Zine and be seen

>> Nada Surf ride the indie wave

by LORRAINE CARPENTER

New York's Nada Surf, whose mini-hit "Popular" you might remember from a few summers back, have had it with major labels. Their second album, The Proximity Effect, was released in Europe in 1998 but, due to legal disputes and bickering, won't see the light of day here until August 29 on Mardev Records.

In the meantime, this threesome--Matthew Caws (vocals, guitar), Daniel Lorca (bass, vocals) and Ira Elliot (drums)--are going grassroots and selling the album at shows. Can't you hear it already? "Hey, we're Nada Surf, you can buy our new CD at the back."

"It's just a huge relief to get it out, there's no downside," says Caws. "We toured a lot in Europe but we didn't quite play the songs out, which is good because we really love playing them." In anticipation of the album's release, Nada Surf are doing a handful of North American shows, including (count 'em) three dates in la belle province.

"We really like playing francophone places. Daniel and I met at a French school in New York and we've had such a great time in France, and also [Quebec's] right there and I'd like to know it better," says Caws. "Why, does it seem insane?"

No, especially considering these shows (and this interview) were booked by Quebecer J.F. Rioux, a key player in the Laval-based, French-language zine emoRAGEi, which has always been a Nada-Surf-friendly publication. In fact, they're on the cover of the current issue. But with the DIY nature of the Internet taking over zine culture, do indie bands still benefit from mini-mag exposure?

"I think it's still very important," says Caws. "Not just zines, but anything that's homemade. It's obvious that people are doing it--not to be completely corny here--but doing it for the love of records and music."

Apart from his stint as the frontman in an alternative rock band, Caws occasionally writes for El Pais, an NYC Spanish daily, and Guitar World magazine. "I interviewed Lou Reed four or five months ago and it was very strange, because I'm not as much of a fan of his current work," says Caws. "Thankfully the new record has some really great lyrics. I'm too big of a Velvets fan to just go into an interview and say, 'Hey, your last record's no good, what's up?'"

With New Brunswick's Test Tone Channel at Club Zone on Thursday, July 27, 8pm, $9