Countdown to Canada Day

--taken from: Cloverdale Reporter

by Jennifer Lang

Cloverdale is set to host one of Surrey’s biggest parties of the year.

With headliners ‘80s Canadian rock legends Platinum Blonde, indie power pop icons Sloan and a host of local talent lined up to entertain the masses – along with a day that’s jam-packed with free family fun – the city’s July 1 bash is once again guaranteed to draw tens of thousands to the Cloverdale Millennium Amphitheatre at 176 Street and 64 Avenue.

Headliners Sloan take the stage at 7:30 p.m. and Mr. O Canada, Mark Donnelly, will lead the national anthem at 8:55 p.m., before making way for Platinum Blonde.

While Platinum Blonde reunited in 2010, Sloan has never disbanded. Sloan guitarists Patrick Pentland and Jay Ferguson, bassist Chris Murphy and drummer Andrew Scott have been stacking up the hits for 20 years, releasing 10 albums and spawning such power pop hits as Underwhelmed, Money City Maniacs, The Good in Everyone, and the Rest of My Life.

--taken from: Cloverdale Reporter

Sloan enjoys some positive feedback, prepares for Canada Day gig in Surrey

--taken from: The Province

Sloan’s Jay Ferguson, second from left, says a collection of covers is receiving a positive response from fans. Expect to hear some of those songs when Sloan plays Canada Day festivities in Surrey.

by Stuart Derdeyn

Jay Ferguson wants to set the record straight around Sloan’s latest album of covers of hardcore punk bands.

The collection of seminal ragers by the Angry Samoans, Black Flag and Bad Religion was not his idea. Nor did his much-reported “straight-edge” lifestyle have anything to do with being a Minor Threat or Seven Seconds fan back in the ’80s.

“Although I don’t drink or take drugs, I’ve never defined myself as straight-edge in the way that Minor Threat members did,” said Ferguson. “My Wikipedia entry says that this is the case and it’s often reported, but the truth is I was listening to The Smiths. It was Chris Murphy’s idea to record the covers as these were the bands he was really taken with back in high school.”

Fans going to sloanmusic.com already know that the classic covers are a bonus to a new 7-inch vinyl featuring another hooky new Murphy tune titled Jenny. That is likely to be the only tune from the session to make the set at the band’s Surrey Canada Day performance. But who knows?

“Response to the project has been so positive and so much more than we expected that I guess a lot more people knew all those bands growing up as I did and have pretty positive experiences around listening to them.”

The guitarist played plenty of the music on his radio show on CKDU radio at Dalhousie from 1985-1989. Beginning in high school and carrying through university, it was one of the foundations of the influences that would form Sloan. One of Canada’s most cherished bands of the nineties, the Halifax-formed, Toronto-based quartet has released 30-odd singles over its two-decade-plus existence. Its second album Twice Removed (1994) was voted the Best Canadian Album of All Time in Chart Magazine in 1996 and again in 2005.

“Usually, for a big family-oriented show like Canada Day, we look over albums like that and our singles and design a set that includes tunes we are sure people are going to know. Thankfully, we have had enough songs played on the radio over the last 20 years that there are certain to be some that a really broad spectrum of people know, like Money City Maniacs, The Other Man and If It Feels Good Do It or something like that.”

Hitting Top-40 setlist status was never a goal for the group. But it pays the bills for the continuing career of the quartet, which not only had another hit with 2011’s The Double Cross but has embarked on a full reissue campaign for albums such as Twice Removed and One Chord to Another.

The group plays plenty of special events alongside touring to new markets across Canada and has even played “Canada Day away in L.A. before.”

“We went on the road last fall playing all of Twice Removed and then a set of other album tracks and I really thought it was OK because we still put out new music to play alongside the old stuff.”

The group worked hard to get where it is and one of the things behind its enduring reputation is the live show.

Sloan has long delivered good gigs and due to its East Coast origins knows how to bring it, rain or shine. This is a good thing given our frequently soggy Canada Day celebrations.

--taken from: The Province

NXNE: Day Two

--taken from: MSN Entertainment

Matt Schichter takes in the second day of the Toronto music fest with appearances by K-Os, Sloan and the National, as well as live performances and more from Imaginary Cities, The Fast Romantics, The Matinee and We are the City.

Check out the link below to see the video!

http://video.ca.msn.com/?mkt=en-ca&vid=883c2113-9e31-49bc-9e8e-2ffbe13eb7fe&from=sharepermalink&src=v5:share:sharepermalink:

--taken from: MSN Entertainment

Sloan, FLAG, and TRW for Friday of NXNE

--taken from: Martyr Magazine (see more pictures here)

by Remi Roy

Friday night of NXNE brought us on a nice adventure of old and new giants in pop/punk rock music, both Canadian and American heavyweights were out to please crowds on the third night of this brandished music festival.

The night started off with the highly anticipated show from their hometown heroes, the Torontonian veteran band known as Sloan, playing at the Great Hall.

Making headway from their original formation two decades ago in Halifax, the band has come a long way, and stolen the hearts of many on their path.Chris Murphy - SloanCompeting over the years with other GTA based bands, such as the Barenaked Ladies from Scarborough, and Our Lady Peace who formed around the same time, they always managed to keep their name in lights and headlines.

This year marked their 21st, and to celebrate, they gave fans a nostalgic taste of what made them who they are today, playing their entire first ever EP Peppermint from start to finish. Much like OLP did a couple years back with their Clumsy tour.Chris Murphy - SloanIt was interesting to see the same songs, but played with the band’s progressive style they’ve developed over the years. It really gave their old tunes a make-over, especially to be able to see it in a live setting as such.

It was a rather short set for such a long-standing band, given that they only played eight songs, and since six of those were from their original EP, their wasn’t much room for newer and more recognized hits radio fans are familiar with. But this set was designed to please new fans as much as educate them on why others have been fans for so many years.

They did it, and they did it well.

--taken from: Martyr Magazine (see more pictures here)

NXNE 2013 in Review: Five Days That Will Live in Infamy

--taken from: Torontoist

by Steve Fisher
photos taken by Corbin Smith

Best Nostalgia Show: Sloan
FROM: Toronto, Ontario via Halifax, Nova Scotia
PERFORMED: Friday, June 14, 11 p.m., at The Great Hall

Reason: There were plenty of veteran pop rock acts that fans were waxing nostalgic about this year at NXNE. Local band Tangiers reunited after 10 years apart, turning The Garrison into a sweaty sauna during their 10-song set. Evan Dando thrilled fans at the Rivoli with renditions of classic Lemonheads songs like “Confetti.” But the biggest crowd pleaser was Sloan. The band, now recognized as the quintessential Canuck rock band of the ’90s, thrilled long-time adherents by playing its first-ever EP, Peppermint, from start to finish.

Best Moment: It’s a tough call, but during “Lucky For Me,” we quickly jotted down “thunderous,” and, “drummer (Andrew Scott) is crushing it,” so let’s go with that.

Miscellaneous: Nearly as many fans stuck around after Sloan’s set to see fellow ’90s east coasters Superfriendz.

Verdict: Sloan is Canuck-rock royalty, and the Great Hall was as packed as we’d ever seen it with fans there to pay homage.

--taken from: Torontoist

[Photos] Sloan @ The Great Hall | NXNE 2013 (6/14)

--taken from: Dinosaurus Rex (see more pictures here)

by Chris

This year’s North by Northeast (NXNE) music festival is in full swing – putting on hundreds of live music shows by over 1000 artists around our fair city of Toronto.

Last Friday (June 14) – Sloan powered up their instruments at The Great Hall to give on of their signature rock performances. It was really nice seeing the favourite Canadian group meet their fans in an intimate setting.

Just recently in April, the band released their newest single, ‘Jenny’. This is the first song since their last 2011 album Double Cross that contained their hit song ‘Unkind’.

--taken from: Dinosaurus Rex (see more pictures here)

NXNE Day 3: Decades, Grounders, PEALS, Weaves & Sloan

--taken from: The Take Media (see more pictures here)

by Megan Oquias

Sloan @ The Great Hall

Yeah. We did. There’s something awesome about catching a well-seasoned band. You know that their musicianship will be strong, and confident, and that the crowd will be putty in their hands. Particularly when they can pack a place like The Great Hall on the same night every venue in the city is hosting hundreds of other bands. what can be said about a band that has been making the rounds for 20 years? Their set-list was exclusively from the their album called Smeared released in 1992. The coolest thing about ending my night here is the fact that even though The Great Hall is large and was packed for this set, there is a certain level of intimacy and comradery about it; and a legendary Canadian band is what brought it all together.

--taken from: The Take Media (see more pictures here)

PHOTOS: NXNE – Friday, June 14

--taken from: Aux (see more pictures here and on Flickr)

by Riley Taylor




































































photos taken by Randall Vasquez and Riley Taylor

--taken from: Aux (see more pictures here and on Flickr)

16 Halifax pop songs from the ’90s

--taken from: Aux (see the rest of the list here)

by Mark Teo

Tonight’s Porter showcase at NXNE, featuring Sloan, the Superfriendz, and members of Murderecords act Local Rabbits, has us in full remembrance mode: Sure, Halifax is currently epicentre of weirdo guitar pop. (Thanks, OBEY Convention.) But remember, back in the ’90s, when it was dubbed as Seattle North?

We’ll help paint a picture. Now, we call it the decade-long era the Halifax Explosion: It was an era that birthed genuine Cancon hall-of-famers in Sloan and Joel Plaskett, germinated the Halifax Pop Explosion music festival (duh), and attracted international eyes—famously, Sub Pop, riding a post-Nevermind high, was obsessed with the city. But the era isn’t only for the history books: Many of the city’s best contemporary crop, including Heaven For Real, CROSSS, and the many acts that emerged from the now-defunct York Redoubt, borrow heavily from the distinctive, isolationist power pop the period produced. Here, the 16 songs that defined one of the finest eras in Canadian pop.


Sloan—“Underwhelmed”

Sloan were—and still are—the most recognizable name to emerge from Halifax’s ’90s scene. And it was hard to pick only one song to feature: What about “Coax Me”? Or “The Good in Everyone”? Or “Money City Maniacs”? We select “Underwhelmed,” from 1992′s Smeared, on this list for one reason—it was the song that catapulted Chris Murphy and co. into the public eye. Two decades on, and Sloan’s still going strong. (Heck, they even released a hardcore 7-inch earlier this year.)

--taken from: Aux (see the rest of the list here)

Sloan @ The Great Hall: Friday June 14

Check out the pictures on flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/97115541@N08/sets/72157634165581675/

Eat to the Beat: Saluting Murderecords with Peppermint Watermelon Granita

--taken from: Rolling Spoon

by Elizabeth Chorney-Booth

If you, like me, are a fan of ’90s Canadian indie rock, it’s time to celebrate the 21st anniversary of Sloan‘s record label, murderecords, which the band originally formed to release their debut EP, Peppermint. The occasion will be marked by a big show in Toronton on June 14, with performances by Sloan (performing the Peppermint EP in its entirety), Superfriendz, Mike O’Neill (ex of The Inbreds), and a DJ set by Ben Gunning of the Local Rabbits (who we talked to earlier this week — he’s quite a cook!). Those of us not lucky enough to be in Toronto (as well as those of you who are) can commemorate the anniversary with a book that celebrates the 12 7″ singles that murderecords released during the ’90s, full of photography by Catherine Stockhausen. The book comes with a previously unreleased single, plus a download code for the original seven inches. Watch the ad above and count how many you owned back in the day.

I rummaged through my own basement and was surprised that I only have three of the original singles: Sloan’s “Stood Up/Same Old Flame,” (released in 1995), The Local Rabbits’ “Put on Your Snowsuit, You Are Going to Hell!” (1994) and Hardship Post’s “Why Don’t You and I Smooth Things Over” (also 1994), in the original sandpaper sleeve. For some reason, I actually have two copies of the last one — I may be willing to part with the second copy in exchange for a particularly tasty recipe. I’m surprised I don’t have more — though I do have a pretty decent collection of 7″s from the other Halifax-based label of the time, Cinnamon Toast, including beautiful candy-coloured singles by the likes of Plumtree, Jale, Thursh Hermit, Les Gluetones, and the much coveted Sloan/Eric’s Trip split single where the two iconic bands cover each others’ songs (this one I’m much less inclined to part with).

Naturally, this momentous occasion needs to be marked with a recipe (a murderecipe, if you will) and the most obvious place to turn is Sloan’s Peppermint EP. Not wanting to skew too Christmas-y in the middle of June, I decided to go with a refreshing Peppermint Watermelon Granita. Now, I always thought granita was one of those things that food editors threw into magazines and cookbooks when they couldn’t think of anything else to put in, but they’re actually really easy to make and this one is surprisingly delicious. I used the more-common fresh spearmint here (if you can get real peppermint, feel free to sub it in), then boosted the peppermint taste with a little bit of peppermint extract. The watermelon, mint, and lime juice are a classic combo for a reason — together they make for a flavour that screams summer.

Peppermint Watermelon Granita

Peppermint Watermelon Granita

Serves 8-10

9 cups cubed and seeded watermelon (about 3/4 of a medium watermelon)
Juice of 3 limes
2 tbsp fresh mint, finely chopped
1/2 tsp peppermint extract
1/3 cup sugar

Place the watermelon (in two separate batches so you don’t have an overflow) in a food processor and puree until smooth. Press the puree through a sieve, collecting the juice in a large bowl. Discard the solids left in the sieve. Stir in the lime juice, mint, extract, and sugar, and stir until the sugar is dissolved.

Watermelon Granita Collage

Pour the mixture into a metal 9 by 13″ baking pan and stick it in the freezer. Every half hour or so, scrape through the mixture with a fork, breaking up any large solids. Repeat for about three hours, or until the broken-up mixture has the consistency of a snow cone. Spoon into individual bowls or parfait cups and garnish with a sprig of mint if you’re feeling fancy.

Full disclosure: I may have poured an half ounce of bourbon into my serving. And it may have made it all the more delicious.

So, enjoy it! And as our salute to murderecords and the Peppermint EP, here’s the video for the original version of “Underwhelmed.” See if you can spot a teenaged Joel Plaskett.



--taken from: Rolling Spoon

NXNE is kicking off in Toronto this week: The National, Bruise Cruise, Sloan 'murderecords' party & more

--taken from: Brooklyn Vegan

Sloan, who moved from Halifax, NS to Toronto a long time ago, are celebrating the 21st anniversary of their label, murderecords, with a party at Great Hall on Friday June 14. Sloan will perform the entirety of their first EP, Peppermint, which was the label's innagural release, The Super Friendz (which at times included Sloan's Chris Murphy) and and Mike O'Neill who some of you may remember from his '90s band The Inbreds. There's also a limited-edition box set of murderecords 12 7" singles they released in the '90s that will come with a commemorative book. Only 500 of these are being made and will go on sale next week via Sloan's Website. Sloan, you may remember, also recently released a hardcore tribute 7".

--taken from: Brooklyn Vegan

Follow SloanmusicOfficial on Vine!

We have sorted out our Vine issue. Follow us at SloanmusicOfficial, not Sloanmusic. So far zero posts. But lots soon to come
— Sloan (@Sloanmusic) June 11, 2013

The Certain Someones "Sad Salvation"

--taken from: Exclaim! (listen to the stream here)





















by Gregory Adams

As previously reported, Sloan's Murderecords imprint is celebrating its 21st anniversary with a book release detailing the label's first 12 7-inches. On top of including digital downloads of cuts from the likes of Thrush Hermit, Eric's Trip and Local Rabbits, the release comes with a new 7-inch of material from East Coast supergroup the Certain Someones. You can hear the record's "Sad Salvation" now via Exclaim.ca.

A snippet of the song was revealed last week in a trailer, which quickly showcased the cotton-candy vocal harmonies of the project, featuring Sloan's Chris Murphy, the Super Friendz' Matt Murphy and Jale's Jennifer Pierce.

As a whole, the track plays into British Invasion conventions, with the lead lick sounding somewhat like the Who's "I Can't Explain" and Chris Murphy's rowdy drum fills thudding out à la Keith Moon.

The book will be sold at Sloan's upcoming June 14 performance at the Toronto's Great Hall as part NXNE. The night will also feature a set from the Super Friendz, who will also have the first-ever vinyl pressing of their 1995 debut Mock Up, Scale Down for sale.

--taken from: Exclaim! (listen to the stream here)

10 Notable Moments in Arts & Crafts' History

--taken from: Exclaim!

by Vish Khanna

6. Fall 2002 – The Other Other Man

At a Toronto BSS show, former couple Feist and Andrew Whiteman perform a version of Sloan's "The Other Man" with composer Chris Murphy in the audience. Murphy originally wrote the song about how his relationship with Feist caused her to eventually leave Whiteman.

"I had played a songwriter circle thing the night before that show at the Rivoli club," Whiteman recalls. "I 'Elliot Smithed' Sloan's song of angst and turned it a bit more inward. I guess I surprised a few people by playing it — it's always interesting when you hear musicians do an unexpected cover, especially when they bring a new flavour to the dish.

"I think Brendan and Kevin — maybe Justin too — were at the Rivoli show and really dug it. It was Kev and Brendan's idea to play it the next night as well. The older Social Scene days had a significant amount of 'What the hell is going on!? Let's change the show at the last minute!'-type of energy. It was okay the next night, but maybe the ambush element lost a bit of its thrill."

As for Murphy, his memories of this incident are foggy. "It sounds familiar," he says. "I do know that Andrew has played 'The Other Man' before, but I don't know if I've seen him do it or if someone told me that. It is possible that I saw that show and I can't remember. I do know that I dreaded seeing Andrew for a long time, but I don't anymore. I would also like to say that I went with Leslie to [see] Andrew's band AroarA play when we all happened to be in NYC last fall and they were amazing. All's well that ends well."

--taken from: Exclaim!

Murderecords 7-inch Singles 1993-1998 (trailer)

--taken from: Exclaim!

by Gregory Adams

As previously reported, Sloan's June 14 concert at Toronto's Great Hall will toast the 21st anniversary of their Murderecords imprint, as well as act as the release party for a new book about the label's first 12 7-inches. A trailer for the project has now gone up featuring snippets from all of those old vinyl singles, as well as from an unreleased 7-inch from supergroup the Certain Someones.

While it's cool to hear snatches of Thrush Hermit's "Giddy With the Drugs" or Local Rabbits' "You're Such a Stupid Idiot," the real star of the trailer is the unheard cut from Certain Someones, who were made up of Sloan's Chris Murphy, the Super Friendz' Matt Murphy and Jale's Jennifer Pierce. While their track only runs for about 10 seconds, the stacked vocal melody of the song plays like classic '90s Maritimes alt-pop. Simply stunning.

The anniversary package will feature a download for all of the OOP records, including cuts from Sloan, Eric's Trip, Hardship Post, Zumpano, the Inbreds and Stinkin' Rich, and comes with a physical copy of the Certain Someones single. The book will also feature era-appropriate photography from Catherine Stockhausen.


 --taken from: Exclaim!

What Can’t Be Erased | “…And I’ve got a thing for you too”

Check out the link below for Scott Arnold's comic strips about Sloan!

http://industri-studios.com/portfolio/2013/06/01/what-cant-be-erased-mesarahsloan/