Distinguished Tastes: Andre Ethier

Andre Ethier spent a decade in The Deadly Snakes. In that time, the group put out four albums, and grew up from snotty Canuck garage rockers, to putting out one of the finest records of the millennium, 2005's Porcella. As bands like to do, they broke up at their peak. Now, Andre is doing his own thing, writing songs for himself. He is like a one man version of The Band or something. Just living up in Canada and writing great songs.
We bothered Andre to tell us about the finer things in life.

Hex Ed Journal: What current stuff are you listening to right now?

Andre: Ive been listening to Smog, Destroyer and Cass McCombs. I keep coming back to each of them over the past few years.

Hex Ed. Journal::: What about older stuff?

Andre::: I've been listen to a record Called "Penguin Eggs" by Nic Jones alot. It's a collection of British folk songs from 1983. I have also been listening to a lot of bands that have reputations for being dumb, like Status Quo, The Troggs and Patto. Maybe its just me that thinks patto is dumb. Status Quo rules dumb blues bombast. I'm going to see Steve Miller later this month, he's dumb.

Hex Ed. Journal::: whats the greatest song of all time?

Andre::: Maybe Happy Birthday or Three Blind Mice?

Hex Ed. Journal::: Last good book you read?

Andre::: Growth of the Soil by Knut Hamsun, it's been passed around my friends for years and I just reread it. It's manly and it gets dirt under your nails. I read The lives of John Lennon on Vacation. It was really trashy. It blew my mind.

Hex Ed. Journal::: Any books that have an influence on your songwriting?

Andre::: Cook books have probably been the most helpful in terms of songwriting. A meal arrives fully formed as if it had always existed much like how we hear a song. Its nice to see that it is put together one step at a time.

Hex Ed. Journal::: Where is the best place to eat in Toronto

Andre::: There are lots of good things to eat in Toronto. I used to love The Fish Shack in Kensington Market. It was a Rastafarian Fish sandwich place. The guy was always like, " I invented this sandwich last night."