5 Questions with Rags #6 - Tayo Branston (Five Alarm Funk)

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Five Alarm Funk is one of the greatest bands in the world. There's really no doubt it, at least for those who have seen them live. Doug Benson may have (sub)titled his last comedy record "Forced Fun," but there's no doubt in my mind that the term was invented for these cats. In the middle of their fury is lead-guy and Animal's brother, Tayo Brantson. Guy is a fucking machine, seriously. I get tired just watching him at their shows. He also talks and sends emails with the same enthusiasm. I've had the pleasure of talking to him a few times and this time was no less pleasurable.

1. The first record you remember going out to buy with your own money – what was it? How old were you?

<laughs> It was probably…I think it was 2 Legit 2 Quit by MC Hammer. I must have been 6 or 7 or something like that. That’s the first thing that pops into my mind.

And when is the last time you listened to MC Hammer?

You know what? It wasn’t that long ago. <laughs> We pumped, uhhh, that song…”Can’t Touch This,” we pumped that coming home from Seattle like a year and a half ago and it was just awful! Like, what the hell is this? It’s just so funny, almost comical in a way.

It’s amazing to think how many millions of homes that record was in.

It is amazing, right? But I mean, kudos to Hammer. He’s got the pants and that dance. Man, it’s sweet.

Those pants are timeless. That song might age poorly but those pants are timeless.

Yeah, I know. And for the life of me I can’t find a sweet pair of Hammer Pants anywhere.

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5 Questions with Rags #5 - Daniel Rotman

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I met photographer and generally aware dude Daniel Rotman through a mutual friend when we all went to see the mighty Krafty Kuts. We didn't get to talk much, because obviously we were busy dancing. But through the power of Facebook, post-Krafty, we managed to keep some sort of tenuous semblance of a friendship, exchanging ideas and whatnot. Daniel is one of the most forward-thinking cats I know and from what I've seen on his rapidly-expanding portfolio, a fine photographer. (Hopefully we get an online showcase soon so everyone can see.) I was stoked that he was willing to take from his busy schedule of trying to save the planet, starting with Vancouver, with his start-up non-profit West End Cycle. Check out and follow the TWITTER.

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 1. What’s the first album you bought with your own money and how old were you?

It’s either the Offspring, I was 10 or 11. It was, I think, the x-ray of a chest on it…Smash. It was that on tape. It was either that or Dance Mix ’93, also on tape.

Dance Mix 93?! What tracks do you remember from fucking Dance Mix 93?

I remember it all. I used to listen to that tape over and over. I think the highlight that jumps to mind is the KLF’s “3 A.M. Eternal.” I still listened to that tape in my mom’s mini-van well-through high school. It definitely helped me appreciate techno in the way that I do.

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5 Questions with Rags #4 - Jim Infantino (Jim's Big Ego)

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It's not often a brother gets to talk to the leader of the "Greatest Band in the History of Recorded Music," but I recently had the pleasure of talking to such a human being, the great Jim Infantino of Jim's Big Ego. You might not know them, I mean they're just another local fucking Boston band, but they are oodles of righteous and everyone in every city should listen to them. My love of JBE came from the aftermath of a slightly awful relationship. Infantino's remarkable lyrics and (un)pop sensibilities have changed the way I look at things and given me insight time and time again. (He is also responsible for "Vandals," one of the best pieces of writing I've come across. Check it at the bottom after this interview.)

This is a big one for me and I hope you dig it too. A big thanks to Jim for not only taking some time to answer my silly questions but for all his rhythmic musings that continuously sooth my soul. 

1. If you had to choose between sight and sound, which would you keep and why?

<Long, thoughtful pause> I think I would keep sight, interestingly. Because I've always been fascinated by sign language.

Really? What got you interested in sign language?

Well, as a mode of communication that's unique and I'm very interested in teaching myself new language-type skills. I'm actually terrible with language but I enjoy the challenge in the way it challenges my mind to learn new methodologies in terms of communication and thinking.

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5 Questions with Rags #3 - Joshua Szirmay-Corrales

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Josh is a rad guy. He's one of the youngest music-nerds I've ever met and he knows his shit. His passion for the shit is seemingly limitless and he's even managed to set down the path of Music Promoter, helping with the curation of the Studio CMCT Stage at this year's Rifflandia Festival. Actually, I met Josh at Rifflandia a couple of years ago when I overheard a conversation he was having with the mighty Dane -the fearless head of the Victoria Ska Society- about Reggie Watts. Reggie was set to play later in the day and Dane hadn't a clue what Watts was all about. I couldn't help but chime in and Josh wholeheartedly agreed with all of my gushing. See, good people like Reggie Watts. You can't deny that shit!

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Usually I end with the question from the last person, but I’m going to ask this one first because of the nature of the question. Alain Williams, comedian who used to be around town and now he’s in Vancouver, he asked this question and it’s simply…“Sup?”

 Sup?....WHAT?! Ummm…wow. Oh my god. Nothing much, I guess. Not much. I feel like I should answer more but the fact is just…wow. I was not ready for that.

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5 Questions With Rags #2: Alain Williams

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I think I met Alain Williams at a staff party for the Martlet, or something and though we didn't talk more than a few minutes, we were both intrigued by each others' presence at the time. Dude is into hip-hop and stand-up comedy (My favourites!) and is some kind of kung-fu warrior. He even has balls I can only dream of, getting up on stage and doing his own stand-up comedy - How cool is that shit? We haven't really struck up any kind of real friendship (For reasons that probably don't extend far beyond mutual laziness) but Alain's a homey, for sure. Props.

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1. If you had to choose between sight and sound, which one would you take and why?

 

That’s a tough one. Oh man. I will talk myself through this and come to a conclusion for you. I’m a big fan of visual art so sight is obviously very important. I thought I was going to be a visual artist before I found out I don’t have the patience for it. So, even now, I draw and do things like that but it’s had to take a backseat to everything else in my life. Sound is so potent though. I think it’s become more important to me than the visual has. I can look at something for a short time and be wowed by it and enamoured by it but then my attention goes elsewhere. Whereas with sound I’m basically addicted to it. I need a pair of headphones everywhere I go. The first day I got here to Vancouver my a cat chewed through my headphone chord so my roommate lent me her headphones. Any other time I would have been like, “Oh no, it’s fine.” But this time I was like, “Give me those fucking headphones.” Not even just for music, which is important, but listening to podcasts and stand-up and things like that. So I’m going to have to say sound.

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