Jim Ginther of Canadian instru-mentalists Shooting Guns took time out of promoting new album Flavor Country to answer a few of our questions. The album is out now and you can have a listen to it below before deciding it’s awesome and you have to buy it.
Simple things first – where are you guys from?
Saskatoon, SK, in the heart of the Canadian prairies.
How did you meet?
We were all long-time friends in Saskatoon and originally started the band as a way to get through the gruelling winters here.
How long have you been playing as a band?
Since the winter of 2008.
Before you get sick of being asked… where does the band name come from?
Ha! We don’t even who in the band came up with it. It has no deeper meaning whatsoever.
What are your influences?
Hawkwind, Ace Frehley, Circle, Wooden Shjips, Pharaoh Overlord, Steve Hillage, Sleep.
Describe your music. What makes you unique?
Instrumental heavy psych. Cut right to the bone with riffs out of the gate with no vocals to get in the way. Love or hate it, this music is for crushing a few beers to.
Do you have any particular lyrical themes?
Completely instrumental. No message. Just riffs.
What’s your live show like? How many shows have you played?
Loud and pummelling. Each song feeds into the next one and sweat will be dripping from the ceiling before the night’s over. SG has played over 100 shows across Canada and is looking to play the US/UK in 2018.
What’s the wildest thing you’ve seen or done at a live show?
We’ve always considered ourselves a fun group to party with so heavy drinking crowds is pretty common at our shows. We played a show in Edmonton, AB, a couple years ago where one guy drank so much the paramedics took him out on a stretcher.
What kit do you use / guitars do you play / etc.?
Kit: Gretsch Catalina Birch/Zildjian cymbals. Guitars: Gibson SG/70’s Marshall head/Orange cab.
Bass: Gibson SG/Acoustic head/Ampeg cab.
Synth: Nord Electro 3/Prophet/Akai.
What, if anything, are you plugging/promoting at the moment?
New LP, Flavour Country, coming out on RidingEasy Records Aug 11. It’s the first album that we recorded/mixed entirely at our own at our Pre-Rock Studio in Saskatoon.
What are your plans for the rest of 2017?
We’re touring our live score for Nosferatu across Canada in the fall and we also scored the soundtrack for Another WolfCop (sequel to the Canadian horror-comedy WolfCop) which will get an international theatre release in December.
If you were second on a three-band bill, which band would you love to be ing and which band would you choose to open for you? A chance to plug someone you’ve toured with, or a mate’s band we’ve not heard of before!
First band: Trans Am. Opener: The Switching Yard – great band from Saskatoon with a new 7” coming later in 2017.
From previous Band of the Day We Fall Slowly: If you could change one thing in the world we live in today, what would it be?
Less bullshit, more music.
From another BotD, Jukebox Monkey: What is the local scene like in your area?
Great, lots of community , loads of really interesting bands, and good venues. The only tough thing is that since there’s so much for local bands, touring bands often need a local opener to get a decent turnout.
And from The Blend: What do you put on your toast?
On the road, PB & honey all the way.
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