It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that The British Columbians are from the province of the same name, although the band, hailing from Vancouver, claims their choice of name isn't necessarily in honour of their home province but is just them following the example of bands such as Chicago and Boston.

The band kicked off their Ontario tour on March 30 to celebrate the release of their second album Made For Darker Things which came out in September of last year. The British Columbians' final tour date will bring them to London on March 30 before heading back out west to start preparing for their summer schedule including dates at a few different festivals. When drummer and guitarist Dave Moran emailed me, I took the chance to ask him a few questions about the tour and about what's next for the band.

So Dave, you've started an Ontario tour on March 20 with London being its last stop. Anything you hope to do while in London?
“The band actually has a lot of family and friends in and around Ontario and specifically in London, so we're really looking forward to being able to see their shining faces for at least a few hours when we get into town. London is a great city and we just love spending any time we can here.”

During your tour you're playing with a number of different bands including Amos the Transparent, Baby Eagle and the Proud Mothers and The Coppertones. Anyone that you're excited to play with, whether you've played with them before or are looking forward to meeting?
“We're really excited to be playing with all of the bands that we've been paired up with on this tour. Everyone you mentioned is making great music and it's really nice to be able to share the stage with them.”

So you guys released your new album Made For Darker Things back in September. What are your plans now that the album is out and the tour is starting? Any plans for the next album?
“There are lots of new songs in early stages right now that we've just put on hold while we prepped for this tour, but we'll be back at it once we're home, continuing to demo the new stuff. With the lineup we have in the band right now, there never seems to be a lack of song ideas from anybody, so we're really looking forward to seeing how it all fleshes out once we start really digging into them.”

Since this is your second release, what did you do differently from the first album?
“This album was much more of a ‘live off the floor' recording than the first one. Everyone sat in one room, mic'd up and we played it live to tape. Of course there are always overdubs afterwards, but we really wanted to make sure this album captured more of what the band does live in concert. From the responses we've had, I think we at least came close to achieving that goal on this record.”

Your sound is described as having an older blues influence. Did you grow up listening to a lot of blues music? Would you list any blues musicians as influences?
“Our singer/guitarist, Girard (Knox) grew up listening to a lot of the old Mississippi blues men; guys like Fred McDowell, Blind Blake and Son House. He got completely immersed and obsessed with that part of the world and the music that had come from it. Of course, as time goes on I think musicians typically all start to explore different types of music — some of which influences your writing and some of which doesn't (hopefully). Luckily, this oldschool blues music is one of the threads that finds its way into our music, and when it mixes around in the pot that has become this band, it somehow manages to give the songs some of the depth and movement that they really seem to want and need.“

The British Columbians will be in London on March 30 for their show along side their friends from Baby Eagle and the Proud Mothers, fronted by ex-member of Constantines Steven Lambke, Marine Dreams (Ian Kehoe of Attack and Black) and Fanshawe student Evan Redsky. The show, put on by We Kill Giants (MIA's Jeremy Klaver) at APK Live, will act as the CD release of Babys Eagles' album Bone Soldiers on You've Changed Records. The Friday show at 340 Wellington Rd. will be 19-plus and $7 at the door.