by Jason Spencer
Canadian indie stalwarts Sloan are about to add touring to their already busy schedules of fatherhood and recording their new album.
The four-piece will hit nine cities across Ontario this month, stopping at the Living Arts Centre Oct. 17.
Bassist and vocalist Chris Murphy said the string of concerts will be an appetizer to hold fans over until their new album is complete.
"It will be more like a greatest hits show," he said. "We'll play an overview, or as many recognizable songs as we have."
And the band, rounded out by Patrick Pentland, Jay Ferguson and Andrew Scott, certainly has an impressive back catalogue to dip into, ranging from the old school gems Twice Removed and One Chord to Another to the more recent albums such as Action Pact and Never Hear the End of It.
Formed in Halifax, and currently residing in Toronto, Sloan has been banging out infectious pop tunes with the same lineup for over 20 years.
Murphy admits that, naturally, there's been "personal differences and chasms" throughout their duration, but it's the principles that the band is built upon that have held them together.
"We've got a democratic schtick…we're founded in fairness," said Murphy. "We split all the money and credit equally."
Referring to how all four members are known for alternating instruments and songwriting duties, he added, "It's a chance for everyone to contribute artistically."
That equal division of labour does lead to "compilation-sounding records," but it's a tone that defines them.
"We like those juxtapositions — it speaks to the way that we're run."
Their collective love of 1980s' hardcore punk and its do-it-yourself ethos is another tie that binds the band.
Last spring, Sloan paid homage to the era of Minor Threat and Black Flag by releasing a limited seven-inch album on the band's own long-standing label, Murder Records.
"Musically, it's outside of what we do — it was freeing and fun," Murphy said of the experience.
The LAC's RBC Theatre will not be ringing with the fury of the Reagan years come Oct. 17, as Murphy plans on sticking to the Sloan discography for the concert.
Although, he does wish their yet-to-be-titled studio album was finished, so they could share it with the fans, but even rock stars have responsibilities.
"We should have (the album) done by now, (but) we all have families, so we take care of them and spend time with them, especially when you're on the road on the weekends," he said.
Laughing, he continued, "When I come home, I always get the rat eye if I go right into the studio…as dads, we can do like three-hour days."
--taken from: The Mississauga News
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