Bloc ’n’ roll

>> An Ottawa anglophone takes the Pepsi challenge

by JOHNSON CUMMINS

We often hear francophones singing for their supper in English, at least here in Quebec, but rarely do we get anglophone singers from Ontario trying their darndest to sing in French. Well, Rhume’s head honcho Jon Bartlett ain’t yer regular guy, and the band’s Jeu de puissance ain’t no regular Can-con rock. Bartlett buries his nose in the Larousse and the result is some of the most painful pronunciation since Big Sugar bought into la belle province.

Mirror: What made you want to sing in French? Is there a hidden concept at work here?
Jon Bartlett: It was something I had been thinking about for a few years, actually. I wanted to see if I could write and record an entire album in French. Some would say that it’s not really French—some frenchies can’t even make out the words—but it’s an Anglo talking here, so what do you expect? I grew up in New Brunswick and was immersed in French culture from an early age. I’ve always had an appreciation for Quebec, and I guess this is a bit of a salute to that. The concept is warm, stringy cheese curds and gravy running down my beard.

M: Were you expecting more of a reaction from Quebec when Jeu de puissance came out?
JB: Reaction has been mixed, as expected. Some people get really pissed off at the gall of “dis guy in da Nordiques jersey,” but some people are really into it. The album has been on one Quebec City radio station’s chart for four months, and they get requests for it all the time, so we’re getting both ends of the stick. My whole goal with this album was to just forget about the rest of the country and concentrate on playing shows and partying in Quebec.

M: With your other band Greenfield Main, you explored the subject of hunting over a whole record, so what topic are you hoping to tackle on the next one?
JB: I’m finding it hard to get away from this novelty-rock tag now. People are always expecting something hokey from me, and rightfully so, I guess. The new G.M. record idea is to try and just make a really solid country rock record. I’ve been listening non-stop to stuff like Lee Hazlewood and the International Submarine Band for the past few years, and I’d love to channel those influences into something if we can. The problem, though, is taking it seriously. It’s just more fun to make up retarded songs about shooting stuff or truckin’, and maybe I can blame Ween for poisoning my mind permanently in that regard. Anyway, it’ll probably end up being a fishing record or something.

M: Have you been accused of just taking the piss from Quebec culture and language?
JB: Oh, yeah. Some people look at the poutine and Nordiques jersey and get their guard up, but people are always going to do that. I try to convey that there is a sincerity there, but in a way, it’s fun to argue with people about it as well. Culture is something to enjoy, but also something to laugh at too. I’m just hoping that people are laughing along with me, instead of getting ready to whoop my ass. :

With Dante’s Flaming Uterus at Casa del Popolo tonight, Thursday, June 20, 9pm, $5