Montreal’s Pouzza Fest takes place from May 17-19 featuring some of the greatest punk music that’s out there! We’re happy that we’ve had the chance to count down to this festival with you. We started our countdown with The Planet Smashers, Answers, HVAL, Subb, Gutter Demons, Seth Anderson, Danny Rebel and the KGB, The Corps, Copper Crown, Audio Visceral, and United Snakes. Now, we’re chatting with Pale Lips who play on May 18 at Café Cléopâtre. See the full schedule here.
First off, care to introduce yourself to the Canadian Beats readers?
Howdy! We’re Pale Lips! Ilona plays guitar, Jackie sings, Lynn plays drums, and Jamie plays bass.
Pouzza Fest is an early festival, taking place in May, how do you prepare for festival season?
Lynn: We try to figure out what works or not and the order of setlist. Festival shows are just not the same as regular bar shows. You have many different types of people checking you out and we like to make sure they dance and stomp their feet.
Jamie: lots of jumping jacks and practicing our van naps.
Ilona: I make sure I book the time off from work months in advance.
Have you taken part in Pouzza Fest before? If so, what is your favourite memory?
Lynn: We’ve played this fun festival about 3 times. My most memorable time was when we played with our buddies from Dee Cracks (VIenna)!
Jamie: We have! It’s been fun. This year will be more fun because we have more buds playing and joining the festival from Europe!
The line-up at Pouzza Fest this year is stellar, who are you most excited to check out?
Lynn: We’ve played with Wet Nurse and Wine Lips before and we’re stoked to see them play again. Always fun to play with friends: Steve Adamyk Band, the Lookout and Laureate. My main interest at this festival is Night birds, love this band so much but Guerilla Poubelle (high energy) is very worth checking out, and also interested to see The Nils.
Jamie: I have a Strung Out tattoo that I got on my ankle when I was 14. So obviously I’m excited to see Andrew WK and PARTY HARD.
Pouzza Fest’s name comes from the mashup of poutine and pizza, so I feel the need to know, which do you prefer?
Jackie: it’s a tough call but I gotta give it to pizza. With pineapple.
Lynn: if it’s pizza like we’ve had in Italy I would have to say Pizza but if it’s a poutine au Fameux “cuit au four”, well I don’t know anymore!!!Ilona: Both at once, as the name of the festival suggest.
Are you performing at any other festivals this summer that you’d like to tell us about?
Jamie: We are playing a few that haven’t been announced yet. The ones that we CAN talk about are Le Festif! And River Fest in Elora.
Lynn: Le Festif! Looks very promising and fun and there are some really fun ones but can’t say anything yet, but let’s just say Pouzza is a great way to start it off.
What five words would you use to describe your live show?
Jamie: Grab a beer, let’s party!
Ilona: Guitars, glitter, garage, goopy, gaga
Lynn: Entertaining, I think our singer Jackie is bopping around constantly makes the set fun to watch. Never know what kind of moves she will pull. Keeps me going on the drums.
Jackie: Energetic. Or at least we try to be when we aren’t full of pizza and poutine.
If you were asked to give advice to an up and coming artist, what would that advice be?
Lynn: Do your thing and don’t listen to others, be original and have fun.
Ilona: Yes, originality! Please!
Jackie: Make sure you love what you’re doing and the rest will fall in line.
Jamie: If you believe in the music you make, work hard for it. It’ll pay off.
What’s up next for you?
Lynn: to play many shows with the upcoming LP we just released in January and to start our next 7” or LP.
Jamie: Space travel. And by that I mean we are planning our first tour in the United States. STAY TOONED.
Ilona: We’re cooking up a tour of the USA! See ya soon!