PROPAGANDHI
The SiS Interview by Kevin Hakansson

Calling all punk rockers - I sure hope you didn’t think that Propagandhi broke up. I mean sure, they don’t tour all that often, and it’s not as if they release a new record every other year, but 2009 is a big year for the band. Indeed, they do have a new record out, and they are touring in support of it, ready to whet the thirst their rabid fans that have waited years to get a taste of band in a live environment.

Founded in 1986, Propagandhi is still supported by the rock of founding members Chris Hannah (vocals/guitar) and Jord Samolesky (drums). Joined by bassist Todd Kowalski and, most recently, guitarist David “Beaver” Guillas, the band recently release Supporting Caste, a record that’s just as politically cynical and critical as any of their prior efforts.

The album and band have been met on the road by throngs of adoring fans, selling out dates on the east coast and at record release shows in their hometown of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Soon they’ll entertain fans across the pond with a two-week European tour beginning April 17th. Stranded in Stereo had a chance to catch up with bassist Kowalski shortly after the band joined Paint It Black in rocking the Middle East in Cambridge, MA to talk about the band’s latest efforts, both musically and personally.

SIS: I love the new record. Are there any particular influences, musical or not, that influenced you guys this time around?

TK: The musical influences for this record were the same as always: Sacrifice, Razor, and Voivod with many other ideas pulled from all over the place. The non-musical influences come from people we know in the city as well as a few harsh or sad experiences we've had in the last couple years. We spend a lot of time watching what's happening in the world. This informs our music directly and indirectly for sure.

SIS: How was the experience of recording with Bill Stevenson and Jason Livermore at the Blasting Room? Have you recorded there before?

TK: We've mixed at the Blasting Room before. Usually Jason Livermore does most, if not all, of the mixing there. This time Jason mixed it all. We had a good time there. They work very, very hard. We had a good time too for the most part and we ended up with a record that actually came out on time and sounds good so it seems like it was the right choice!

SIS: Propagandhi is well known for its activism. What causes and/or charities are you currently most interested in or supporting?

TK: Well, Jord is really busy with the Canada-Haiti Action Network (CHAN), which documents and exposes Canadian involvement in a coup against the elected President of Haiti as well as many other political and corporate crimes there. I volunteer at a place called the N.E.E.D.S. Centre, which is a place where refugee children from ages 12 to 18 come after school to do a bunch of activities. I used to work there but now with all our touring I just volunteer. I also volunteer at a place called the Welcome Place, which does settlement for refugee families in Winnipeg. In the summer we also do a market in Central Park where people from various countries sell things they've made or imported from their native countries. We also support Sage House, a women’s shelter, and some other groups with benefit showshere in the city. We try to keep busy doing what we can.

SIS: It's been pretty well documented that the band doesn't do the sort of full-time touring that many bands do. How do you feel the scarcity of your tours shape your relationship with the road, compared to bands who go out for months at a time?

TK: This time around we are touring a lot. We decided to give ourselves a fair shake. When you don't tour it's hard to have people interested in your new record. Now with Beaver along we enjoy the live shows a lot more. We also practiced like crazy to have a more solid show so the road is a lot smoother. We try to make sure we're not playing too many shows so we can deliver each show with our heart and not out just as part of some dull routine. So far so good.

SIS: What does each of the band's members do when you're off the road?

TK: We all spend a lot of time alone and together practicing, always. Chris records bands here in the city. I volunteer at the places I mentioned, as does Jord. I like to wrestle and draw a lot. I play my guitar a lot. I'm not sure what Beave’s been up to in the last little bit. He was a landscaper but quit to tour. We read a lot, and answer a ton interviews and emails.

SIS: You've just finished up a U.S. east coast tour and a few hometown CD release dates. Are there any plans for a full Canadian tour, or tours of other parts of the U.S.?

TK: We are going to play a few shows in Ontario and Quebec in the near future, in May I think. We’re also heading from the UK to Italy in three weeks as well as a western U.S. tour coming up. After that hopefully we're off to Mexico, South America and some other places, maybe China!

SIS: How do the current economic conditions in the United States affect the way that a band tours, particularly a band from Canada?

TK: So far it hasn't changed our plans at all. Maybe it will soon, I don't know?

SIS: Propagandhi's been around for quite some time now...did you think back in 1986 that you'd still be recording and touring in 2009?

TK: I didn't think the world would last till 2009. Ha! I knew I'd be playing music for sure. That's something that must be done!!