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Railtown Park is an unsigned garage-punk band started in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The sole band member is Mike Idle, who started the solo project after the break up of his former band, Blacktop Record. In 2008 Railtown Park released its debut EP, titled You Say Catastrophe, I Say Fuck Yeah!

Origin
After his band Blacktop Record disbanded in mid 2007, Mike Idle decided to focus on other interests besides his music. It was not until summer 2007 that he recorded again, covering Neutral Milk Hotel’s “Gardenhead/Leave Me Alone”. He covered the indie song with a punk-rock sound, using programmed drum sequences, his electric guitar, and programmed trumpet samples. Idle was frustrated with his demo, as a lack of proper recording equipment and drum patterns made the sound quality poor and fake. He did not touch the demo again until he started Gr. 12 in September 2007. Even with all the recording problems Idle had, he decided to work with the poor sound, making his music as obviously lo-fi as possible.

This demo rekindled Idle’s creative side and he decided to officially form a one-man-band, Railtown Park. The band name is from a community park in downtown Edmonton where Idle used to hang out. The first original song he wrote was “Answering Machine Mountain” and was very different from “Gardenhead/Leave Me Alone” as it contained only vocals and electric guitar. Idle created a MySpace Music profile for Railtown Park and uploaded both songs. However, he again grew discouraged with his music and its lack of reception.

It was not until a young man from suburban Amsterdam took an interest in the music that Idle made the decision to continue writing and expanding his repertoire. Idle eventually wrote enough original matter to play a live show. His first show was scheduled for Dec. 8, 2007 at the Blackspot Café. The owner knew Idle and had arranged for him to play three covers and three original songs as the opener for Jeremy Nischuk. Unfortunately, on Dec. 5 the Blackspot closed without notice, effectively canceling the gig.

You Say Catastrophe, I Say Fuck Yeah!
You Say Catastrophe, I Say Fuck Yeah! was released as a CDR-EP on July 18, 2008. The EP is just under thirteen minutes long and contains four original songs and the cover “Gardenhead/Leave Me Alone”. Recorded and produced entirely by Idle in two houses in three different rooms, it shows the versatility of Railtown Park. The first track “Damn Right I’ll Rebel to Anything” is garage-punk, “Dance All Night” is upbeat, almost dance music. “Void Behind my Face” and “Gone”, the last two tracks, are slower and the most melodic of the songs. Idle describes the record as “a dangerous mix of pop sensibilities, noise tendencies, punk ethics, and every old-school gamer’s wet dream.”

The EP’s release day show was held in the basement of the Stanley A. Milner Library in downtown Edmonton. Idle opened for The Mitts and The Famines but with numerous technical difficulties, the show was a disaster. Idle said that the show “sounded like an abortion hitting the floor.” Even with the discouraging show, Idle continues to play gigs with his Squire Strat copy guitar, two amps, and his iPod. He has played acoustic sets in various Second Cups as well as The Hydeaway, an all ages art space. Vanity Promotions also set up a Railtown Park show in Kelowna, British Columbia. Currently Idle works with Edmonton based promotional agency, Push Pins.

Personal History
Born Michael Dave Hennig on June 10, 1991 at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Idle has lived his whole life in Edmonton with both his parents, a younger sister, and their dog Ricky. His father is German and Welsh while his mother is Ukrainian.

Idle had a relatively normal upbringing, attending St. Vincent Elementary, St. Rose Jr. High, and is currently enrolled at Archbishop MacDonald High School for grade 12. He played defense in AA CAC ice hockey for three years until his sixth concussion at age sixteen ended his participation in the sport.

An interest in music was sparked at age nine when Idle was given an acoustic guitar. Idle considers himself a self-taught guitarist as he had no formal lessons. His father showed him some chord arrangements as well as former Blacktop Record band members Trevor Cooper and Liam Kirwin. When Idle was ten he received an electric guitar for Christmas but it was not used till Idle was in junior high.

Blacktop Record
Idle was heavily involved in school band classes starting in grade seven. It was here in grade eight that Idle was introduced to Trevor Cooper. Trevor had already been taking formal guitar lessons for some time and when the two realized they both had the same guitar (in different colours) they started jamming together during lunch break. The two boys decided to form a band with their mutual friend Liam Kirwin on drums and a new transfer student, Keaton Lechelt, who sang and also played guitar.

This band is usually referred to as Blacktop Record as there were numerous name changes (including Albino Sex Kittens and Hindenburg Groundcrew) and lasted only two years. Idle was the weakest guitar player out of the three players so he was charged to play the bass. In the beginning Blacktop Record covered Top 40 pop punk such as Sum 41, Blink 182, and Jimmy Eat World at various school functions, dances, and talent shows. At their first ever live performance, the band played “1985” by Bowling for Soup. It was chosen by Trevor Cooper who was trying to impress a girl. The group disbanded halfway through grade ten, primarily due to creative disagreement on musical direction. Idle had very different musical influences and style than his band mates.

Musical Style and Influences
Idle labels his music as lo-fi Punk/Garage but also incorporates noise influences. Idle layers his music with 8-bit sample taken from his Nintendo Entertainment System and Commodore 64 as well as rough downloaded drum patterns. All of Railtown Park songs are lo-fi and loud. Idle posted on Railtown Park’s MySpace that the music sounds like “crystal meth on crystal meth”.

Idle’s method for song writing is to start with a chord progression and end with lyrics. He carries around a stolen yellow Safeway notebook to jot down ideas and quotes. The majority of his lyrics involve partying and personal experiences with relationships and breakups. Idle also deals with drug use; in “Dance All Night” he references cocaine, singing “I don’t want your medication, unless you do it in lines.”

Railtown Park’s primary influence is the American indie folk band, Neutral Milk Hotel. Idle said that if he could only listen to one record for the rest of his life, he would choose the band’s 1998 LP. “In the Aeroplane Over the Sea” is the “only album that can make me headbang, cry, and believe in a god.”

Other musical influences are The Dead Kennedys, Black Flag, Arab On Radar, Lightning Bolt, Nirvana, Atari Teenage Riot, and The Gories. Idle also looks up to Ian Macaye, lead singer of Fugazi, as a sort of DIY mentor. Idle is a strong supporter of DIY ethic. Not only does he produce and engineer all his own music but he also handles all his own promotion and merch. He drew the album cover for You Say Catastrophe, I Say Fuck Yeah! and creates his own merch by buying objects at Goodwill, signing them, and then selling them at shows.

Members

 * Mike Idle - vocals, guitar, bass, music engineer

Collaborations

 * Keaton Lechelt has sang vocals for a Railtown Park gig. The song was “1979” by The Smashing Pumpkins.
 * Mike Idle sometimes played bass and guitar and helped engineer songs for Keaton Lechelt's band, eyes and ears.

Cadence City Promotion’s Garage Band Battle

 * Came in 3rd place.
 * Won a three week marketing campaign from Cadence City Promotion.

Trivia

 * Idle can only read bass clef notation.


 * At the beginning of grade seven band, Idle played the trumpet but then switched to baritone. He now currently plays the electric bass guitar in music class.


 * Longboarding is one of Idle's passions outside of music. He often skates to high school and said he prefers "Chinese-made blank decks, since I don’t believe in helping to put a down-payment on some artist’s Lexus.”


 * Idle is currently in a serious long-distance relationship with his girlfriend.

Studio Albums and EPs

 * Railtown Park also sells a re-mixable CD with all the vocal, guitar, and drum tracks separated.

Other Songs

 * "Dance All Night" is featured on The Hydeaway's first compilation CD.
 * Liam Kirwin of foreverandnever and Idle's former Blacktop Record band mate remixed "Dance All Night" in October 2008.