The Kim Band.(Kim Bingham)(Interview)

Live, on record and in conversation, Kim Bingham rocks ... and clearly she has a spectacular time doing so. It's a fact that's never more evident than when she's on stage and a quality that shines through on The Kim Band's debut CD; 2001's Girlology.

Given the sheer volume of work for a self-managed, independent artist, near constant touring and a recent split with husband and Girlology co-producer, Steven Drake (formerly of The Odds) you might think Kim might be a tad worn down, Factor in mid tour line up changes in her band and a bout with partial blindness and you might think she'd be looking to book a flight somewhere restful for some serious R and R. But when we sat down to talk after The Kim Band's recent swing through Western Canada with Smashmouth and Static in Stereo she was as positive and ambitious as ever, a week away from beginning another Canadian tour as part of David Usher's touring band, and contemplating taking The Kim Band and Girlology to the rest of the world.

CM: The last time we talked you were just starting the Kim Band's first tour. You had some challenges during the tour?

KB: Yeah, blindness. It's a trucker's phenomenon. You get it when you drive long distances and just stare at the yellow line for hours on end without looking other places. I've been to the eye doctor three times since then, but I'm back to normal and I know better now.

CM: You were one of only two drivers in the band. Blindness and driving don't really go together.

KB: No. It was sheer hell -- not that I was going to let anybody know that, Inside the van it was hard, outside the van it was all sunshine and roses. The shows went great; the tour was a success, but it was incredibly difficult.

CM: And the last bit of touring in the west?

KB: They were the last shows with Paul Kehayas (Guitar). He's gone to concentrate on his own band, John Ford, but I established a bit more of a working relationship with our bass player and the shows went well. It's really starting to build into something strong.

CM: Who is the band, currently?

KB: On bass it's Tino Zolfo, who also plays in Soul Decision. The drum seat really belongs to Jamie Kauffman, but right now I'm using Scotty Macarthur from Static in Stereo. The guitar position is open. I have a couple of people I'm looking at, but nobody firm.

CM: In a recent interview you said, 'This is a little more creative than a solo thing and yet it's not a band,' Is this still the case?

KB: The band is evolving, It's beginning to count more in the …