Although he grew up singing in a church choir, If We Are Machines frontman Michael Kraushaar traded in his halo for a set of horns when he moved to Vancouver four years ago. The Saskatchewan native has quickly immersed himself in Vancouver’s rock scene, recently releasing a self-titled EP with bandmates Aaron Davidson (guitar), Brad Wilde (bass), Tyler Maynard (keys) and Jason Lehr (drums). Though Kraushaar’s appetite for all things music-related is ravenous—he’s also worked as an engineer on releases by Black Wizard, War Baby, and the Best Revenge—his undiscerning culinary tastes suggest he might still need a few pointers on the city’s best eats.

Best local release other than yours:

“That’s super hard! I just got the new Haggatha record, I really like that one. Probably Black Mountain’s record [Wilderness Heart ]. I mean, that’s probably obvious. I just recently got it, it took me forever to get it. What else came out in comparison to that?”

The year’s best gig:

“Dungen at the Biltmore [October 2] is the winner. But the most entertaining was Monotonix, which was also at the Biltmore [October 11]. Those guys are fucking crazy. The singer brought the entire crowd to its knees. Everything was at his command. He brought the entire audience outside, brought a snare drum with him. I went because I knew it was going to be an experience. During their entire set, they move the drum kit around the entire venue, and everyone just follows them around.”

We’re road-tripping. Who’s on the stereo?

“Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours. Why? Because every song is the best! It’s just a good driving record. We definitely listened to it on tour.”

The Straight’s paying, so where’s dinner?

“I would want to go to Paradise Donair [723 12th Street, New Westminster], that’s the best place. I’ve never been anywhere fancier than the Old Spaghetti Factory, so I don’t really know any good places. I love donairs and they’re delicious.”

Vancouver needs a sex-tape scandal. Who’s your co-star?

“That has to be Kyle Fee from Black Wizard. Kyle was born to be a porn star, and he knows it!”

Jimmy Pattison’s fronting the money. Where are we opening a venue?

“I guess the Rio Theatre at Commercial and Broadway. I know they have done shows—like Bend Sinister’s CD release—but it would be a really wicked venue if they took the seating out.”