QBiM Q&A with Two Hours Traffic’s Liam Corcoran

Sometimes less is more.  Imagine being Lady GaGa for instance:  You can’t even go to the corner store for milk without putting on your bloody lace and spiky halo headdress, and setting fire to the hood of your car.  Better to be low of key and humbler of heart like Two Hours Traffic front man Liam Corcoran, who agreed to our questionnaire willingly and wasting no words in marking out his territory.

He and the band have been out on the road recently, and just this past Friday they stopped in my neck of the woods for a show in St. Catharines (look for that review in this space tomorrow), but while on the road, Liam sat down and took a drilling from yours truly.

QBiM: State your name for the record, and mention your record while you’re at it.
Liam Corcoran: This is Liam from Two Hours Traffic, and I am discussing our newest release, Territory.

QBiM: Where are you from, how did you get here, and where are you going next?
LC: I am from Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island and I never left.  I will occasionally leave my home to go on tour.

QBiM: Who’s hanging out with you?
LC: Currently, I am alone but my partners in crime are Alec O’Hanley, Derek Ellis and Andrew MacDonald.

QBiM: You been across this great nation of ours, playing for audiences from east to west:  what’s your opinion of the state of Canada’s music scene?  Regionalized still or is their a national identity developing?
LC: I believe a national musical identity is forming due to the number of groups doing cross-country tours.  We feel a kinship with young traveling bands, whether they are from Vancouver or Halifax or in between.  Canada-wide media like CBC Radio 3 is helpful in creating this sense of identity.

QBiM: Who were your musical heroes growing up?
LC: The Beach Boys, Bob Dylan, Weezer, Weird Al, and many emo singers who will remain anonymous.

QBiM: What’s the one sound that drives you crazy?
LC: Nails on the chalkboard.

QBiM: What was your best subject in school?
LC: Chemistry.

QBiM: What’s the greatest invention of all time?
LC: Grammophone.

QBiM: Joel Plaskett seems like a very laid back guy, but what’s like in the studio?
LC: He keeps things running on schedule without losing his temper which is a tricky balance.  He has loads of energy and great ideas.

QBiM: What I love about Territory is that it sounds like a natural progression forward after Little Jabs.  Did you feel pressure going into recording to deliver another hit?
LC: First of all, thank you.  We felt pressure in a good way.  We knew that certain people would be interested to hear what we would come up with after Little Jabs.  This pressure pushed us to try and make a better record than Little Jabs.

QBiM: Other than music or other artists, what influences you as a musician and songwriter?
LC: Great books.

QBiM: What’s the last good book you read?
LC: East of Eden by John Steinbeck.

QBiM: If you could only play instrument for the rest of your life, what would it be?
LC: Guit-box.

QBiM: What’s the one song you wish you’d have written?
LC: “Antenna” by The Acorn (although they didn’t play it at their Charlottetown show).

QBiM: What’s the worst bit of musical advice you’ve ever been given?
LC: “Play cover songs.”

QBiM: Favourite breakfast food?
LC: Eggs.

QBiM: When was the last time you got in a fight?
LC: Grade 5.

QBiM: What was the first concert you went to see?
LC: Raffi.

QBiM: Do you sing in the shower?
LC: Yes.

QBiM: Mac or PC?
LC: Mac.

QBiM: Do you listen to your own music in the car?
LC: Maybe right after it’s been recorded.

QBiM: What is the one album you can go back and listen to over and over again, and what is it that brings you back to it?
LC: The ‘wild mercury’ sound of Blonde on Blonde.

QBiM: Is there anything left to explore?
LC: I hope so.

QBiM: Anything to declare?
LC: Only a bottle of rum purchased in the duty-free zone.

MP3: Two Hours Traffic “Drop Alcohol”
Myspace: Two Hours Traffic

~~~

Short and sweet.

Next week, Hamilton’s The Rest are scheduled for a cross-examination QBiM style.  We’re four weeks into our new regular interview feature:  what do you think so far?  Feedback of all kinds is greatly appreciated!  Send us your comments, questions (for interviewees or otherwise), to contact [at] quickbeforeitmelts [dot] com.

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