A: We usually say our first performance was in our hometown Guelph to a sold-out show at the E-bar in front of friends and family and the night went off without a hitch!

Which is a true story, except for the fact that we actually played a “warm up” gig a few nights before in Brantford to about 50-60 kids, no stage, in a Caribbean club where they had a stripper pole in the middle of the floor.

I think we blew a breaker due to all our lights and guitar rigs and it was a bit of a disaster. But we powered through. Worked out all the kinks and got ready for our hometown show.

Q: What are the three most-played songs on your iPod?

A: I’m old school. I don’t really use my iPod or phone much for music. I still love listening to CDs. But three of my all-time favourite songs are: Prince – Purple Rain, Michael Jackson – Dirty Diana, Emarosa – The Past Should Stay Dead.

Q: Travelling musicians usually have some fun road stories. Can you share one?

A: When you have six band members plus crew riding in a van for a month at a time there are always some good stories.

One of my favourites, though, is when we went over to Newfoundland and got screeched in to become honorary Newfoundlanders. Essentially, we repeated words we were told, took a shot of screech and kissed a cod fish! It was hilarious and awesome. And we have certificates to prove it.

Q: The band is nominated for a Juno Award. Can you sum up your thoughts and will you be attending?

A: Being nominated was amazing and shocking. When I think about it I still kind of laugh. Never in a million years would I have thought I would be up for a Juno. And yes! We are absolutely going to be attending the Junos. Who knows if this will ever happen again, so we are making the most of it.

Q: The Tribune’s paying the tab. What’s your tipple and where would you be having it?

A: I’m pretty simple and boring. I would be having a vodka soda and it would likely be at whatever venue we are playing.

Q: Mandroid Echostar. The name. How, specifically, did it come to be?

A: The band was named before I joined. When he was younger, Adam our bass player and his friends thought that one day they would write memoirs of their escapades growing up in rural Ontario, but needed alias names for themselves. It was actually a friend of Adam’s who came up with the name “Mandroid Echostar,” and Adam liked it so much he said that one day he was going to name his band that. And he did.

Q: It’s a random Saturday night and you’re doing nothing music-related. What might you be up to?

A: I would likely be out with a few of my friends spending too much money on food at a nice restaurant and having a few drinks.

Q: Alive or not, who are three famous people you’d like to have over for dinner and drinks?

A: Prince, The Rock and Michael Bublé. Imagine the conversations at that table!!!

Q: Can you share a story about an awkward or challenging on-stage moment?

A: We have a strict clothing policy in our band. You have to wear them (laughs), but one day we were playing the Vans Warped Tour in Toronto and it was a bit of a wet day. As we were loading our gear into the band area Sam got mud all over his white shirt. We were going on stage very shortly and he didn’t have time to run back to the van and get a new one. So he decided that on this day he would not wear a shirt. In solidarity our other guitar player Steve decided he wouldn’t wear one either. So on stage we had two pasty white, shirtless long-haired dudes ripping guitar and getting a nasty sunburn all at the same time.

Q: What is a current pet peeve of yours?

A: When people use the word “cheers” as a thank you. Like what am I supposed to say back to that!? Cheers is something you do when you have a drink. Not when I let you cut in front of me at a grocery store. I just don’t get it.

Q: What are some of the band’s plans for 2017?

A: I, unfortunately, have a throat surgery scheduled in April. So we are kind of taking it easy right now. But we are writing a new album and we are hoping to have it recorded and ready to roll by the end of the year. So we are going to be keeping ourselves busy and doing as much as we can until I’m healthy and ready to hit the road again.