HALF CSONTOS HALF BREAU
A JOURNEY CALLED SIMPLY SAUCER

Howdy Folks…

I had the honour of interviewing Joe Csontos and Edgar Breau from Simply Saucer in the past few days.  When I was getting ready to interview both of these dudes, I realized that Art is so often misunderstood or taken for granted.  While society is inundated with commercialism, many of us tend to forget real art.  Waves that come and go musically frustrate the market, as well as frustrate the consumer.  Simply Saucer represents the true essence of Rock Music.  The dangers that lie within the songs, the risks that artists take to be genuine, and the fortitude of expression is what makes REAL music live on. 

Luckily, for Simply Saucer, their story is “Here Yesterday,BUT Lookout For Tomorrow”.

Simply Saucer will be celebrating the release of HALF HUMAN HALF LIVE on Friday April 4th 2008 at The Westside Theatre.  It’s an honour to be promoting this event, and more importantly, its an honour to have these gents as peers.

Enjoy this very entertaining look at Simply Saucer.

JOE CSONTOS

Simply Saucer is a selective sounding Rock N Roll band.  As loud as the influences are, would you say that the departure from the project probably has influenced the sound of the current Simply Saucer the most?

Funk,specifically the euro-type of  funk of Can. Of course,it never sounds like that in the finished product but it is there at the inception. James Brown for the simplicity of the arrangements ,at least that’s how they start and the layering process begins. Jimi Hendrix as well...

You fit into this band both musically and logistically.  You represent the “new blood” of Simply Saucer, as do Steve Foster and Dan Winterman.  Did it take long for this current line up to gel?

I think the band really started to “gel” as you would say after Steve Foster joined the band as a full time member and suffering through a  a few gigs with us in Montreal and Ottawa. Suffering the travel with the band not the music.that is...

How did you get invited to join Simply Saucer?

Bruce the Mole asked me several years ago to consider a one off with Sparky,Kevin and Edgar in 2006. 

Stepping into a band that has Seminal status, and Cult like existence, there has to be some sort of extra responsibility towards maintaining the Cool vibe of the band.  Do you find the Saucer fan base somewhat different in comparisons to other projects that you were involved in?

The fan base ranges from people in their early 20’s to people our parent’s age. Me Mum loves us.

Just like Simply Saucer, you as well took a break from road travels.  Is your approach towards traveling with this band more different than previous excursions?

It’s all about balance,which at times is a challenge...but my wife and kids know that if I don’t play music I will drive them crazy at home...it’s kinda like cabin fever,really.

The new record HALF HUMAN HALF LIVE is a collaboration of live and studio recorded material.  Why choose this concept?

I think because the  Cyborgs record were low-fi recordings never meant for release in that particular state and the fact that people loved perhaps for that reason that “we” wanted to bridge our new recordings with a touchstone of the past,even though most of the arrangements have been re=worked by the new incarnation.

Compromise in your life now must mean a lot.  What does your family think of you being part of Simply Saucer?  Obviously, you thought out the whole plan before committing to a potentially lengthy adventure.  Are all of you comfortable and ready to make this your main focus?

Never say never to any possibility but for now see above question for the answer.

Simply Saucer live is energetic and tight.  However there is a definite noticeable flow.  The songs seem to get from Point A to Point Z very easily.  Loudness is also another element that has been audibly noticeable.  Simply Saucer’s dynamics of loudness remind me of a Blue Oyster Cult show from long ago.  BOC were soooo loud but clear.  Did you guys put effort in making the live shows loud?

I think some of the best bands live understand and understood the use of dynamics and space. Ask Don Van Vliet.

The demographic of Simply Saucer is interesting.  Its made up of fans who take their music very seriously, but there is also a noticeable range in ages.  Are you somewhat surprised at how many young people enjoy Simply Saucer?

A little surprised but I think it is wonderful.

You have been a friend of SS for a long time.  You were hanging out with the band during the “Saucer House” era.  Are there any moments that stand out during those early Saucer years?

Nothing that is shocking or lurid but we had some extremely “out there” philosophical discussions on a few nights. H.P. Lovecraft and Crowley thrown in with an intensely loud soundtrack of Motorhead’s Overkill by Carl.   

How was the band live back then?

Definitely more short song oriented but there was some extended workouts ala the song Reckless Agitation. 

You have a very interesting connection to Teenage Head as well.  Care to mention what happened during the Hamilton Music Awards sound check?

I was the first drummer in T-Head for about 2 days when it was Gordie,Steve and Nick was  the singer. When Jack Pedler had to duck out of the HMA sound check I was invited to play once again w/ the ‘Head. It was fantastic.

Saucer is an example of how Old Records Never Die.  Did you think back then that Simply Saucer would be like a phoenix and rise again?

Never in a million years...so once again I reiterate”never say never...

Listed as #36 in Mesereau’s - All of you must have questioned perspectives.  How often has the band referred to that recognition for extra assurance?

Perspective changes throughout the ages...who said if  you  hang around long enough,”they” will eventually give you an award. Something to that effect. One record and one gig at a time.

Ayers or Cale?

Are you kidding me,Cale,of course,imagine yourself at 65 years old still looking menacing and cool ,all at the same time.

Who would Joe Csontos like to see replacing Sonic Smith and Rob Tyner for the DEFINITIVE MC5

There are no substitutes for those two.

Detroit or New York?

Trick question? In the seventies and early eighties definitely NYC but since the 90’s
and currently-Detroit Rock City,baby.

New Christs seem to be a perfect example of a band who are probably huge Rock N Roll record collectors.  Think of any other examples?

Mars Volta,Robert Pollard,and Ken Fox. Do I get to talk about Imants Krumins yet?

Mudhoney seemed to best represent Seattle in my honest opinion.  How about you, Joe?

Initially,I thought so too, but Nirvana killed me with Dave Grohl-chunkier,harder and the songwriting just got better.

EDGAR BREAU
Simply Saucer's second wind is very important because it sheds light on the true meaning of the Independent music existence. A cult status band who has been labeled as a proto-type punk band in 1974 comes back 30 years later and receives international attention.  Does this make sense to you, Edgar?

Only when you know the whole story of how it happened and the role played by certain music critics who took up our cause and promoted the band when we were long dead. As well, our influences themselves over the years grew in importance, especially the Velvet Underground who had become one of the most influential bands in the world despite never having a hit record.

Hamilton definitely had some sort of magical ingredients in the Burlington Bay.  Take this into consideration.  King Biscuit Boy, Gord Lewis, Mickey DeSadist, Dave Rave, Tim Gibbons, Tom Wilson, Edgar Breau, Harrison Kennedy, Daniel and Bob Lanois, and a bunch more.......What explains this musical mythology?

All of the above artists could have moved away and stayed away but we all chose to keep a strong connection to this city because we love the people here and believe that our work has an integral connection to this area. Without it we wouldn't have been the same. I think there's a stubborn tenaciousness in all of us. Also not being part of a trendy scene in a way helps the artist arrive at a vision that is truly his/her own.

How did Simply Saucer start?

Simply Saucer started with two boys attending Bishop Ryan High School, myself and Paul Colilli a keyboard player talking endlessly in and out of class about all the cool records we were buying. Later on, we met a couple of others at Bob Moody's Record Bar on John St. My foster brother played synth and audio generator and the bass player Kevin Christoff I met at Sir Wilfred Laurier High School. We used to have record spinoffs with Imants Krumins, where we drank a lot of wine and played and rated records..bands like the Saints, Savage Rose, the Velvets, Flamin' Groovies, Hawkwind, Kinks, Thirteenth Floor Elevator, Seeds, Can, Faust, Sun Ra..etc etc

Did being so different musically, effect all of you on a personal basis?  For some reason, I get this mental image of people looking at you guys and thinking..."who are these guys?"  Is there any validity to this?

Yea there was a certain artistic, not exactly affectation, but a deliberate turning away from the mainstream not only musically but in some ways socially. We were similar to the French linguistic deconstructionists who wanted to start all over again with language. Music was something to be deployed like a weapon against the unsuspecting audience. Unfortunately at the time there WAS NO audience for our music which was chaotic and very much improvised.

Obviously, the name is an ode to early Pink Floyd and Syd Barrett.  How did you first learn about the mentioned names?

I'm sure it was Paul Colilli who introduced me to Piper at the Gates of Dawn '67/68. He read a lot of English Pop mags and eventually we discovered the Move, the Herd, the Soft Machine, Tyranosaurus Rex and many other great bands.

Explain what Hamilton was like musically in the early 70's?  Where did you shop for records back then?

There were a lot of cover bands. I bought records at Kresge's, Melody Lane, Bob Moody's Record Bar, Hermandad's and of course Sam the Record Man's and various Buffalo stores. Plus from import record catalogues.  You could find records in variety stores as well on budget labels.

What were the early Saucer shows like in Hamilton?  When was the official first Simply Saucer show?

The first show we played was at St. Alban's Anglican Church on Brittania St. in the east end. We were an east end band. We played three sets and I know the second set consisted of one song called "Noise". We only played that one once. It was completely improvised and I played an audio generator. In the middle of it, fights began breaking out in the audience and eventually the cops arrived and hauled some people away.

At what venues did you perform in Hamilton?

We played Westdale High, Sir John A. McDonald, Burlington Fair, the YMCA, YWCA, the Kiwanis Club

Bands like the Velvets, Stooges and Barrett's version of Pink Floyd are often name dropped by those who try to explain Simply Saucer.  Are there any other bands that we should also acknowledge as inspirations?

Can, the Krautrock bands in general,for me Moby Grape, Lighnin Hopkins, the Kinks, I'm sure the Stones and a little bit of Hendrix, Hawkwind, the Soft Machine, Pink Fairies, Eddie Cochrane, Terry Riley, Sun Ra lots of others

I understand that you kept in touch with Craig Bell of Rocket From The Tombs back in the early 70's.  How did you learn about RFTT?

Craig and I were both members of the Syd Barret Appreciation Society and began corresponding around 1973 or so. He was playing in a band called the Saucers at the time and eventually ended up playing in Rocket from the Tombs.

You must have felt some ambition from knowing that Cleveland was tapped into the same headspace as Breau and Christoff back in the early 70's.  Did you ever have the chance to see each other's shows back then?

No, unfortunately not..Craig did come to Hamilton looking for me but I was out of town the day he arrived. His wife, was a prof I think  doing a seminar on Women's studies at the u. of Toronto.

There has been folklore built on the "Saucer House".  Many local musicians will always make reference to various stories, but most importantly, they always comment on how Simply Saucer formulated a sound, image and dynamic at the corner of Main and Ferguson.  What was the environment like at this historical location?

There was constant stream of people that came through the house and so often when we rehearsed there was a ready made audience which was great but eventually the party atmosphere got totally out of hand and got in the way of the artistic ends of the band. Band members got burned out, addicted and messed up and the centre did not hold. The centrifugal forces hurled us all into various parts of the universe...

You played with Pere Ubu back in the late 70's.  Plus you revisited the experience a few months ago in Hamilton.  You must have been somewhat delighted to see that although so many things change, its good to see things stay the same.  Both bands seemed more mature, and both acts still had this overflowing passion about their art.  How important was it to reunite again with the Ubus for you on a personal level?

Yea it was fun to see that sort of commitment on the part of Pere Ubu to an uncompromising musical vision. Both bands came from cities with industrial backgrounds in the shadow of larger more sophisticated artistic centres but managed to make  their musical statements apart from universal adulation. 

During the 1977 punk scene, Simply Saucer were musically different compared to the young punk bands.  Both the Saucers and the punks bands had the same musical inspirations, however your styles were very different.  Did you think of this as a positive foundation for SS or was it a deterrent?

Well yeah it was in some ways a more difficult sell for us because our musical mix was more diverse than some of the Toronto punk bands. We were listening to the Ramones and aware of the Sex Pistols and the Damned and all the rest.. It was just that we weren't musically influenced by them to any great extent. My favorite English bands at the time were the Only Ones and the Soft Boys. I had grown up in the East End of the Hammer with real punks..I didn't need to wear safety pins but I did wear a leather jacket. The whole deliberate minimalist approach to music had drawbacks as well, least of all some very boring and repetetive arrangements. I tended to prefer the punk/artiste Television Patti Smith axis to the fast/loud and ugly version that was dominating in Toronto. Teenage Head had some influences like the Dolls, Groovies, rockabilly and apparently Hawkwind that kept the mix interesting but again they were a kind of hybrid like ourselves.

You recorded your music with Bob Lanois.  How did you meet Bob?

The first time I met Bob was in 1974 when him and brother Dan had a studio in the basement of their mother's Ancaster home called Master Sound Studio. Our manager Rick Bissell had booked some time for us to record demos to interest clubs and hopefully labels.

What was the recording experience like?  Was Bob aware of what you were trying to do musically?

Bob did most of the recording though Dan helped as well when he was around. I wasn't sure just where their musical tastes lie so I brought a copy of the Stooges Raw Power and the Velvet Underground's White Light White Heat to give Bob an idea of what we wanted. Bob took it all in stride, was very professional and interested in the electronics we were using.

How long did it take to record all these songs?

I think it was all of two days..much of it live off the floor.

Was there an official Simply Saucer release during the initial existence of the band?

No but there was an unofficial wine fest along with some other incidentals...

Many times, I hear more of the early 70's English Rock in your music as compared to New York or Detroit.  I hear many traces of early Pink Fairies and Hawkwind in Cyborgs. Did you guys have specific records that you wanted to sound like? 

I really liked the first Pink Fairies record with Larry Wallis..kings of oblivion
We had a Detroit influence (the Stooges) mixed with a New York Influence (the Velvet Underground) topped with an Anglophile love affair

When did the official break up actually take place?

1979, the fall? K.C. would know he's the archivist

Did you put together another band after the break up of Simply Saucer? 

I reunited with David Byers who was an original member in a band called Third Kind around 1983. Kevin Christoff from the Saucer played bass and his brother Dereck played the drums. We did some interesting recordings but never played live.

There was this pure volatile sound to Simply Saucer.  It seems that some bands try to sound this way, while others unfortunately live it.  How much did Saucer bleed its real life experiences or references to its music?

Quite a bit actually I was living wherever our rehearsal space was and at one time in a store front, sleeping on a thin piece of foam, without a bath, shower, closet, stove..that's where Cyborgs Revisited was born..in the distance the smoke stacks and the mysterious clanking of steel...

After a hiatus, you stepped back into the scene on a solo basis?  How did it feel stepping into the "acoustic" field musically?  Also, how different was the music scene in Hamilton since the departure of Simply Saucer?

For me it was a refreshing change playing acoustic. I was a big fan of John Fahey, Nick Drake Mel Lyman, Sandy Bull, Mississippi John Hurt, Pentangle  countless others. I decided doing the troubadour things wasn't such a bad idea. Many of the bands I admired also had a softer side.

How did you meet Bruce Mowat?

Bruce caught a set I did at the Baytides Cafe and introduced himself.

Bruce singlehandedly established Simply Saucer as a MUST HEAR band.  Were you overwhelmed by his enthusiasm?

Yea still am he's a one man promotional army, a good friend, mentor and an inexhaustible resource for local musicians.

Again, Simply Saucer is tainted with these great valid anecdotes.  Were you at Copps Colliseum when Thurston Moore dedicated a song to Simply Saucer?

No I learned about it the next day reading the review in the Spec and then the spec called for an interview about it.

You must have been freaked to hear that Thurston Moore was paying homage to a Garage band from Hamilton.  Did that make you look at your work or musical involvement differently? 

Yea validation from your peers is always nice and gives you encouragement to continue on..

Afterwards, younger fans were picking up on Simply Saucer, and they treated SS like a rare discovery.  Were you prepared to consider the revisitation of Simply Saucer? 

Not at first, I had been separated from my own repertoire, my own catalogue for many years and it was only by a very convoluted process that I was brought to the point where I could ask myself the questions like "what if' or "how" or "with whom" or "can you do it again'. I think that having a new young audience that were digging the band played a large part in my decision to reform Simply Saucer and wherever I played solo they would come out of the woodwork and ask about the band.

How important is it to be a Hamilton band?  Would this band have been the same if it was started in another city?

No, it wouldn';t have been..that industrial hardscrabble sub text gave the band it's grittiness

Luckily for us, you were performing acoustic shows during the 2nd phase of Simply Saucer.  Both shows are musically different.  Do you need that balance as an artist?

Yea pretty well..it's all part of my many sided personality that I'm still trying to sort out.

How long did it take before Kevin Christoff and yourself decided to reform SS?

I think cranking the Les Paul up on stage at our first mini show at the Corktown did it for me. The other factor was finding creative musicians to play with and Joe Csontos, Dan Winterman and Steve Foster fit the bill admirably. All of them bring substantial musical gifts to the table and eventually we began to jell.

SS -  thats kind of funny in its own way..hahahha

not going there, man...

Do you feel comfortable as being tagged as the leader of Simply Saucer?

Yea I suppose so..but it is a real band it's not Edgar Breau and Simply the Sidemen

How did you meet Foster, Csontos and Winterman?

Joe was a part of the Saucer circle way back in the seventies, hung out with us, gigged with us, booked us, partied with us..he was invited by Steve Park to see Steve's first gig with us at the YWCA. Joe played with the Loudmouths who opened for us way back when. Daniel I first met as part of the Velvet Underground tribute band doing a benefit at the Casbah..or was it with the 'Battleship Ethyl?  Steve, we rehearsed at his studio on Napier st in Dundas and soon he had joined the band and was recording our new album at Catherine North.. Steve moves fast

Your visits into the studio were close to 30 years apart.  How did it feel going into the Saucer recording headspace?  Any similarities to Cyborgs?

It was surreal, a fantastic full circle and Duke and Steve Foster were great to work with

So Simply Saucer has achieved real estate in the Canadian Rock N Roll Art History.  Who would have thought that 30 years later, Cyborgs would achieve status as 36th on the TOP 100 Canadian Records.  Ed....these are bragging rights.  Plus you are in pretty good company!  What do you make from all of this?

I think there's always a good thing waiting for you around the corner, man
the future is up for grabs
here's to yesterday, today and tomorrow!

here are a few quickies...

You played with Richard Lloyd recently.  He definitely brought 2 lungs full of New York and shot it out musically.  Richard also openly mixes the street life with spirituality.  Some see this as a oxymoron.  What is your take on this?

There's life lived existentially. There are messages from outside. There is reason. There is faith. Science. Poetry. Music.
Richard is in pursuit of that. It's just that he looks in some very dangerous places. I have to admire that. At the same time we are very fragile beings...His session at Grant Ave was amazing

Have you ever thought about working with Gord Lewis?  Both of you have a very deep root to New York, Detroit and England, musically.

Gord's a true Hamilton musical legend and sure I'd work with him. We could call the project Simply Head (just joking)  Saucer have some real connections with Teenage Head. Steve Park came over to Saucer after helping form the original five piece version of Teenage Head. Our drummer, Joe Csontos was their first drummer. I'm sure there are some common musical influences as well like the Stooges..I was a big fan of the Flaming Groovies who's LP, Teenage Head gave them their name.
Last but not least both my father and Frank's father were guards together at the Barton St. jail..now how's that for a connection?

Have you heard Kevin Ayers newest record?

No but i've heard it's really awesome..

You saw Willie P Bennett perform in Feb 2007.  What did you think of the show?

It was my first time seeing Willie and I was totally blown away

Have you ever thought about having your own satellite radio show? 

No but I once did a show at CFMU with Imants Krumins

What do you remember about the first time The Forgotten Rebels opened for you?
I remember my friend Mickey burning the Canadian flag and my brother Mike punching out three of their roadies for badmouthin us.
Did you ever see Slander?

no

Comments

[Lou Molinaro]

Aw thanks man....Yeah, the boys were great. Some of Ed's answers kill me...The nod to the Saucer being like French Deconstructionists was classic!

Going to the Hamilton Show April 4th.

Lou

[Robert in Toronto]

Lou - nice interviews. Maybe the best I've read with Edgar. And Joe provides (important) perspective and context. You got some good stuff out of 'em.

R.