Bodacious!

>> Bad news can’t get Bodega’s
Andrew Rodriguez down

by JOHNSON CUMMINS

Bodega’s leader Andrew Rodriguez is all giggles over the phone from his home in Toronto. Considering all the shit that has come down on his band, not to mention that he is forced to live in Toronto, you’d think this to be out of character. Then again, why shouldn’t he be giggling? He’s got a new band and a new album under his belt—well, kind of a new record.

Here’s the skinny on Rodriguez’s bad mojo. Bodega were poised for the big time and quickly threw their hat into the major-label ring with their debut record. A week after the release date, Bodega got dropped due to the major label “cleaning house.” That’s okay, though, because the fat cats gave them plenty of dough-re-mi to fulfill the contract. With a major-label budget in the bank, the band went in to do their most ambitious work yet, Without a Plan. With Mercury Rev member/Flaming Lips producer Dave Fridmann producing, Without a Plan showed them as a fully-realized band, with Rodriguez firmly at the helm, steering into uncharted territories where only the most challenging writers reside.

So everything is hunky-dory right? Nuh-uh. Original members Kim Temple and Sam Goldberg left shortly after to pursue different musical avenues. Rodriguez was left with a record with no label to call home, and no band. What a big ol’ tale o’ woe, huh? Not really. Rodriguez quickly picked up the pieces and got a new band together. Last year, Halifax’s indie label Brobdingnagian jumped at the chance to put out the record.

“I’m still really excited about the record,” says Rodriguez. “I guess it’s a couple of years old, but people are just hearing it for the first time now and I think it has aged really well. I think the major-label was really positive because I ended up with this record and now I get to call all of the shots. The great thing about being independent is now I can put out records a lot faster. I think what a lot of people don’t realize is the band has been an independent band for 90 per cent of its existence. The major label haze lasted only for about a year.”

Rodriguez has hardly been resting on his laurels waiting for the release of the record, and has written almost two records’ worth of songs. Dedicating half of his current live set to his new material, Rodriguez is just tickled about Bodega’s new lineup. “The band has gone through a lot of changes, obviously, but I feel like the lineup we have now is great. I really feel pumped. We have a new guy in the band, Peter Chapman, and this tour will be our first shows with him. So everything feels new and we are really excited to just get out there.”

This one-time Montrealer, who cut his teeth in local bands like the Sherlocks and Stellar Dweller, also can’t wait to show off the goods to his hometown. “It’s a big deal playing Montreal for me and I can’t wait. I miss Montreal so much you wouldn’t believe it. Trying to move back is really on my priority list.” :

With the Hylozoists and Hopeful Monster at Casa del Popolo tonight, Thursday, Sept. 26, 10pm, price TBA :

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