BeatRoute Magazine B.C. print e-edition - May 2016

BLACK MOUNTAIN
psych rockers find levitation in a new challenge
Vancouver’s Black Mountain tread new ground on their fourth album, IV.
The occasional heckler doesn’t phase
Black Mountain singer/guitarist
Stephen McBean. Rather, he appreciates
the challenge. And if you aren’t a
fan of Black Mountain already then Mc-
Bean might be able convert you in the live
setting. A seasoned musician and touring
artist, McBean is also a self-described
introvert who’s still prone to “deer in the
NO SINNER
a regeneration of degenerates
photo: Magdalena Wosinska
headlights” moments on stage. The focused
task of winning over an audience member
is a thrilling opportunity to snap out of it.
“Sometimes there’s a weird energy when
someone yells something that can kind of
twist your psyche into like a healthy creative
wrestling match. I always play to people at
the very back of the room,” says McBean.
“Like maybe some dude with a shaved head
and long-sleeved mixed martial arts wrestling
shirt. He’s only there because like some
woman that he works with and wants to
have sex with is going. He’s by the bar doing
Jaeger shots, forcing some sort of energy
for him to turn around and notice the music,
that can be another fun way to play shows.”
Between heavy touring, the band’s two
days in Vancouver coincides with the marijuana
holiday 4/20. McBean is spending
it rambling – on foot and in conversation
– through the West End, past “Some bongs,
some bongos, and reggae on the street,”
towards a vaguely remembered Greek
restaurant on Denman street. Talk veers to
politics and nachos. By his account, funds
from government-controlled substance dispensation
should funnel into free munchies
so that stoners on the street could “dip into
some community nachos at your leisure.”
McBean asserts that freedom is a common
theme through Black Mountain’s music,
from 2005’s self-titled debut to this year’s
sprawling, synth-heavy fourth album IV,
released April 1 on Jagjaguwar. Maybe it’s
the five-year-long break between this year’s
release and the enthusiasm of reuniting to
make the album that makes it their most spacious-sounding
to date. The band (rounded
out by vocalist Amber Webbs, keyboardist
Jeremy Schmidt, and drummer Joshua Wells)
also has a new bass player, Colin Cowan.
Although Cowan didn’t record on IV, he
did complete his first European tour with
the band. Of the five musicians who auditioned
for the band, Cowan was the only one
McBean didn’t know. It was clear though that
their musical chemistry and personalities
gelled. “He’s a great musician [and] he’s really
good at being a freak, which is good. It takes
the pressure off of me,” McBean laughs.
Black Mountain has an extensive tour
ahead of them, through North America and
back to Europe. McBean has love for the
highs and lows of the road, and there’s no
mistaking his passion for it all. “Getting five
people in tune with each other and then
the audience, the electricity - that’s why
it’s so exciting. There’s so many variables,”
exclaims McBean. “You’re given the luxury
of reinterpreting the album every night.
Usually, if you’re a famous painter you paint
your masterpiece and then it’s placed in a
museum under a controlled viewing environment
at the right temperature and with
like a weird purple velvet rope around it.”
Surrendered to their whims and elements
beyond their control, Black Mountain’s varied
soundscape – including Webber’s melodic
almost operatic vocals and heavy guitar riffs
– are known to attract to a diverse crowd
from metal-head kids who wanna rock out
to music nerds interested in vintage gear.
It’s a wonder then that there’s anyone
out there left to be converted.
Black Mountain perform at the
Commodore Ballroom on May 21.
by Thalia Stopa
by Erin Jardine
In an industry of turbulence, Colleen Rennison
of No Sinner has found a balance
in picking her battles. After a significant
lineup change and negotiating a relationship
with Mascot Label Group, Rennison has
garnered tremendous support and momentum
with the impending release of No
Sinner’s second album, Old Habits Die Hard.
The original line up of No Sinner included
Parker Bossley (Bass), Eric Campbell
(guitar), and Ian Browne (Drums). “We were
really excited about writing and all three
of us were at this transitional stage in our
lives where we were looking for something
to put our passion into,” recalled Rennison.
The story of the album is a bittersweet one;
compromise is essential in any relationship,
business or otherwise. But the decision
to push back the release of Old Habits Die
Hard in favour of re-releasing No Sinner’s
debut album, Boo Hoo Hoo, in Europe was
one that caused changes for No Sinner.
“We recorded the album at a lot of different
studios over four or five years. We were
ready to release it when Mascot Label Group
approached us. When we joined Mascot they
wanted to re-release Boo Hoo Hoo in order
to capitalize off that. So everything received
a bit of a push back. We were excited about
the new material and wanted to release it
10 MUSIC
right away. The reason Ian, Eric, and I don’t
play together anymore is because of that:
that feeling of not being able to evolve.”
No Sinner’s lineup may not be the same,
but the legacy of the songs that were written
has Rennison looking to the future with
optimism. “The songs [Browne, Campell,
and Rennison] wrote together are fucking
killer. I appreciate the time and creative
power that the three of us brought to the
table. I’m proud to bring it to new players.
The guys I’m playing with now, the reason
why they said yes and the reason why
they’re with me now is because they’re
good songs. They’re excited about playing,
which makes me proud,” says Rennison.
With the trials of No Sinner weighing on
Rennison, she went on the road with her
motorcycle for over a year. Many details
of what went wrong were rehashed in her
mind endlessly, but there was something
good about taking a break and seeking a
change in scenery. “I was so anxious and
impatient for things to happen. It felt like
the harder I pushed the longer it took. I’m
just relaxed in my head now. It’s not so fire
and brimstone. What tainted our vibe was
that it became too serious. It became about
pleasing other people. The fun was taken
out of it. We were confused and misleading
With a brand new line up, Colleen Rennison and No Sinner are back with Old Habits Die Hard.
ourselves for the wrong reasons. Now I’m
just ready to play these great fucking songs.”
Now, the new No Sinner line up is comprised
of Daniel Sveinson (guitar), Nathan
Shubert (keys), Cole George (drums),
and Joe Lubinsky (bass), all veteran rock
musicians in their own right. At this stage,
a few short tours are set up – with every
ounce of their energy focused on promoting
Old Habits Die Hard. “We’ve only
been playing since October, hopefully
when we’re on the road and we have more
leisure time together, we’ll get into writing,”
comments Rennison. This is not a
comeback for No Sinner, but a regeneration
with due respect to the band’s past.
No Sinner performs at the Cobalt on May 20
May 2016