SKANEWS Webzine - KINGPINS Interview

THE KINGPINS interview
(11 / 2000)

Skanews : Brief history of The Kingpins. Who decided to start the band and how did the members meet ?
Kingpins : The Kingpins http://www.thekingpins.com were "born" in 1994 when Jordan (bass) saw a great ska show in Montreal. He had played in many different bands with Eric (drums), they played surf, garage, punk, but not ska. I (Lorraine, vocals) knew Jordan from years before when we hung out in the scene together. I was big into ska at the time (1987)! So Jordan and Ian (keyboard) and Eric called me immediately because they heard I'd recently taken up the saxophone. Within a few months we inherited a trumpet (Jesse) and trombone player from The Mobsters, and Bobby (Gruesomes http://www.thegruesomes.com/ ) joined us "temporarily". Of course Bobby only left five years later!!! The band was started for fun, we never dreamed it would become what it has!

Skanews : Musical influences
Kingpins : At the beginning, we learned some 2-tone covers. But with time, we developed our own sound. We started listening to traditional Jamaican ska from the late 50's and early 60's. Ian had a great collection of old school ska! It really comes through on "Let's Go To Work" - our second full length album. We also wrote our own material with its surf, garage and 60's spy and movie-theme sound. This wasn't too far off from traditional ska, it was from the same era but from a different underground source.

Skanews : The line-up has changed a lot since the original one. Why?
Kingpins : I think every band goes through a natural process where members come and go, it's just that some bands do it more, and it becomes more obvious when true personalities are involved. There are very few ex-members of the band who were not CRUCIAL to the look AND sound of the band at the time they were in it… We've just eveolved, that's all. And last year was a big change for us. We'd had the same line-up for quite a while, but people's priorities were put to the test. In particular, when we decided to go on tour full time. Leaving home for weeks at a time and living out of a little red bus is not for everyone!

Skanews : Tell us about your first release "On the Run" (self-produced?, musical style, etc.)
Kingpins : This was our first single, and our first recording experience. We chose 3 songs that reprenseted the band perfectly at that time. Gus (frontman of Montreal's legendary ska band Me, Mom & Morgentaler) offered to produce it. He worked really hard on pre-production and the experience was a great one! So much so that we asked him to produce our first CD "Watch Your Back" (more on that later!). This recording earned us a MiMi (Montreal Independent Music Industry) award for best single in 1996 and allowed us exposure in the rest of Canada. We were developing our own sound and style at the time, and it represents our beginnings very well.

Skanews : After On The Run, you released a first album Watch Your Back. Tell us about it (production, musical style, etc.)
Kingpins : We had asked Gus to produce a full length album for us. Again, he worked very hard on pre-production, we arranged and rewrote where necessary. He gave so much of his time and put his heart into it, as did we, so we gave him great performances. He really captured the energy of our live show! The musical style was decided by the songs we had. These were mostly written by Bobby Beaton and his love and indepth knowledge of surf and garage can be heard without a doubt. He would bring in completed songs, which we would learn and our own little personal touches would come through by our interpretation of what he had written.

Skanews : Tell us about the lyrics on this album…
Kingpins : Bobby took great pleasure in composing thematic songs. It seems to me like a sort of game or exercise with him. He'll get on a theme, such as the oriental or cowboy or spy theme, write a few songs along those lines, and then move on to another theme! It was always fun and refreshing to hear his new material! This album has a good mix of styles though. You've got your spy/mafia related tunes (Mata Hari, Watch Your Back, Backstreet Killer, Gammique…). You've got your cowboy song, a monster song, an oriental theme, but you also find some traditinoal flair on it with The 10 Commandments of Ska and Party in JA (written by our lead singer Paddy Walsh who was also responsible for some songwriting and helping develop our unique sound).

Skanews : Was it difficult for The Kingpins to find a record label?
Kingpins : Well, actually, we didn't find a record label, we started one. Only a few months into the band's history, Jordan (bass) and his friend Matt (guitarist and singer for The Planet Smashers) having realized that there was no community in Canada for ska bands and wanting to release recordings for their two ska bands, decided to start STOMP http://www.stomprecords.com/ This label would release a compilation of all the Canadian bands at the time who submitted a song (all 16 of them!) but it would also house the two band's first recordings, our single On The Run and the Smashers' first (self-titled) full length CD. The label has grown ever since and now features a healthy roster of bands. So the label was created to fill the void of any ska labels in Canada, but it also allowed the bands to release their respectively great music on the Canadian (and now international) market!

Skanews : What do you think of Watch Your Back a few years later?
Kingpins : We're very proud of all our projects. Like a snapshot, they have all captured the band's tastes and abilities at that moment in time. I think this album traces another very important step in our career. It was the first album of its style, and we have yet to find anything that greatly resembles the "kingpins" sound! I like the songs because of their innocent qualities. The lyrics, music and interpretation are all lighter that the subsequent releases.

Skanews : After Watch Your Back, a second album was released. Did your musical direction change?
Kingpins : In 1997-1998, we started listening to more and more traditional ska. For anyone who knows trad ska well, this is very noticeable on Let's Go To Work (also available in Europe since Aug 2000 on NOCO and distrbuted by WAGRAM). Even on the production side of things, we asked Mitch "King Kong" Girio to take a more traditional approach adn give it an authentic flair. We had, in the meantime recorded a self produced 7 inch vinyl entitled Lootin' Shootin' and Wailin' (only available through us) with a B-side entitled Do The Ska. We were, at that time, already solidly rooted in the traditional sound. On Let's Go To Work,
You will find, once again, Bobby's thematic sense. The songs seem as light as our previous material, but between the lines are hidden some more personal subtleties. Just as an example WORK refers to picking up girls (or guys). The narrator would rather be in a steady relationship (i.e. unemployed) than go through all the work of dating, etc. It's very cleverly written! You will also see the return of Dr. Haledjian (a character out of Scholastic Magazine who solves two minute mysteries). I find the content of this second release takes a bit more of a serious approach to lyrics and music (serious or mature…?)

Skanews : On this second CD you had some noteworthy guests. Tell us a little about that. How did you meet them?
Kingpins : During pre-production we found out that Lynn Taitt was living near Montreal. For those who may not know him (unfortunately far too few ska fans have heard of him), he invented the bubbling guitar style. He is the creator of rocksteady music. The bubbling guitar is what you hear when the guitarist follows the bass line closely in a jumpy way. If you listen to Last Train from or album it is very distinct. He produced such greats as Bob Marley (when he was still singing ska), Toots & the Maytals, the Skatalites, Phyllis Dillon and many others. He really enjoyed our music and has played with us live several times since. A historical circle closed on our album when we learned that he was the one who played on the original recording of Last Train to Expo '67. That was one of those Twilight Zone things you only dream about! Not only that, but he was at the time working with Phyllis Dillon (original of the song Don't Stay Away) so fate had a role there… We also had a local musician Njacko Backo who is succesful in his own right. He records at the same studio we did. We were also joined by some friends from other STOMP bands (Planet Smashers, Gangster Politics) as it is a tight knit scene.

Skanews : The song Manon, Viens Danser le Ska from this second album wa a hit in your country. I believe it is a cover of a 60's song…?
Kingpins : Yes, this song, which contrary to its title is not at all a ska song originally, was sung by Donald Lautrec and became a hit when Pierre Lalonde sang it in 1965. We chose it as a sort of wink to those Quebecers who remembered it from its origins. It also showed our fans that we were not only able but thrilled to perform a song in French.

Skanews : Your new album Plan Of Action just came out. There is a noticeable change in your look since the first release. Why has your image changed through and through?
Kingpins : Several months before recording there were many changes within the band. We lost our frontman Paddy who is now raising a new son (Dylan). We shortly thereafter lost Bobby to his old band The Gruesomes http://www.thegruesomes.com/ who are presently touring. These major changes were very difficult and intimidating, but they were also a wake up calls of sorts. We had lost our two primary song writers. We had replaced Paddy for live shows, but had lost our sense of direction somewhat. That's when I decided the band needed a concrete goal, something to focus on: a new album. We went into studio in April and laid down 16 tracks as pre-production for this as of yet untitled album. Most of us were found in the very difficult position of not liking the direction we were headed in. That's when we agreed to scrap the pre-prod and start anew! We thought about what we'd like to explore on this new album. We decided to go back to our roots, that is the music we were listening to when we were just discovering our own musical tastes. Eric and I used to go out dancing in underground clubs a lot and Jordan was also a big fan of New Wave music (Blondie, Devo, etc). So to finally answer your question (!) our new look came about rather naturally when we chose our new sound and direction. A new younger, more energetic, sexier, fun look and sound was chosen! The boys still wear their suits at times, as this is what we are known for, but we've also made way for my PVC dresses!!!

Skanews : You sing on almost all the songs on the new album contrary to the first album where you were primarily a saxophonist and sang only one… Why did you change positions in the group?
Kingpins : This is really just a result of our constant evolution. Since day one we've never stopped changing, growing, evolving, but mostly having fun! If we fell like having more female vocals, that's what we do - and that's what we did! We had received a lot of positive feedback from people when I sang. On top of that, the new style we were going for was found in my vocals, it suited me perfectly. We wrote and chose the new songs with my vocals and my own sound in mind. I sort of fell into the role of frontwoman also after losing our own frontman, but i have grown into it and am quite comortable with it now. The fans and media also agree!

Skanews : Is there a lot of sexism in the Ska world? There are very few women who sing this type of music.
Kingpins : I wouldn't necessarily call it sexism. I think it's more a lack of female role models in this particular style. It also has a lot to do with popular tastes. Music seems to change a lot, and quickly, but I find the changes rather slow really. Only recently have you seen women everywhere (in music), and female bands playing male-dominated styles of music. I try not to think about isms, such as sexism. I don't want it to discourage me from doing anything. I am aware it exists - greatly so in music - but only in others' eyes, not mine.

Skanews : You cover an Indochine song, L'Aventurier. Was this song very popular in Quebec in the 80's?
Kingpins : L'Aventurier was a big hit in the underground bars here in Quebec. But I've realized that our fans don't know this song. They know the band Indochine… but we're glad to introduce them to it, as it holds good memories for us!

Skanews : Your new single will be Bordel. Will there be a video for this song?
Kingpins : We're in the midst of pre-production for this video. We are still waiting on several things which are taking longer than anticipated. We hope it will be out before Christmas.

Skanews : Tell me about the lyrics on your new album. Do you a message to transmit?
Kingpins : There is again a more mature tone to this CD. The lyrics were written with the band's input, so there are some real personal experiences (just as an example parts of a stalker story I went through found its way into Supernova). The album title, which was chosen before most of the songs were written, also depicts a more serious tone, it gave us the impulse to put our plan into action and influenced some of the musical and lyrical content. It's a big step in our ability to express ourselves as a unit. We always try to keep a light outlook on things and not get too heavy or involved (for example in Designated Driver which is told from the point of view of the one who sits in the car, bored!). Matchbox is about the Montreal scene and its ever changing nature. The first song I ever wrote in my life Bordel was so much fun to write. I wondered how I could come up with a worse bad luck story than the previous line… I was laughing the whole time! Some of that is based on truth too! I can see how people might interpret some sort of message, and if they do then Great… The only kind of message I would want to put forward (I speak for myself only) is that people should have a little more respect for others and that you should be able to have fun without hurting someone else - it sounds really corny, but to me that's what all conflict boils down to… I don't want to be "anti" something, even though I hate lots of situations in society.

Skanews : Who produced your new CD?
Kingpins : Micth who produced Let's Go To Work did such a fantastic job that we got him on board for this project as well. He is the bassist from legendary Toronto ska band King Apparatus (yes, another legend!!!)

Skanews : Are you able to live off your music?
Kingpins : Not yet, but we are confident that the quality of this CD is such that it will eventually get the attention it deserves and perhaps pay the rent! I guess all we can ask is that people come and see us live and enjoy the show. We live well when we tour, and we do what we love!

Skanews : Does the media (newspapers/magazines, TV, radio) pay much attention to ska bands such as yours, or do they only cover major label bands?
Kingpins : Once in a while the media will turn its eye towards us. But only when there's a story to tell, like a new release, video, tour, etc. I suppose a scandal might get some attention too! When a journalist takes the time to expose an independent band to his/her readers, that's a great compliment. It's difficult to know what needs to be done to get more coverage, but as far we're concerned we'll keep playing our music and trying our best to get it heard all over! We work very hard not only to perform, but are constantly searching for news places to inject our music into! Places where people haven't heard of us yet…

Skanews : Tell about the ska scene in Canada and in Quebec.
Kingpins : The Montreal ska scene is alive and kicking. This is where you find a majority of the ska bands in Canada. But more and more cities are boasting their own thriving ska scenes. On the East coast, you'll find it's in Halifax. In the West Calgary and Edmonton have great scenes. But Montreal remains its heartbeat, mostly thanks to STOMP. There are more fans at Montreal ska shows than ever before, but these are less and less scenesters. Less skins, rudies and mods and more skaters and punk enthusiasts. But that's the way it's always been, there are waves of activity in each scene and for each musical style. We had a huge explosion of ska two years ago in Montreal.

Skanews : When are you coming to Europe?
Kingpins : April 2001… I still have no dates, but we'll be hitting France, Germany, Switzerland (hopefully with our friends the Peacocks) and Italy to name a few. So keep your eyes peeled and get ready to come out and dance with us!

Skanews : What are your projects for the end of the year and 2001?
Kingpins : We have one last short tour scheduled for early December in the Maritimes (East Coast). We will be shooting the video for Bordel and will start shooting a video for Supernova around Christmas. For 2001, we plan our European tour, another national Canadian tour and several short US tours.

Skanews : What do you think of Napster and MP3s?
Kingpins : I still haven't completely made up my mind on that yet. Some people will tell you that you can just as easily borrow your neighbour's CD if you want to copy some tunes, but Napster makes it so that you have thousand of "neighbours"… Musicians want to believe that the public wants to hold a piece of the music, see the pictures and artwork on a CD, read the liner notes, hold the manufactured CD as it was meant to be… Already, the musicians are the last (and least) paid in the music industry's food chain. The record companies have way more to lose by CD sales declining than the artists do. The artist lives mostly off what they make at shows, off what they sell at shows. I think you can't match the energy and experience of a live show, and I hope people will want this experience. Even the most advanced system can't offer you the feeling you get in a crowd of enthusiastic people dancing together! This is where you can experience something special with the band itself…

Skanews : A last work for your fans?
Kingpins : I would be thrilled to receive e-mails about the band. What you think of the new CD, the old CDs, our new look, anything really! We can't wait to go to Europe and would love to play our music all over the world! Thanks to evryone who takes an interest in what we do! - I answer all e-mails by the way… kingpins007@hotmail.com

Interview : Jean-Pierre Boutellier / Skanews.