Music: Blurtonia

Rule Blurtonia!

>> From Change of Heart to a change of perspective: Ian Blurton

by JOHNSON CUMMINS

Whether he likes it or not, Ian Blurton is a Canadian rock icon. Having earned the respect of everyone from the Tragically Hip (who just asked Blurtonia to be their sweat act for a couple of shows) to Tricky Woo (who just employed Ian to produce their Sometimes I Cry record), Blurton is finally getting the attention he deserves. His old band Change of Heart has a tribute record coming out in their honour, and the buzz over Blurtonia's debut record on his own label Web of Sound is still ringing. The Mirror talked to Blurton on the Regina stop of his cross-Canada tour.

Mirror: Do you like being known as an indie icon?

Ian Blurton: No. (switches into sarcasm) I guess I wouldn't mind being a Canadian rock icon though, like Rik Emmett or Burton Cummings.

M: After Change of Heart broke up, and you went on the road with Hayden and Treble Charger as soundman, did you learn anything?

IB: It gave great perspective on being in a band full time. I instantly understood just how irritating musicians can be. It's a good job but I do get really sick of doing sound after a while. Though I'm sure that's what I'll go back to doing once this tour ends.

M: Is there a big difference between the way you tour now and the luxuries of a Hayden or Treble Charger tour?

IB: Well, on this tour we get paid $10 a day and we sleep in the van. None of us seem to mind, though. It's making us really tight as a unit. I feel really rejuvenated going on this tour. I just don't want it to end.

M: Has the crowd response to the new band been good?

IB: I would say that we've been playing to about twice as many people as Change of Heart did on their last tour. I guess it's just a case of familiarity breeding contempt. After being around for 16 years, people just didn't get excited about Change of Heart anymore.

M: What do you think of the CoH tribute album that's coming out?

IB: I think it's beautiful. When I first heard about it I just started crying. It's the ultimate compliment, especially considering that Change of Heart were fans first and musicians second. I'm also completely detached from the whole thing, which is cool. My only involvement is by supplying wrong lyrics to bands who can't make out the original ones.

M: Now that you have a live band and it's not so much your project, how has that changed your sound?

IB: It changes every night because we don't rehearse. There's a lot more mistakes, but a lot more fun, too. Our bass player has only been in the band for two weeks. We played a show in Toronto and he was getting up on stage and pretending he was hanging himself with the mic cable, screaming into the microphone and fooling around with his nipples. We found out he used to play bass four years ago and asked him if he wanted to join the band. He's coming along good now but sometimes he gets too drunk and forgets the songs, but even that's just funny.

With Tricky Woo at Foufounes Électriques on Monday, September 20, 8pm, $5