Music

HIGH FIVES: Broken Social Scene

by Sam Sutherland

Every week, High Fives asks five bands five themed questions over five days. This week, we are, naturally, sitting on our hands until the deluxe edition of Beyonce’s I Am… Sasha Fierce DVD/CD arrives in the mail. To kill time, we’re discussing alter-egos in music with some other people.

Their sound and success has come to define the last decade of Canadian music, and knowing that a band that owes much of their sound to left-field acts like Tortoise and Cocteau Twins can be a massive commercial success in this country can only be a good, encouraging, and totally cool thing. Plus, they do stuff like bring Superchunk to Toronto as part of their two-night sting at the Sound Academy, beginning tonight. Brendan Canning, one of the million-piece band’s founding members, took the time to ignite what we can only hope will become one of the most righteous, long-running beefs in Canadian music – Broken Social Scene vs. Danko Jones. Your turn, Mango Kid.

Who has the greatest alter-ego in music?

Weird Al Yankovic.

Who has the worst alter-ego in music?

Danko Jones.

If you had to invent an alter-ego for yourself, who would it be?

Somewhere between Denzel Washington and Edith Prickley.

How much bad/strange/offensive behavior can reasonably be blamed on an alter-ego?

It’s showbiz, so anything goes, doesn’t it? Joaquin Phoenix ring a bell?

How much do “more serious” genres / bands suffer from the lack of alternate personalities present in their scene?

I suppose the lack of entertainment value means not as many punters will follow your every move.

What’s one band you’ve played with who would benefit from some makeup and a new stage name?

Sea & Cake.