By Lindzrox
Back in 1989, a piece of music history was made, as a then three-piece band, burst onto the local Toronto scene to form Random Order, a ska-liscious, funkadelic band that you must put on your “bucket list” to see live. Now this five-piece energetic, groovy and diverse group has been winning over crowds and converting hecklers to fans across Canada and beyond. One thing is for sure; their music will start you chair dancing and will eventually have you skanking and shuffling across the floor. We caught up with lead vocalist and guitarist Lynn Phillips and trumpet player Caleb Hamilton, the newest member of the entourage, and band manager Danielle to learn more about their musical journey and what this new decade has in store for this truly unique band.
What’s the history of the band, how did it all come together?
Lynn: The band actually came together at a dinner party at Pride. Right across the street actually at the house with the pillars (on Church St.) A friend of mine lived there, and invited a whole bunch of people over for dinner and I met a drummer and a bass player and I said “Hey, let’s start a band!” and that’s how it all began.
How would you describe your sound?
Lynn:Well now it’s getting more ska. It’s kinda of like ska, reggae, little bit of funk, funky grooves, little bit of this, little bit of that.
So who are your influences, whose posters did you have up on your wall as a kid?
Caleb: I grew up in the country, I didn’t really have posters.
Lindzrox: Well metaphorically speaking (laughs)
Caleb: Probably my main influences or the reason I got into playing was there were musical families in the community where I grew up that played Classic Rock and I wanted to be them.
Lindzrox: Where did you grow up?
Caleb: Upper Stewiacke, Nova Scotia
Lindzrox: Lynn?
Lynn: Where did I grow up? I haven’t grown up yet (laughs) I’m trying, but it’s not working.
Lindzrox: Well I think we all working on that (laughs) No, who were your influences?
Lynne: Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley and Joan Armatrading
Two full-length albums and a single came out in 2008, are there plans for a new album?
Lynn: Working on new material and a live CD, we have had many requests for a live CD.
What are the random qualities that each member brings to the order?
Lynn: (laughs) Which members? Ha, we are going to have to speak for the members who aren’t here. My quality is being able to take on any heckler; I don’t know what it is, I must encourage it. Then they end up coming up on stage or something and become my best friend. No matter who it is, we can usually win them over.
Danielle: And turn it around. I think that is the big part, it’s not that you just take them on, but you turn it around and they end up becoming those bikers that love Random Order
Caleb: Suddenly you are playing their wedding.
Lynn: We actually did play a biker bar in St. John. I’ll tell you a story, it’s really funny. Our booking agent at the time called me on the way out and she was like “Lynn, the owner of the bar called and she’s worried that you are going to be playing really loud punk music, so just tone it down and don’t drink any pig’s blood on stage.” I was sleeping when we pulled up and I open my eyes and said, “They were afraid of us!” There was a huge line of motorcycles. What had happened was one of the guys at the bar who was a joker had taken one of my posters up to the bar manager which had me with my Mohawk on it and said, “Did you listen to their music!” She said “No , just booked them.” She hadn’t even listened to our music. It could have been anything, but we totally won them over and they have invited us back every year. They are amazing too, they always do fundraisers for cancer and other things.
Lindzrox: Bikers who give back!
Danielle: I think one of the really fascinating things for me because I came into the Random Order world relatively late, i.e.three years ago, is witnessing the dynamic that they have on stage. They are all very individual people and would not have met had they not been recruited to be in the band, and the energy everyone brings is amazing. They get into riffs when they are traveling, but they get on stage and they just gel. No matter what the riff was, it is forgotten once they get on stage and it’s magic. Manny the drummer for instance, he is fairly stalwart and steady as he goes and he just gets up on stage and goes wild on the drums and you would not think that from looking at him.
Lynn: He has that background because he has toured with D.O.A. and bands like that, but you’re right, you would never know.
Danielle: It’s kind of like describing your sound. You can’t really describe your sound and what niche you fit in to, nor does anyone in the band fit a particular mold. They excel at their instrument of choice. They excel in their own special way and it’s that excellence, when it comes together, that creates the uniqueness that is Random Order. It’s less about being an image or a brand and more about being amazing at what you do. John for example is Julliard trained; a conductor who comes from such a different world.
Lynn: He answered our ad! (Laughs)
Lindzrox: Caleb’s the newest member, what is he bringing to the table?
Caleb: That’s a good question. I like to dress in suits. John likes to wear t-shirts, but John generally has more fun! He is always happy and if we have zero crowd he is the one that goes out and sells the show. I am not that quite outgoing. We all have our own style and it’s kind of interesting to see what happens musically. Jen, the bass player is a great dancer and a great person to have on stage. I think my stage presence has come a long way, this tour was a big breakthrough.
Can you tell me about the tour that you were just on?
Lynn: It was incredible. It was five and a half weeks, three festivals, one in Alberta and two in B.C, we’re making up for all those years we toured out east.
Where else have you guys toured?
Lynn: Europe twice, in Europe, Holland, Belgium, Ireland, and England. We got asked to do a festival in Ireland twice.
Lindzrox: You should play Jamaica
Lynn: (laughs) Yeah I know eh
Danielle: And we’d never come back
Favourite road story?
Caleb: Oh the telephone story at the Edge of the World music festival on the Haida Gwaii islands
Lynn: So we landed on the island and I had set up an interview with Xtra West cause we were playing in Vancouver. At the festival, it’s right on the ocean, there’s super high winds, the whole things coming down, people are getting washed out, and I’m on the only payphone doing a 45-minute interview! There’s a f’ing line up of people that are ready to kill me cause they’re trying to see if they can get a room at the only motel on the island. I keep saying to the woman on the phone ‘we gotta rap this or I’m not going to make it to Vancouver, these people are going to kill me’ So at one point I turn around and say ‘I’m sorry but I’m doing a scheduled interview and I’ll be done as soon as I can’. So I rap up the interview and turn around and the woman behind me says ‘Well I hope you get the job!’ (laughs). Then I asked everyone what they wanted to drink then went to the hospitality tent and grabbed a bunch of hot chocolates and teas. Brought it back and started serving drinks to everyone in line and they started to warm up a little bit. One woman was at the payphone cause she lost her cell phone and I said ‘don’t worry about it, this is a small place and it will come back to you” and she’s like ‘nah it’s gone don’t worry about it’. So the next night we’re headlining and everyone from the phone line is smirking cause they’re in the front row and getting the interview thing now. I had gotten the cell phone woman’s name the day before so during the one part of our song where I pull out a telephone/microphone on stage I started talking about her losing her phone and if anyone has found it to hand it in, and of course it turned up, it was so fun and we’re friends now.
What’s next for Random Order, any upcoming shows?
Lynn: Yes, January 24th at Slacks, that’s are favorite family event, it’s early (6:00 P.M), all ages, and close. It’s a nice one cause we do three sets.
Any New Year’s resolutions for the band?
Lynn: This is start of it here, doing this interview. I put up tour video from a while ago, Queer Control Records from Oregon is using some of our music for a podcast, and planning out the first part of our tour for this year.
Danielle: It’s about finding the right people to connect with, not about trying to play fourteen shows at the traditional venues here in the winter, but reaching out to new audiences, and dancing! Cause if you come to a Random Order show and don’t dance…
Lynn: You haven’t drank enough! (laughs)
Danielle; You get one more show and then…
Lynn: We’ll torment you until you dance!
Random Order is: Lynn Phillips (lead guitar and vocals), John Jowett (trombone), Manny DaSilva (drums), Jen Gillmor (bass) and Caleb Hamilton (trumpet).
For more information on Random Order:
www.randomorder.ca
www.myspace.com/randomorder
www.sonicbids.com/randomorder
www.youtube.com/catscratchrecords
www.facebook.com/reqs.php#/pages/Random-Order/23161028945
To purchase Random Order’s music, visit http://store.bentmusic.ca/random-order
Don’t forget to check out their upcoming show at Slack’s on January 24th.
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/event.php?eid=226105601328&ref=ts
Last 5 posts by Lindzrox
- Live from New York, it's Lindzrox's guide to NYC! - July 4th, 2011
- DISORDER: What's yours? This new party just may be the therapy you need. - March 27th, 2011
- The 90s are back!: Reality Bytes @ Augusta House - January 16th, 2011
- Chilly may be an acquired taste, but his music is a delicacy! - January 10th, 2011
- Alternavox Recommends: Random Order's Remix and Mingle Party - May 19th, 2010
