TOP LESS GAY LOVE TEKNO PARTY

INTERVIEW BY JEREMY POWER REGIMBAL
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JUSTIN TYLER CLOSE

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If polygamy wasn’t illegal in Canada, I would marry and make love to this entire family of the six most musically and creatively talented people you’ll ever meet. Until they change that law, I’ll remain screaming like a little schoolgirl in the jam-packed, confetti-covered, pulsating, sweaty crowds that they attract to every show! Top Less Gay Love Tekno Party started with two members, Michael Shindler and Donne Torr in Glasgow, UK. They brought their Euro-Electro madness sound back to North America and joined forces with the four other masterminds: Dave Vertesi, Sean Tyson, Kevin Fairbairn, and Benny Schuetze. The group is by far the most exciting live band I have ever seen. Whether it’s confetti, spandex, disco balls or giant polar bear videos projected onto the stage, they get it done and they bring energy out of the crowd like you’ve never seen! With their first album in the works, I can’t wait to see what they will become. (Cue Star Wars theme song)  Can I get a Yeahhhr?

JEREMY—I’ve heard a lot of crazy stories of how y’all came to be. Can you give me the skinny on how Top Less formed?

DONNE—We all met online in a chat room called mygayface.com.

MICHAEL—Donne and I used to play a lot of music together in University. Then I moved to Glasgow and was really impressed with the music and art scene.  I feel like I was pretty sheltered musically in Vancouver, not because Van is shit or anything, but I just was. So, living in the UK really opened my eyes to some interesting music and ideas.  I had been doing some other projects, recording by myself, some really mellow stuff, and I wanted to make something more upbeat, more electro sounding. So Donne moved over to Glasgow for a short while and we started writing. Then she left for Toronto, and I stayed for a couple years after that initial writing session.  Donne then moved to Vancouver, we started putting the songs together, and then we elicited some help from friends who happen to be amazing musicians. We were just going to play one show together, but ended up liking the project. From that, the songs have totally evolved and become creations of everyone.

JPR—With such a talented group of business minds and musicians, how do you all work together to harness this energy? Who brings what and what do you do with it all?

D—We do a lot of naked, hot yoga together. We get real slippery.  This enables us to truly connect with each other’s energy.

SEAN—Mike wears a harness.

KEVIN—I like the number 6.

BENNY—Mikey – brains, Donne – love, Kevvy – heart/edge, Sean – business tie but also love like his sister Donne, Dave – knowledge, Benny – teen angst.

JPR—Where do you see Gay Love in the future?

S—We’re moving to the HimiGAYas. I would love to get a show on the International Space Station. Our rider would be a logistical nightmare.

K—We plan to obtain an underground lair/war room to engage the world – hopefully somewhere in Europe.

D—Hopefully touring the world in a blimp. Also, we’re going to start an acid jazz side music project called Bottomless and Vulnerable.

M—I’m going to start breeding raccoons and cats so they can finally get along.

B—Top Less will be involved in a coup, in a small Southeast Asian island group, and dictate a cruel regime of free love and party tricks.  The band will be busy running the country, but Sean will take to writing Italian love songs, topping the charts in Denmark with, “You’ve Got Sexy, I’ve Got Sexy.”