Toronto-based band, Ace of Wands, stopped by the WYSO studios during their tour to perform live on Midday Music with host Evan Miller. They opened up about the struggles and benefits of international touring and their record Desiring.
While touring in Canada can be difficult because of how spread out everything is, it only makes sense for Torontonian bands like Ace of Wands to tour in the US. “In the U.S. we can go out for five days and hit a lot of really cool places in a short span of time. And it feels like we're building some momentum outside of our little bubbles. Last night I had a moment of looking out into the audience, thinking, I'm playing a show in Cincinnati for 400 people and they love it.”
However, the barrier to entry over the border is not as simple as jumping in the van and taking off. There are work visas that have to be filled out and approved. “So we need to pay a bunch of money, do a bunch of paperwork, and be members of a musician's union in Canada that will advocate for our presence in the States on our behalf. Then there's working with promoters from different areas to sign contracts stating that we're actually coming down to play music. That has to be done at least six months in advance of the first date because of how long it takes to process the visa sometimes. So it's a big ordeal.”
Their album Desiring is full of emotion and drama. They started recording before the pandemic and finished the album during COVID-19. “We're trying to finish it during the pandemic and then just figuring out what a release might look like. It was challenging, but we did it, and I'm very happy about it. A lot of the songs are written about dissolving a very, very long relationship and getting some rage out and some love out. I think it resonates with a lot of people.”
