Interview with The Awkward Stage

Vancouver's so full of talent, it's hard to keep track of. I just recently tuned into The Awkward Stage, but am sure frontman Shane Nelken will happily make his disjointed mark on the city. It's everything you want a jingle-jangle pop song to be, with all the right twists and turns and gentle slaps across the face when you get too comfortable. As the latest addition to Mint Records' line up, when TAS plays the Mint Records Christmas Party this Saturday, I expect them to remind indie kids why they were indie in the first place.

Check the Shane Nelken interview after the jump.

Shane, are you The Awkward Stage, or is the band The Awkward Stage?
I guess for the time being, I am The Awkward Stage. I didn't have a band when I recorded the record. I played most of the instruments along with co conspirator Kurt Dahle of the New Pornographers. Now that I am playing around, I assemble available talent. The good ones are always pretty busy, hence the rotating line up. Eventually, I would like for things to stabilize.

Yes, you have a large rotating line up of people on the bill. Would that be more of a collective than a band?
I wouldn't say that. Collective implies other writers of which there are none. I do enjoy the various strengths different people bring to the songs though. I certainly encourage creativity on the parts of my musicians. In terms of how they might re interpret the songs. For the most part the record is represented rather faithfully.

I bet that The Awkward Stage is a new band for many Beyond Robson readers. How long have you been playing as AS, and whereabouts?
I've been playing my entire adult life but The Awkward Stage only since last year. A sporadic handful of mind melting pop shows.

Any words of introduction we should know to set us straight/crooked?
Mostly known as a hired ringer. (see A.C.Newman, Sparrow, Vancouver Nights, Tennessee Twin etc.)
Had bands of my own too (the come ons, the buzzards, blue lodge quartet, los disastros etc.) this is the first recording I've released of my own material. Been around a long bitter time.

Congratulations on joining up with Mint Records. How do you feel you fit into the Mint line up?
Well there is a sense of humor present in what I do and I think that fits with the Mint persona, but there is also a dark, and tragic undercurrent to what I do and it remains to be seen how well that will fit into the Mint line up.
Overall, I think Mint is a good fit for The Awkward Stage and it made perfect sense to sign with them.

You mention some violent times in the teen years on your Myspace page. Asides from playing songs to cope, how would you say that those experiences play into your songwriting? I find your songs to be particularly light-hearted if a bit eccentric.
On the surface, perhaps light-hearted but there is an underlying tragedy to everything I do. It all comes from pain. My sense of humor is born of it, my songs are born of it, as well as my pathological need to be liked and accepted. Sad but true. Its pain that drives the engine.

Can you share a few lyric lines which you feel could capture (or at least one side) of The Awkward Stage?
Do the lines have to be my own? If not, I would go with the Ramones "Gabba Gabba, We accept you, we accept you, one of us" If it has to be mine then "Forget your age, forget you're clever'; the awkward stage, it lasts forever" (from "the awkward stage" unreleased track)

And from where do these (or other) lyrics draw their inspiration?
I guess from anywhere at any given time. I'm always observing human behavior, my own often reprehensible behavior. Always looking for lines and melodies on buses, under rocks, thrift stores, petting zoos. Where ever.
They come from a need to make sense of the senseless. A desire to connect with others who feel similarly.

Any plans for a tour in the foreseeable future?
Your question sums up perfectly how popular my recent tour was. I just completed a month long tour of Canada with one show in NYC. I incurred 14,000 in debt just to play to cigarette machines. All for the love of the game.
Don't blame me when I sell out. I'll be starving and owing several months back rent.
P.S. I'm selling a 1995 Rally STX passenger van. She's a real honey. Those interested can talk to me at the show.

Do you feel that the Vancouver scene is taking any tangible new direction these days? Where would you like it to go?
Difficult to say whether there is a "scene" here. I've certainly never felt part of one. Don't get me wrong, there is a ridiculous amount of concentrated talent in Vancouver in all fields, but in my experience it is rather territorial in nature. Not the fraternal atmosphere you might expect from so many gifted friends. Shame really.

Such is life, I suppose. Thanks for comin' out, Shane.

The Awkward Stage
Mint Records Christmas Party
Sat, Dec 2, 8pm
Ukrainian Hall
805 E. Pender