The Makitas

1. It was the olden days. Lexus Sakic writes songs and forms bands such as the Extroverts, Petty Pleasures, Eddie Lester and the Lonesome, Handsome Devils, and so forth. He eventually finds himself feeling unfulfilled, without a band, and just generally being regularly up to no good. One day, without warning …2. He meets a drummer, Ford Smith, who is also a guitar player. Ford is already busy with his own rock band Sourmash, but nonetheless tells Lexus to get with it, already, and do something rock related. 3. Inspired, surprised, and resoundingly underemployed, Lexus writes up some new numbers, and the beginnings of Ratty have, well, begun. But who will play bass? 4. Lincoln Larocque returns from a life of rock and high living in Vancouver, and is one day minding his own business, enjoying a beverage, when he is accosted by his old pal Ford, with whom he had rocked back in the day when the hair of rockers hung long. Ford introduces Lexus to Lincoln, and before long 5. Ratty is born. Ratty gigs Western Canada and, in 1998, records Love Suburban Style. 6. Nothing happens. 7. Lexus moves to Japan for two years, is stimulated, and writes songs accordingly. 8. Lexus returns to Canada with an idea for a new, ramped up 4-piece, but has no idea where to find a great guitar player. 9. Ford is way ahead of Lexus as usual and introduces talented axe master Bricklin Backenborough. 10. Several tunes born in Japan become the template for The Makitas. One tune, "The Other Side", is written half in Japanese and half in English!