by Jeff Tribe
Sloan fans can expect to hear classics such as Money City Maniacs, The Rest of My Life, The Other Man, The Good In Everyone and Who Taught You To Live Like That this Friday (April 20) night at Norma Jean’s in Tillsonburg.
But patrons can also anticipate new material from a Canadian power-pop/indie rock band whose creativity extends 20 years into its existence.
“We weren’t content to be a greatest hits band four or five albums in,” said Bassist Chris Murphy Wednesday afternoon via telephone. “We want to be thought of as a group that continues to make new records.”
The band was formed in 1991 with its breakout hit Underwhelmed receiving significant airplay on CFMY in 1992. Since then, the four original members from Halifax (based out of Toronto) have continued to build upon an energetic and unique ‘Beatle-esque’ body of work that includes 10 LPs, two EPs, a live album, a ‘best of’ album and an estimated 30 singles.
“I’ve been saying these days we have 180 recorded songs and we’d like to hit 200,” said Murphy.
Their latest album, Sloan the Double Cross and associated XX Tour (the show in Tillsonburg can be considered an extended portion thereof) alludes to tandem X’s (XX), Roman numerals representing 20, or their 20th anniversary.
Sloan ranks as one of the ‘elder statesbands’ of Canadian music and boasts the same lineup it began with two decades ago: Murphy, guitarists Patrick Pentland and Jay Ferguson and drummer Andrew Scott. A unique aspect of the band is the fact each has primary musical responsibilities, but all write and play multiple instruments, helping keep the experience fresh and challenging for both members and audience.
“I think it makes it more interesting,” said Murphy.
The approach is mirrored in the band’s set list which includes material from a range of albums and individual performers within.
“We try to make it a combination of things that interest us and peripheral fans.”
Sloan’s version of musical democracy is based on mutual interest and benefit and has its advantages along with responsibilities to the larger group. Taking time off for individual projects can be problematic given the band has to move forward as a unit.
Alternatively, creative opportunities, responsibilities and proceeds are shared equally. If for example, the band is producing an album every two years, practically speaking, each member is responsible for a song-and-a-half per year rather than a full album’s worth.
With a laugh, Murphy also likened the group’s shared creativity to a mutual fund, given if one or two members of the group are ‘down’, “hopefully two are up.”
The band’s highlights include a 1997 ‘Best Alternative Album’ Juno Award for One Chord To Another, an album which contributed Sloan’s best annual sales of 80,000. The band created its own independent record label – Murderecords – and has been associated with majors, but currently distributes its music through Outside Music in Canada, “Indie essentially,” says Murphy.
Their approach and the reality of the Canadian music scene means band members are intimately exposed to all aspects of the business including touring, recording, writing, promotion, cover design and sales. In re-issuing Sloan’s second record Twice Removed, Murphy compiled an accompanying oral history through interviews.
“I enjoy all that stuff,” he said. “It’s fun for me.”
Independence does come at a price but also allows the band to maintain integrity and creative control.
“We’ve been able to kind of do everything on our own terms.”
Luxurious retirement is not around the corner, Murphy admits, likening their experience to a small business.
“We can’t stop pedaling the bike.”
Their 20-year progression from inception to today is a topic of conversation between Murphy and Ferguson, with an allusion to a Woody Allen paraphrase, along the lines of ‘just being happy to be working’, in respect to the fact Allen has made roughly 40 movies across a 40-year period.
Murphy emphasizes the reference does not compare Sloan to either Allen’s creative genius or some of the other less-attractive aspects of his life.
“But he has amassed a huge bank of quality work and that’s what we’d like to think we do.”
It might well have been just as easy to screw four bolts onto a wheel inside a factory, or build up pension as a high school music teacher, he agreed with a laugh, given his personal lack of retirement funds and the fact the music business is a ‘young person’s game.
But looking back – and forward – Murphy remains content with their version of a long and winding musical road.
“It’s kind of a risky way to enter your 40s, but we’re all still at it and proud we have done as much as we have.”
--taken from: Tillsonburg News
