Said the Whale Ride a Wave of Hijinx at Juno Fest

Posted on Mar 26th 2011 11:45AM by Jessica Lewis
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Pop Machine

In the last month, Vancouver's Said the Whale had gear stolen from their van in Sacramento, Calif., toured the states and played SXSW. It's been a rocky American road, so coming back to their native land to celebrate their Juno Award nomination for Best New Group seemed to lift spirits all around at their JunoFest performance.

"Wowsers, we sure are pleased to be in Canada at the moment!" exclaimed vocalist and guitarist Ben Worcester at Toronto's Horseshoe Tavern on Friday night (March 25). He then rattled off a list of other reasons Canucks should be proud, namely beer and colorful money.

While Said the Whale are clearly hoping to walk away victorious Saturday night when their award is handed out at the Junos gala dinner and ceremony, the outfit clearly wasn't taking things too seriously as Worcester was sporting one a band t-shirt from one of the other nominees, Hollerado.

"Craziness is the most accurate word for what's happening," vocalist and guitarist Tyler Bancroft told Spinner after the set. "It's an insane, humbling experience."

The five-piece performed between Rap Recording nominee D-Sisive and Solo Roots and Traditional Album nominee Justin Rutledge, and blasted through hits from their records 'Howe Sounds/Taking Abalonia' and 'Islands Disappear.'

Songs such as 'The Light is You,' 'Camilo (The Magician)' and 'Holly, Ontario' got the crowd singing and clapping -- though the audience was captivated by every moment, including new songs 'Jesse,' '1980' and 'Lines.'

As the show was broadcasted by CBC Radio 3, the group used their time in between songs for cracking jokes, making up what was happening from "boobies being flashed" to "there's a teddy bear wearing a diaper," and so on.

Those at home missed out on the sight that was Spencer Schoening drumming on a rafter from the ceiling, as well as getting a formal introduction to new bass player Nathan Shaw.

The band also raved about SXSW, especially since new gear has been donated.

"It was everything it was hyped up to be," Schoening told Spinner. But, as someone who was attacked by a woman wielding a container of mustard randomly at the festival -- on camera, no less -- he laughed, "Luckily I love mustard!"

Watch the Mustard Incident