Some pictures of Liz and I talking on the phone to Andy... see, we really are that pathetic!!
Jennifer- When we talked to Jim he said that you were planning on working on another album this months if you got around to it. So, did you ever get together?
Andy- Ya, we did. We're not finished yet, but album number three is in the works. We did a week of recording at the beginning of this month.
Jennifer- Do you have a title for it or anything?
Andy- We're just technically calling it number three right now.
Jennifer- Really? That's what I thought.
Andy- We don't really have a title for it yet. But, it's gonna be great. I'm really, really happy about it.
Liz- Are you planning on doing anymore Brothers Creeggan tours in the future?
Andy- Yeppers. Absolutely. Its just time. You're well aware that the Barenaked Ladies are touring their faces off so, it kinda puts in a position where we have to wait around. At least I do. While I'm at my University I just kinda twiddle my thumbs. So, ya we're just working our way around that. But as soon as there is a break, and that's what we've done in the past, whenever there was a break a month or something.
Liz- Are you planning on touring in the U.S.?
Andy- Oh, ya. You bet ya.
Jennifer- Hopefully your visa's wont get blocked this time.
Andy- Ya, you know about that whole story. Ya, that was a real drag.
Jennifer- I saw your homepage and you said, "Ya, we had some problems with our visa's." And I would have gone to see you but I didn't really know that you were on tour.
Andy- Oh, it was the biggest downer in the world.
Jennifer- I have some questions about your songs. Okay, this is from your second album. On "Me Gusta Mis Bombachas" you talk about how much you like your pants. And on "Shoppin' For Shoes" you talk about shopping for shoes. So, where do you come up with the inspiration for your songs. They have kind of weird backgrounds.
Andy- Isn't it obvious?
Jennifer- Basically.
Liz- She just wanted to impress you by saying that she knew what "Me Gusta Mis Bombachas" meant.
All- (Laughter)
Jennifer- Also, your second album seems to be a little more cultured and instrumental because you have songs like "Squiggly Line" and they're all instrumental songs. Is that kind of a new phase for the band.
Andy- A little more cultured?
Jennifer- Ya, cultured because you have like the Spanish and the French song on there. Is that kind of a new phase?
Andy- Oh, okay ya. Ah, no. I would say that "Squiggly Line", well actually I wrote it in high school, so that one's been sitting around for a long time. As far as getting lots of language in there, there's a little Spanish on the first one as well. I don't know if you're noticed, but in "Scared Song", the Spanish man arrives. But, I've always been interested in other languages and stuff like that. Natacha, my girlfriend, fiancée I should say, is a Frankophone. So, I mean we speak French most of the time together. It made sense that that song she sings on is in French also. We live in Montreal here and there's lots of French going on.
Jennifer- I visited Montreal this summer and it was all French.
Andy- So, it's a cool city for that so it makes sense that a little bit of that shows up here and there. As far as Spanish goes, I did what they call a cultural exchange, it's called Canada World Youth, and I was down in Uruguay, South America. So, that's where I learned Spanish. Ya know, that was a fun time with a bunch of other young people. So, it makes sense that there are a couple of little Spanish tunes in there that pay tribute to that time. Ya know, in fact, "Cows, Chickens, and Pigs" and "Little Tiny Song", a lot of those tunes came out of that time.
Liz- This summer you were working with other musicians on improvisations.
Andy- Ya, you know that too, eh?
Jennifer- I did some investigating before hand, I went on the Internet and dug up all sorts of stuff.
Andy- Okay.
Liz- What was that like? Did you set the dance with Ian Mc Glaughlin?
Andy- Ya, he plays drums with the Brothers Creeggan, and in fact on that tour last May he played drums. He is a fantastic percussionist and plays drums on the album. But, he is a great dance accompanist. So, I went in and that was a great experience too. But, that didn't really have anything to do with what I doing on improvising.
Jennifer- Ya, you said that it was kinda like Andiwork II. So, what exactly is Andiwork?
Andy- Ya, Andiwork II. Andiwork is just me, by myself doing my thing. Twiddling my thumbs, so to speak. But, ya it's more on the side of composition, that's kinda why I'm here at the university, studying composition and getting the opportunity to write for different ensembles and stuff like that. I'm having a good time. But, Andiwork is just the fruits of all that stuff. It's just experimenting with different techniques, and writing for other instruments. I just fool around and have fun. So, this improvising in the summer time is going to appear in some form on the next album, which is really, really cool to do. I'm putting together a little chamber ensemble of a bunch of instrumentalists. Classical players, that are used to playing great music, and teaching them to improvise and limiting the notes they can play. There were a couple modes and it was fantastic. The colors that can come out of orchestras like that are just fantastic. Spontaneously, it's really special. I'm just trying to work with that and see if I can make something of it. The same with percussionists, they're just a little bit more used to improvising. It was a lot easier had a lot more peace, but I'm not sure at this point what I'm going to do.
Liz- Oh, do you have any regrets about leaving the Barenaked Ladies or, this was one question we were going to ask Jim, but we forgot to. During the Maybe You Should Drive days, you guys posed for the naked picture of the Barenaked Ladies, do you have any regrets doing anything like that?
Andy- Well, we weren't completely naked.
Jennifer- Well, it was just the picture frames.
Andy- But, no. That's fine. No big deal. Why would it be?
Jennifer- You guys are just kinda used to walking around in the nude.
Andy- No, we posed for a certain cause. I had no say in it that that picture came out. The original shot was actually us in a book that was raising money for AIDS. It was just sort of getting some neat images, you know? I did it then, and I'm kind of somewhat ashamed, a little bit. But, ya know. No big deal. I'm a different person, I've got a little more hair.
All- (Laughter)
Jennifer- In "Clown Song" with all of those riddles that you guys talk about, are there real answers to them?
Andy- Yes, of course there is.
Jennifer- What are they?
Andy- Well, the first one, I can't even remember what the words are. There's two riddles, right? Well, they both have answers. The second one you should be able to guess. "Crossed on my head, Standing still is a skill, so my fluttery friends, can get their fill…" It's just like, what am I doing? Can you get it?
Jennifer- Umm.
Andy- Well, I'll never tell you.
Jennifer and Liz- We'll never guess.
Andy- Did you guess?
Jennifer- No.
Liz- "Standing still is a skill…" we like that one.
Andy- That's a neat tune.
Jennifer- Ya, I got your first CD at a Barenaked Ladies concert in October, and when we were coming home, we were listening to it and I heard, "Standing still is a skill…" and was like, "Wow, that's a really neat line." And then we listened to "Scared Song" and we were like, "Are you scared? Yes, I'm scared…" We kinda got into it.
Liz- We do that all the time.
Andy- Oh. (laughter)
Liz- Like in the middle of school, we'll be like, "Are you scared? Yes, I'm scared…" It's kinda like a Brothers Creeggan thing.
Andy- (laughter) Wow.
Liz- Is something exciting happening at the basketball game?
Andy- Well, it look like one of the players from Mc Gill just scored. I can't see the score board from here, but that's okay. I'll never tell you the answers to those.
Jennifer and Liz- awwwww…
Jennifer- You're making me wonder. I'll have to listen to the song over and over.
Andy- One of them is actually a Canadian reference, and unfortunately if you're American you might not get it, unless you know what we call our currency up here.
Jennifer- Loonies?
Andy- So, I won't say anything more on that. The other one seems to be fairly obvious, but I guess it's not.
Jennifer- On "Shantytown" your parents sing, is that a childhood song when you were growing up?
Andy- No, it was just something my dad always played. It's nothing we knew the words to, or figured out a little bit later. But dad always played by ear and played tunes like that. In the beginning, for like the first 15 years, it was like, "Oh no, dad's playing." But then we realized what a gem and what a great singer he was. So, we started to celebrate it. Of course, we'd sit down to do our homework and dad would go and tink around a little bit, it was like, "Oh, dad." But I realize now that a lot of my techniques on the piano come from hearing him do that and hearing the piano lessons that my mom gave, I give huge credit to that. If I didn't have that, I don't think I'd be where I am now. Anyway.
Liz- Okay, growing up, who got in the most trouble? You or Jim?
Andy- Who got in the most trouble? Jim, definitely.
All- (Laughter)
Liz- Of course. Did you get him in trouble just because you're his little brother?
Andy- I wasn't really a tattle tail, but it was more like my older brother that tormented me, older than Jim and I. His name is John. Jim sometimes got caught in the middle. Jim was always a little bit late for things. Actually, a lot of the times. That's where people get, "Ya, Jim's on Creeggan Time." Which I never really appreciate because I never really thought I partook in that whole thing. But, he was late often for stuff. But, we actually didn't get in trouble that much in school and stuff, we were always busy. I never went through a big rebel phase. We were just doing our thing. Playing sports, Jim is a big runner. He ran cross-country and 1500 meters and he was really, really, heavily into that. And I played basketball and I played other team sports like rugby. But, we never really got into trouble that much. Mom and Dad kinda gave us our space a little bit.
Jennifer What kind of personality do you think a person who listens to Brothers Creeggan has?
Andy- That's a good question. I never really though about who I was trying to put records out for. I always just imagine people who have an open ear and enjoys going for stuff. It is kind of experimental, and the musical references are a little bit special. I also think that people, who know music better than just the average thing, might get into it a little bit more. But, just hearing it at base value can help you get it more. I've been told that before, that you have to know a little bit about music to kind of get onto different styles. But, I don't really write for anybody unparticular. Someone to listen for, is not to sing a lot of words like Bob Dylan or something, but although he sells quite a few records. That may seem a little surprising. But, I don't know. That really stumps me. It's a fact that I try not to think about too much, ya know? I try not to gear it towards any particular person, I try to like it myself and be proud of it, and if they like it, then I'm happy.
Liz- How would you describe or classify your music?
Andy- How would I classify it? That's another question I like to avoid.
Jennifer- I've never heard anything like Brothers Creeggan. It's so original and that's what I like about it. You can't get that from any other band.
Andy- Why thank you. That, for me is probably the biggest compliment, just saying that it sounds different. All around me are people who are musicians that are constantly classifying themselves by saying, "Ya, I'm in a band, a pop band, pop rock." Pop slash rock slash disco or an R&B band, jazz slash pop. It really hurts me. It kinda kills it a little bit when you put it in a box, ya know I try to keep it open and no border is sacred. That's what I try to remember or I try to keep that idea anyway.
Jennifer- Do you have a release date for your album?
Andy- We don't know when we're going to finish it, so there's no release date at all. We expect we'll finish it, if all things work out, probably before the summer and then we'll make it up as soon as we can. So, I imagine somewhere late summer, early fall. It's a drag because Jim's on tour so much, we won't get to work on it for a little while. But, that's the way it goes. I'll tell you right now, I'm pronouncing the year 2000, "Year of the Creegs."
All- (Laughter)
Jennifer- Ya, you're looking to make your break through into the spotlight.
Andy- Ya, it looks like Jim is going to have some time so I'm going to take a break from school and we'll go from that.
Liz- What are you studying in school?
Andy- I'm studying composition, classical music composition. So, I'm doing a little bit of theory, singing in choirs, writing for ensembles that are student ensembles in the school. It's great. It's cool. I've got a piece being played on March 9th, a piece that I wrote, it's a lot of work to write music for an ensemble. I'm trying to push my musical vocabulary and all that stuff. That's what I'm going for.
Liz- Do you have a favorite song from either Brothers Creeggan or a different artist?
Andy- Oh boy. Stuff that I think has been a success for us?
Jennifer- What are you most proud of?
Andy- That's a challenging question. I think that with "Why Won't They Bite" we hit something deep. Although, I wouldn't say that that's my favorite song.
Jennifer- You only use a couple words in it, but the music surrounding it is so in depth it just makes the song. That's mostly what you do in most of your music. You just use a couple lines and build around that.
Andy- I think that in "Why Won't They Bite" we hit something. I think "Scared Song" we hit something. I like "Live at Montreaux". And it actually gets better as we play it live. It's been a lot of fun. So, that's cool. I think we hit it with a lot of songs that are coming up too. But, I can't really say.
Jennifer- I can't wait. Just keep it a secret. Just like I'm thinking about that riddle right now, I can't think of it.
Andy- And as far as other artists, man there's such a wealth of amazing music out there. I always say that one of the pieces of music that is a real quality song is, have you ever heard of the Sky Diggers? They're a Canadian group. If you ever get one of their albums, I can't remember the name of it, but I think it's the first album. There's a song called, "I'd Give You Everything" and it's one of the most beautiful songs I know. That's one that I really think is great. There's so much wonderful music, ya know what I'm saying? There's just gem after gem after gem. That's just a hard question because there's so much amazing music like Joni Mitchell is fantastic. Ya know, Bjork has done some amazing, amazing music. I could probably talk your ear off for about three hours or more about wonderful music, ya know?
Jennifer- In "Cows, Chickens, and Pigs" and "Little Tiny Song", do they kind of refer to your standpoint of vegetarianism?
Andy- Oh, sort of. "Cows, Chickens, and Pigs" doesn't really follow any of my personal beliefs I have right now. It was an attempt of explaining things at the time, ya know? And it's a neat song. It's more like a thought. It's not necessarily a belief. It's just a thought, ya know. It's kind of a monitor over this weird music thing. But, In "Little Tiny Song", I guess it is, if you were a cow I'd be pretty angry. But, I tend to be a vegetarian, but I don't really connect to it out of that song. I was trying to imagine the life of a cow. I was down on a farm, taking these things and trying to give them life. But, I guess they sort of do, but not really.
Liz- Is "Opening the Windows" all an improv song or was it written and set out?
Andy- It was improv. I had some small ideas. You probably read it in our bio, there. It kind of explains it quite well, I think. We just planned out to have a couple patterns, maybe go from one to the other. And then we recorded that first, and then recorded some other stuff. We started layering stuff and say how it all kinda went together and then eventually we planned out a good progression. And Jim did the improvisation on top of that. Then I improvised off of his improvisation. And that basically is the final version. It came out pretty neat, eh?
Jennifer- Ya, I like it. 14 minutes of song at the end is a good way to end the album.
Andy- Ya, thanks. That's kinda where Andiwork is leading. It's kinda taken that experiment with that kind of stuff.
Jennifer- That's probably the best kind of music, go with the flow. When you write songs, do you take time out to write them or do they just kind of come to you whenever? Like in your sleep, do you ever wake up in the middle of the night to write a song?
Andy- That's another hard one. Songs can come out of any experience what so ever. Sometimes I've been walking to school in the wintertime and I'll get a tune in my head. It sometimes depends on if I've been singing it for a while, like if the song or the melody sticks. And if it's good, it sticks around with me and I'll try to put words to it or something. Or, I'll play guitar, and I don't set time out to play guitar, but I'll pick up the guitar and come up with a little riff or something. Or sometimes there are poems I've written and I'll try to figure them out. I mean all of those processes work. I don't really stick to any formula. Sometimes I'll just sit down at the piano or whatever.
Liz- How did Alanis Morissette come to appear in "Places", did Jim date her?
Andy- Did he date her? Well, we were hanging out around the same place in Toronto and we met. They hung out a bit, I think they were just friends, though. I don't know the details of their relationship. I don't really pry. But, they were hanging out for a bit.
Liz- Well, you have to start prying with your siblings to get some information.
Andy- That's one area where we give each other lots of space. You gotta keep certain things to yourself, ya know.
Jennifer- Was Brothers Creeggan formed as kind of a mutual thing between you and Jim, or was it an ongoing process that you finally put down into an album?
Andy- Like it says in the bio, it was kind of a 4-track recording thing where we kinda had fun recording it, a new machine with our friends. Trying to write songs for it, that's what Brothers Creeggan is, musicians coming and going at the core. So, when we recorded Brothers Creeggan, it was kind of an attempt tot have fun with some songs we've had lying around for a while. It's been ever since, a long time since we've been doing that.
Liz- Is your brother John, the oldest brother, into music like you and Jim are, or is he doing his own thing?
Andy- He's a geological engineer and he works up in the north of Alberta. Loves working there. He's married and just had his first child. He's got a career going up there. He's musical, but not a musician. He never was as strongly into it as we are, he was the big athlete in the family, playing football and basketball.
Liz- What would you be if you weren't a musician?
Andy- That's a good question. I'd probably be a basketball coach. I just love basketball, I love coaching. I'd probably pursue that. I probably still will at sometime in my life.
Jennifer- Would you like to coach for your university or a smaller team?
Andy- A university would probably be a little more skilled than I am, I'd probably do high school. You never know, maybe I'll get the right skills and have the right character.
Jennifer- You already have the 'standing still skills.'
Andy- Ya… (laughter)
Liz- But you have to jump around and yell and stuff like that.
Andy- No problem, I can do that. I gotta work on my "Hey Ref!" I gotta work on that a little.
All- (Laughter)
Jennifer- You say something in Spanish in the beginning of "You Walked Out," what are you saying?
Andy- Yes, I'm probably saying what you imagine I'm saying. I kinda say something like," Okay boys, we're gonna sing a song here, it's about a girl, a lover who went away to another place. And we're real sad." That's basically what I say. I kind of assume I'm the grand dad of the group, "Okay, I'm gonna sing a little song here about a girl who went away and we're sad."
Jennifer- You worked with Kevin Hearn on Mothball Mint a little bit on "Oh, Glowworm", did you enjoy your experience with that?
Andy- Oh ya, totally.
Jennifer- Because I know that Jim did a bunch of songs on there.
Andy- Ya, he did way more than I did. I just showed up for one of the jam days. It was great. Ya, that album, have you heard it?
Jennifer- Ya, I have it.
Andy- I love the song, "Hometown."
Jennifer- Ya, that's a great song.
Andy- It's one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard.
Jennifer- I try to pick up all the little albums I can find. I just got Chris Brown and Kate Fenner's album.
Andy- Ya, that's great.
Liz- Jennifer only listens to things that are related to Barenaked Ladies.
Andy- That's cool.
Jennifer- I've kinda expanded my musical listening through BNL and their solo albums.
Andy- That's fantastic.
Jennifer- And that's how I discovered Brothers Creeggan.
Andy- As far as I'm concerned, all the better. You were keyed and you took a chance and said, "Ya, I like that." And it sounds like you were rewarded for it. That's good. But, you'll win. That album is total fun. It looks like it's a close game. Working with Kevin is great. We've got an interesting vibe between us because he replaced me, ya know. So, he knows me quite intimately, as far as the parts I did and the role that I played. We don't know each other that well, but it's been fun to just hang out with him and play a little bit.
Liz- We asked Jim this question and I kinda want to see it from your standpoint. When Kevin got sick did you ever consider coming in and filling in for him?
Andy- Sure.
Liz- Did you want to and they kinda said no, or what?
Andy- Well, I thought it was only going to be a summer thing and I was thinking like, "Shit, I could use a summer job." And it turned out to be quite a long thing, so it wouldn't have worked the way it's going now for me. And I did offer my services for the summer and they said that it would probably be too weird. And that made sense for me. The more I think about it, the more I think they were right. But, it was kind of a neat period. Does that satisfy you guys?
Jennifer and Liz- Oh yes, thank you so much.
Jennifer- I was really surprised when I got your e-mail. I never thought anything would happen from this. Never, I was just taking a chance.
Andy- Great. Well, there you go. You took another chance and you were rewarded.
Liz- Thank you very much, it was an awesome experience.
Jennifer- Yes, thank you so much.
Andy- Well, thanks for being interested.
Jennifer- Well, I'll keep listening to Brothers Creeggan and waiting for your album.
Andy- Well, we'll have it up on the page. We're probably going to have some new pages soon.
Jennifer- I'm going to try to work on a page for you, so if you could kinda keep me updated.
Andy- That would be cool. Ya, I'll update the page and kinda get a news group thing going. So, thanks for being cool.
Jennifer and Liz- Thank you!
Andy- I'm sorry I had to make you guys wait around for a little bit.
Jennifer- Oh, that's okay. It makes the interview so much better.
Andy- Okay, thanks. Bye!
Jennifer and Liz- Bye!
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