Currently affiliated with Permafrost Records, The Patients have been stalwarts of the Toronto indie scene for a number of years, having developed a strong following for their energetic, raucous shows. Sef sat down with frontman Stu Bishop in an earnest attempt to figure out what's shakin'.

SO WHO'S IN THE BAND AND HOW'D YOU END UP CALLING YOURSELVES "THE PATIENTS"?

The Patients are: Stu Bishop - vocals/guitar, Jon Wilson - guitar, Chad Byrieter '“ bass, and Nick Kervin - drums. Past and/or present members also include Chris Sandes - keyboards, Pete Hudson - guitar, Don Arsenault - bass, Jonathan Adjemian - keyboards. There were quite a few other band names we had kicking around early on. Lick My Boil, Burger King, The Tragically Hip. We threw all of them at the wall but none really stuck. Then someone said "The Patients!"

DESCRIBE YOUR SOUND. DO THE PATIENTS FALL UNDER THE BROAD, IF CONVENIENT, "GARAGE ROCK" UMBRELLA?

The Patients play instrumental music with vocal accompaniment.

THE PATIENTS ARE CURRENTLY SIGNED TO A SMALL INDIE LABEL. ARE YOU CONTENT TO STAY THAT WAY, OR IS THE LURE OF MAJOR LABELS TOO TEMPTING?

I'm not sure how crazy I am about our album being used for landfill three months after it's released. But hey, anything's possible.

YOUR LAST EP (MARY CLAIRE LAFLARE) CAME OUT A WHILE AGO. IS A NEW RECORD IN THE PIPELINE, AND IF SO, WHEN CAN WE EXPECT A RELEASE?

We just finished mixing our first full-length album, Get Well Soon. It was recorded at Hallamusic in Toronto with Pete Hudson. Pete may be a great producer and a fantastic guy, but he's an even better dancer. When he starts shaking it you know you're onto something special. That's what he tells me at least. As for the CD's release date, it should be in stores sometime this fall. In the meantime we're getting ready to cut the next one in July.

IS THIS THE FIRST TIME THE PATIENTS ARE PLAYING WAVELENGTH? WHAT ARE WE IN FOR?

This will be the fourth time we've done Wavelength I think. According to TV Guide you're in for:
9:30 pm - Trading Spouses: Meet Your New Mommy (FOX)
10:00 pm - Who's Line Is It Anyway? (ABCFAM)
10:30 pm - Good Times (TVLAND) (cc)
11:00 pm - Good Eats (FOOD)
11:30 pm - Parental Control (MTV)
12:00 am - Look Around You (BBC)
12:30 am - Hot Pursuit (COURT)
1:00 am - Survivorman (DSC)
1:30 am - All My Children (SOAP)
2:00 am - Build A Fence (DIY)