Interview with Teenanger

Toronto based not-a-70s-punk band Teenanger is pretty fuckin cool. They have some lyrics I can more than relate to such as ‘gonna drink till the money’s all gone’. The Globe and Mail compared them to a 70’s punk band pretty much straight out, which is a pretty loose depiction if you ask me. Don’t get me wrong the article probably has a much better understanding of the motivations of the bands lyrics – at least it analyze them more. I’m just writing this as I’m listin to them and noticing that i just ‘smoked two joints at the same time’ and also enjoy random songs loosely based around Michael Jackson.

This interview was… a departure from my conversation with Ben from Bad Animal. For one, we did it over email, not an uncommon blog practice. Second, at this point it has never been specified, nor had I ever felt the need to ask, to which band member(s) I’d been speaking with arranging and executing this interview. So, ladies and gentlemen, I give you, with no further adue… My interview with Teenanger.

How would you describe your sound?

Somewhere between a dead cat and scrumming raccoons.

This seems like a good time for “Bank Account”.

 Would you be offended if I said it sounded like velvety punk?

Not at all. As long as you’re not referencing The Velvet Underground.

Where did your name come from?

It was given to us by mayoral candidate Kevin Clarke.

What is making you angry right now?

The world.

Is it fair to say you’re a political band?

Let’s not get wild here!

Can you tell me how you wrote, the thoughts behind “Cops but Not”?

Well, it’s a song about Cop paranoia. A.C.A.B.

What motivates you to make music?

Posterity.

The Globe and Mail compared your style to that of a 70’s punk band, do you feel that time period / style of music influences you when you write?

Definitely not. We draw influences from a lot of different genres of music.

What about videos and the video concepts? Where do they come from?

Usually we get together and do gateway drugs. Isn’t that how most good ideas are born?

How do you feel about the current state of the world?

Truly abysmal.

Anything you would like to promote?

We have a new record coming out in July. We hope you enjoy it.

So be honest, is all your money stashed in a mattress along with a bug-out bag? Should mine be?

No one makes money, no one gets paid.

This all just brings up so many more questions. We’ll try and catch up soon.

Teenanger will be playing on April 22, 2017 at The Garrison in Toronto, as part of Canadian Music Week