’s nothing and then really well again and then nothing again.”

The formation of Hetherington’s Asian Tigers was equally fitful, starting and stopping over the course of a couple of years. Still, it was relatively easy; especially for someone like Hetherington who is either friends with or has played with many members of Calgary’s music community. In truth, the short history of the Asian Tigers reads like a who’s who of the Calgary music scene.

Regardless of the history, though, Bil Hetherington and the Asian Tigers have a promising start in the shape of Through the Sunspots. For recording, Hetherington enlisted Lorrie Matheson, who not only produced the album but played on it as well — notably the vintage keys on the opening track “Anytime, Anywhere.” Others in on the fun include Scott Burman (formerly from The Cape May), Kyle Koenig, Lisa Lobsinger (known for her work in the Reverie Sound Revue, Broken Social Scene and Apostle of Hustle) and Glenn Alderson (of garage outfit The Dirty Dirty North).

Through the Sunspots runs the gamut of subject matter — love, politics and rock tours, all subjects that Hetherington is well versed in. Though, when asked about the possibility of the latter, he is cautious.

“I’m saying it’s too early to tell, because I don’t want people to write us off as just a Calgary band,” admits Hetherington with a laugh. “To be honest, I don’t have any plans to tour. If the rest of the guys said ‘we should go somewhere, we have a van,’ I’d totally be up for it. Even better, I’d be up for flying somewhere, but I’m not going to drive across the country. I’ve done it already, and it sucks.”

In the meantime, Calgary gets to be a little selfish and have Bil Hetherington and the Asian Tigers all to itself. 

CD review

Bil Hetherington and the Asian Tigers

Through the Sun Spots

Independent

The Neckers and Bil Hetherington’s latest project share more than a front man. There’s a propulsive back-end in both of the bands. Most importantly, there’s also the catchiness and melodic and lyrical symmetry that makes both so much fun to listen to.

The difference is, while Hetherington spends his time hollering and rocking throughout The Neckers’ catalogue, Through the Sun Spots is far sweeter. Listening to the opening track, “Anytime, Anywhere,” you start to suspect that romantic streak must’ve been there all along. There’s something sweetly nostalgic and mid-’90s-ish about the album — you’ll likely find yourself playing it on repeat in an attempt to recapture the feeling of being a teenager.