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WDC: The capital of Whistler and the heart of rock ’n’ roll

Who: WDC What: WSSF Where: DKNY Jeans Outdoor Concert Series When: Friday, April 11 There’s rock and then there’s "Roocckk!" and the rather large devoted Whistler fan base behind local four-piece icon, WDC, would categorize their

Who: WDC

What: WSSF

Where: DKNY Jeans Outdoor Concert Series

When: Friday, April 11

There’s rock and then there’s "Roocckk!" and the rather large devoted Whistler fan base behind local four-piece icon, WDC, would categorize their music as the latter. If you’ve ever poured yourself into the bustling bar crowds at Moe Joe’s or the Crab Shack on any given Monday, Friday or Sunday night, you’ll know exactly what we mean.

WDC are high energy rock ’n’ roll in its truest form. Their gigs are just what the music doctor would order if he had to choose the show that goes best with beer. Their sets are loud, fun and full of good times for all involved, including the band who’ve been hard at it since 1998.

Okay, so there’s been a few lineup changes along the way (as is always the case on the long road of music mayhem) but co-singers and guitarists Pete Couillard and Chad Oliver have since formed a tight unit of fellow musicians and management committed to going all the way. Armed with new recruits – bassist Jason Bonnell and drummer Steve Ballstadt – the band has been hammering out hard and fast hits together for several seasons now and show no signs of slowing down.

The fact that you can still see WDC in an intimate setting around their home town actually masks how on-the-move these guys really are. They are three albums down and their latest single, Sunny Day, off the self-titled LP has been making the most requested lists on many West Coast city radio stations.

WDC were one of the final five bands who beat out 600 other hopefuls in 2002’s prestigious Seeds contest on Vancouver’s CFOX and they’ve been featured in a 13-part TV series called Whistler Stories , currently airing on the Life network Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. Their third album was co-produced by Nickelback’s lead singer Chad Kroeger, with the first pressing selling out fast. But there’s no doubting WDC are Whistler boys. We talked with Pete Couillard on Citta’s patio one morning last week. There he was drinking coffee and waiting for someone to take his dog for a walk.

Pique

:
What keeps you based here in Whistler?

Pete

: I have dogs and mud toys so I like being in Whistler. Eventually we might have to move somewhere where it’s easier to get things done but not right now. Management take on most of the responsibilities that lie outside the artistic, so they stay in the city for us. We just sit back, write songs, play gigs, meet people. Y’know, be rockstars and drink coffee on patios doing phone interviews… ha, ha!

Pique

: In Whistler you guys get termed the "quintessential party band" and "Whistler’s favourite cover band." Do you mind those titles?

Pete

: Anything people want to call us is fine because it’s great to have a place where you’re so welcome to play. The kind of respect you get for original tunes builds naturally over time anyway. There’s other places in Canada that we’re not the home-town band, we’re this band from Van and Whistler. There’s no accolades like "hometown heroes" to fall back on, you’re just like any other band going through town, hopefully we’re better than the other ones, or just as good.

Pique

: What’s the difference between playing in Whistler and playing to a town full of strangers?

Pete

: All the difference in the world. In Whistler it feels like it’s just us and our friends, whereas outside it’s management crews and production crews and original music only. But we’re pretty good at meeting people so we don’t mind walking into a town where we don’t know anyone.

Pique

: This will be about the fourth time you’ve played at WSSF. What keeps you coming back?

Pete

: I just wouldn’t miss it. The whole thing is organized by people who have become friends of ours and I honestly cannot think of anywhere I’d rather be for that week. If I was living anywhere else in the world and I had to pick one week to be in Whistler, I’d pick the WSSF, which means if I could pick one venue to play, it’s up there. It’s really well done and the people that are running it are really low key and together people. It’s a great atmosphere to be a part of.

Pique

: You guys are all writing songs now. How do you come up with them?

Pete

: It’s kind of a fleeting thing, you just have to be ready for it and you have to put aside the time to develop it because it’s not something you can do if you’re not in the mood. That goes back to the whole thing about getting someone else to do the more boring or difficult aspects of the band’s business. Because after a morning of talking to accountants you hardly feel like sitting down and writing a love song or a party song.

Pique

: You and Chad do acoustic sets too. How do you find the gigs compare?

Pete

: Way quieter of course but the same thing in that you’re giving people what they want. We’re personable guys so we try to get a little intimacy no matter what but it’s way easier when it’s just you and an acoustic guitar. You can really communicate well with people and create a nice atmosphere as opposed to party mayhem with the whole band.