By Brad Simm
Inside the new Las Vegas landmark where the origins of DIY culture are on full display without that funky mosh pit aroma.
Shiv and the Carvers are a roller-skate punk outfit that who have been slowly, but surely, making their presence known around the Toronto punk scene. Led by the lovable and explosive energy of vocalist/rhythm guitarist, Shiv Scott, the band’s boisterous live performances are filled with raw moments of pure sonic smut, sweat, and leopard print. With lyrics about sex, body empowerment, and shaking the current political system upside down, Shiv and the Carvers is sure to unlock your inner reprobate.
The music: part glam, part riot grrrl, part bonafide rock, it screams to be played loud in places like an abandoned swimming pool or an amusement park—basically any location that you could imagine taking your board and dropping in.
The group members were recently able to unleash their inner divas during their latest music video, a skate punk cover of Shania Twain’s “That Don’t Impress Me Much,” updating a few of the lyrics to feel a bit more modern while adding a few very Canadian ad-libs. The release, a live fan favourite, also commemorates the addition of Annie Jane Marie (of the now defunct Dilly Dally) to Shiv and the Carvers’ family.
The music video makes perfect use of the green screen, throwing Shiv and the Carvers into random backgrounds like the Canadian prairies, on top of the CN Tower, and the New York Stock Exchange. That, and the purposeful lip syncing, makes the video feel like it’s from the late ‘90s, meshing well with other goofy videos on the MuchMusic Countdown.
We spoke with Shiv Scott about reimagining Shania Twain’s country pop epic, the things that do impress them, and their roller derby origin story.
Give me a haiku for Shiv and the Carvers
Sleazy Guitar Riffs
High Voltage Rock n Roll Show
Get Nasty With Us
Where did the decision to cover Shania Twain in a more skate-punk vibe come from?
I love pop music and I had been obsessed with the International Dance version of this song after watching Shania Twain’s documentary, Not Just A Girl. I showed it to Mike [Wiznuk], our drummer, as a potential cover idea and he was really into it. It was super easy to turn into a punk song. The drums are very disco and once we had the big riffs translated over (thanks to Mike), it was already sounding great.
So this begs the question, what does impress you much?
Big dumb guitar riffs, cool skateboard tricks, caring about your community and others, and dismantling imperial systems of oppression.
What are your ideal first date and third date scenarios?
First is coffee or ice cream and a walk. Third is sex and any other activity.
Leopard or zebra print?
Leopard is always number one! Zebra print is a close second.
Tell me about the music video creation process of “That Don’t Impress Me Much.”
We wanted to have fun and make something silly, so we set up a green screen and shot a bunch of lip sync and reaction clips. We turned all the clips over to LeisureWorld Productions and let her edit us into as many goofy situations as she wanted. Nicole [Maxwell], our guitarist, was the best at pulling silly reactions out of us.
Annie Jane Marie recently joined the band. How did she jump on board?
This is now the core lineup. We feel very grateful for her joining us and getting the chance to learn from someone with years of touring experience. Annie and I have been dating for a while and she filled in on a few shows mid last year. At the end of the year, we needed to find a new bassist and she was looking for a new project post-Dilly Dally. Now I get to make her play songs I wrote about her onstage. Mwahahaha!
Could you tell us about your roller derby days and how that energy is channeled in the music?
I played roller derby for three years before the pandemic. That’s how I knew of Nicole. She retired the year before I started playing. We actually met for the first time at a skatepark. She taught me how to drop in on my skates! My last season, she was a coach for one of the other teams. Playing derby really shaped how we play music. The high energy and aggressiveness is there for sure, but derby also taught us how to thrive within a moment and play as a team. If someone moves on the track, you move with them and are reacting as fast as possible to your surroundings. Playing music is kind of the same thing; you need to feed off each other and move together!
What’s next for the band?
GET SLUTTIER, MORE ANNOYING, AND LOUDER. COMING TO A CITY NEAR YOU!!!
March 9: Doors Pub (Hamilton)
w/ Live Animals and Banned Together
March 16: The Baby G (Toronto)
w/ Klockwise and Bitchstick
March 29: Two Doors Down (Brantford)
w/ Polluted, The Stripprs, Junko Day Dream
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