Two months into forming, Mirrorball are ready to begin their trek through the Toronto circuit. They've recorded a surprisingly clean and well-produced six song EP, Scarlet (half of which can be listened to on their MySpace page; I recommend the title track for initial listening).

Not a standard five-piece ensemble, they've done away with the bass guitar, and enlisted Oliver Pauk on alto sax. I met with David La Ino (drums) and Sela Kleiman (guitar) at Nirvana to discuss, amongst other things, their upcoming show this Friday at the Silver Dollar. To my surprise - and delight - the Caesar's were $3.50, so the interview went longer than it should have.

I was initially drawn to Mirrorball's professional sound. They've played only two shows as a band, but their recording sounds as put-together and concise as any good indie band in Toronto. Lead singer, Joshua Stern, faintly reminds me of Daniel Greaves (of the Watchmen) and the rest of the band is cohesive and natural enough that the alto sax doesn't even seem out of place on the EP. There is also an honesty in the lyrics worth mentioning as well. David, who writes the bands' lyrics, elaborated.

David: "The songs are about people that I know and relationships that I have encountered or have had myself. I tried to present them in an original way, and I try to not be as direct in the themes. Maybe be a little more abstract; poetic if you will. The music, in and of itself, is emotional and fun..."

Sela: "Not emo."

David: "If someone wants to sit down with the record, they can get something out of the lyrics as well. Something for the mind and the body, so to speak."

Although they are a newly formed as a band, all band members have experienced the Toronto circuit in other pursuits, so they're prepared for what they are beginning to dive into. And they are looking forward to it.

David: "I would say this is my first serious band, and I'm just happy to be playing again. In our two shows, Scarlet has gotten a great response, which is why we chose it as our flagship song for the EP."

Sela: "Our sound definitely doesn't sound like a lot of other indie bands in Toronto."

David: "Our sound is bombastic; it's a little larger-than-life. We want our music to appeal to as many people as possible. We all aspire to play stadiums someday."

The EP will be available for the first time ever at the Silver Dollar this Friday on a pay-what-you-can basis.

On a side note, Sela thought the Caesar's weren't spicy enough. They gave me heartburn immediately, but I expected that. David only said "I've had four." I'm pretty sure he enjoyed them.

Photo by Zach Slootsky.