Michael Cera Pals Around With Canadian Indie Rock Stars

Michael Cera has been making indie rock headlines ever since his on-screen cover of the Moldy Peaches' 'Anyone Else but You' with Ellen Page in 2007's surprise hit 'Juno' sent the music and film worlds into a feel-good frenzy.

Since then, the Canadian actor has taken a string of musically inclined roles, like his love-struck indie geek in 'Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist,' played soccer with Weezer's Rivers Cuomo and is currently starring in the trippy music video 'No You Don't' by Montreal indie act Islands.

So it comes as no surprise that during his time in Toronto filming 'Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World' -- in which Cera plays the bass-wielding title character from Bryan Lee O'Malley's cult comic series -- the movie star managed to immerse himself in the city's bustling music scene and began hanging with members of Canada's most prominent bands.

"I got into the 'Ossington Scene'," Cera tells Spinner, referencing one of Toronto's hippest streets. "We recorded [the movie's music] at [former Death From Above 1979 member and current solo artist] Sebastian Grainger's home studio in his backyard. I really like him. Also, I really like Broken Social Scene. I got to know Kevin [Drew] while working on the film."

The current 'Youth in Revolt' star even managed to get over his fear of crowded spaces and check out a show by Montreal band Clues, led by former Unicorns member Alden Penner and one-time Arcade Fire member Brendan Reed.

"I don't like to go to concerts normally," Cera admits, in his typically awkward manner. "I get anxious in large groups. It goes all the way back to going to school. It brings back some weird memories of being surrounded by people. But I worked with Alden Penner [on last year's pseudo-documentary 'Paper Heart'] so I went."

You'll have to wait until the summer release of 'Scott Pilgrim...' to check out Cera's musical chops, but in the meantime you can hear his contribution to the 'Youth in Revolt' soundtrack, 'I Have a Boyfriend.'