flavour of the week
philip tarr of MESS FOLK
Philip Tarr is the brain behind the magic and science of MESS FOLK, a Sydney Nova Scotia based noise rock band, that just happens to be my favourite Canadian band of the moment. Despite being based out of the middle of nowhere, Maritimes, Canada (sorry guys) Mess Folk has been doing some amazing national and international things. A 7 inch off of Chicago’s Hozac Records, a debut tape off of Scotch Tapes based out of Ontario, and rumours of soundtracking a Hollywood indie flick, Philip Tarr aint doing so bad promoting his self-proclaimed “noise and chaos. Check back for a giveaway & a review of their Hozac record and Scotch Tapes release!!! In the meantime, check out this yummy flavour of the week…
Kait Kucy (KK): When did you first realize you were destined to rock n roll?
Philip Tarr (PT): I don’t rock and roll. I just make noise and annoy people. I am destined for greatness!
KK: Was it always rocknroll? I would think hillbilly bop and bluegrass are the more favoured genres of music out in Sydney NS.
PT: I used to play in a grindcore band… I also liked to do noise, spoken word and improv music. One time I played a bar gig with a sand grinder and sheetmetal. I did have a rock and roll band one time called “The Abusive Step-Dads” we sung about child abuse, solvent abuse, violence and boredom. We played 5 shows and broke up. It was an awesome band to play in. The drummer Shaun was great, so was the bassist Vince. My brother did vocals and he made up awesome lyrics and we pissed everyone off. I played guitar.
KK: What is the babe situation like out in Sydney? Usually this is one of the first things I ask but I thought I would talk about music first for a change.
PT: I used to be involved in a lot of babe situations but now I have a really nice girfriend who keeps me happy… We even write music together. She’s one of my best friends.
KK: That is VERY sweet! I guess meant more of the MALE babe situation…y’know in case any of my rocker girlfriends decide to up and leave the prairies for a fisherman. Whatever… Could you easily state that you are the poster boy of garage rock in your town? Do you have a rival poster boy?
PT: When people think of me they probably think of noise and chaos more so then garage rock. I think there are a lot of rumors about me in my town. I’ve done some “crazy” things in my life but I’d say most people think I’m a “nice guy”. I just like to be creative. I don’t care about any genre of music. Besides, my face has been punched in too many times to be poster boy material.
KK: Its really customary that I ask how many times you comb your hair a week.
PT: I never comb my hair, it’s too thick. It’s like dog fur.
KK: So, tell me why on the MESS FOLK myspace page you have your location listed as the YUKON? Trying to geographically screw with the campus radio station radios stats or what?
PT: I have no idea why I listed Mess Folk as from the Yukon but I ain’t changing it.
KK: What are your favourite current bands? Do you try to stay Canadian like we do, or do you often fall victim to American rocknroll?
PT: I like the Stolen Minks… Alot of the stuff on Scotch Tapes… My trading buddy Embryo always sends me projects of himself. He created the best band ever “Gruesome Toilet”… check that out people. It’s the BEST. My buddy Tyler’s band “The Dunce Club”. I mostly listen to ancient bands though…
KK: If you were being tortured by Americans and part of the torture was to listen to the same record over and over, what would it be?
PT: Probably the band Opeth. Any release.
KK: Do you have plans to tour Canada anytime soon? Us kids out WEST wanna hang out and party with you.
PT: Yes I do. I want to get a good release out and tour on it.
KK: What about new releases? So far you’ve got your Hozac 7″ and your Scotch Tapes cassette….what should we expect next from MESS FOLK?
PT: I want to record an LP with a decent recording setup. Being broke and just using a four track is very limiting to my output. You can expect an LP as the next Mess Folk release. It’s going to be very, very different then the first four Mess Folk releases. I have new ideas in my head.
KK: What is your top played song on your iTunes? I hope its Katy Perry or something, even Lady Gaga would be fucking awesome. You’d definitely graduate from being Flavour of the Week to Flavour of the Month.
PT: I have an I-pod an ex gave me as a gift one time. When I go to work out at the gym, that’s the only time I use it. On my I-pod are a bunch of bands: DA SLYME (newfoundland band from the 70′s) DISCHARGE, ELECTRO HIPPIES, THE GIZMOS, NO TREND, SIMPLY SAUCER, THE LEWD, REPULSION….
KK: Besides being “Philip Tarr”, if you were an ice cream flavour what would you be?
PT: Fiberglass insolation.
Stay tuned for my review of MESS FOLK’s debut 7 inch off of Hozac Records
