SPACECRAFT 7
WAVELENGTH #23
JULY 16 - 10 PM
Spacecraft 7 is a perpetual motion machine piloted by four sonic spacemen from the dark side of Saturn. Jonny Dovercourt investigated the 'craft's klassik drone-rock jetstream.....
What is your trajectory?
Stephen Dohnberg: We're on an intergalactic tour of this minor group of
planets and we're hoping to make it at least to Galaxie #500, maybe farther
if the Volkskraft Transportation Unit holds out. We still need somewhere on
this planet to crash. Can we stay at your place?
Marc Fedak: Bill tends to go straight, I tend to the left, Steve goes all
over the place at the same time, and Domenic goes to the right. But of
course, this is all relative: location depends on speed and vice versa.
Name your primary fuel source(s).
Stephen: Herbal biomass and fantastical ideas generally fuel this machine
but it'll run on lots of stuff including recycled plastic bags, pizza crusts
and Herb Alpert 8-tracks.
Marc: For me, the satisfaction of writing a song that is strong musically
and lyrically captures the essence of what I wanted to say is the chief one;
to a somewhat lesser extent, a good gig where the audience is into what
we're doing, and even a good practice where everyone is connecting also
keeps me going. For Bill, I would say that he needs the added high octane
kick of a pipeful or two.
If nonlocal travel through the spacetime continuum was not a physical
impossibility, to which era would you travel?
Stephen: Spacecraft 7 have their eyes firmly focused upon the future but if
we had to pick an era maybe Berlin in 1932. A hot, dangerous time of
duelling Nazis and Bolsheviks, degenerate art, Kandinsky at the Bauhaus,
surrealist film and naked chicks in the cabarets. And we'd warn everyone
that the end was near! Or maybe 1967 in San Francisco 'cuz of the hot
chicks, free sex, orgies, protests with meaning, acid rock and the Yippies.
And we'd warn everyone that the end was near!
Marc: Why limit yourself to one? I would have to pick both the mid '60s to
early '70s (Coltrane, MC5, Soft Machine, Mississippi Fred McDowell, John
Cage, Cream, T Rex - that period was magical) and the late '70s to early '80s
punk/early new wave scenes (Sex Pistols, Buzzcocks, Gang Of Four, Devo,
Black Flag, Dead Kennedys....).
Would you agree with the assertion made by Mr. Sun Ra that "space is the place"?
Stephen: Space is the place for a diggity dude like Sun Ra. And us too of course.
Marc: I prefer to remain earthbound as long as it is habitable. However, I
could see why one would prefer to be spacebound after seeing Sun Ra's
blaxploitation classic and/or hearing the CD. If I got to wear Sun Ra's
magic headgear and robes, I'd probably change my mind.
Which planet has the best sex, drugs and rock and/or roll?
Stephen: This one. That's why we're here. Planet Nebulus 27 is good too
though but the music sucks. Too many boy bands. We had to leave 'cuz we're
just not good-looking enough. And is it hot? Mercy. My goiters!
Marc: Sex? I'm afraid I can't answer that one. Drugs? Bill, Steve or Domenic
are more qualified to answer that one. Rock'n'roll? Of the few places we
played at thus far, Hamilton was the most enjoyable for me (I forget the
name of the bar). Now for shows I've seen, I'm taking the aeronautic liberty
to change "rock'n'roll" to the more intergalactic "music". Of shows I've
seen recently, Elliott Smith at the Phoenix was a great big name show, as
was last year's free outdoor African Music Fest near the Legislative
Buildings. Smaller venues where I've heard inspired music include Ted's
Wrecking Yard, El Mocambo, the Cameron House, Idler Pub and the soon-to-be
gutted Music Gallery. Honourable mentions to Squirley's (even though they
only play taped music, 90% of the time what the bar staff puts on is great),
and the U of T campus/community radio station CIUT 89.5 FM.