Twilight Hotel

Twilight Hotel-Please don't mention the dreaded f-word: Folk

The Winnipeg Sun by Darryl Sterdan
Roots duo Twilight Hotel are one of those acts whose whole is greater than the sum of its parts. And both those parts were pretty impressive to begin with. On their own, Dave Quanbury and Brandy Zdan are solid singer-songwriters — but when they got together as Twilight Hotel, something special happened. Hey, don’t take our word for it; their second CD Highway Prayer earned them a Juno nomination. And their heavy touring schedule is also helping spread the word. Speaking of touring, they’re heading back out on the road again — but not before playing a hometown show tomorrow at Times Change(d). And not before Brandy was nice enough to answer some of our dumb questions.-read on

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• - Who’s in the band, how old are they, what do they play, and what do they do for real money?
• Brandy Zdan, 25 — 1965 Harmony Rocket Electric Guitar, 1957 Silvertone Lap steel, Hohner 48 button accordion. Dave Quanbury, 30 — 1930s Parlour guitar with a D’Armond pickup, piano, trumpet. If you can believe it we play music for real money!
• - Describe your music and/or sound in 20 words or less.
• Twang Noir — Please do not use the dreaded work FOLK!
• - Describe your look and/or image in 20 words or less.
• Retro Boho Shabby Chic.
• - Tell us about your latest CD in 20 words or less.
• Juno-nominated Highway Prayer, produced by Colin Linden, which includes the last earthly performance by keyboardist Richard Bell.
• - If you’re so great, tell us: How does your music make the world a better place?
• It doesn’t so much change the world — we are only musicians, we only observe and then write songs. At least we can set an example for people to seek out their true passions, no?
• - Complete this sentence: This band runs on …
• Vinyl and vintage.
• - Your favourite quote?
• “He who lives by the song, dies by the road.”
• - What’s your best song and what makes it so good?
• It is one that Dave recently wrote. The working title is Mahogany Vaneer. He has basically summed up our last five years of touring in five or six verses. I’m sure this one will be on the next record. It is a classic.
• - Name a song you’re glad you didn’t write and why:
• Oh gosh, I could go on for hours.
• - Tell us about your favourite TV shows.
• We don’t own a TV but we frequently stream House and Battlestar Galactica.
• - Any other favourite things?
• Vinyl, vinyl and more vinyl (we don’t own a cd player). Vintage clothes, vintage instruments, vintage household items, vintage cars … they don’t make ‘em like they used to, folks!
• - Tell us about your tattoos, piercings or other body modifications. Don’t be shy.
• Dave has a Day of the Dead tattoo drawing by Jose Guadalupe Posada. It is a skeleton lady with a big hat on. It was done by ex-pat Bart at Southside Tattoo in Austin, Tex. The coolest tattoo shop ever!
• - What is your most valued possession? And where do you keep it?
• Our vintage Gibson and Fender amps, we don’t let anyone carry or use them! They are usually in the back seat of the car, we won’t even put them in the trunk. They are like our babies. We are extremely protective. But like I said, they don’t make ‘em like they used to!
• - Got any guilty pleasures?
• Paul McCartney’s album Back to the Egg.
• - Name your favourite local musical acts (not including you).
• Scott Nolan, Patrick Keenan, Waking Eyes.
• - Now, name your favourite musical acts of all time (again, not including you).
• Bix Beiderbecke, Tom Waits, Daniel Lanois, Neil Young, The Band, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Billie Holiday, The Beatles, Chet Baker.
• - Who would you be happy to be compared to?
• Calexico, Neko Case, Tom Waits, Beirut.
• - Who would you be insulted to be compared to?
• Sonny & Cher, Ian & Sylvia.
• - Tell us about your best gig.
• Our first New York City gig at Madison Square Park in September ’07. We were given our own parking spot for the day and were paid super-well for it! Oh yeah, we mentioned to the Manhattan crowd how much rent we pay in Winnipeg for our one-bedroom apartment and they all wept in their seats!
• - Now tell us about your worst gig.
• Ummm … too many to talk about.
• - What’s the best part of performing and touring?
• Getting to play our own original music to people who are inspired to hear it.
• - What’s the worst part of performing and touring?
• Mean, arrogant, ego-tripping soundmen!
• - What are your pre-show rituals, superstitions and good luck charms?
• Sage smudge stick, bear claw and slippery elm bark.
• - If you have a backstage rider, what’s on it? If you don’t, what would you want?
• A postcard with paid postage from the town/city the show is in (so we can send it to our mothers).
• - What’s the coolest piece of merch you sell?
• A 45 vinyl single with Viva La Vinyl / Highway Prayer. Only $7!
• - Who would you like to hit with a pie?
• Billy Bob Thornton. Did you see that Q interview?
• - Pretend I’m a heckler at your next gig. I yell “You suck!” and throw an ice cube at you. What do you do?
• I get in your face and bounce you out! Just like I did a few times when we played the Woodbine Hotel on Main Street.