By Miranda Beninger
Bill Priddle wishes for world peace, a souffle, and a trip around the world in a straw raft, but for now, he will have to settle for a gig at Ryerson.
Treble Charger takes the stage Sept. 5 at the Toronto Islands as part of Ryerson’s annual Parade and Picnic. Priddle, guitarist and singer with the alternative-rock band, says Ryerson students can expect a concert full of drinking, lots of fun, and rock and roll. The concert line-up also features Bif Naked and D.J. Aural.
As for Priddle’s own university experience, he only recalls his first week in residence at Queen’s University as a “blur of alcohol.” “Things were different back then,” he said. “Most people were 19. You were expected to drink a lot.”
He vaguely remembers wild parties where new students could pay $5 to drink all they wanted. He says that times have changed with younger students entering university and non-alcoholic events are planned in the place of yesterday’s wild all-you-can-drink parties.
Students involved in orientation week are required to show I.D. and wear wristbands in order to drink at any events, including the Treble Charger concert. This may put a damper on plans for drinking among under-19 audience members at the concert.
During their summer stint at Dundas Square, Treble Charger scored major points among fans for running a contest between two audience members. While the band played a song, two members of the audience, one female and one male, did their best to chug a two-litre bottle of pop. The female competitor got a little more than halfway before giving up, while the male finished the entire bottle but threw up on stage afterwards, to the delight of the crowd.
Treble Charger has also been known to allow audience members to take the stage and play their songs with them, although this only applies to those who know the group’s songs by heart and play guitar.
So what does the band have planned for Ryerson students in their first week of school? “It a big surprise,” says Priddle, who is keeping tight-lipped about any audience involvement in the concert. After the parade down Yonge Street, Treble Charger will play a set lasting just over an hour. Ryerson students look forward to the band’s most popular hit, ‘American Psycho,’ earning the band a Juno nomination. Priddle says September is the last month the band will tour Canada.
After the tour, he will meet with fellow band members, lead singer Grieg Nori, guitarist Rosie Martin, and drummer Trevor MacGregor to talk about plans for the future. Priddle does have some important advice he would like to share with incoming students.
“Drink a lot. And stick with cold beer. None of that mixed stuff.”
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