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Out of the dingy basements and DIY venues of Calgary comes Pinball, 1973, a trio that blends the melancholic whine of prairie emo with the herking, jerking tempo shifts of math-rock. They ping out bittersweet melodies as much as they pong awkward, complex rhythms, their live performances inviting the listener to share in emotions that reach the same what-the-hell-is-going-on level as their riffs. With an upcoming EP release this summer and festival bookings, Pinball, 1973 are set on spreading the prairies’ melancholy and ever-shifting sound of their home city far and wide.<\/strong><\/p>\n Dave: Silly. I like to think we\u2019re fun to watch, and we try to bring a good energy to the stage. We want people to dance, to move, so we try to do the same when we can.<\/p>\n Michael: Well, Dave, our bassist, plays a kazoo on a few songs. So, our live shows rival Super Bowl Halftime performances, more-or-less. I think we are going to teach Quinn to do a mid-air double somersault off his kick drum by the end of the summer. Besides that, mostly we spend our shows going from statue-like (those 5\/4 rhythms require intense concentration) to appearing like we are being actively electrocuted. All while still looking very cool and desirable of course. <\/p>\n Quinn: I think one thing that\u2019s super important for our live shows is for the crowd to interact with us as much as possible. Before we play a song that I wrote called \u201cLetterboxd\u201d, we\u2019ll often ask a few members of the crowd what their four favourite movies are, just like the Letterboxd street interviews! It\u2019s a great way to engage with the audience (while also hiding the fact that Michael is tuning). Additionally it\u2019s important that we try to play covers that will make the crowd want to sing along and, hopefully, even steal the mic.<\/p>\n Michael: \u201cThe Beer Song\u201d is a favourite of our friends, but if you can keep us in mind for a few more weeks, we\u2019re releasing our first EP this summer and we\u2019re beyond excited to finally get it out there. <\/p>\n Quinn: On our upcoming EP, we have a song called \u201cDaigo Parry 2004\u201d (a song that I hope our readers know the reference to) and I cannot wait for people to hear it! I think it\u2019s our best use of sampling yet and I think the drum part is so much fun! I joke to the rest of the band that I overuse my ride cymbal bell in our music and that song is a shining example.<\/p>\n Dave: It\u2019s awesome. There\u2019s some really awesome people doing work in the scene, so I feel really lucky to get to be a part of it. I think we\u2019re also lucky to have not only a supportive scene but supportive venues as well. Loophole, one of the venues we\u2019re playing at this year, is super accessible for young and upcoming artists, which I think really helps to foster a scene that\u2019s super welcoming to newcomers. <\/p>\n Michael: The community in the music scene has been the most important part of our experiences. We are extremely lucky to be a part of a community that is filled with good people and good musicians. The inspiration we find from this scene has kept us pushing to play more shows with new bands and write new songs that push our skills and creativity. We\u2019ve been lucky to involve talented visual artists, producers, engineers, organisers, promoters, venue leaders, and local business and arts organisations in our successes surrounding this band. And, since I\u2019m here, shout out Loophole Coffee Bar, Shy Friend, Perra, East Town Get Down, Bookburner Productions, Astrology Girl, Teenage Art Scene, Uncle Girl, Brock Brown, and everyone and anyone who we\u2019ve had the unparalleled pleasure of making art with.<\/p>\n Dave: When we played Sled Island last year, Quinn forgot his wallet at our practice space and had to drive 25 minutes there and 25 minutes back because he was worried we wouldn\u2019t get into the venue before our set. It was a pretty good laugh. In terms of shows, I\u2019ve found so many amazing artists and bands that I might not have otherwise. Concrete Vehicles (FKA Computer), Hillsboro, DMBQ – all great bands that I\u2019ve gotten to see because of Sled.<\/p>\n Michael: Playing on the same bill as The Mummies was pretty awe-inspiring. And the response we got from the crowd was massive when we played. I was so enveloped by the energy that, when I leapt into the air with my guitar, I slammed my headstock into the ceiling and popped a hole in it. There are at least ten other headstock shaped holes up there at the Palomino, but still, don\u2019t tell anyone I told you that one of them was from me. <\/p>\n Quinn: Michael and Dave took the good ones. However, I have a very vivid memory of someone at our show last year screaming \u201cI want my mummy\u201d over and over until the show started, while wildly spraying their beer on the crowd.<\/p>\n Dave<\/strong>: If you\u2019re already in downtown, Contemporary Calgary is a great shout. They close at 7pm most days so it works out great for seeing some art and then heading to your venue of choice. I also enjoy walking the Bow River path if the weather allows for it, but June can get pretty rainy sometimes so do so at your own risk. Michael: Here\u2019s what you do: you go to Nh\u1edb Saig\u00f2n<\/a> on 17th Ave and get the Beef Peanut Sate Noodle Soup (it\u2019s the best in the city), then you walk down to Pin-Bar<\/a> and play some pinball (you should play the Attack From Mars Machine), then you hustle to the Ship & Anchor for a glass of Ol\u2019 Beautiful Japanese Ale (tell them Pinball sent you), and, finally, you scooter downtown to Loophole Coffee Bar<\/a> and come tell us how that was just the best night of your life. Quinn: I\u2019m a huge advocate for taking a visit to Calgary\u2019s Chinatown. So many amazing restaurants like Calgary Court for Hong Kong-style breakfast and Silver Dragon for some of the best dim sum in the city. Plus, hey, after you\u2019re done eating, you can go to Dragon City Mall and basically feel like you\u2019ve been transported into an 80s neon-lit Hong Kong movie. It\u2019s essential, too, that you check out Neon Taste Records<\/a> while you\u2019re down there! I\u2019ve bought so many amazing punk 45s from them. Shoutout Josh and Arielle!<\/p>\n Dave<\/strong>: If I\u2019m on 17th Ave, late-night snack has got to be Shwarmalicious. They gave us free ice cream after a show one time which was pretty cool. The Palomino also makes some great food, so if you\u2019re seeing a show there you\u2019re already in the best spot for a meal. Hangover meal has got to be Denny\u2019s. Those cinnamon roll pancakes cure a hangover like nothing else. Quinn: My favourite late-night snack is without a doubt Kujirai-style ramen. Which is basically where you take a pack of your favourite spicy noodles, fry it in a pan, then add cheese, eggs, and chives. A lot of people can\u2019t get on board with cheese in ramen, but it is a must try! It would also probably make an amazing hangover food, but I gotta say nothing has cured more hangovers in my life than an ice-cold Dr. Pepper. You can always trust a doctor!<\/p>\n Pinball, 1973 perform at Loophole Coffee Bar on 19 June at 11pm, and at Palomino (main floor) on 20 June at 3pm. <\/em><\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nDescribe your live show<\/h3>\n
What should we listen to first?<\/h3>\n
Tell us about the Calgary music scene<\/h3>\n
What are your memories of Sled Island?<\/h3>\n
What should we do in town before the music starts?<\/h3>\n
Best late-night snack and hangover food?<\/h3>\n