By BD Marie Hughes

I was really looking forward to the performance of Bella Clava at The TIMAs “Best Live” Alt Rock Showcase on July 22.  Their myspace sound is amazing.  I wanted to see if their sound would translate well in a live performance.  They did not disappoint!

Caitlin Dacey – Vocals, piano, organ, bass

Steve Suttie – Vocals, guitar, drums, bass

Luis Figueroa – Drums

Derek Edwards – Bass

BD:  How do you create your music?  Does it come to you naturally or do you have to sit down and work within a structured environment?

Bella Clava Caitlin:  We’re trying to make music that makes us want to dance.  Music that we would want to see live.  If an idea takes too much convincing, we usually drop it.  Then, sometimes, we pick it back up and find it has a lot more potential than what was initially seen.

Bella Clava Steve:  It comes pretty naturally. We fine-tune the song at our jam spot unless there is nothing left to be done with it.

BD:  What did you learn about yourself and, as a band, through the recording process?

Bella Clava Steve:  I learned that time is very, very valuable.  I should give my guitars a tune-up before the next recording session and try not to make Caitlin mad as I like to do.

Bella Clava Caitlin:  I learned to let things go, allow for the snapshot to be taken without trying to produce something “perfect”.  It is difficult to transcribe what you hear in your head or what you hope is translated live when making a recording.  Especially with a finite amount of time and dough.  Hopefully the recordings will get better and better.

Bella Clava Luis:  Being a drummer playing to a click was the challenge for me.  Now hearing the end product, I would always recommend any drummer to do this.

BD:  What is the name of the cd you released at The Horseshoe on July 31?  It was 2008?  Is it your first cd?

Bella Clava Steve:  The cd is called “ColdSpell”.  We had our cd release party at The Horseshoe on July 31 of this year.  It was our first proper EP that we’ve put out.

BD: You are recently back from touring Ireland.  Was this your first road trip?  How did you prepare for it?  Who is Pathfinder Pat?

Bella Clava Steve:  We prepared for it by not expecting anything in return except having a great time playing shows and meeting fabulous people which made for an awesome life experience.  Pathfinder Pat is a cat we met through Vesta Varro.  We did an online interview with him and he also put us up at his house for a few days.  He definitely loves music and we love him.

Bella Clava Luis:  Yeah, this was our first road trip as a band and was kind of hectic preparing for it.  Steve was back in Thunder Bay making some money and, of course, Dane (Newbold), our bass player at the time, was living in Thunder Bay making it very hard to practise.  So, four days left until we had to leave we still hadn’t practised in a month.  The stress level was increasing and the pressure was on to create the best set for the tour.  I think these chain of events set the tone for the rest of the tour – beautiful chaos.  Ah yes Pat, the man with the great couch that kept us warm through the tour.  What a legend he was waking us up with some cider and amazing vintage rock and some Canadian rock I have never even heard of on his record player.  He was also the scholar that had interviewed us for his blog “A Town Full of Losers”.

BD:  Highlights of your Ireland trip?

Bella Clava Luis:  Well, I think this goes without saying but the best part of the trip was finding a wicked jumping spot in the middle of the ocean and watching Dane do the biggest front flip to face plant from fifty feet!  Check it out on YouTube!  (laughing)  But seriously, I think the best part of the trip was the second last day.  We had just finished playing four shows consecutively.  We were very tired and bagged out from all the good times.  Then we find out that we have another slot to play at a blues bar that night and it happens to be a blast.  It was a great crowd, awesome vibes and a perfect way to end the trip.

Bella Clava Steve:  The people, the bands.  Everybody there was so welcoming it was ridiculous.

Bella Clava Caitlin:  The impromptu jam session at Dolan’s after our last gig when members of the other bands and some friends came up and played together.  Partying at Niall’s with his friends was the ‘craic’.  Driving around Ireland with Shane.

BD:  Lowlights?

Bella Clava Steve: Narrow roads and Nettles.

Bella Clava Luis:  Finding out how much money I had spent.

Bella Clava Caitlin:  Getting my crow and heart-shaped glasses stolen from Whelan’s in Dublin.  My fault.  I was too distracted to be responsible for anything.  I hope they have a good home.

BD:  Did you bring any favourite things on the road with you?

Bella Clava Caitlin:  My crow and glasses, glass head (which fortunately did not get stolen) and some candles.

Bella Clava Luis:  Yeah, for sure I brought my snare, my kick pedal and three of my really good friends.

Bella Clava Steve:  My favourite guitar and my hat.

BD:  How important was it for you to be “Band of the Day” on Indiesolo.com?

Bella Clava Caitlin:  Cooooooooooool.  Thanks Indiesolo.com!  Great exposure!  We hope we reach out to more bandits through your site, too!

BD:  Is “Coldspell” an EP?  Or name of a song?  You released it June 20.2009?

Bella Clava Caitlin:  ColdSpell is the name of our debut EP released on July 31st this year.

Bella Clava Luis:  The title kind of reminds me of childhood memories growing up in Thunder Bay.

BD:  How do you prepare for your shows?

Bella Clava Caitlin:  Picking up the rental van, loading up equipment and dreaming of a future in which we will be able to relax before our gigs.

BD:  Do you have a motto that you live by?

Bella Clava Caitlin:  At heart, everyone is a Bella Clava Bandit.  (everyone laughs)

BD:  How are you creating opportunities as a band?

Bella Clava Steve:  I think by being honest and playing a good show has created the most opportunities so far.  As long as we continue with those ingredients we will be cooking for a long time.

Bella Clava Luis:  Constantly making new music and keeping a good relationship within the band.

BD:  What are your upcoming plans?

Bella Clava Steve:  We are going to record with Steve Albini, who’s worked with Nirvana, Pixies, and such in the fall.  After that, we will be planning another tour at some point and continuing to play more shows in the Toronto area.

Bella Clava Luis:  I think a full-length album is a future goal and definitely some more touring.  But always taking every show, every review, every compliment with the most seriousness as I think our goal is to be the best fucking rock ‘n’ roll band to this day!

Bella Clava Caitlin:  I want to open for Them Crooked Vultures.  I’m planning it right now.  If you plan it, you will play it!

www.myspace.com/bellaclavaband

It looks like there is a new rock ‘n’ roll supergroup in the works,.. watch out Chickenfoot??! I don’t know. Anyway, Dave Grohl, (Foo Fighters), Josh Homme (QOTSA) and John Paul Jones (Led Zep.) have started a new group called Them Crooked Vultures. I’m not sure if this is another Dessert Sessions or what, but there is the shadow of an official-looking website, and they are playing a midnight show August 9th @ The Metro in Chicago.