new photo/article on Jeremy from MY Toronto( Toronto Post)
Jeremy Taggart is the drummer for Our Lady Peace, and host of the new podcast Taggart’s Take, where he talks tongue-in-cheek about everything from Canadian music to politics, and the even more absurd. He spoke with Matthew Coutts:
Our politicians: I briefly interviewed David Miller, the rock and roll mayor. I’m coining him as that. I like Jack [Layton], I’ve met him a couple of times before. I like the fact that he doesn’t have a posse. He rolls in by himself and is pretty casual. We met at a Queen Street East bistro called Joy. It was his idea, he just cruises downtown on his bike. Jack, he’s from downtown. He seems to be very very in love with the city.
Place to play: For small clubs, I think the Horseshoe is probably the best venue. It’s got great sight lines and the music flows there. For some reason it sounds better there. It could be the way the room is. The Rivoli can be hot and cold. But all those old bars, there still around for a reason. I think the Horseshoe, there’s something about the way the club sounds and feels that is why it’s still here.
Play to be played: For hanging out, the best venue is the Underground Garage. I love the music, and the staff there is great. When it comes to going out though, it has everything to do with the music. I’m not into the new stuff, where the popular song changes every week. I need Hendrix when I’m drinking.
Keep the lights on: If you want to see hockey players, it’s at Apache Burger (5236 Dundas Street West). It used to be right across from that strip joint. You could see Wayne Gretzky in ‘87 all banged up having an Apache Burger at three in the morning.
Circuit city: I usually go to Value Village. My wife Lisa always stops by. She has her favourite Value Villages. She knows the days they get new stuff in, so she’ll do the circuit. I think it’s Mondays, but she’ll go specifically on a day when she knows there’ll be a fresh batch.
More to love: I’m used to leaving Toronto for a while and coming back. The landscape changes a lot. I find when I come home, the skyline gets 5% bigger every time. In terms of the city, I miss it. I always feel like I’m home. There’s something about the city that, I think because I’m from here, it hasn’t grown tired for me.
• Episodes of Taggart’s Take can be downloaded directly from iTunes, or from
www.myspace.com/taggartstake.
Photo of Jeremy Taggart in studio by Peter Redman / National Post