The Electric Revival embraces anarchy
Homemade theremin
THE ELECTRIC
REVIVAL with Whiskey Manner and Johnny 2 Fingers and the Deformities
Friday • The Exchange
“Our songs are about life, death, freedom, sex, drugs and rock and roll,” said Ian Dillon, singer and guitarist of The Electric Revival. “We don’t try and go much deeper than that. We’re not Bob Dylan.”
The Electric Revival, along with Regina’s Whiskey Manner and Moose Jaw’s Johnny 2 Fingers and the Deformities, brings its hypnotic chaos to The Exchange on Friday.
The three-piece alternative rock band is comprised of Dallas Lobb (drums), Daniel Toews (bass) and Dillon — all are 28 years old and ready for a party.
Anarchy is “part of the scene” Dillon said in a phone interview from his Calgary-based recording studio. He said The Electric Revival has been reinvigorated after touring Europe, Canada and the United States last year.
During that time, the band wrote its third studio album, Freaks, which was released in February. Dillon explained the songwriting process changed to include the whole band — a departure from when he did most of the writing. “A lot of the energy we put into this record we put in between being on the road and performing,” he said. “With the volume of shows we played, the writing started to change.”
The Electric Revival came together in the town of Innisfail, about an hour north of Calgary. All three members met in junior high. Back then, they were known to be skateboarding metalheads who had a few minor run-ins with police for delinquency.
“We had a fair few skateboards taken away … There’s not much happening (in Innisfail). It snows a lot, so you can only skateboard for four months of the year. The rest of the time you’re playing guitars with your friends.”
The Electric Revival’s influences run deep. Dillon said its tour van can get noisy with the eclectic mix being played through the speakers.
“We’re greatly inspired by things that are performance based.”
From grindcore to Swedish stoner rock to folk music, all of these genres seep into the Freaks album. Tracks like Rolling Stone are pure, hard-line rock, reminiscent of Maryland’s Clutch, to My Molly My, which is a blood-boiling punk romp.
Dillon said he uses experimental sounds, including a unique homemade instrument. “One of the most intriguing things at The Electric Revival show is the theremin guitar,” he said.
A theremin is a device that produces sound through frequency manipulation without players having to physically touch the instrument.
“It’s is a big crowd pleaser. It’s a custombuilt piece I made myself by putting a theremin in a hollow body guitar … We put on a big spectacle with it.”
For Dillon, standing out is a must in Canada’s music industry, which he admits can be challenging given the lengthy travel required between cities. He said building a community is necessary to staying relevant.
“We’re a DIY project. It helps people connect more — it’s very punk rock.”
“WE’RE A DIY PROJECT. IT HELPS PEOPLE CONNECT MORE — IT’S VERY PUNK ROCK.” IAN DILLON