No, that’s not a typo on the tour dates listings on The Stills’ website. The Montreal band is, in fact, scheduled to play two shows on the same night this week in Victoria.

First, they’ll play an opening set for the Sam Roberts Band and then rush over to another venue to perform as the headliners.

Stills frontman Tim Fletcher said the band plans two-show nights sometimes to keep the adrenaline flowing. Things can get a little frantic, but it usually results in special, “fiery” shows, he said.

Of course, things can’t carry on at that pace for weeks on end. So, the Stills will kick back and relax a few nights later when they only have the responsibility of delivering the headlining set here in Whistler. The band makes its Whistler debut Sunday (Jan. 11) at Garfinkel’s.

If one were to take The Question’s conversation with Fletcher out of context, it might seem the Stills are self-deprecating. In the course of just 15 minutes, he refers to the band as “nerds” and “neurotic,” and he describes their approach to playing music with accuracy as “fascist.”

But if you’re familiar with the Stills you’ll know the band is currently riding high on some pretty exciting success. The first single from August’s Oceans Will Rise album — “Being Here” — is in the top 20 on commercial rock radio and the video is getting regular play on MuchMusic.

The band recently opened for Paul McCartney — to a crowd of 300,000 — at the celebration of the 400th anniversary of Quebec City. This year will also see the Stills’ first tour of Australia and New Zealand.

Fletcher said the experience of opening a show for McCartney was “mind-blowing” and he considers it the greatest honour of the band’s career. The band members got to meet McCartney and Fletcher said he was funny, sweet and just a normal person.

“At the end of the day he’s like anybody,” Fletcher said. “It gives you faith in human beings.”

With three albums under their belts and about eight years together as the Stills, it seems the musicians are coming into their own and starting to feel more comfortable in their own skin. Fletcher said after spending a couple of records simply “learning how to be a band,” the focus has switched to learning how to connect with the audience.

After years of being “fascist” about creating a tight, technically sound live performance, the band members are finally starting to let loose, include the audience in the experience, and worry less about the technical element, he said.

“Music is not a sport; it’s not about making perfect passes,” Fletcher said. “It’s about reaching out to people.”

He said the Stills are “still nerds” but they’re having more and more fun performing.

Fletcher’s characterization of the band as “neurotic” followed a question about music’s ability to provide escape from reality and its contrary ability to bring consciousness to world issues. The themes on Oceans Will Rise consider humans’ place in the world and the fragility of human existence.

Fletcher said while the band members enjoy the escapism of music they tend to come from a place of self-examination, which translates into the music naturally.

C.I.A. Concerts presents the Stills on Sunday (Jan. 11) at Garf’s. Tickets are $15 in advance at the venue, Billabong, Katmandu and the Hub. Purchase online at www.clubzone.com/ciaconcerts.

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