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Volume 47 Issue 1 Wednesday May 31, 2006 www.cordweekly.com Roberts rules Reluctant rock star Sam Roberts caps the year off at the Turret JOE TURCOTTE A&E EDITOR

Sam Roberts’ strained voice speaks for itself, cementing the fact that staging the “Mother of All Tours” is no easy task. In be- tween setting-up in order to rock WLUSU’s Year-End Party, Roberts sat down and spoke with the Cord about the rigors of touring and the rock ‘n roll lifestyle. “I’m in preservation mode right now, but you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do,” a tired and raspy-voiced Roberts said. “It’s just about trying to keep going, man. There’s no recovery time, we get one or two days off. Tour- ing is deadly, man; touring is hard as hell. Touring is the hardest Paul Alviz thing.” SPARE SOME CHANGE? - With the UPASS expiring on May 1, Laurier students now have to scrounge together $2.25 to get around on GRT. But while the schedule may be grueling, the Canadian singer- song writer has no regrets, as he realizes that touring is essential. “Anytime you put out a new re- cord there’s only a few ways to promote it. There are interviews and the press, but you’re not really No UPASS for summer in control of that. Then you have the marketing strategies that your labels devise, and then you have Due to a number of logistical concerns, GRT and WLUSU were unable to come to terms for a summer shows, which to me [are] the best way to get your point across and extension to the popular new bus pass; both sides remain optimistic as negotations continue the only way where you’re ever fully in control.” While he remains in control MIKE BROWN students who have been sad to because there are students here make it work operationally.” over performing, Roberts ac- NEWS EDITOR see the UPASS unavailable for – there are quite a number of The major obstacle to the knowledges that he loosened-up the summer term. While there students here,” Chaudhry notes. summer UPASS is the GRT’s on the reins when recording his On May 1, the clock struck mid- are certainly a number of motor- “I’m not sure what the cost-ben- concern about fraudulent use. newest album, Chemical City. night on the pilot project of a ized students pleased to wave efit for GRT is, but I think they While the number of students Instead of personally perform- WLUSU initiative that has had goodbye to an unwanted man- should offer it.” attending classes in the sum- ing all the instruments and later more than its fair share of the datory fee, they appear to be And that’s where this astute mer drops from about 10,650 to assembling the tracks in the stu- limelight in the past year, as the outnumbered by those without business mind hits the problem 1,235, many students opt to stay dio, as he did for 2003’s We Were UPASS’ eight-month prelimi- wheels. directly on the head. The inabil- and work in Waterloo. Born in a Flame, Roberts and his nary contract expired and One- “It really, really sucks,” la- ity to hammer out a mutually- Of course, without any means band assembled in Australia and Cards throughout Waterloo were ments third-year political sci- acceptable summer contract of identifying which students are recorded together. rendered ineffectual on the city’s ence student Chris Zaldua. “[My stems from logistical difficulties paying tuition fees, Grand River “It was good not to be alone in busses. girlfriend and I] use the bus all that were far less prevalent in the Transit is concerned about free the studio, that’s a pretty lonely The collaboration between the time and having that pass is fall and winter terms. rides occurring in a much higher existence. [This way] you have Wilfrid Laurier’s Student Union extremely useful ‘cause it saves “Where we found it challeng- proportion than they would dur- five people propping up the- en and Grand River Transit was us over $100 every two months ing was, ‘How do I identify that ing the other eight months of the ergy of the record, instead of one not without its potholes, such a student stayed year, when a comparably small person trying to carry it all on his as the initial revolt of part-time in school during number of co-op students re- shoulders. I don’t know if great students displeased at having to “It really, really sucks. We use the the summer?’” main in Kitchener-Waterloo. rock and roll has ever come from pay for a service that was by and explains John “I just don’t think it was a that,” the increasingly excited large useless to them. bus all the time and having that Cicuttin, associ- priority for them,” shrugs Jen Roberts said. Still, the initial bump in the pass is extremely useful ‘cause ate director of Mitchell, recently-departed vice- When speaking about his mu- road was dealt with and, once transportation president: university affairs and sic, Roberts speaks like a father part-time students were re- it saves us over $100 every two planning for the the woman who was charged talking about his children. That moved from the agreement, their months or so.” Region of Wa- with doing much of the leg work being said, Roberts doesn’t want full-time counterparts generally terloo. “We got in the project’s inaugural year. “I to take anything away from his warmed to the $40 per term fee. hung up on that think they were far too worried major label debut by comparing Ridership jumped from 25,000 - Chris Zaldua, disappointed student a little bit and, about fraud and things like that it to Chemical City. OneCard sightings on GRT bus- at the time, it to actually tackle the issue.” “I’m really happy with the first ses in September 2005 to 65,000 didn’t seem to “It was a lot of stuff to talk record. It meant that I was start- by November. or so.” be a great ground-swell. about,” adds Mitchell’s succes- ing off down the road. I don’t ever Alas, calm waters rarely per- Zaldua has a kindred spirit in “We said, ‘Let’s park that and sor, J.D. Muir. “Unfortunately, want to take away from it by com- sist for long and GRT and WLU- fourth-year business student we can deal with it next sum- along the GRT side, getting ev- paring it to what I’m doing now. SU may now have a much larger Saurabh Chaudhry. mer.’ We’re open-minded to it; eryone together for a meeting student demographic to ap- “It’s pretty ridiculous that it’s it’s not something we’re opposed - see ROBERTS, page 14 pease, as it’s not just part-time not offered during the summer to, but we need to figure a way to - see UPASS, page 2 Arts & Entertainment The Cord Weekly WEDNESDAY MAY 31, 2006 14 Reflecting the landscape A hoarse Sam Roberts tells Cord A&E editor, Joe Turcotte, he doesn’t want to push a social agenda, but push his music as far and as wide as possible

- from ROBERTS, cover make it a fact.” the United States. But like Dylan and Lennon, “I want to push my music as far But your musical instinct is to Roberts’ music is more than just and wide as possible,” an excited pursue different musical av- catchy hooks and inviting melo- Roberts beamed. enues. Different approaches to dies. Chemical City has been de- He does seek some sort of your song writing and the lyrical scribed as a response to the ur- validation from the scene in the content, anything. You should ban decay that the band has wit- States, “I do feel that, for sure. never try to consciously direct nessed first hand while touring. Not because it’s a matter of pride what you’re doing.” “We don’t just play the 10 to 12 or anything like that. But at some And while he was writing for major cities in Canada, we go ev- point you have to expand your the new album, Roberts admits erywhere. When you put it all to- boundaries and push your hori- that sometimes his musical in- gether [the album] has this feeling zons. That just leads to a longer spiration seemed to come from to it in a way. The songs we write and healthier career. It’s not a per- unconscious sources. are a reflection of the life we live sonal thing like ‘I have to conquer “Sometimes you feel like a and the places that we see. For the States.’ It’s just the next place medium, that you’re channeling me I’m very much rooted in an to go, it’s right there and there are something from beyond. And urban landscape every day. But 300 million people who just love then sometimes it’s very much I’m not obsessed with it or any- rock and roll music.” something that you have to work thing. ‘Mind Flood’ is very much Although Roberts is looking to at. You have to sculpt a raw idea. set in Algonquin Park or some take the next step to the United You take that and hope that you place like that. That’s where I see States, he still feels proud to be can make something, but that that song.” part of the burgeoning Canadian takes a lot of work,” the ever- While Roberts admits that music scene. humble Roberts revealed with a some of his songs may look as “I think there’s a lot of great smile. though they have a social agenda, bands who are all gifted in their For someone that has had so he is quick to dismiss the idea the own right working right now,” much success and has had so he explicitly tries to be political or Roberts acknowledged while de- many lofty comparisons made push an agenda. flecting away any talk of being about his music, Roberts’ humil- “I never want to tailor what I responsible for the success of the ity is refreshing. do to a certain crowd,” Roberts Canadian music industry. “No, While Chemical City is bound admits, “if I’m political or socially no, I don’t think we were in any to be a smash success, Roberts conscious it’s because that’s how way at all responsible for it. I think is reluctant to acknowledge the I feel. I don’t want it to be like they’re all tremendous bands who comparisons to legends like Bob I’m getting on my soap-box or are doing their own thing.” Dylan and John Lennon that the anything.” While Roberts may be reluctant media often makes. As a Canadian who has had to be seen as more than just an- “I don’t think it necessarily re- the fortune to travel from coast other artist doing what he loves flects reality. They’re two of my to coast, Roberts’ music is an to do, he is viewed by many as a idols for sure, people that I look expression of the diversity of the premier member of the Canadian up to as songwriters. Their mu- Canadian landscape. rock music community. sic inspires me, but it inspires a Nuanced and complex, Rob- And if the Canadian success of whole lot of other people too. I erts’ music does not take well to Chemical City is reciprocated in think every musician would love being defined in simple terms. the United States, maybe this rock Joe Turcotte to be compared to Dylan and With Canada seemingly con- and roller from Montreal will be- ROBERTS TAKES IN THE VIEW - Before he rocked the Turret, Sam Lennon, but that doesn’t mean quered, Roberts sees the next come an international sensation. Roberts got an eye full of the Waterloo skyline. they measure up at all. It doesn’t logical step as taking his music to Pearl Jam returns with a vengeance

bum, Ten. Vedder’s bluesy chorus to be found, conveniently”) and Pearl Jam’s anti-war album may be the band’s first foray into grunge melody in “Come Back” stands “Army Reserve” (“She tells her- in stark contrast to the rest of self and everyone else/Father DRU JEFFRIES their latest effort is self-titled, The album opens with “Life the album, in which they have is risking his life for our free- STAFF WRITER so good luck forgetting what it’s Wasted,” a hard-rocking grunge eschewed the blues elements of doms”) are not as polemical as called. piece that features uncharacter- their sound in favour of the grun- Young’s album, which features a The May issue of Gentlemen’s Pearl Jam’s latest album has istically primitive guitar work gier rock that is popular now. song entitled “Let’s Impeach the Quarterly features a small ar- little in common with the Grate- by Mike McCready and Stone The album closer, “Inside Job,” President.” ticle dubbing Pearl Jam “the new ful Dead, though it proudly wears Gossard. sounds vaguely like “Black” (also While Young’s album is about Grateful Dead,” citing such belit- its classic rock influences on its The length and quality of the from Ten), but with more drive living with war, ultimately Pearl tling similarities as “generally bad sleeve. Like many of today’s pop- guitar solos, on this track and and optimism. Jam’s is more about living… with hair,” “shorts onstage” and “a lot ular bands, the latest Pearl Jam throughout the album, separate The first single, “World Wide war. better than Phish.” offering is full of abrasive chord- Pearl Jam from their peers in the Suicide,” hides Vedder’s thought- Aside from being derogatory to based riffs, harkening back to Pete “nü-grunge” movement. Mc- ful and poignant lyrics beneath both bands, the joke piece lands Townsend’s work with The Who. Cready and Gossard, both equally brash and primal guitar work. It is one significant punch to Pearl While Pearl Jam hail from Seat- adept with the pick and the wah here that his vocal opposition to Jam’s reputation. The first similar- tle and emerged around the same pedal, stand out as the only con- the Bush administration and U.S. ity listed between the two bands, time as Nirvana, they have always temporary practitioners of the foreign policy first manifests itself that “they sell out arenas in two had more in common with clas- 1970s-style of rock guitar. on the album. minutes, and you can’t name any sic rock bands like Led Zeppelin Album highlights include Pearl Jam is as much an anti- of their last five albums,” is only than their contemporaries, who “Gone,” which begins as a quiet, war statement as Neil Young’s partly true. demonstrated more of a punk Kurt Cobain-esque acoustic med- recently released Living With The albums in question, 1996’s influence. That being said, this itation, but by the end of the first War. Vedder-penned songs like No Code, 1998’s Yield, 2000’s Bin- album might be their first true verse winds up in familiar Pearl “Marker in the Sand” (“Now you aural, and 2002’s Riot Act are all full-length foray into “grunge” Jam territory, evoking shades of got both sides claiming killing in terrific albums. Furthermore, territory. “Oceans” from 1991’s debut al- God’s name/But God is nowhere