Their Majesties are a five piece out of Halifax who are just bursting with the kind of youthful exuberance that would send Lou Perlman's mouth-a-waterin'. Ok, maybe that's exaggerating things just a little bit. But there's a palpable spark in these melodious, deceptively simple songs. The videos on MySpace paint a picture of a band that's sure to bring it live, compressing their home-grown power pop influences and some of those old good time British vibes that seemed to have wafted over from across the Atlantic into hummable, stuck-in-yer-head goodness. Pras Rajagopalan quizzed vocalist Brian O'Reilly in attempt to uncover the roots of their unseasonable boisterousness.

Have you guys played in Toronto before? What do you think of it, and what expectations do you have for the two shows you will play here?

We've played in Toronto before, and it's always fun. In fact, we played Wavelength about a year and a half ago under the name The Porcelain Gods. We love the plethora of cheap and delicious ethnic food here; also we're obsessed with Steam Whistle. As far as expectations go, we're just hoping to make a few good impressions. Oh, and Panos [bassist] is itching to be spotted by a talent agency so he can jump start his hand-modelling career.

I'm hearing a distinct British influence on your songs, both of the 60's garage and the 90's power pop variety. Think back, if you can, to your murky teenage years and try and explain what it was about all the Brit-rock that caught your ear.

Hooks, but not shitty hooks; we crave melody.

Did you guys all grow up in Halifax? How into the local scene were you when the east coast indie music scene really rose to prominence in the early/mid 90's? What effect did listening to bands on Murderecords have on you?

Yeah, we're all born and bred Haligonians. We all wanted to be as clever as Chris Murphy. Come to think of it, Niall, our drummer, was the one who really introduced us to all that stuff, almost after the fact. The influence is definitely there. Bands like the Super Friendz, Thrush Hermit, and the Inbreds all knew how to write really great songs, the kind that stick in your head for months at a time. The fact that they all came from our own backyard was (and continues to be) a huge inspiration to get out there and do the band thing.

People (i.e. a good friend who I don't think has actually been out east) tell me Halifax is going through a sort of renaissance. Is there any truth to this?

Yeah, the weather's been unseasonably warm. But all joking aside, we do think there is a kind of musical renaissance going on in Halifax now. Maybe its harder to pin-point the cause; unlike the early 90's scene, it doesn't have one unifying sound. Nevertheless, there are so many great bands coming out of Halifax now, and there's such a sense of community associated with the scene, that we think it's only a matter of time before the city starts getting some serious attention again.

So what are the kids in Halifax listening to nowadays? Any worthy bands you know of over there that we should know about?

The Stance, Brent Randall and His Pinecones, and Laura Peek and the Winning Hearts are all wonderful; also Dog Day and The Stolen Minks. Panos has a side project called Panos Giannoulis Sings the Songs of Their Majesties, and it's great.

So the Christmas/non-denominational-holiday season is well and truly upon us. What are you guys up to besides succumbing to not-so-subtle marketing ploys by retailers everywhere?

If all goes according to plan, writing/demoing for our next album. Also buying Crocs and Playstation 3s, and drinking far too much rum and egg nog.

On your MySpace page, I noticed a post by Andrew [guitarist and vocalist] detailing a friendly rivalry with band mate Panos, regarding who can romance the most ladies on the tour. Ostensibly the tally stands at around 50 for Andrew and zero for Panos. Could you give us an update on this situation as it stands right now?

Andrew just reached 2000, but Panos recently got a girl's e-mail address, so that's halfway there'¦

Well, related to that, how important a part of touring is romancing?

Nothing is more important. The band thing is an elaborate, expensive way of meeting girls. The plan is currently five years in the making, and has cost untold thousands of dollars. As Panos says; "Man, you know why I joined a fucking band, man? Huh? Chicks, man. Chicks."

By Pras Rajagopalan