From Assault Rifles to Guns ‘N’ Roses: A Conversation with Mike Small of The Meligrove Band

By Megashaun

My introduction to The Meligrove Band came on September 28, 2000. Some friends and I decided to catch a Sloan show and they were the opening act. Unfortunately I arrived late and only caught the last two songs of their set: a rousing rendition of Elvis Costello’s “Pump it Up” and their own mini-epic rock anthem show closer (which they still play), “The Victory.”

Graphic designed by Megashaun

Despite having only seen and heard these two songs, I knew right away that The Meligrove Band would be one of my favorite bands. Throughout Sloan’s performance, I couldn’t help but think that The Meligrove Band had put on a better show. They had a lot more energy onstage and looked like they were having a much better time. It’s been over seven years since that night and I’ve seen them play now more than I’ve seen any other band (about 40 times).

The band started just over ten years ago when its members were still in high school, and though they’ve been around a relatively short time, their sound has evolved exponentially. They’ve grown into their own style since their early days, when they were comparable to bands like The Local Rabbits.

If you’re a fan of Canadian rock music, you might have already heard of them. Mike Small is the band’s bassist and an original member, along with Jay Nunes—guitar, keyboard, vocals—and Darcy Rego, who is likely the craziest singing drummer I’ve ever seen. I got to catch up with Mike over the phone a few nights before his band’s performance at a Murderecords [Sloan’s label] party: another show opening for Sloan, if you will.

“Jay Ferguson asked us to do it,” Small explains about the Murderecords showcase. “At first he was wondering if people from our band would want to DJ in between bands, because the night was just going to be bands that have been signed to Murderecords playing. And although we’re not on the label, he ended up just asking us to play because he thought it would be fun. We actually turned down one of those Horseshoe Chart Magazine nights—they’re always packed—in order to do this. Just because it’s Sloan, and that’s awesome.

“So I was like, ‘if we can bring none of our own gear, then yes,’ because we don’t have a van right now.”

The band’s last van, one they named “Sheila” after the woman they bought it from, was recently sold to a junkyard for $300.

“There were a couple of bands that offered to buy it but I told them not to because they’re bands that tour. I had to say to them ‘if you’re only playing local shows, go for it. Because if it breaks down, you’re in the city and can get it fixed. But if you’re like, in the middle of Northern Ontario, at night, you’re screwed.’ So I wouldn’t sell it to anyone who toured. And you know, anyone who doesn’t tour doesn’t need a van that big.”

Sheila

While Sheila’s fate ended up in the hands of a junkman somewhere in Toronto, her legacy will perhaps live on forever: She made her video debut in the band’s animated opus set to “Our Love Will Make the World Go Round,” a high-energy, bass-chugging track from their album Planets Conspire. In the video, Sheila can fly through space and even transform into a robot at one point (though there is a part where the van breaks down and the band fixes it).

Click to read more from Mike Small on. . .

Chuck Taylors and V2 Records
Roundhouse kicks and firing ranges
Mike’s bass sound and “Weird Al” Yankovic
New album update and current tour

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