Snot rock sweethearts

>> >> Grilling Mar Sellars of the Riff Randells for a little cheese

by GENEVIEVE PAIEMENT

What has three sets of bangs, a deep affinity for bright-red waitress uniforms and survives almost entirely on Denny's grilled cheese sandwiches? Give up? Here's a hint: they're named after a character in the classic Ramones vehicle, Rock 'n' Roll High School (and their name is in the title of this article--duh!).

That's right, I'm talkin' 'bout Vancouver's Riff Randells, the latest West Coast, nyeh-nyeh, lo-fi snot-rock brats to come out of their mom's basement and spit out a seven-inch (self-titled, on--surprise!--Mint Records). With their nasal, whiny boy singer and their Sally-Ann, post-suburban garage style, this three-girls-and-a-boy gang have taken their act on the road. I had a hasty chat with Mar Sellars, the Riff Randells' 19-year-old bassist (and production assistant at CBC Radio 2's Radio Sonic) as the rest of the band nearly drove off to T.O. and left her stranded all by herself in Thunder Bay.

Mirror: So how's your first cross-Canada tour coming along?

Mar Sellers: Great. We had connections through Nardwuar and the Smugglers and the Gruesomes. We stayed with someone here in Thunder Bay that I met through Maximum Rock 'n' Roll's "Book Your Own Fucking Life" thing. But that service is mostly for weird hardcore bands that play basement shows. We've been playing clubs and there've been lots of late-night dance parties. Um, I can't talk long, though. My band is gonna leave without me...

M: Okay, just a few questions--you guys seem pretty organized, seeing as you've been together less than a year and are already touring across the country.

MS: Yeah, I made our Web site even before we played a show! But we've all wanted to be in bands for so long, it just seemed natural. When I was little I would sing along to the Mini Pops and record it and pretend I was a rock star. This was a long time coming.

M: What do you guys do when you're not rocking out?

MS: Kathy [Camaro, on guitar] is in school to be a teacher--of Women's Studies, I think. Anne-Marie [Rawk, on drums] works at a record shop and a photo lab. Sean [Raggett, vocals] used to run a vintage clothing store called the Good Jacket, then he worked at the library but he quit because he's going to a meditation camp in Colorado when we're done touring.

M: So the Riff Randells have a softer, spiritual side?

MS: No... just him.

M: You sound pretty firm about that.

MS: Yeah, well, we kinda make fun of him for it...

M: So what's with your unnatural love of grilled cheese sandwiches?

MS: That's not really me, but the rest of the band eats them every day. It's usually late at night and the only thing open is Denny's, and that's all they order: grilled cheese. I don't like processed cheese so I get a veggie burger.

M: So I guess you'll be happy to diversify your diet here, since you're playing at a Malaysian restaurant, Nantha's Kitchen. You know, stir-fries with fancy mushrooms and seitan...

MS: We don't like mushrooms, but our roadie is a vegan. He'll dig it. Oh! I think my band is driving away without me--guuuys?! Hooold on! :

With Fuad and the Fez-tones at Naughty Nantha's Dirty Sexy Party Palace (aka Nantha's Cuisine, 9 Duluth E.) on Saturday, June 10, 9pm, $5