SIMON: Do you think that you can put something of Edmonton into your music that a lot of other musical acts just don't have, Erik Grice? So, you know, obviously, like, there's - taking this sort of violent aspect out of it, I feel like just, like, I found the desperation in their situation to be compelling and maybe something that I could insert myself into from, like, a - writing from a character standpoint. SIMON: We should explain that "Badlands," of course, is based on the real-life story of Charles Starkweather, who went on a murder spree in the 1950s. SNATERSE: At the time that I wrote it, my girlfriend and I had been, you know, talking about - she showed me the movie "Badlands," the Terrence Malick movie. Troy Snaterse, where did this song come from in your imagination or experience? SIMON: Down by that river full of shopping carts, where the beauty ends and all the madness starts. Meet me down by the pylons tonight, down by that river full of shopping carts. I can't stand the sound of this nightmare town, this nightmare town. SIMON: Let's listen to some of what I found a very arresting song, "Nightmare Town."ĪLTAMEDA: (Singing) Baby, let's burn it down. Thanks so much for being with us.ĮRIK GRICE: Thank you so much for having us. SIMON: Erik Grice and Troy Snaterse join us now from Toronto. Come on, baby, let me know your name, and let's leave this town in a trail of dust. On their new album, "Born Losers," much of the music, like lots of all kinds of music, is about longing to get out of town and go someplace down the road.ĪLTAMEDA: (Singing) Born losers at the turnpike gates, their dreams coming undone.
They now play music as Altameda, based in Toronto. Erik Grice and Troy Snaterse are both from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.