Success on MuchMusic's reality TV show disBAND has proven a double-edged sword for Hamilton rockers San Sebastian. “There are some things we probably can't do ... like certain tours that won't happen with us or certain opportunities,” said the band's bassist, Greg Veerman, on the phone from Fredericton, New Brunswick. “But we've got so many more amazing opportunities because of disBAND. We're definitely aware of what could come of it, like a stigma ... but we like the challenge.”

One of those amazing opportunities is performing at Fanshawe College's Express Yourself Orientation, alongside South Ontario rock alumni Arkells on Wednesday, September 8 in the SUB courtyard. It's a long way to come for the group, considering only last year several of San Sebastian's members were attending the very schools they're now performing at.

“(Last year) for Mohawk (College), we played with Young Rival and Tokyo Police club at a Frosh Week show. We were the second of five bands on, and it was fine, but then with our band there was nothing really going on … This year we're playing McMaster (University) for Frosh Week, and Sean went to McMaster, and he was like, ‘I remember that Frosh Week so well, there's a big outdoor theatre. I can't believe we're playing this! ... Last year I was the person watching the bands play.'”

And though San Sebastian's jangly Strokes-esque rock tends to appeal to a younger demographic than their counterparts in Arkells, the bands have much in common, both hailing from Hamilton, Ontario, where rock and roll has long been a staple of its working class residents. “It's just the ... mentality that comes out of being in Hamilton.” Veerman said, “It's a steel town, [and] everybody works for their living. Rock music suits that kind of mentality and it's only natural that it comes out.”

But Arkells aren't the only band San Sebastian have recently befriended; being from a country that's “massively big with not many cities in it,” rock and pop groups from Michou to The Stills have all imparted wisdom upon the Canadian newcomers.

“Everyone makes friends with each other, because everyone is kind of doing it the same way ... It's a weird kind of bond or camaraderie you have, (but) it's easy to make friends with them ... Everyone's happy to share secrets and even like, how to get to places, to watch out for a certain hills because your van can't take the stress. Things like that, we're super grateful for.”

San Sebastian have had to learn quick, since their signing to Universal Music Group Canada earlier this year. Their performance on MuchMusic's disBAND sold them to the show's judges, and with the help of their “music guru,” Greig Nori (former lead singer and guitarist of Treble Charger) the band (who were formerly called Pumps) have not only become a touring machine, but have a Noriproduced full length soon to be released, entitled This Madness.

Of Nori's aide to the band, Veerman recalled, “We had to go take a road trip to Montreal (for disBAND), and that's when he came in the van with us and we just drove out and had a super fun time. We were getting him to play us old Treble Charger songs and we'd all sing along and ... afterwards we all just got super drunk having a super fun time, out to five in the morning in Montreal. From that point on, we were instant friends and then through recording we just got tighter and tighter.”

Now, with a single having charted on MuchMusic's countdown, and several upcoming tour dates with Hedley and Lights in the fall, San Sebastian are about to take on the rest of Canada, stadium style. Be sure to check them out, and Express Yourself at this year's orientation week before San Sebastian are playing stadiums themselves!

San Sebastian will be performing with Arkells on September 8 in the SUB Courtyard. Gates open at 7:30 pm.