Podcast episode 342ish: Mounties (Hawksley Workman, Ryan Dahle & Steve Bays)

Are you ready to rock?! You better be because we've got Mounties on this very special podcast episode. You know, the rock band. The super-group. All three members are present and accounted for. Prior to their first ever Canadian tour (or tour anywhere), Hawksley Workman, Ryan Dahle, and Steve Bays stopped by the What's So Funny? studios for close to two hours. Gollywonkers, that's a long one. Sure, maybe it's a tad self-indulgent, but there are three of them. At 1 hour 48 minutes, that works out to a mere 36 minutes per Mountie.

It's not all music talk, don't you worry. No questions about musical influences or how they met. Rather it's a wide-ranging (read: all over the map) talk about things like Steve Bays' pet rabbit, Ryan Dahle's favourite teacher, and Hawksley Workman's favourite sitcom. We also gabbed about funny dads (they all have one, it turns out), memorizing Jerry Seinfeld routines, how merch takes the fun out of the music business, how boogie-woogie music makes you cool, and growing up in the 1940s. We also find out which Mountie isn't a big fan of Hall & Oates.

If you haven't already, go buy Mounties' album Thrash Rock Legacy. It's on iTunes. I bought it and love it. That's a high compliment because I know my rock'n'roll... It's still called rock'n'roll, isn't it? And while you're at it, go back and get some Hot Hot Heat, Fur Trade, Limblifter, Age of Electric, or any of Hawksley's previous incarnations. They're all the bee's knees, as the kids are saying.

Get started right here by clicking below. Or go to all the usual podcast outlets to download the episode. You know, Stitcher, PodcastLand, iTunes, et. al.

Mar. 9: Mounties (Steve Bays, Hawksley Workman, Ryan Dahle)

"Camera's over here, fellas."
From left, Workman, Dahle, Bays.

As its name would imply, What's So Funny? usually draws its guests from the vast world of comedy. Occasionally, though, I like to throw a bone to a young up-and-coming band struggling to make its way in the world of show business. I think of it as giving back to the community. So when the fledgling group Mounties approached me and begged to be on the show, I welcomed them with open arms.

Regular listeners of the show will be familiar with Steve Bays, who's been with us four previous times. Steve sometimes warbles with bands such as Fur Trade and the redundantly named Hot Hot Heat. Tonight he brings along two other boys with him: Ryan Dahle has dabbled in music with the bands Age of Electric and Limblifter; and Hawksley Workman, known for his work with Hawksley Workman (obviously he doesn't play well with others). Together the three lads have formed what is apparently known in the business as a "supergroup." I'll ask them what that means but presumably their costumes involve capes and masks – rock and roll isn't really my area of expertise. But I bought and paid for with my own hard-earned cash the new Mounties album just released this past week called Thrash Rock Legacy and I must say it's quite catchy. I highly recommend it. Don't let the title fool you. These boys have a lot of talent; they're not just out there thrashing around like animals.

So tune in tonight for all the fun and frivolity that only three musicians can bring you. We're on the air at 11 pm and will go until it ends, whenever that may be. Tune in to CFRO, Vancouver Co-op radio, 100.5 FM. If you're from far away, livestream us at coopradio.org. And of course we'll drop it as a podcast episode when I get around to it. Go download their album first to prime you. And check them out at a venue near you. They're going on tour in ten days once they learn all their songs and choreography. I will be in the front row at the Commodore when they play there on March 21 enjoying the mosh pit.