What do you do when all the members of your band come from pretty much completely different musical backgrounds, and have wildly divergent influences?
"You find common ground in the songs you produce together," explained Ian Griffiths, lead vocals and accordian player for Tequila Mockingbird Orchestra (TMO), playing the Copper House (across from Shannon Falls) on Tuesday, July 27.
With members schooled variously in everything from African hand drumming to bluegrass and traditional Gypsy to modern reggae, TMO is described as a "multicultural musical explosion."
"It is a big mash up," said Griffiths, "And the simple answer is that everyone brought a different influence and we mashed it all together."
Formed in 2006, TMO originally covered traditional Russian folk songs - among other things - until a lineup change altered the direction, and sometimes even the language of the songs.
"Our original guitarist left us in 2007 along with the saxophone player," he said. "And the guitarist knew all these old Russian folk tunes. He wasn't a strong guitarist, but his strength was in knowing these songs and belting them out in his big voice in Russian."
But with his departure, someone had to step in and take over those songs.
"I speak Italian," said Griffiths," So I do some Italian versions of those Russian songs. They had to be reworked, but they sound pretty good."
And along with a new guitar player, TMO also found a bassist to join its ranks and expand its sound.
Griffiths said despite their differences, all the band members' musical tastes do share common threads.
"All our individual styles still have a lot in common," he said. "Folk and world genres all share similar elements."
TMO has toured extensively on the West Coast and across Canada over the years, even taking the songs back to the old country for a successful European tour.
But, despite tons of originality, talent and real musicianship, TMO's undefinable and sassy blend of world beat and toe-tapping folk is the type of music that rarely makes it to the top 40 billboard.
"We get played on C小蓝视频, co-op radio and college radio," he said. "So it all depends on how you define success and your goals."
For Griffiths and the other members of TMO, playing the music they want to play is what counts.
"We do find ourselves living hand-to-mouth," he said. "But it's a really good hand-to-mouth. Wherever we play, we get treated very well, so although our bank accounts aren't brimming, our quality of life is tremendous."
After playing to Squamish fans, TMO moves on to tours in the rest of 小蓝视频, Alberta and then to Halifax.
"We'll play some shows on the East Coast, and then work our way back across the country with planned stops in places like Toronto and Montreal, " Griffiths said.
Tequila Mockingbird Orchestra plays the Copper House on July 27. Photography by Jessica Earnshaw will also be on display, and Wall of Heat is scheduled to warm up the stage starting at about 8:30 p.m.
For more info on TMO go to www.thetequilamockingbirdorchestra.com.
