By: Sheena LyonnaisJune 11, 2010
My loyalty to Toronto’s music scene is rivaled primarily by Brooklyn, New York thanks to bands like Gold Lake. For a band that lists “the smell of our nitrocellulose lacquered guitars” and “poisons and their antidotes” as influences, they sure transpire into a breezy, beautiful collection of songs with sharp lyrics, romantic melodies and moody guitars. Vocalist Lua Rios tells us what we can expect from their much-anticipated return to NXNE.
We are very well, thank you! We just got back from opening for Nada Surf in Spain and have finished the cover we were asked to contribute with to volume 3 of the Guilt By Association Cds, so now we’ll be concentrating on preparing our Toronto shows!
2. There are a lot of bands playing NXNE, why should we watch yours?
Because it’s everyone’s duty!
3. What are you doing to prepare for NXNE?
Some of us are doing some push ups to lure the beautiful Toronto girls with their strong biceps and abs, although we are all mainly rehearsing lots and putting some new songs together.
4. What are you hoping to get out of the festival?
Last time we went to Toronto was one of the best touring experiences we’ve had. The people in Toronto were amazing, always with a ready smile on their faces, inviting us to all their bbqs and being extra helpful, so our main aim is to get back to see those great people and hopefully have as much fun as we did last time.
5. Which act(s) are you hoping to catch during the festival and why?
Although we saw him many years ago at the Azkena Festival in Spain, Iggy is Iggy and we cannot miss on the chance of seeing him again! Then there are other amazing bands we love watching, like the incredible AA Bondy and his silky voice, the great Josh Homme and his Eagles of Death Metal, Free Energy, Surfer Blood, Hollerado whom we loved after seeing them at NXNE 2008, the awesome Modernboys Moderngirls, The Pack AD, Zeus, Avi Buffalo. Although what we most like doing is being surprised by "new" bands, as was the case with Fox Jaws when we were last in Toronto.
6. Tell me a tour story that is crazy but true.
When we played the famous Astoria in London we had a true Spinal Tap moment. We were supposed to be on stage at a certain time, and the Astoria, which is an old theatre has a backstage area which was like a labyrinth. We started going down staircases, and up others, going past bends, and we kept on opening the same door which led into the evening presenter’s room, who looked like a blonde Iggy Pop. But this we did at least three times, by which time, we were getting more and more anxious about reaching the stage on time!
7. What is Gold Lake working on at the moment?
We recorded the basic tracks to three new songs when we were playing with Nada Surf in Madrid last month, and so we’re currently working on giving it the final touches before we send them off to be mixed and mastered. We’ll be looking to releasing them on a 7 inch as soon as we get them back from the mastering lab. On top of that, we are working on a bunch of new songs, which we should hopefully have ready and recorded by the end of the year.
8. Which shows/events/BBQs are you playing?
June 18th at C’est What at 11 p.m.
June 19th at Now Lounge at 11p.m.
June 20th at Wrong Bar wrap party at 9 p.m.
9. Where can we find out more about you?
www.myspace.com/wearegoldlake
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gold-Lake/54379924959
http://twitter.com/GoldLakeband
10. Any last parting words for us music-hungry Toronto folk?
The Spanish half of our band is looking forward to seeing everyone we met in Toronto again, the American quarter is anxiously waiting to have a great first time there, and the remaining quarter is a Torontonian hoping to reunite himself with his home again!