by LORRAINE CARPENTER

Since the Mirror last spoke to Shins singer James Mercer, keyboardist Marty Crandall and drummer Jesse Sandoval have followed his relocation from Albuquerque to Portland, as did guitarist/bassist Dave Hernandez from the band's previous incarnation, Flake Music, replacing Neal Langford, who quit to pursue professional hot air ballooning. The rock 'n' roll life just isn't for everyone, but the Shins have continued to enjoy its fruits with their sophomore album Chutes Too Narrow, a more immediate, confident pop product than their swirling, semi-psychedelic debut, Oh, Inverted World. Ahead of their second Montreal gig, Mercer updated the Mirror about all-American weaponry, burger ads and TV shows.

Mirror: How was Austin City Limits?

James Mercer: Terrifying.

M: Really?

JM: Oh yeah. Austin City Limits is a real musicians' show. You walk down this hall to the stage and there are photos of Willie Nelson and Tanya Tucker, these huge musicians. It's just scary. Next time, we'll be more relaxed.

M: I know Gap hired you to score an ad, but I was wondering how McDonald's got a hold of "New Slang," the song with the lyric about "dirt in your fries?"

JM: They had hired some ad agency in Chicago and a kid there really liked the Shins.

M: I assume you expected the usual grumbling over this, right?

JM: Yeah. It was right before the book Fast Food Nation was released. I'm a really pragmatic person, I don't get moved too severely by that stuff, but we knew that if we became associated with this cheesy company, it would be fucking lame. We were actually trying to make it impossible by demanding three times what they were willing to pay, and they pretty much gave it to us. Luckily the ad didn't play much.

M: Do you eat at McDonald's?

JM: Once in a while, on tour, but less and less as I get older and start worrying about my health. I'm a typical American kid who was brought up eating things like McDonald's. My family are cattle people too - my granddad, even my great-granddad, was a cattle rancher in Montana, so I have a lot of explaining to do.

M: I read that your dad was a country singer in the Air Force.

JM: Yeah, he would get home from work, take off his uniform and go to the nightclub. I remember helping him load up his VW bug with gear.

M: And now he helps you manage the band?

JM: We've actually hired a manager now.

M: So what's your dad doing?

JM: He's working for a company that designs missiles that will land, bore into the ground and deposit super-sensitive surveillance equipment so the government can find underground bunkers and then blow them up and kill people.

M: Whoa. So, uh, have you benefited from his performer's wisdom?

JM: Yeah, he watches us and gives us pointers about things, like how to handle yourself between songs. My dad was a big proponent for having Marty as the emcee, with me off to the side. There are rare occasions where I'm talkative on stage, but Marty just seems to naturally love the spotlight, so he can have it.

With the Brunettes at the Spectrum
on Tuesday, April 19, 8 p.m., $26.50

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