John Westhaver of The Band Whose Name Is a Symbol joins Todd Gardner and Brett Savage of Dead Sea Apes to talk about Birdman Sound, improvised music, and friendships that connect Ottawa’s underground scene with musicians overseas. They discuss playing with Damo Suzuki, the story behind Zeus, and the lifelong pleasure of discovering music.
John Westhaver of The Band Whose Name Is a Symbol joins Todd Gardner and Brett Savage of Dead Sea Apes for a conversation about the people and places that shaped his musical life. John recalls how an older cousin introduced him to psychedelic music as a child, then traces his path through community radio and Ottawa’s Birdman Sound record shop. More than a place to buy records, Birdman became a meeting place where customers became friends, bands rehearsed in the basement, and new musical projects took shape.
John discusses the evolution of The Band Whose Name Is a Symbol, which began in 2008 and has continued through regular improvisational sessions and occasional live performances. Brett recalls traveling from England to Ottawa and almost immediately joining a crowded basement jam, while John tells the story of how a Birdman Sound customer helped arrange the band’s performances with Damo Suzuki. Their experiences illustrate how a shared enthusiasm for underground music has created lasting friendships across the Atlantic.
The conversation takes a more personal turn with Zeus, the band’s 2026 album named in memory of John’s Great Pyrenees, who died the previous year. John explains how an album of previously recorded improvisations became a tribute after a friend sent him a hand-drawn portrait of Zeus and Dave Cambridge suggested using it for the cover. The interview concludes with John’s conviction that there’s always worthwhile music waiting to be discovered, provided you’re willing to keep looking.
