Becoming Friends and Total Strangers with The Trews

Nova Scotia quartet The Trews are currently setting Australia alight with their return visit, we caught up with John-Angus MacDonald last year to find out more about them.

yourGigs (yG): What have been the challenges and benefits of having the family connections (The Trews comprise two brothers, their cousin and a long-time friend) in the band?

 John-Angus MacDonald (JAM): Benefits — We know each other so damn well. Challenges — We know each other so damn well.

yG: What were the experiences of supporting such huge acts as The Stones, Guns N’ Roses and KISS like, and were there any eye-opening stories or moments you are able to share? JAM: Great experiences all round. Got to swig champagne with Axl and go to an after-hours dance party with Mick Jagger.

yG: What do you know of the Australian music scene, and what are you most looking forward to about heading over here?

JAM: I know very little but I understand that historically the Australian people have taken very well to Canadian bands. We hope to continue that legacy.

yG: What bands got you into music, and which ones are you still inspired by?

JAM: The Beatles, ’70s-era Aerosmith, REM, Oasis, Velvet Underground, The Black Crowes, Big Sugar, The Tragically Hip.

yG: Was there any one song or band that has changed your life?

JAM: The Tragically Hip’s 1997 album Phantom Power was a pretty huge influence on the band.

yG: If you put your band’s collective iPod or mp3 players on shuffle, what would come up?

JAM: Our new album that we’ve been working on would no doubt show up. Beyond that it’d be anyone’s guess, some random things I assume.

yG: Worst rock injury?

JAM: Sliced my forehead open with the corner of my Les Paul while trying to put my guitar behind my head for a solo (showing off). The strap got caught on one of the buttons of my jacket as I was going over my head and the guitar cracked my forehead instead. There was lots of blood, I felt pretty silly.

yG: Best “rock move” you’ve ever pulled off or witnessed?

JAM : Once witnessed a singer of a punk band in Austin, Texas whose name I can’t recall stick his tongue in an oscillating fan that they kept on stage to stay cool.

yG: Worst on-stage moment?

JAM: I was so hung over on stage during one sweltering hot late-afternoon festival gig that I had to keep disappearing behind my amps to vomit.

yG: Best gig you’ve played?

JAM: I have trouble naming “bests” but we did a club show in Toronto opening for The Rolling Stones in 2006. Only 1000 people in attendance. That’s up there.

yG: One gig in history you wish you were at? JAM: Monterey Pop Festival

Check http://www.yourgigs.com.au/artist/?150108 for details of The Trews gigs.