The Datsons are gear!

>> Montreal's sharp dressed men on all mod pros and cons

by JOHNSON CUMMINS

Photo by Mila Aung-Thwin

In the Beatles movie A Hard Day's Night, a clueless reporter hurtles the question, "Are you a mod or a rocker?" at Ringo Starr. Without blinking, Starr responded with the now-famous "I'm a mocker" retort.

"Mocker" could also be the best way of describing the sound and fury of Montreal's Datsons. Having more than just a passing fancy for soul and R&B, the trio aren't shy to show their rocker roots as well. "I've always loved early Chess label stuff, like Chuck Berry and Fats Domino," explains guitarist/singer Trevor Anderson, "and I also really liked Motown and Stax stuff. So when I discovered the mod thing, it just really kind of clicked."

Let's take a closer look at the oxymoronic word "mod," shall we? Short for "modern," yet a niche drenched in the past. The whole thing does seem just a little bit suspect.

If you are wearing a snowmobile suit and a Rush jersey, you by definition cannot be a mod--the style clearly dictates a very strict dress code. Although it would be easy to brush it off as freeze-dried fashion for rave- and Epitaph-weary teens, Anderson explains that there really is more than meets the eye.

"I guess the mod movement is my personal form of subversion. In England in the '60s, mods would always look sharp and were usually the people you would hire to be clerks in your shop. But at night they were doing all sorts of drugs and drinking. I guess I like the idea that sharp-dressed men aren't exactly what they seem."

Given that I have never seen a mod over the age of 30, I can't help but wonder if the shelf life of mods is somewhat limited. I mean, what could be creepier than a 50-year-old mod? "Without a doubt I will always love this music," says Anderson, "and probably always enjoy dressing sharp. But when I'm 50 I'd like to see myself being a real 'dandy,' wearing goggles and scarves and uh, I don't know, hunting pheasants or something."

Hey! Isn't that how Paul Weller spends his days now?

With the Candidates and the Damn Personals at Jailhouse Rock on Sunday, September 5, 9pm, $5