By the sounds of it, The Meligrove Band's streak of bad luck — has come to an end which tarted with the closure of their former label V2 back in 2007 (right before starting work on their 2010 record Shimmering Lights) and constant issues with a troublesome white bus that they called Buster. After buying Buster, the band noticed rotted brake lines that caused them to miss their western tour with Tokyo Police Club and Arkells. It only went downhill from there: losing transmission fluid in Reno, hitting deer in North Dakota and an engine belt snapping before the transmission bit the dust in a rough part of Orlando back in December of 2010.

But since then things have started to turn around for the band — who performed at APK Live's St. Patrick's Day festivities — with their 2010 release on Nevado Records and a new documentary, Ages and Stages, that is all about the band.

I had a chance to chat with The Meligrove Band's bassist, Michael Small, about the film and ask him a few questions.

So, Michael. Let's talk about the documentary. How did the idea for the film come to be? Was it the band's idea or were you approached about it?
“We got an email from the director, Brendan McCarney, early in 2010, saying he wanted to make a documentary about our band. Amongst ourselves we just kind of went ‘Sure, why not?' and got him whatever permissions he needed to film at our shows, while digging up whatever video we had lying around (VHS tapes of times we've been on TV, early gigs, etc.).”

In the documentary, there are a good handful of Canadian artists such as Joel Plaskett, Born Ruffians, Tokyo Police Club and more speaking out about you guys and saying some great things. What was your reaction to all the positive responses and reviews from so many great musicians?
“We know most of those people personally, so we knew they'd have to say something nice or face Darcy (Rego, vocalist and drummer)' s wrath. Somewhere in the film, Luke Lalonde describes a time he saw us argue. His band Born Ruffians even made a music video inspired by the fight.”

When can we expect to see the documentary in its entirety?
“I don't know. Sometime this year? The band isn't involved in it beyond allowing it to happen and then being filmed. McCarney's the man with the master plan. I just hope we get to see it for free.”

Over the last couple of years, you guys had some bad luck with your old label V2 going under and your tour van breaking down, causing you to miss a chunk of your tour. But things have picked up for you. You've since been signed to a different label and I assume got a new van. How did you guys make it through those hardships without wanting to give up? How have you been able to bounce back and continue making music?
“How did we make it through these hardships? I don't know. We're still paying off some of the debt from our Florida disaster, but otherwise, we just came home and kept playing music. We like hanging out and playing music together, and enough people want to buy our records and see our shows that we just kept going. It's only rock and roll, right? I think the worst thing would have been to give up something we love doing so much. I don't want some stupid transmission deciding if I get to rock out with my friends!”

Some of your tracks have been popping up here and there. For instance, one of your songs was featured on Degrassi and “Bones Attack” is the theme song to The Basketball Jones. Was this something you were approached about or did it come as a surprise?
“Usually stuff like that comes as a surprise. We've had songs in TV shows off and on for years. I'd say the most interesting use of a song was by a Canadian sitcom called Radio Free Roscoe that actually had us play ourselves on an episode and pretend to play one of our songs. I felt like Buffalo Tom on My So-Called Life. Or maybe the Flaming Lips on 90210. Or! Color Me Badd on 90210. That's what I felt like. I really get Color Me Badd now.”

Have you heard any positive or negative responses for fans about these placements?
We've heard from The Basketball Jones people that a lot of people like “Bones Attack” ... I'd say the weirdest thing was someone online years ago, saying we were rich now, because our song “Before We Arrive” was in a commercial starring the golfer Mike Weir. I remember signing that contract. Anyone who works full-time makes the same amount or more every week. We had to split it amongst ourselves just that once! And we probably spent it on Mr. Noodles.

Although a release date has not been set yet, fans of the band can watch the trailer for Ages and Stages on YouTube or the band's website, meligroveband.com.