(Cord Magazine's questions are in blue. Artist responses are in grey.)

Sam: On the Vancouver paper you appeared on the ad as supporting Snow Patrol, then you played Richard's on Richards.

Joel Pott (Guitar + Vocals): Yeah yeah, well it’s been really good. I, we played in Toronto to about 800 people. I mean it's amazing, our first own gig there, and you know...

Sam: Must be a bit mind boggling?

Joel: Yes yes, it really is, it's really really nice. I mean when you think that we spent ages in the UK touring around for years and years, building up a fan base slowly, um it is nice playing to like 600 people in L.A. 700 people in New York, and even playing last night in Portland, 200 people turn up!

Sam: Coming to North America, you get a bit of a jump-start, being from the UK.

Joel: Oh yah, we started in UK playing to like 20 or 30 people.

Sam: Welcome to my world!

Joel: Ah yah, right right.

Sam: Well tonight, you get to play the Commodore Ballroom, which is one of the best venues in North America for its size.

Joel: Oh really? They don't tell us that.

Sam: Going on about horsehair. Yadayada. It is about 990 capacity...

Joel: 990 people... We would do well to fill that! *Laughs*

Sam: Very well indeed, well your last show here was a great on, so hopefully all those people come and bring their friends!

Joel: Yah, yah.

Enters drummer Steve Roberts, with a plate full of bagels, and muffins from the greenroom.

Steve: I just realized I hadn't eaten anything today, and uh...

Joel: Maybe I should get me something as well.

Sam: By all means.

Joel: Well I had half a muffin. *Begins eating Steve’s bagel* Cheers.

*Both eating*

Joel: Feeling a bit shaky now.

Steve: Are you? Well you drank a bit last night...

Joel: I had quite a few shots.

Sam: I hear your tour manager's not drinking. Have you been razzing him about that?

Joel: He's bloody boring.

Sam: Well what's the point of touring if you aren't going to drink at all? *Laughter*

Joel: Well the thing is, I mean hats off to him. I find it really difficult. Especially when you’re the only one doing it.

Steve: Well the reason he is doing it is he has had so much to drink this year so far.

Sam: So on the road, do you get a chance to check out the cities much?

Joel: Well like tonight, we are off tonight. We play and leave really.

Steve: Sometimes we get the chance to look around, though.

Sam: What about Montreal.

Joel: *Disappointed* Naw, not at all, I mean we have been there twice now, and haven't really seen it at’ all.

Steve: We were in Portland yesterday.

Joel: Portland, we've had two days off in Portland. Which was really nice.

Sam: So how long has this stretch of touring lasted for you guys?

Joel: Been about 4 weeks...

Steve: Yeah, around 4 weeks by the time we get home.

Sam: How about for the album in general…

Joel: I guess since January, but we have time off in between...

Steve: Yah since January, it had been about 190 gigs I think.

Sam: Lots of gigs!

Steve: *Laughing* Yeah...

Sam: Actually I was wondering, at Richards when you were here last, you played a good mix of your old and new stuff. Can we expect basically the same set tonight? I mean I hear you have a new song...

Joel: Oooohh, yeah? *Bemused* No not tonight, no, I mean we need to work it out live. Actually we just recorded it the other day when we were in Portland... you were on the website? *Laughter*

Sam: Actually yah, I was on the website trying to find out who was opening for you!

Joel: Well I told this guy last night that we would be playing a new tune on the UK tour, so prolly he went on there *hunching over invisible computer keyboard* 'They are doing a new tune. Cackle.' So yah, we were just like studio the other day, because we have a new single coming out in the UK, and we wanted to have a new song to release along side it. And so we will be playing that back in the UK.

Steve: Once it's worked out! *Laughter*

Sam: I guess you never know with songs, some come along so easily, and seem done, and others always seem to have naggy little bits to them...

Steve: *Chuckles* Oh yeah.

Sam: So what is it like in studio for Athlete? Is it Joel bringing songs to the band? Or is their more collaboration?

Steve: However really...

Joel: Yah it sort of varies...

Steve: On the first record it was very much like everyone in the room at the same time. Whether we would sit in front of the computer, or just jam something out. But on the new record... I think it defined our roles a little bit. Though it is still pretty fluid, and everyone wants to mess about on the keyboard! *Laughter*

Joel: And everyone wants to mess about with my guitar pedals! *Laughter*

Steve: But yah, there is no strict rule really...

Joel: Well we know what we are all good at!

Sam: And what your not?

Joel: Well yeah, I think that's the thing. On the first album, we were all just in on everything. But now we are totally happy for things to come with a verse and a chorus (already written). Or (Steve) goes off and works on some beats on his laptop. And even now, writing towards a new album. Having laptops just really makes it nice and easy.

Sam: I noticed the matching computers!

Joel: Yah sometimes on the bus, we will all just sit there with our headphones on...

Sam: A nice little line of Apples...

Steve: *Laughs* Joel: Well yah. And all the time I am trying to work out Pro Tools, and Carey is like... Carey is technical head. I am constantly just going... Carey how do you do this?

Conversation peters off, as they finish the food. Time for ten questions.

Elsewhere

By Sam Bastedo
Photos : Athlete.mu
Published : January, 2006.