"A song is a song is a song"

Mick Sleeper talks to Gordie Johnson & Kelly Hoppe at the Edmonton Folk Music Festival (August 1999)

Sleeper: So how often do you guys go out and do shows like this, the sit down, acoustic shows?

Hoppe: Well, not often enough. This is kind of new for us, especially doing a festival. We played at NAIT last year, and when we do in-store promotions, Gordie and I, or play at radio stations, it's obviously easier just to bring a guitar and a harmonica in. We've been doing it like that for the past several years.

Sleeper: So besides this festival and the promotional appearances, have the two of you done actual venue gigs, or are you still testing the waters?

Hoppe: Well, I've heard that we may do this… I mean, while we're working on a Big Sugar album, it wouldn't take much for me and Gordie just to go out for a couple of weeks and do this, and maybe record something like this some day. Because the production wouldn't take as long as making a Big Sugar album, you know? So, I guess, the answer is "maybe".

Johnson: We've done a few really nice gigs in the past year with this set up. We played at the Art Gallery Of Ontario last year, and it's such a different state of mind when you perform that way, because people can listen very intently, and it's very quiet, and they can hear every subtle nuance of your music. Big Sugar is not about that. You could hear the subtle nuances if you were really paying attention, but you're not supposed to do that! You're supposed to jump up and down and have a good time and all that. I love being able to tell stories between songs, and just entertain folks in a different way like that.

Sleeper: So how have you enjoyed the Festival? It's sort of a far cry from the venues Big Sugar usually plays.

Johnson: It sure has been a lot of fun, being that it's such a departure for us. I was saying to the crowd today that a lot of our songs, even though the fans are familiar with them in their electrified versions, this is how our music starts. All the songs have to work in this format first, just an acoustic guitar and harmonica. If we can make enough music just out of that limited instrumentation, that's usually the recipe for a good song, I think.

Sleeper: I was going to ask you about that. Being a fan, I'm familiar with the loud, electric versions of the songs, and to hear them like this is really different, it's like the process in reverse. I think that you're doing acoustic versions of louder tunes, when really they all start out that way.

Johnson: I rarely play electric guitar at home. I almost never pick it up, until recently I didn't even have one at home. The electric instruments stay with the touring arsenal. Just an old, beat up acoustic guitar, even if it doesn't have all the strings, usually comes up with the best sound.

Sleeper: Speaking about songwriting… When you're writing your music, do they start out as blues tunes, or rock tunes, or are they just songs until you figure out what kind of sound you want for them?

Johnson: A song is a song is a song, you know? Our particular bent, lyrically, probably owes a lot to the blues, but aside from the instrumentation, everything sounds like the blues when you play it on a slide guitar and a harmonica. So where it goes from there, we try not to think too much about it, if it's gonna be blues or reggae or country or anything. You just speak from your own experience, and find the notes that sound good…

Sleeper: And figure it out later.

Johnson: Yeah, we'll call it something after.

Sleeper: After awhile, every great band has some solo projects happening. Do you figure any of this duo is going to be recorded soon?

Johnson: Oh, I hope so, yeah. I think this will be something to tie us over between Big Sugar records. We'll be recording a new album this winter, and like Kelly was saying, it wouldn't take too much to get something out from the two of us, just acoustic. It would be easy to do, and I think our fans would really dig it.

Sleeper: Now, I've heard that you've done a French album. Is that out, or is it still on the way?

Johnson: Yeah, it is out, Chauffé À Bloc (Block Heater). It just came out about a week ago.

Sleeper: That caught me by surprise, because I caught you on Much Music one day doing "Ouvre Toi, Bébé" - and I had no idea that you performed in French, let alone recording in French.

Johnson: Yeah, when we're in Quebec, we do half a dozen songs or so in French. I mean, it's just a better way of communicating to people and entertaining them to do it in their own language. It's difficult for us, not being bilingual, but we make an effort, and it's been richly rewarded. I think we'll continue to do that in future recordings.

Sleeper: So it hasn't been as bad as The Beatles singing in German?

Johnson: (Laughs) No, I kind of like it! It was very awkward to sing in another language at first, but singing in French has a different flow, it becomes a completely different song in a lot of respects. You can't just translate a song word for word, you have to write the song again from scratch in a French perspective, different phrases, there aren't always English - French equivalences.

Sleeper: Now what about the Big Sugar in dub album? I really want to hear that!

Johnson: Yeah, the only thing we're waiting on now is artwork. We had a hang-up with the artwork that we've been working out in the past several months. The CD is all done, the music is mastered, and everything is cool, but it's hard for it to get a lot of attention at the record label, I guess. Just because it's something just for fun. It will probably come out this fall, just to tide our fans over until the next Big Sugar record.

Sleeper: What's it going to be called?

Johnson: Alkaline Extra Long Life.

Sleeper: Kelly, I wanted to ask you about the melodica. You incorporate a melodica into a lot of Big Sugar tunes, and it makes for a really neat sound. And it's an instrument that's usually, if not always, associated with reggae - how did become a part of the Big Sugar sound?

Hoppe: You know, I like the melodica a lot. Before a show, I like to play the melodica as opposed to the harmonica - not that I ignore the harmonica, it's because the melodica limbers me up for the bigger keyboards I play on stage. It's so portable, it's like the piano version of a harmonica (laughs). Gordie and Garry are responsible for turning me on to it. I didn't even know the instrument existed until I joined this band! Other than Augustus Pablo, I don't really know of any melodica players.

Sleeper: Ansel Collins plays melodica, and some other reggae keyboard players. I think about the only non-reggae that I've heard a melodica in are some early The The songs. How did you come to start playing it?

Hoppe: We were over in Europe, and Gordie spotted one, and I said "what am I gonna do with that?" (laughs).

Johnson: You're gonna buy it! You're gonna play it! This is ridiculous, I gotta stick this hose in my mouth and blow? Yeah, that's what you're gonna do!

Hoppe: And you know what? Hey, man, you know what's happened now? I have a melodica endorsement. (Gordie cracks up) A melodica endorsement from Hohner! I just got a Hohner endorsement in general, but I asked "can I get a melodica endorsement as well?" So, from humble beginnings…

Sleeper: So you've got threads from Hugo Boss, and now melodicas from Hohner!

Hoppe: Oh yeah.

Sleeper: So, that one that you play, with the tube coming out of the mouthpiece, I've never seen one played like that.

Hoppe: I'll tell you what: that thing is for beginners. It helps you see the keyboard better. They actually come with a kind of trumpet mouthpiece, and people who really know how to play use that, because they don't have to look at the keyboard. But I like to look at the keyboard. And now I've heard about other people using them and playing them in rock bands, and they're using the tube, too, so that makes me feel better.

Sleeper: You should see if Gibson makes 'em with the cool pearl inlays on the keyboard. (Gordie and Kelly laugh) When I first saw the tube, I thought it was some kind of cool rock star trick…

Johnson: Hey man, can you get me one?

Hoppe: What, a tube?

Johnson: No, man, a melodica!

Hoppe: Hey, you should get me one, I bought the first one!

Johnson: Get one from Hohner!

Hoppe: Okay, I'll see if I can get you a good deal.

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