What kind of band names an album after the mysterious life and murder of a feral child in 19th century Germany? Apparently one that also names it's songs after Lakeview Lunch and Leslieville. Ryan McLaren got a chance to ask the band a few questions.

WHO'S IN BARONS AND LENGTHY AND WHAT ARE YOUR ROLES?

Rick takes care of the dry witticisms, moderately rational thought and sensible sensitivites; Chris keeps us in check both by playing drums on time and having even more rational thought than Rick; and Adrian and Dan take turns freaking out and watching (respectively).

HOW DID THE BAND GET STARTED?

Adrian, Chris, and Dan went to high school together, where the former two played in a band that competed with the latter's for the coveted role of "best band in grade (whatever)", then the former two met Rick in University and the latter met (and re-met) all of them and settled old vendettas. They started playing together out of instinct, and a primal fear of the unknown.

YOU'RE WORKING ON AN ALBUM, RIGHT? HOW FAR ALONG IS IT?

We just finished it last night actually, thanks be to providence, and we'll be hawking our newly-minted biscuits on the 23rd. That is, we'll be selling the album.

WHY'D YOU CHOOSE TO NAME YOUR ALBUM AFTER THE KASPAR HAUSER STORY? IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THE KIND OF THING THAT WOULD LEAD TO MUSICAL INSPIRATION.

Well, everybody likes feral children. Throw a little murder-mystery into the mix and you've got a formula onto which almost any message can be projected allegorically, if you're a freak. Actually, it's kind of poetic, if you really think about why he was killed.

I HAVE TO SAY, IT'S NICE TO SEE A BAND PLAY TORONTO-CENTRIC SONGS. PART OF THE REASON I THINK NEW YORK IS IDOLIZED SO MUCH IS BECAUSE OF IT'S SELF-REFERENCE, BUT WE USUALLY AVOID THAT. I MEAN, LAKEVIEW LUNCH IS PROBABLY COMPLETELY UNKNOWN TO ALL BUT A MODERATE PORTION OF TORONTOIANS AND FANS OF BOONDOCK SAINTS. DO YOU GO OUT OF YOUR WAY TO WRITE SONGS ABOUT TORONTO?

Well, Toronto has forged two thirds of the songwriting section of Barons and Lengthy; I think, above all, us referencing it is a sign of our sincere hope that Toronto can battle its own parasitic gentrification and regain some of the hep notoriety of the sixties, when the Hawks were the kings of this town. And yes, compete with that little Dutch colony.

DO YOU TORONTO WILL EVER REACH A LEVEL OF POP-CULTURE NOTORIETY AMONGST CANADIANS?

It's certainly an uphill battle; we already have plenty of plain old notoriety for being assholes and fat cats--a hard reputation to shake in Ontario and Quebec when the CBC is so ridiculously partial to the Maple Leafs (not that I mind, haw haw). It would take a serious musical revolution in this city, and I think that revolution has to be away from boring Arts and Crafts look-alikes if we want to get noticed for anything.

ARE YOU ALL FROM TORONTO? HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT MOVING SOMEPLACE ELSE? I HEAR THERE'S A SWING TOWARD CALGARY THESE DAYS THANKS TO THEIR BLACK-GOLD SURPLUSES.

Dan, Adrian, and Chris are all locally bred. Rick hails from Wilmington, Delaware, credit capital of the New World. We were thinking a little while ago about moving to Montréal, but more for personal reasons than the obvious music biz ones. In the end, we decided that none of us speak French very well, and we have faith in Toronto, that there are people in this city who care about rock and roll, y'know?

P.S. Barons and Lengthy run on clean burning belly-fire--no prairie petrol required!

WHERE DO YOU THINK BARONS AND LENGTHY WILL BE IN ANOTHER THREE YEARS? WHAT KIND OF FUTURE ARE YOU HOPING FOR? WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR THE BAND?

Well, after the 10 month process of making this album, it would certainly be nice to record some of the stuff that's percolated since way-back-when in a more expedient manner. Beyond that, I can certainly say that we all love music and since we started making it together it's gotten better and better. If we can get people dancing and thinking at the same time, we've fulfilled our mandate.