-Introduce Yourself:
We are Mushy Callahan, a four-piece rock band that is based in Toronto CA. We are musicians that have been together for over a year, we have just released our debut EP in late 2011. We are releasing a video for the single “Loose Lips” set to be released later this month. Now, we are back in the studio hashing out the demos for our LP release later this year, and have a cross Canada tour in support of the LP in the works.
-How did you get your start?
The band has roots that began when we were all children, we played together when we were kids. Eventually we all moved on to different projects for about ten years, which led us to touring and recording with different groups. Then as destiny had it, we all ended up back in Toronto, from different parts of the country to work on a completely new project. Since, we have taken all our experiences and new found talents and applied them fully to Mushy Callahan as it has come to be known today.
-Who are some of your influences?
Everyone brought different influences to the table but now we have homogenized our tastes somewhat to things we can appreciate equally while we’re riding in the van or getting ready for a show. We listen to all of the big names in rock form the 60′s and 70′s, especially groups like the Small Faces and the Allman Brothers Band, which were huge in the those times, but other classic rock fans that are our age generally overlook.
Today, we will put on Kasabian, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club or even Tame Impala and everyone will be happy.
-How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?
Many bands have so much trouble with this question as they try to throw as many fused labels at you as possible. Our sound is well-defined and is simple to pin-point. A friend used the term Neo-Vintage rock to describe us, and we’ve used that because it gives the feeling of a new spin on an old sound that has proven to be time and generation tested.
-Do you have any music available for purchase, & if so where can people go to buy it?
Absolutely. Anyone that wants to get their hands on the album can be pointed to the online store on our website www.mushycallahan.com. We’re also on all the big digital distribution sites like Amazon/iTunes etc.
-Fav. song to perform?
That would have to be Burn. The songs builds up over a few bars to a punchy, gain drenched rock tune that continually has guitar and vocal layers added as the song progresses. Its available on the album.
-What is the most embarrassing thing that’s happened to you while performing?
We’ve been pretty lucky, we haven’t really had anything too crazy happen to us. Minus broken strings and some other equipment malfunctions, but those things just come with performing. There was one show where a drunk guy got on stage mid set and was trying to convince us to let him play this new song he learned on guitar, it was Oasis’s Wonderwall. He was pretty adamant about playing it, all the while the audience looked on.
-Who is someone you would like to work with or play a show with in the future?
We would really love to get to work with Michael Patterson. He is such an influential and talented producer that has proven his success rate across the different genres. The work he has done with everything from Beck to B.R.M.C. speaks volumes about what he can do. Either him or Butch Vig who needs no introduction, both of whom would surely get us right away.
-Fav. band/artist of all time:
I (Lucas) wouldn’t be the same person or a musician without Trent Reznor’s work. Everything about how he writes his lyrics to the sounds and arrangements of his music, though not really the genre of Mushy Callahan. He’s been able to recreate his sound and apply it other genres.
-What is something people may be surprised to find out about you?
Many people fail to realize the similarities between us, but we’re all brothers. I can’t imagine how we’d get along if we didn’t have music tying us together like it does. We argue, a lot less fist fights now but it’s all superficial things.
-What is 1 thing you would really like to see or do in your lifetime?
We’d love to take the band overseas and see the world in one, long tour. It would be cool to be able to write while on the road to Europe, Asia and Australia.
-First concert you ever attended?
Good question, that was a festival that used to go across the country called Edgefest (sponsored by the Edge radio station). There were dozens of emerging and headlining artists that would play, Green Day, Hole, Silverchair, Finger 11, Sloan, Radiohead, The Tea Party, Our Lady Peace. It was the best value for your money paying the price of one ticket and getting to see all these great acts in one day. Someone that knew very little about current music, as I did coming out of primary school, it was the perfect place to take a crash course in music and have an amazing experience with 5,000-10,000 people. It’s also where I crowd surfed the first time. Festivals are always the best shows as it feels like musical camping.
-What was your fav. cartoon or tv show while growing up?
I can say without a doubt that it’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. That was the one cartoon if you missed Saturday morning, it ruined your week. I think I wanted so bad to be a mutant super hero when I was about 8 that I convinced myself I could fly I just didn’t know how. Luckily when you’re a kid, at times you have bones made of rubber and I didn’t fall victim to injuries doing stupid, physics defying feats that today, would surely leave me with a few months recovery time. Obviously, I never got the hang of it, we just rode our bikes off a seemingly large ramp made with plywood and an old tire.
-Any last words/message to your fans?
Thanks to everyone for their support this last year, keep an eye out for our new video “Loose Lips”, our full length LP and supporting tour.
