Invasives are one of Vancouver's hardest working bands. Being together for over a decade, they’ve toured internationally and released five studio albums of black sheep punk rock.
Their fifth album Robot Stink is their most adventurous to date, exploring more dreamy, psychedelic tones and darker lyrical content – their own prefab-blues of living the modern, technology-dependent world. We caught up with singer/guitarist Byron Slack to answer a coupla Q’s...
For those who don’t know, who ARE Invasives?
Invasives are three guys, two of them brothers, Adam, Hans & Byron (that's me). We've been in a band together for many years, playing music and having fun while doing our damnedest to better ourselves as musicians and people. Sometimes it's easy, sometimes it ain't.
Robot Stink is your first release on Bummer Records. What inspired the shift to going with a label after nearly a decade of DIY?
Bummer Records have been courting Invasives for years! It was funny at first but after a while it got really annoying. We mailed their letters back and gave all their care packages to estranged relatives, the whole thing seemed ridiculous. But then they got serious, our pets started disappearing, cars with blacked out windows would tail Hans while he was out on the town, it was downright creepy. Finally we agreed we would sign to Bummer if they let us take over the company, and to everyone's relief they accepted!
You've toured and released a split seven-inch with local rockers War Baby. Do I sense a bromance?
That's all label stuff. War Baby footed the bill as a way of swindling themselves onto the split, they're a good band and very business savvy. They travel in a separate car when we tour and usually retire early so they can get up the following day and be even more business savvy. Savvy. Generally though, they're alright fellas, however I wouldn't trust any of 'em after a hundred or so sips of beer
What's next for Invasives?
We'll tour this record, Canada/Europe/USA are all on the menu and look forward to putting out an EP next year. In the meantime we'll be gearing up for the record release party at the Cobalt.
Catch Invasives this Friday at the Cobalt for their record release show with Ford Pier Vengeance Trio and High Kicks. Doors at 7:30pm. $10.
