The Winnipeg band Boats has a new album, “A Fairway Full of Miners,” coming out next month through Kill Rock Stars Records. But fans in Des Moines will be able to get a copy of the album even before the band’s hometown fans can.
“We will have it, but don’t tell anyone because Winnipeg doesn’t have them,” singer Mat Klachefsky said during a phone interview. “Des Moines will be the third city that can buy it.”
So this is a secret, right? Like a code word is needed when you approach the band? Or some kind of hand signal, maybe?
“Nah, $15 will do it. Just give us money and we’ll usually do whatever,” he said.
“Fairway” is Boats’ third album, following the critically acclaimed “Intercontinental Champion” and “Cannonballs, Cannonballs.” Those albums are catchy, whimsical and incredibly energetic, with Klachefsky’s voice achieving an often child-like glee.
Some of that may have come from his past work experience. For nearly a decade he spent half the year running summer camps for kids. That’s behind him, and the new album is more about soul searching.
“For five months out of the year I would be on an island with no one over 30 years old. I think that definitely influenced the first two records,” Klachefsky said. “This one is more ‘I’m 31, OK, how did that happen?’ ”
On “Fairway” Klachefsky says there are “less doo doo doos” and that the album is “kind of dark, but also not.” It’s more complex, less poppy, still Boats — a little more grown up, he said.
It’s all reflective of Klachefsky’s personal style. Boats is a five-piece band, but ideas start — and for the most part stop — with him. He’s the band’s sole songwriter, and brings the songs to his bandmates after recording and rerecording demos 15-20 times per song. Sometimes someone will add, change or tweak something, but mostly not.
“I do all the writing myself because I don’t know how to make music with other people,” Klachefsky said. “Sometimes I’m kind of a dictator. I don’t know how to jam or play along with someone else. I have to take it home and listen to what they’re playing and put it on a loop for two hours before I could figure out what they’re doing. Live, I’m just trying to play the songs the best I can. There aren’t a lot of 30-minute guitar solos in our show.”
After the Des Moines show, it’s back to Winnipeg for the “official” album release show. Then Boats will regroup for a larger North American tour that will hit both coasts and SXSW. In May Klachefsky is hoping Boats will play its first shows in Europe, with help from Canada’s government.
“Canada is weird; we have this crazy support system. There’s actually a guy who works for the province of Manitoba who finds us a booking agent in Europe and helps get things set up,” Klachefsky said.
“So fingers crossed, in case we do end up going.”
Boats
When: 5 p.m. Saturday.
Where: Vaudeville Mews, 212 Fourth St.
Cost: $5
Info: vaudevillemews.com
