BeatRoute Magazine [AB] print e-edition - [April 2018]

SHRAPNEL
BRANT BIORK
stoner-rock legend plays rare solo DJ set
Try telling any greasy, weed-stinking stoner rocker that the
one and only Brant Bjork will be spinning records on day
two of the upcoming 420 Music and Arts Festival at Calgary’s
Distortion Nightclub, well... they might just flip out of their
sleeveless denim jacket. Brant Bjork... A goddamn DJ???
ELECTRIC OWL
high-wattage bird of prey
Electric Owl fly at night ‘til they’re satisfied.
nocturnal animal taken as totem by Calgary’s
sons, Electric Owl will be spreading
A
its mighty desert rock wings and joining a
sultan’s parade of bands performing at the 420
Music and Arts Festival.
“I don’t often perform DJ sets,” says Bjork. “I
used to do it quite a bit back in the late ‘90s,
and then various times over the years. I’ve
always enjoyed it, and wanted to do more of.
So the offer to play the 420 Festival was very
easy to get excited about!”
As one of the most towering giants striding
forth from SoCal’s Palm Desert Scene, Brant
Bjork’s name would forever be nailed in the
pages of stoner rock history just for manhandling
the drums of the legendary Kyuss.
Brant’s post-Kyuss rock ‘n’roll odyssey shows
him refusing to rest on his early laurels; a
formidable multi-instrumentalist, he served
with brethren stoner-rock titans Fu Manchu
(drums), hardcore punkers LAB (guitar), fellow
ex-Kyuss alumnus Nick Olivieri’s Mondo
Generator (drums), desert-rockers Fatso
Jetson (guitar), stoner-rock one-shot Che
(guitar, vocals), and the Kyuss reunion band
Vista Chino (drums).
If that wasn’t an impressive-enough CV,
Brant’s dedicated solo career (either as Brant
Bjork, Brant Bjork and the Operators, Brant
Bjork and the Bros, Brant Bjork and the Low Desert Punk
Band, and Christ knows what else) now spans 20 years and
shows no signs of slowing down... Except perhaps in terms
of distorted riff tempos. And in spite of ALL that, the guy
PHOTO: TREVOR HATTER
Flirting with the eyeliner rock era of Sunset
Blvd., Electric Owl’s groovy sound channels
the flare of glam metal while still serving the
murky spirits of the psychedelic forest. A welcome
addition to a traditionally heavy card,
the velvet winged trio’s melodic harmonies,
prodding percussion and noodling guitar
leads soar above the battlefield and make for
the clouds in perfect unison.
“There’s no star on vocals,” says drummer
and vocalist Shibby, describing the Owl’s
method of “ganging-up on the chorus” while
each singing their own bridges and verses.
“We might be the only three-piece in the city
where we all sing, all the time. I think that is
something that sets us apart.”
“We are heavily influenced by bands with
multiple vocalists,” bassist and vocalist Keegan
Costella notes, listing Mastodon as a significant
influence.
Guitarist and vocalist Cam Thomas is
quick to comment that a sense of fluidity is
a major factor when it comes to modulating
the band’s often-vitriolic chemistry. Thus, they
encourage each other to sing at any point,
effectively giving over to the persuasions of
the muse and the heat of the moment.
“It gives us creative license to do whatever
we want,” he acknowledges.
“It’s a great project.”
Not exactly newcomers to Calgary’s 420
BY FERDY BELLAND
stands tall behind the Wheels of Steel, time and again. Go
figure.
As for his DJ equipment, Bjork doesn’t possess dizzying
stacks of digital equipment with thousands of blinking
LEDs.
“I’ve only ever used turntables. Vinyl’s the only way I’ve
ever spun. I’m assuming that’s the system waiting for me
in Calgary! That’s the only way I know how to do it, so
here’s hoping! When I’m loading up cases of records before
heading out to DJ, I’ll decide beforehand if I want to build
a specific theme or if I want to keep the music really
general...and I haven’t made that decision yet for Calgary.
It’s more me being a ‘Selector.’ I believe that’s the proper
term.”
As for the actual music Brant chooses to spin? You eager
stoner-rockers shouldn’t expect a long string of Budgie
or Leafhound or Captain Beyond or Cactus.
“The obscure stuff is fun for me,” Brant explains, “but I
like to spin a lot of classics that might be kinda neglected,
or not super-celebrated at the moment. I like to throw
curveballs like that. B-sides from popular bands and such.
I don’t wanna go so deep that people don’t know what it
is. I like to spin stuff they might hear for the first time, but
also stuff they know that keeps the party fun.”
Brant Bjork will be DJing in-between bands at day two of the 420
Music and Arts Festival, which takes place April 20 at Distortion
(Calgary).
BY TREVOR HATTER
Music and Art Festival, the band attended
the 2017 installment. This year they cross the
invisible threshold and take to the stageboards
as part of the official line-up. It’s the realization
of a goal that drove the hard-rocking
threesome to produce a self-titled EP, which
was unleashed a year ago.
“We were a little apprehensive about the
whole do-it-yourself thing. But, we have some
recording knowledge, so we got Brad Taylor
(Taylor Sound Recording & Mix Studios) to
help us out,” Thomas recalls.
“We recorded the songs and he mixed
and mastered everything for us. We are really
happy with the end product.”
Motivated by the positive feedback, Electric
Owl is already crafting their next album.
This time they’ll be flying west to the pacific,
taking residence in a cabin, blocking out all
distractions and getting down to the work.
Electric Owl performs with Sasquatch, Great
Electric Quest, Solid Brown, Gin Lahey, Haaze
and Set & Stoned on day one of the 420 Music
and Arts Festival, which takes place April 19 at
Distortion (Calgary).
SHRAPNEL BEATROUTE • APRIL 2018 | 49