When thinking of Eastern European music, local Victoria bands don’t usually come to mind. But there’s one band in particular bringing the unique influences of Eastern European folk music (the Czech Republic, to be specific) and mixing them with a strong shot of energetic rock ‘n’ roll.
Victoria-based Tower of Dudes, who are releasing their third album, Make Your Own Culture, on March 1, were born in Prague by two Victoria locals who happened to be living there abroad at the time.
The band went through many different musicians and instrument changes from 2008 to 2011 while touring through Eastern Europe. In 2011, they relocated back home to Victoria and since then have been working on Make Your Own Culture.
The album is a 12-song, tempo-changing, accordion/mandolin/acoustic guitar-driven manifesto. The songs themselves aren’t radically crazy or different sounding; it’s more the instruments that make a unique blend of folk rock with something a little more foreign.
The main influence of the band stems from a mix of “good, old-fashioned fuck you punk rock,” according to singer Noah Finchley, and the foreign instruments of Eastern European gypsy music; even a vibraphone and some harmonicas can be heard in the mix.
Finchley, also the band’s main songwriter, was born in Victoria and says that his main influence while growing up was the local punk/grunge scene in Victoria.
“It was just the whole idea of being able to do whatever you want to do,” he says. “I mean, in punk that’s kind of what it’s all about.”
This ideology is embodied with the title of the new album: Make Your Own Culture. “One theme of the new album is complaining about going to work, and ‘Complaints About Work’ would not have made a very good title,” he says.
The album never comes across as whiny, however. In fact, most of the songs are energetic in a positive way. The single exception to this is the last song, “Morning.”
At first listen, “Morning” sounds like a slow, melancholy acoustic ballad closing off Make Your Own Culture. But the lyrics make it a hilarious tongue-in-cheek rant at early mornings and all of the grievances that come with being forced to wake up early. (AhemÉ 8:30am classes, anyone?)
“Yeah, I’m definitely not a morning person,” says Finchley. “I try and write about issues dear to my heart, but at the same time making it funny is important, too.”
So what has exactly has enabled Tower of Dudes to evolve from a travelling band in Eastern Europe to a more permanent fixture on the west coast of Canada? According to Finchley, it’s all been natural.
“A lot of bands try and find people that are the best musicians or the most well-known… and I just find my friends. It was always just about playing music with my friends,” he says. “You can do whatever you want and hopefully there’ll be people who will want to join you.”
And the three words that would best describe the sound of Tower of Dudes?
“Eastern European cow punk!” exclaims Finchley. “Oh, wait… that’s four!”
Tower of Dudes
Friday, March 14
$12, Lucky Bar
atomiqueproductions.com