TOKENVIEW
How
did you get your start in the music industry?
I wouldn't
view myself as part of the "music industry" per se. In terms of how
I became involved in music, I never felt like I had any other choice. At the risk
of sounding pretentious, it's in my blood. Apparently as an infant, I learnt how
to operate a record player before I learnt how to walk. Later on I played in a
succession of high school bands with horrible names like 'Far From Gerald' and
'Plaigal Cayvin'. These days, I can't imagine life without Tokenview and music.
Best part of the job?
Playing a
good show. It's a wonderful feeling. Or the moment when you hear a recording start
to gel and you know that a song's going to work. Simple as that.
Worst
part of the job?
A few times we've driven hundreds of kilometres
to play to just the sound guy and the other bands. That can be a little demoralising.
Though if we do a good set, it's still enjoyable. I'd rather do a good show in
front of a few than a crap show in front of many. It's either that or the mosquitos.
So many mosquitos.
Any interesting experiences you can share?
Too
many. There's the time two of our band got beaten at pool by a drunken, one-armed
man. Or that time in Brisbane that the stage had no lighting rig, so we lit it
with an old TV. Or the time that a guy cleared himself some room on the dance
floor during our set and started doing push ups. Then he just wouldn't stop. Bizarre.
Favourite CD of all time and why?
Beatles
- 'Abbey Road'. It's an ageless album and as fine a collection of songs as one
could hope to find anywhere.
Tell us about the best live
show that you ever saw?
Radiohead at Sydney Entertainment
Centre 2004. One of the best bands in the world managed to make a cavernous venue
feel as intimate as the Metro. It was also the perfect balance between great lighting/theatrics
and a very real, very human performance.
Favourite bars/clubs/pubs
to hang out in?
The Metro and The Hopetoun are my faves
in Sydney. Because they succeed as being great bars as well as good venues. You'll
find me at either of those two, or else I'll be lurking in the damp alleyway round
the side of my apartment.
Take us through a typical "day
in the life of Tokenview".
We wake up at the crack
of noon and take the eagles for a walk. Then we fly to Jupiter for brunch (lattes
and eggs benedict) with Sinatra. He gives us a singing lesson, then we start our
day jobs in the mines over there. It gets quite chilly in winter. I warm up for
the inevitable nightly gig by practising the melodies on Queen's 'A Day at the
Races' album in its entirety on the flugal horn. Then we fly back home and rock
the place!!!
What advice would you give to someone looking
at getting involved in the music industry?
If you're in
a band, I say do what works for you. Follow your instincts and do things on your
terms. Stay focused on the creative side, write a lot and only listen to opinions
from people whose tastes you respect. But I don't think I'm properly qualified
to give people advice so these might be moot points...
©
Danny Canak
