At Dusk hail from Portland, Oregon and play an amazingly detailed, luxuriantly catchy brand of post-punk pop '” with flecks of folky ambience '” that will remind you of all your favourite bands of all time. All three members responded to Jonny Dovercourt's questions via email:

At Dusk: college rock or high school rock? Cary Clarke: It seems to me that responding 'œhigh school rock'? would intimate something that could lead to my arrest. But, damn it all, I choose it anyway! I think there's just less competition in the high school rock field. The three of us all grew up together, and began playing music together around the beginning of high school. At the risk of sounding nostalgic, I think there is a certain sense of possibility that I associate with high school, and I'd like to believe that the positive, fun aspects of that come through in our music. 'œCollege rock'? sounds too laboured, too studious. Though perhaps there's still some territory to be explored in 'œpost-grad rock.'? Will Hattman: We try to bring to our music the kind of vitality that was so palpable and inspiring in the music to which we responded when we were impressionable teens. On these grounds, I'd call it high school rock. Greg Borenstein: I like the youthful energy and playfulness that implies: those qualities are definitely part of how we see ourselves. Not to mention the underage girls.

The power trio format holds the most possibilities for sonic exploration. True or false? Discuss. CC: Obviously three musicians can make fewer sounds at one time than four or five, or 15, as you Torontonians are used to these days. But there's just as much potential in sparseness as there is in density. I believe the semi-arbitrary setting of limitations is a prerequisite to making anything. You have to choose to do one thing and not another an infinite number of times in any creative act.. GB: I think we definitely have a little bit of an attitude about bands with more members. We will often remark, 'œWhat are all those guys doing?'? and imagine how easy it would be to be the guy who, every couple minutes, goes 'œvreeeowwwwwwwerrrrrginginging'? on the guitar.

We live in Toronto, City of Neighbourhoods. You live in Portland, City of _______________? Enlighten us a bit about that blank. CC: Portland, City of Neighbourhoods Not In Toronto. I thought that would be an amusingly obnoxious response. The experience I've had that most clearly represents to me the best aspects of Portland is the organization of the first annual PDXPOP Now! (www.pdxpopnow.com) music festival, which just took place a few weeks back. An online forum gave rise to a discussion about what we could do to create a stronger sense of community amongst all of the musicians in Portland. A group of about 14 of us met weekly for 7 months and put together a free, all-ages festival of 43 Portland bands. In addition, we put out a double-disc compilation of Portland music. The response was overwhelmingly positive. The CDs sold out before the event and we had amazing, supportive crowds for the festival. The whole thing was paid for by local business sponsorships. Portland is small enough to make organizing something like this possible, but is culturally active and diverse enough to make doing so worthwhile. It's worth noting that Portland is actually 'œThe City of Roses.'? Even the cop cars have effeminate little roses on them. It's pretty cute. To compensate for this frilly image, they have to be extra aggressive.

How did you find out about Wavelength? What are you looking forward to most about your visit to Toronto? CC: All of the incredible music coming out of Toronto these days has lead us to not infrequently joke about moving there. Wavelength seems tremendously cool, with a similar ethic to PDXPOP Now! As if the music weren't enough, we're of course thrilled by the adventures promised by Toronto's reputation for world-class call girls and meth, which is really what we're all about. That and listening to dorky audio books in the tour van. WH: The Constantines, Toronto's own, had enthusiastically congratulated us on getting the show, describing it as a sort of bastion for all things indie, where people come for the music and pay attention. I'm rather embarrassed to admit that virtually all of what I know about Toronto I learned from The Conan O'Brien Show. So... I'm looking forward to back bacon on a bun, the CN Tower... I guess I can't go to a Leafs game... fraternizing with fellow Rush fans... Oh! Do you guys do that boiling-maple-syrup-packed-in-snow roadside dessert in the summertime as well? Maybe with artificial snow? GB: Also, using our incredibly rusty and broken school French.