Band will open for Detroit disco-punk group Electric Six March 18
Eric Silver
writer
Two years ago, Jordan Mack blew out some candles and made a wish. Today, he’s the frontman for Ontario rock band Birthday Boys — touring across Canada.
The band is playing the Starlite Room on the March 18, alongside Detroit rock legends Electric Six. Mack shared some of his experiences as a musician and on tour.
The first surprise came when he was asked if there was any validity to the old saying, ‘sex, drugs, and rock and roll.’
“Rocking out all the time — yes. We drink a lot of whisky, but everything else no,” says Mack.
“You get to a point where I feel like, and this is just me and the guys in the band, if you’re going to take this seriously as a business and a career, you can’t be staying up late every night drinking, doing drugs, hanging out with random people. I mean, some of us are married, and I personally suck at music when I’m drunk or stoned,” he admits.
Responsible rock stars — dig it. Mack stresses the importance of having a strong friendship between band members. Adding he’d love to see the band play with Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and PJ Harvey. Mack’s advice to aspiring musicians?
“If you have a guitar, drop it and run,” Mack laughs. “But seriously, be careful of what gigs you accept. You don’t want to be playing for five people in Saskatoon for five years.”
A tour with Birthday Boys is anything but normal. Last time the band went on tour, it wrote, performed and recorded 30 songs in 30 days. Mack reminisces on those songs fondly, contemplating some and laughing about the foolishness of others.
This time around, the band is filming ten “webisodes”.
“We’re doing them as we go, which is the fun (and) stressful part,” said Mack.
“The last time, we tried to do it all each day on the road, not using any material we had done before. This time we’re going to try and keep it artsy, we don’t want it to be like ‘Hey, here’s my band just screwing around in a different city every day’,” he adds.
Most bands come across a metaphorical line. When you cross it, you sell out. Mack came to the conclusion that you have to find a way to ride the line without stepping over it.
“I think that there’s definitely a balance there. Not so much for us for the fame, but there’s definitely something to say for the money — I would rather be playing music than cleaning toilets,” says Mack.
“You have to, at some point, realize that you’re creating a product that you’re hoping people will buy. At least in some form, whether it’s going to a show, buying an album or just supporting you on the web,” he adds.
“Everybody has their own line of integrity — it’s important to push that, but not to go farther than you’re willing to go,” Mack explains.
Surprisingly Mack shares a different opinion about free downloading and online piracy.
“I love it. I think that for a band at the level that we’re at, the whole goal is to get your music out there,” he says.
There aren’t many bands with this mindset. Everyone wants to get paid. Birthday Boys belong to a special breed of rock groups — responsible, earnest and determined.
Mack even offered some insight to students out there.
“Whatever you’re doing right now in school is probably not what you’ll end up doing,” he laughs.
Whether you agree with this statement or not, it’s real. It’s genuine. Just like Birthday Boys.
Go out and buy a ticket to the show, order their album or just check out their YouTube page.
This band, unlike most, will be happy as long as their name gets out.
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