The Blood Lines - drawing their own conclusions

From Moose Jaw to Beijing

The Blood Lines take the Prairies to the globe

Published December 13, 2007  by Christine Leonard

‘I think I had a combination of jet lag and culture shock when I arrived’ — The Blood Lines recently shared a stage with the likes of Nine Inch Nails and Public Enemy in Beijing

There’s something about a restless youth spent on the Canadian Prairies that tends to put a spark into the hearts of those who survive it. A creative cinder smouldering in a tinder-dry small-town environment, The Blood Lines burst onto the Saskatchewan scene with a fiery passion for the nouveau and a stripped-down old-school rhythm that spread like wildfire and carried the electronic-rockers far beyond their native borders. Introduced by a mutual friend, the dual sets of siblings who comprise Saskatoon’s latest claim to fame — brothers Paul and Barrett Ross and siblings Maygen (a CBC Radio 3 Bucky Award nominee for Sexiest Canadian Musician) and S.J. Kardash — were more than willing to give playing together a shot. It paid off, as they quickly went on to record a self-titled debut and embarked on a pilgrimage to the U.S. to perform at the CMJ Music Marathon. Winning over fans and critics alike with their modern take on the ’70s pop-rock sound, the quartet was startled by their own success as the awards and accolades began to roll in.

“Winning the WCMA (Western Canadian Music Award) for outstanding rock recording in Moose Jaw was probably one of the best experiences so far for me [and my brother Barrett],” says Paul of the band’s recent achievement. “Moose Jaw is our hometown, and a good chunk of our family was there with us for the event. It was like coming full-circle, and it’s a weekend I’ll never forget. Winning the award was totally unexpected, and the limelight was a surprise. Needless to say, it was nice to be recognized from people in the industry. Feedback was instant, and we have since been talking with a producer and have booked a spot at the SXSW festival in Austin, Texas. I’m not sure if it has changed any goals, but it certainly has galvanized them.”

Setting their sights on foreign climes, The Blood Lines recently joined forces with major players such as Nine Inch Nails, Public Enemy and Mando Diao to perform live at the prestigious Beijing Pop Festival. It was an experience that both tested their endurance and left a lasting impression on these emerging artists.

“Beijing was a blast,” Paul confirms with obvious enthusiasm. “After a long flight, I think I had a combination of jet lag and culture shock when I arrived, so that was the low for me. The high was playing our set at the festival. There is something to be said about travelling thousands of miles and playing in front of a large crowd who actually know some of your songs.”

As eager as they were to soak up the culture and gain a greater understanding of a strange new world, the political and economic policies of their host country inevitably played on The Blood Lines’ collective consciences. Their ultra-hip album is rife with what could be considered provocative and, in some circles, subversive songs like “End of the World,” “Not Enough” and “Revolution.” Putting their reservations aside, the group persevered and was justly rewarded with a sense of accomplishment from bringing a much-needed form of expression, release and enjoyment to an audience that could truly appreciate every single heart-pumping electrified supersonic note.

“Experiencing Beijing is hard to describe because it is a combination of shock and awe,” Paul elaborates. 

“There’s shock at the existence of very cheap labour, wealth and poverty right beside one another, and there is awe of all the culture, architecture, places and people. It’s just so different from what you’re used to — there is no frame of reference unless you’ve experienced it. Although we aren’t a ‘political’ band, per se, I believe one can’t be numb to what’s happening in the world. The experience of going to China was certainly an eye-opener for me. However, I can safely say that the bands there were great, and the audiences were very receptive. The most popular band from there played a type of ’70s punk, and they sounded great. The audiences there seemed as though they were starving for music. This made me happy to be there. There is a sense that the country is changing, however slowly, and I’m glad we could be part of that.”

The Bloodlines perform with Ghostkeeper & Lorrie Matheson