CMW 2008: THE ACORN
Friday February 29, 2008 @ 10:30 AM
By: ChartAttack.com Staff

The Acorn (Photo By Robin Hart Hiltz)

Hometown: Ottawa, Ontario
Official Website: www.theacorn.ca
Members:
Rolf Klausener (lead vocals/guitar)
Howie Tsui (guitar)
Jeff Debutte (bass)
Jeffrey Malecki (drums)
Keiko Devaux (keyboard)

The Acorn were one of Ottawa's hottest exports in 2007, thanks to their latest disc, Glory Hope Mountain. It's a recounting of the often-devastating life of songwriter Rolf Klausener's mother, that includes tales of her own mother's death during childbirth, a near drowning at the hands of a flash flood, and her escape from an abusive father.

While the five-piece tend to deal in somber subject matter, they do like to have fun just like everyone else, and can sometimes be found dressing up like animals and stealing beer. ChartAttack spoke to Klausener as he browsed through a music store in the nation's capital.

So, you're about to play the big industry event that is Canadian Music Week. What's the most shameless thing you've ever done to promote your band?
Rolf Klausener: It wasn't so much promoting the band, but I wore a wolf outfit in 2004 when I was just starting the band. I played a show with an entire wolf outfit and wolf head… I guess we try to maintain some dignity.

What's the hardest part about being an up-and-coming band?
We're up-and-coming? Awesome!

How important is it for your band members to circulate and flirt with the audience before or after the show?
I actually find it almost impossible to talk to people before a show. I'm usually in a state of insane nervousness, so I typically try not to talk to anyone before we play. If people come and talk to us after the show, that's great, but we don't run out into the audience and start asking people what they thought of the show.

Have you ever stolen from someone else's rider? If so, who was it and what did you take?
Most Serene Republic. We stole a bunch of their beer in Winnipeg. That was more like we were trying to get them to respect their elders… Adrian, the lead singer of Most Serene Republic, said that the beer was his. He purposely stated that the two cases of beer were there for the band and that one of them was specifically his. You've gotta show those young kids… When we were on tour with Elliott Brood, we had a bit of their food, but I think stealing beer from Most Serene Republic might be the best answer. Actually, gladly; how about "gladly stealing beer from the Most Serene Republic?"

Have you ever been graded before according to ChartAttack.com's Rock 'n' Roll Report Cards?
I don't know that we have.

Does the idea of being graded bring back bad memories of being in elementary school or high school?
No, not at all. It's kind of weird to be graded but I guess that's par for the course for CMW. Hopefully we can win the teachers over a bit. Maybe we can flirt with them after school.

Have you done anything new or interesting this week?
I've been getting sleep, which is weird. I've been eating a lot of fibre. That's kind of unusual as well.

The Acorn play the Horseshoe Tavern on Thursday, March 6 at 11:10 p.m. as part of the annual Chart/Horseshoe/Canadian Music Week showcase.

—Scott Bryson