Maybe Chris Page should have been born in Halifax, because when I listen to Camp Radio, it makes me think of old the East Coast. Camp Radio’s got that 90s Halifax sound to it. The band, made up of Chris Page, producer extraordinaire Dave Draves and are drummer Scott Terry able to play with the young kids at Ottawa Explosion Weekend and are equally comfortable with the more folksy artists comprising the Kelp Records stable.
Their last album – Campa Socialista – dates from September 2011. It’s pretty awesome. Sound on The Sound maybe describes it best when saying: “On Campista Socialista, Camp Radio has taken the best parts of the power pop genre and mastered them: the jangle-fuzz guitar, the catchy melodies and sad-bastard lyrics, the beat that makes your suede Pumas bounce.”
Chris took some time from his Canada Day hangover to chat with Apt613.
How would you describe your sound?
Guitar driven, melodic power-pop. Our sound has been compared to everyone from Buzzcocks to Dinosaur Jr. to REM to Teenage Fanclub.
How long have you been playing music, and how has your sound evolved over that time?
The band started in 2005, though individually we’ve been playing music in many bands, over many years. For Camp Radio, it’s less of an evolution thing and more about where our collective heads are when we prep to record a new LP. We are currently working on our third full-length album and its sounding like it will be even more power-poppy than we’ve been on previous records. Time will tell if it plays out that way. [Ed. note: The album is likely to come out some time this Fall.]
What are you hoping to get out of your Bluesfest performance? Fans, adoration, festival experience etc?
Festivals offer great opportunities to play for new audiences and the element of discovery plays a huge part in the experience…for both the band and the audience. Personally, I’ve also enjoyed the backstage camaraderie between musicians as you never know who you’ll meet. True story: while backstage at Bluesfest over 10 years ago I met an American musician who I was sharing a trailer with…he was this super cool, interesting fellow who had never been to Ottawa before. We hit it off right away. As a result of that fortuitous encounter he ended up meeting his future wife and eventually making Ottawa his permanent home. Attending and/or performing at Bluesfest can be life changing.
Are there any other bands on the bill you’re stoked to see?
Again, the real excitement is in the element of discovery. Keep your mind and ears open for acts that are new to you. Maybe one day you can brag to your friends that you saw them when…
Twitter, Facebook or Instagram?
Dave is not digitally social and Scott would probably make a case for Instagram (find him there and on Twitter @skreedledee).
I’m on all 3. Facebook gives me a headache and Instagram is fun, but am definitely a champion of the Twitterverse. Twitter forces you to be succinct, creative and you can be clever in a confined, consumable format. Long winded whiners need not sign up. (@chrispager on Twitter…And you can like Camp Radio’s page here: www.facebook.com/
Power pop at its best, listen to Camp Radio Murder on My Skin.
Camp Radio plays the River Stage Saturday, July 6 at 2:45. Who knows, they may even play some tunes!
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