--taken from: Bay Today
by Stu Campaigne
It seems like just yesterday that Chris Murphy and his mates from Halifax were taking Canada by storm with their full-length debut Smeared. Their first single release, "Underwhelmed," had the perfect blend of power pop and grunge to rise above the wave of contenders and pretenders in the post-Nirvana music scene, circa 1992.
Fast forward 25 years and the Toronto-based Murphy, to borrow a Moe Berg phrase, "is an adult now." And with his new bandmates, he will have what he calls the good fortune to play along as The Pursuit of Happiness front-man belts out the lyrics to that classic Candian rock tune.
Murphy took time out from what he termed a typical morning of dropping his child off at school to talk about his newest collaboration, the Trans-Canada Highwaymen. Describing the scene around him, Murphy relayed that he had the phone "jammed up inside" his bike helmet while walking his bicycle along a busy sidewalk in Toronto, all the while excitedly dishing about the upcoming tour.
After being recognized by a passerby, Murphy graciously fended off the well-wisher on the sidewalk, telling the man on the street "you look great, but I can't talk right now," after explaining that he was in the middle of an interview.
It was classic, goofball Murphy, who once jumped into a stranger's van outside MuchMusic during a live show. He says that he is often cast in the role as Sloan's spokesman by default, but it is obvious from our conversation that Murphy's endearing, charismatic nature has not dulled with time.
Four iconic front-men from a golden age of Canadian rock music have banded together to form the Trans-Canada Highwaymen and play their hits in an eight-show tour that kicks off next month and will make a stop on April 23, at the Capitol Centre in North Bay.
Each member will bring four of his own biggest hits to this collaborative effort, with the caveat that they must have written the songs they will play with the Trans-Canada Highwaymen. Four Canadian rock legends, 16 hit songs and the insider stories about the songs, artists, and tours that defined a generation of Canada's most popular and respected music.
The on-stage instrumental deployment of the Trans-Canada Highwaymen is a nod to Sloan's unique practice of switching instruments mid-set, sharing writing and vocalist credits, in essence, performing as a well-oiled machine with interchangeable moving parts.
"For me, it's very similar to Sloan in that we all share all the real estate, as it were, in the set equally. For Moe Berg, he's always been the main guy, never having to contend with anyone else, but for the rest of us, Craig Northey comes from a band where he wasn't the only guy and certainly Steven Page came from a band where he wasn't the only guy or writer."
For the Trans-Canada Highwaymen gigs, Murphy said a democratic set-list structure similar to what Sloan traditionally employs will translate well. Since all four members of his main band share writing and singing, Murphy said a typical 12-song set with Sloan will see each of the members take the lead once in the first, second and third four-song blocks.
The supergroup played one gig last summer as a trial run at a winery in Niagara that was well-received. The four agreed to play together again once schedules could be accommodated, and with the addition of theatre veteran (and Kids in the Hall collaborator) Jim Millan to the project, the intimate multimedia experience and storytelling aspect of the show was achieved.
"Sloan is my life's work, of which I'm very proud," said Murphy, "but I'm excited to hang with these guys, they are all heavyweight writers and players. I think [this tour] will give us more time to stretch and to talk, to goof around.
"There are some people in Sloan where as soon as I start saying anything, they say 'here he goes,' but this format will allow me to be more of a storyteller on stage, an entertainer as opposed to an artist where we are plowing through songs, playing obscure songs, challenging people. This is pretty much 'everyone bring your most recognizable songs and we'll try to make a purely hits set and entertain these people.'"
Murphy is looking at the tour as a fun distraction from Sloan and he is also involved in another side project, TUNS, with Mike O'Neill of the Inbreds and Matt Murphy of Super Friendz. Sloan recently toured while marking the 20th anniversary of their hit album One Chord to Another and Murphy says the band is deciding whether recording new material will happen sooner rather than later.
According to the tour release, the show will deliver: "Sixteen hit songs, road stories, jokes, secrets and surprises. With video evidence and never before seen photos, they indict the guilty and the innocent alike with lots of laughter. Chris, Moe, Craig and Steven have known each other twenty-five years and will reveal what was really going on behind the scenes and behind the songs from the bands you love."
Murphy explained that this tour would allow him to do two things that are dear to him: play and listen to great music. "I get to be the star in a way, but I also get to be a fan. I get to play "I'm an Adult Now," and I get to have Moe Berg sing the harmony on "Underwhelmed." It's pretty fun."
--taken from: Bay Today
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