COORDINATES: WHERE THE (GUIDING) STARS ARE AT/TEN
KENS- Xmas Special
Prezzies for Quezzies! Crud asks Dan Workman of Toronto
band, Ten Kens, 'Where's Your Xmas Head At?' Video and
FREE download for 'Spanish Fly'.
15/12/2008
Like most things at Christmas, there’s something curiously
misleading about the basic premise and also something
of an anti-climax: none of the band members are called
Ken (sadly) and there’s not ten of them but four - Dan
Workman, Dean Tzenos, Ryan Rowantree and Lee Stringle.
In fact, it is anything but what it says on the tin.
And whilst there might be those of us feeling short-changed
on the personnel front, once the whole gift packaging
has been torn off and the four lads prised from their
tricky plastic moulds it actually turns into the perfect
gift idea.
It’s loud, it’s full of surprises and you can watch
it again and again (unlike some of the more terminal
repeats on the TV schedule this yuletide).
What is it? Well without giving too much away, instead
of releasing a single, the band is giving away a free
download of the song that inspired the band’s new video,
‘Spanish Fly’. In a project that combines the talents
of close-friends, The Blackbelt Kids, director Kareem
Thompson and animators by Peter Auld and Louis Norris
– the notorious aphrodisiac is given a tasty makeover
courtesy of the some horny, revved-up graphics and the
song’s signature post-punk throttle.
Still recovering from a successful UK tour with A
Place To Bury Strangers, the wonderfully incomprehensible,
Dan Workman accompanied us on a journey through Christmas
Past, Christmas Present and Christmas yet to be ...
When did you put your Christmas tree up?
Yesterday as a matter of fact…think Charlie Brown, but
more pathetic.
If you could take the three old Xmas hits and roll
them make into one big 'fuck-off' bastard - which three
would you choose?
Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer and
Little Drummer Boy…fuck 'em all.
Best ever Xmas Movie made? National Lampoons Christmas Vacation without
a doubt. Randy Quaid's black dickie underneath his white
sweater had me at hello.
Brussel Sprouts - yay or nay?
Nay, they taste like bad breath.
One thing that is certain to get you in the Xmas
spirit?
Jameson's Irish Whiskey.
Earliest memory of Xmas?
Waiting in line to see Santa Clause at the mall…and
waiting a very long time to sit on the lap of someone
that smelled like old books and couldn't seem more disinterested
in what I had to say. Ah the memories.
How and when do you break it to the kids that Santa
doesn't exist?
Santa doesn't exist???
Santa needs re-branding: what would you have him
do?
I'd wrap him in swaddling clothes and place him in a
manger. Probably put a big star overhead and just let
the people come to him…he wouldn't do much until about
age 30.
Top moment of 2008?
Our inaugural UK tour supporting A Place To Bury
Strangers. Yeah yeah!
What are your plans for next year?
Touring, touring touring.
