We Were Heads

Toronto's We Were Heads are one of those bands you feel you know just from hearing their songs - but yet they're still mysterious strangers. They're the mellow, supportive high school friends you never had, the guys on the porch across the street drinking cheap cans of beer who wave and invite you over, the next band up on the bill who no one knows but they blow everyone away. These DIY-driven Bloordale noise-rockers have a ton of tracks to share on their Bandcamp page, and they've just premiered a new video (see below). They're also behind the community-oriented Wolfshirt Records collective and the Family Hours concert series. Wavelength's Jonny Dovercourt spoke to drummer Evan Sidawi in advance of their **NOTE: UPDATED 11:00PM** set Friday (June 14) at Wavelength's second night of NXNE showcases at Creatures Creating (822 Dundas Street West at Palmerston)...

Who is We Were Heads, what do you play and how did you all meet?

We Were Heads is made up of Evan Sidawi (drums), Dan Edwards (bass) and Peter Beales (guitar). We all met when we were really young growing up in Waterdown, a small suburb outside of Hamilton. I even remember that the first day Pete and Dan asked me to play in band with them was the day I got my braces put on.

How has your sound evolved during the time you've been together? Sunsounds of the Underground, from 2010, struck me as having a laconic '90s fuzz-rock vibe but the newer stuff on your Bandcamp is a little more wired and freak-bluesy. Thoughts?

When the band started, we were an experimental jam band with no sort of direction towards a particular sound. We would play songs that started very pop sounding and then devolve into a noise jam. Over the years of playing, we have found what styles have worked best for us and have also learned how to tie all of our influences together in a more coherent way. Also having different arrays of gear break down had an effect on the sound of the band.

Describe the average WWH rehearsal. What are you drinking? Basement or hourly room? Daylight or nighttime?

We jam in our house, so our rehearsals usually consists of waking up, drinking an obscene amount of coffee, and then upsetting our neighbours for the whole afternoon. We practice in my bedroom, which also doubles as our recording studio, so we usually have to maneuver around piles of laundry and recording equipment.

What is Wolfshirt Records all about? It seems like you are aspiring to do more than just be an indie record label. Feel free to describe your mission statement, if you have or were to have one, without sounding like you're writing a grant application.

We have lots of friends who are involved in the music and art community. Wolfshirt Records is the name we operate under when working with them on various projects. Even though the name suggests that we are a record label, we have more evolved into more of a collective. We like to focus on creating a group or environment in which we help each other produce in promote our work in a positive and creative way. Most of our bands inspiration comes form the people we work with closely, which is why we like to keep those relationships active.

I've been told you run a concert series named Family Hours. Fact or fiction? (I can find out little about it on the interwebs.) Feel free to share the whole story.

That is a fact. The Family Hours started up as a monthly concert series that I ran out of my old apartment at Spadina and Dupont. I ran them there for a year before we had to moves out because the shows tore the place to the ground. After that, we decided to try our luck at venues in the city and it seemed to translate well. They have always been centred around the idea of creating an atmosphere in which people can share a positive experience with music and good company. We have one coming up on July 20, where we plan to deck out a loft with installations and showcase some bands we really like.

Do you have a favourite pedal or piece of gear that defines the WWH sound?

We would all agree a big part of our sound comes from Pete's guitar rig. He rocks a Twin Red Knob that gives off a pretty crushing guitar sound. The amp is pretty loud, it can't go past 2 without people complaining that the guitar was too loud.

What's it like being a band in the age of Bandcamp? Do you feel that having all your music available for free cheapens or enriches the experience for the creator or listener?

We think the age of Bandcamp is great for being in a band. Bands now have an easy way for people to hear their music as well as a way for the band to sell it. All of our releases are available for free because we believe that music should be accessible to everyone. We create our music to share with people and we don't want anything to get in the way of that. We do appreciate when people make donations to our music though because it all goes back into the band.

Wh - Wavelength

Toronto's We Were Heads are one of those bands you feel you know just from hearing their songs - but yet they're still mysterious strangers. They're the mellow, supportive high school friends you never had, the guys on the porch across the street drinking cheap cans of beer who wave and invite you over, the next band up on the bill who no one knows but they blow everyone away. These DIY-driven Bloordale noise-rockers have a ton of tracks to share on their Bandcamp page, and they've just premiered a new video (see below). They're also behind the community-oriented Wolfshirt Records collective and the Family Hours concert series. Wavelength's Jonny Dovercourt spoke to drummer Evan Sidawi in advance of their **NOTE: UPDATED 11:00PM** set Friday (June 14) at Wavelength's second night of NXNE showcases at Creatures Creating (822 Dundas Street West at Palmerston)...

Who is We Were Heads, what do you play and how did you all meet?

We Were Heads is made up of Evan Sidawi (drums), Dan Edwards (bass) and Peter Beales (guitar). We all met when we were really young growing up in Waterdown, a small suburb outside of Hamilton. I even remember that the first day Pete and Dan asked me to play in band with them was the day I got my braces put on.

How has your sound evolved during the time you've been together? Sunsounds of the Underground, from 2010, struck me as having a laconic '90s fuzz-rock vibe but the newer stuff on your Bandcamp is a little more wired and freak-bluesy. Thoughts?

When the band started, we were an experimental jam band with no sort of direction towards a particular sound. We would play songs that started very pop sounding and then devolve into a noise jam. Over the years of playing, we have found what styles have worked best for us and have also learned how to tie all of our influences together in a more coherent way. Also having different arrays of gear break down had an effect on the sound of the band.

Describe the average WWH rehearsal. What are you drinking? Basement or hourly room? Daylight or nighttime?

We jam in our house, so our rehearsals usually consists of waking up, drinking an obscene amount of coffee, and then upsetting our neighbours for the whole afternoon. We practice in my bedroom, which also doubles as our recording studio, so we usually have to maneuver around piles of laundry and recording equipment.

What is Wolfshirt Records all about? It seems like you are aspiring to do more than just be an indie record label. Feel free to describe your mission statement, if you have or were to have one, without sounding like you're writing a grant application.

We have lots of friends who are involved in the music and art community. Wolfshirt Records is the name we operate under when working with them on various projects. Even though the name suggests that we are a record label, we have more evolved into more of a collective. We like to focus on creating a group or environment in which we help each other produce in promote our work in a positive and creative way. Most of our bands inspiration comes form the people we work with closely, which is why we like to keep those relationships active.

I've been told you run a concert series named Family Hours. Fact or fiction? (I can find out little about it on the interwebs.) Feel free to share the whole story.

That is a fact. The Family Hours started up as a monthly concert series that I ran out of my old apartment at Spadina and Dupont. I ran them there for a year before we had to moves out because the shows tore the place to the ground. After that, we decided to try our luck at venues in the city and it seemed to translate well. They have always been centred around the idea of creating an atmosphere in which people can share a positive experience with music and good company. We have one coming up on July 20, where we plan to deck out a loft with installations and showcase some bands we really like.

Do you have a favourite pedal or piece of gear that defines the WWH sound?

We would all agree a big part of our sound comes from Pete's guitar rig. He rocks a Twin Red Knob that gives off a pretty crushing guitar sound. The amp is pretty loud, it can't go past 2 without people complaining that the guitar was too loud.

What's it like being a band in the age of Bandcamp? Do you feel that having all your music available for free cheapens or enriches the experience for the creator or listener?

We think the age of Bandcamp is great for being in a band. Bands now have an easy way for people to hear their music as well as a way for the band to sell it. All of our releases are available for free because we believe that music should be accessible to everyone. We create our music to share with people and we don't want anything to get in the way of that. We do appreciate when people make donations to our music though because it all goes back into the band.

Wh - Wavelength

We Were Heads take to loosening their collars. Bathed in red light emanating from some cellophane covered lamp, they jump, cramp and crunch themselves through till the early morning. Why would you wanna go to the beach when your object of admiration just dyed their hair? Why let waves dump you when you can drink too many beers and hope one day he or she might? There will always be people to carry you home as you roll around on your shoulders. Yeah! - Sonic Masala

We Were Heads take to loosening their collars. Bathed in red light emanating from some cellophane covered lamp, they jump, cramp and crunch themselves through till the early morning. Why would you wanna go to the beach when your object of admiration just dyed their hair? Why let waves dump you when you can drink too many beers and hope one day he or she might? There will always be people to carry you home as you roll around on your shoulders. Yeah! - Sonic Masala

WE WERE HEADS / TRASH FACTORY / NOVEMBER 30TH
You know, I was ahead once but now I feel behind. Somewhat similarly, We Were Heads sound ahead while also sounding behind. What do I mean? Take "You Like the Shop, Pops?" It's fresh, it's cool but it also gestures to that '90s sound that all the kids are going crazy for — again — these days. Am I the only one who enjoys the renaissance of the sound more then the sound that's being renaissanced? I think I just dug my own grave there. Sheesh. Catch We Were Heads live on November 30th at the Cameron House as they release their hilariously titled album Trash Factory. - BlogTO

WE WERE HEADS / TRASH FACTORY / NOVEMBER 30TH
You know, I was ahead once but now I feel behind. Somewhat similarly, We Were Heads sound ahead while also sounding behind. What do I mean? Take "You Like the Shop, Pops?" It's fresh, it's cool but it also gestures to that '90s sound that all the kids are going crazy for — again — these days. Am I the only one who enjoys the renaissance of the sound more then the sound that's being renaissanced? I think I just dug my own grave there. Sheesh. Catch We Were Heads live on November 30th at the Cameron House as they release their hilariously titled album Trash Factory. - BlogTO

With the city overflowing with reliable PWYC destinations, it’s no surprise that you’re bound to find something different, if not so DIY-themed you’d think it’s someone’s basement. This trio of up-and-comers deliver a punk-drenched indie-rock workout with shout-sung vocals putting them on par with the rabid-noise jams of Teen Tits Wild Wives. No fancy tricks here. Just a bunch of guys playing their hearts out. - Lonely Vagabond

With the city overflowing with reliable PWYC destinations, it’s no surprise that you’re bound to find something different, if not so DIY-themed you’d think it’s someone’s basement. This trio of up-and-comers deliver a punk-drenched indie-rock workout with shout-sung vocals putting them on par with the rabid-noise jams of Teen Tits Wild Wives. No fancy tricks here. Just a bunch of guys playing their hearts out. - Lonely Vagabond