Quick & Dirty - DD/MM/YYYY
By: Adam Bunch
June 5, 2009 – Toronto, Canada
It would be hard to find many bands who have been busier over the last few months than DD/MM/YYYY. Not only did the Toronto-based indie five-piece release their most recent full-length record, Black Square, on Feb. 17, they’ve been on the road almost constantly since last year. A tour of Europe in late 2008 has been followed by dozens of shows across North America since the beginning of February, highlighted by an ambitious week spent at the South by Southwest Music & Media Conference in Austin, Texas.
“We played 12 shows,” says multi-instrumentalist Tomas Del Balso of their time in Texas. “It was a gauntlet of pain, sweat and sleepless nights.”
Still, as exhausting as it may have been, he and his bandmates would gladly do it again.
“We managed to connect with the locals by playing lots of unofficial free shows,” he adds, “which really makes the experience seem worthwhile. I don't know if I would appreciate it if it was a festival where every show is pay per view. Being able to walk and drive around Austin you see so many shows set up in unconventional spaces and buildings. Really cool."
Since then, they’ve barely taken a break, playing everywhere from New York City to New Orleans to Nova Scotia. According to Del Balso, the gruelling schedule has had plenty of rewards, including the important role it has played in the band's off-stage development.
"We learnt that DD/MM/YYYY is a real band, meaning we focus on the show and the music and look past the sleeping on floors and eating like goats," he says. "Touring is a crazy way to see the world and meet like-minded people and bands. Rock 'n' roll is huge and important for everyone; we're doing our part by putting ourselves out there in the front lines."
That's an understatement. Only now, more than six months after the band first set off for Europe, are things finally beginning to wind down. With only a few shows scheduled in June, DD/M/YYYY are finally back home with a chance to catch up on the rest of life.
It's a well-deserved break – just don't suggest that to Del Balso.
"We don't take breaks! We just keep going working on new music, and performing in other ways, making posters tees and whatever DD/MM/YYYY-related things we do and need to do.
"No rest for the wicked and we are sinful souls."
Video: "Infinity Skull Cube" by DD/MM/YYYY
