by Angie Valente
SLOAN is an iconic Canadian power pop-rock band. All of your friends know at least two Sloan songs.
They’re recognizable, respected, loved, and cherished. Each member is a phenomenal multi-instrumentalist and song-writer. The ultimate hipsters with the haircuts and glasses to prove it, and though Toronto has claimed them, they are the sweethearts of the Maritimes.
Sloan are taking their successful 1996 album One Chord to Another on the road to celebrate its 20th anniversary. The tour hits Thunder Bay on Thursday, at Crocks.
Bassist and vocalist Chris Murphy calls me from his home. He’s friendly, hilarious, and sarcastic as hell, and didn’t even bother to block his number. After having a laugh about the fact that I may just sell his number on-line, Murphy doesn’t seem too concerned.
“We are accessible. After every show I’m pretty much able to talk to every single person who waits around,” he says.
Murphy is taking bites of his cold chicken curie and rice as we chat, and he’s making me hungry. He apologizes. This is one for the books, and I will always remember our lengthy and un-tructured chat that jumped around from music to haircuts to his children.
Post-interview, an email made its way to my inbox, showcasing his five-year-old son’s trendy new haircut, rat tail and all.
Forming back in 1991, when the Canadian music industry looked and sounded a helluva lot different than present day, Sloan have managed to stick together for 25 years, outlasting most marriages.
The band itself is a creative union between guitarist Jay Ferguson, drummer Andrew Scott and guitarist Patrick Pentland. Sure there’s been ups and downs, but Sloan have kept it functional with the original line-up intact, and zero trips to rehab.
The secret to Sloan’s longevity?
“Nobody’s a drug addict or a real (expletive)-up,” Murphy says. “It’s just like a family where you get mad at your brother, but it doesn’t last. Nobody’s really blowing it. I wasn’t interested in being a millionaire. I like working and this band has enabled me to work. We get lots of stuff done and everyone is really talented. We have an interesting asymmetrical balance. Patrick has generated the most money, Jay works the hardest, Andrew is the best musician and I’m the coolest and funniest.”
While Murphy jokes, the truth is, Sloan is cool. And without even trying.
Murphy’s been playing the Lakehead for decades and is pumped to bring some nostalgia back to a city that holds the same feelings for him.
“We’re psyched,” he says. “I like playing, I like working, and I like meeting people. I sometimes lose my own voice by the seventh show, because we tour kind of sporadically. We usually peak in Thunder Bay.”
In tow will be an exciting piece of memorabilia for Sloan fans; One Chord to Another deluxe vinyl box set. This collection will include 3LPs; a remastered OCTA from the original tapes, followed by an 11 track LP of unreleased 4-track and studio recordings called The Outtakes. The third LP is a remastered version of the often-requested-for-rerelease recorded live at a Sloan party. Originally included as a bonus CD/LP in the USA, this album was never properly released in Canada, until now. Also included is a seven-inch vinyl single with two early demo recordings.
As for art work, (which Murphy is a fan of and played a hand in) included is a photocopied-style fanzine compilation which were quite the rage back in the ‘90s.
“It feels like that era was a healthy time for fanzines that focused on artists from our Murderecords label and other underground bands in Canada, so we thought it was a cool and appropriate artifact to include in the set,” Murphy says.
Yet another bonus is a 32-page full colour book which is an extensive oral history by the four members recounting the recording and touring surrounding OCTA.
The book features tons of unseen photos, posters, artwork, lyric sheets and more. This is a Sloan fan’s dream come true.
“On a re-issue tour at least fans are guaranteed that we’ll play some of the songs they know and love,” Murphy says.
“I understand as a fan of music and as a maker of music. The experiment of the band is to try to keep it going and keep each member contributing equally and fairly and share the wealth evenly. We’ve released worth-while records the whole time. You can’t compete with the nostalgia people have for the first few records.”
The anniversary show is set to feature two sets. Firstly, OCTA in its entirety, and a second set of greatest hits and fan favourites. How does one choose a set with decades worth of albums and singles?
“I’d like to think we’re not playing the exact same set, we like to play different songs each time we come through,” Murphy explains.
“But, we’re really only in charge of your own songs and we do feel there is an obligation to play certain singles. Everyone gets their own real estate in the set. We play some recognizable songs and a weird one for someone who’s seen us 40 times. I also like to think that we’re representing every era of the band.”
What would Chris Murphy of Sloan tell himself 25 years ago, when he was just starting out, knowing what he knows now?
“I’m happy about the way everything has gone, the band is intact and has a body of work of which I am not embarrassed,” he says.
“As a 47-year-old man, I wished we had worked a little harder as younger guys before we had kids and got married. Maybe we’d be farther along.”
That being said, Murphy is satisfied with the career Sloan has built for themselves. “I got validated a lot as a young guy, and made enough money to buy a house. I feel fortunate. I know a lot of talented people who had to do a shitty joe job but I haven’t had to. I don’t have to work for anybody and I get to do something cool.”
--taken from: The Chronicle Journal
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