Chris DeLine

Ladyhawk is one of a the rising number of bands this year that has seemingly hit highs as response to fan support which has come in the form of online feedback and generous praise of the band’s live show. As the distinction between hype and merit is agonized over and examined in detail Ladyhawk pay it no attention and simply lay it out as best its members know how. In a similar light to that of British Columbian brothers Lions in the Street the band plays their brand of rock ‘n roll with no regard to those around them, they just drink, smoke and play their hearts out. In this interview bassist Sean Hawryluk gives his take on what he really thinks the band’s music is about, why free beer (weed) is the best, and the Tragically Hip vs. the Klaxons.

A lot of sentiment surrounding the band includes thought that Ladyhawk is in some fashion a throw back to classic, pre-innovation-for-sake-of-innovation rock. What’s your take on that?

Sean Hawryluk: We’re bare bones, our plan is no plan. There is no ironic throw back, but we’d be lying if we said that all we listened to wasn’t classic rock. Hopefully that sums it up.

Do you ever get the feeling that you need to try something different just to be heard in today’s musical landscape or are you content doing your own thing?

Sean Hawryluk: We just play songs the way they come out. We need not a glockenspiel or keyboard. We’ll do things the way we do them until we get bored with it, then we’ll try something else.

Do you even pay attention to hype bands that are labeled as rock’s next great savior? UK’s The Klaxons come to mind as of late.

Sean Hawryluk: Don’t know ‘em, don’t vouch for ‘em. I guess that answers the question, no, we really have our heads up our asses when it comes to what’s “hip.” Now the Tragically Hip, that’s a whole nother story, we know a lot about them.

Let’s switch gears – Kokanee beer. When I lived in Calgary, it was my favorite beer and as your beginnings are in Kelowna, you’ve got to be familiar with it. What do you think of the beer and what are some other great brands you’ve come across on your journeys?

Sean Hawryluk: Much like weed, all beer is good beer. Free beer is the best beer.

You’ve had the luxury of playing with a laundry list of bands on both sides of the border, which groups have been the most exciting to play with?

Sean Hawryluk: We’ve been lucky enough to have played with some rad ones…S.T.R.E.E.T.S., Black Mountain, Blood Meridian, Hard Drugs, Magnolia Electric co, Catfish Haven, Pride Tiger, Drunk Horse, Jon Rae and the River, Pequod, Oneida, Oakley Hall, Romance, the list goes on and on…

What hopes do you have for the band in 2007?

Sean Hawryluk: Get a lot of shit done. Release an EP. Record another full length. Tour a shit load. Meet rad people. Party good times.

If Ladyhawk were able to play one final show, who would you most like to share the stage with?

Sean Hawryluk: S.T.R.E.E.T.S., Black Mountain, Magnolia Electric Co., that’d be groovy; any of the above.

[This post was first published by Culture Bully.]