New zoo revue

>> Getting the skinny on the New Town Animals

by CHRIS BARRY

The New Town Animals are a rollicking gang of neo-punks and self-proclaimed nerds from B.C. whose new record Is Your Radio Active? harkens back to the halcyon days of the late '70s, back when punks were punks and the pogo ruled the dancefloor. The Mirror had a chance to speak with guitarist Jeffie Pop over the phone from one of the Animals' folks' place in Windsor, Ontario.



Mirror: I keep hearing the New Town Animals referred to as "snotty." Is that something that develops naturally for people forced to grow up in your hometown of Abbottsford, B.C.?

Jeffie Pop: Actually, I don't know where that comes from--some Dead Boys reference, I assume. But no, actually, I'm the only guy in the band from Abbottsford. Nick grew up in England, Alex grew up in Russia and Steve is French.

M: Embracing the 1970s punk aesthetic the way you do, does it ever sometimes feel like you're playing in a revival band, like Sha Na Na or something?

JP: Not really. It's not like we are going out of our way to emulate something from another era. We're just doing what we like to do, what we feel, and as long as that's coming across and people are responding to it, then it really doesn't matter. We just came into this sound naturally. I was actually brought up on skate rock bands. And our roots go deeper than just '70s punk, you know? We also listen to a lot of stuff from the '50s and '60s, like Chuck Berry, the Shangri-Las and that sort of thing. But a lot of people say we sound kind of like a mix between the Clash and the Dickies.

M: Ah, a man after my own heart. I love the Dickies but most people think I'm retarded for liking them so much.

JP: Oh no, the Dickies and the Toy Dolls are, like, my two top bands. The Dickies have been going for so long and they just never suck. Even their newer records are good. The reason why people don't always get it is because most punk rock kids want to try and pretend that they're tough, and the Dickies are anything but tough. But gimme a break, most punk rock people are skinny wimps--like me. The Dickies are the epitome of a good band, just nerds and dorks who don't care but who have with this incredible wit. Plus, they write great songs.

M: Do you think many kids going out to see you have ever heard of the Dickies or any of the bands you guys might have borrowed from?

JP: Absolutely not. The younger people have mostly been brought up on the Epitaph bands. But we also get a lot of older people who grew up with the Damned and the original punk bands coming to our gigs.

M: So how old are you guys?

JP: We're all about 30, except Chuckie, our drummer, who is 21. But we all look really young. I'm 28 but most people don't think I'm over 20.

With Mary Prankster and Operation Makeout at Jailhouse Rock on Friday, Aug. 17, 10pm, $6