The Airfields are Toronto-bred five-piece that write songs perfect for the patio. Imagine the sun streaking down, an iced tea in your hand and a warm breeze. Ryan McLaren sent some questions to the band members and they responded with one voice.

WHO'S IN THE AIRFIELDS AND WHAT DO THEY DO?
There are five people involved: Ian and David play guitar, Ann plays organ, melodica, vibraphone, and glockenspiel (not all at the same time though), Jakob hits the drums and cooks up wild ideas and Tyson plays the bass guitar. Aside from playing music together, all we really seem to do is to argue about what song we're going to cover (at least this afternoon). It would be nice to cover a song or two, I think. Actually, no one can even agree on how to answer this question.

IF ANOTHER BAND HAD THE NAME THE AIRFIELDS AND WERE THREATENING TO SUE YOU, WHAT WOULD YOU DO YOU?
Give up immediately and change our name to "Blues Hammer" or "Beef Grenade."

DESCRIBE YOUR BAND'S SOUND IN LESS THAN SIX WORDS AND ONLY USING NOUNS.
Concrete nouns: letterboxes, beehives, chimneys.
Abstract nouns: sleep, restlessness (somewhere in between).

IF YOU COULD OPEN FOR ANY BAND, ALIVE OR DEAD, WHICH WOULD IT BE AND WHAT WOULD YOU INCLUDE IN YOUR RIDER?
Unlimited mixed cases of gluten-free, non-alcoholic beer & 8.9% Bavaria (the dirty beer), plus a generous supply of Subway sandwiches for Ian. And sign us up for when Syd Barrett or The Shadowy Men return! Or maybe the Field Mice or the Cat's Miaow! Seriously, it breaks our hearts that we're not playing with either The Clientele or the Hidden Cameras, who are also playing elsewhere on the 5th, but we're excited about playing at Wavelength.

IF YOU WERE BEING SENT TO PRISON AND COULD ONLY TAKE ONE MOVIE, ONE BOOK AND ONE ALBUM WITH YOU, WHICH WOULD YOU CHOOSE, AND WHY?
If I had to go to jail, maybe I'd be like Jake and read Essay on Civil Disobedience. Yet, reading Huckleberry Finn might inspire a jail break rather than confirm my place behind bars. I really can't decide. How about Bartleby the Scrivener? Personally, I guess I'd just stare out the window. Okay, okay-- Doctor Snuggles videos (or maybe Night Court!), The Wedding Present's Seamonsters, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.

STAR WARS. YAY OR NAY?
Neigh. Canadians really ought not co-operate with American military ambitions. But as far as the movie goes, Jake saw it and said it was terrible. I knew it would suck!

WHAT SUBJECT DO YOU SPEND THE MAJORITY OF YOUR TIME THINKING ABOUT?
I know I'm spending way too much time thinking about how to answer these questions! Nothing I write can be witty, because everyone already knows none of this is off-the-cuff... I know Ian spends a significant amount of time worrying that he's not gonna make it to work on time. I usually make it on time, but when I get there I wonder for how many more years am I going to have to keep this up? I know Jake never leaves his work... I think these concerns, coupled with financial anxieties, dominate the consciousness of the band.

CHOCOLATE-COVERED PEANUTS OR CHOCOLATE-COVERED RAISINS?
Almonds man, almonds!

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON YOUR FUTURE? I MEAN YOUR FUTURE SPECIFICALLY, NOT THE FUTURE. ARE YOU HOPEFUL? TIMID? EXCITED? CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC? DESPONDENT?
Dwelling obsessively on the future, as with the past, is generally quite unhealthy. With the band, I'd prefer not to speculate. We'll probably continue to make music that pleases us. We just made a short, three-song recording, which was a lot of fun. I think it exceeded our collective expectations. Perhaps we'll make another recording or a 7" one day-- who knows?

IS THERE AN UNDERLYING PHILOSOPHY TO THE AIRFIELDS? DO YOU HAVE A MESSAGE? A PURPOSE?
I'm really not sure why anyone gets involved in music bands when you consider all of the hassles and inconveniences it heaps on one's shoulders. There are days when I'm sure when everyone in the band would sooner curl up in a quiet room with a four-track recorder just for the pleasure of doing so. You don't have to schedule an appointment with a tape recorder, nor do they take up much space, and they always tell you what you want to hear. I suppose if there is a purpose, message, or more grand philosophy to all of this, we've really yet to discover it (it would be illuminating without doubt). It would be nice to write someone's favourite song. Hopefully they will listen to it over and over.

By Ryan McLaren