SLOAN plays The Constellation Room Sep. 25, The Casbah Sep. 27, The Roxy Sep. 28 photo:Catherine Stockhausen
Canadian rock band, Sloan, make a rare stop in Orange County as part of their One Chord To Another 20th anniversary tour.
“We come out and play the album One Chord To Another all the way front to back for the first set,” guitarist Jay Ferguson said. “Then we take a break, and then we come out and play another set of songs from the rest of our career.”
Songs such as “The Good In Everyone,” “Everything You’ve Done Wrong,” “The Lines You Amend,” and “G Turns to D” are often part of a Sloan set. However, many of the remaining songs from the album hadn’t been played live for a long time.
“It was basically cramming for an exam before going on tour,” Ferguson joked.
“The one that’s most challenging for me is probably the fourth song on the album. It’s called, “Junior Panthers”, and it’s one of the ones that I sing and I think when I recorded it I regret the key that I chose to sing it in because it’s so kind of low, and it’s hard to sing it out (live).
“So whenever I see it coming up on the setlist I’m basically starting to sweat like mad ‘cause I don’t really want to do it but we have to do it, of course. [laughs]
“When we get to the end of it I’m basically relieved. Let’s just leave it at that.”
Sloan “One Chord To Another” album cover
Sloan has been touring since April and like most musicians Ferguson has his own unique tour essentials or “must-haves” when away from home for any length of time.
“I have nice furry slippers that are from Australia that I like to bring. They’re very, very comfortable.
“I make home made granola and I always bring plenty of that because I like being able to eat on the bus.
“I would say furry slippers and home-made granola are tour essentials for me. And milk for tea, milk for hot tea.”
In Canada, Sloan has enjoyed much success over their 25-year career, while simultaneously nurturing a solid grassroots following in the States.
“Our band has four singers and songwriters and everybody contributes to the songs,” Ferguson explained. “Everybody sings on every album so it’s an artistic outlet for everybody in the band. You know, it’s not like there’s the disgruntled drummer who never gets to sing the songs he wrote.”
Each member of the group has had at least one or two singles that has done well over the course of their career. Everyone contributes to each album, which has played a key role in keeping the same members together.
“It’s almost like our band is kind of like a mutual fund,” Ferguson noted. “We share everything.
“All the money is split four-ways in our band. So like I said, if someone writes a song that does really well with radio then everybody benefits from it.
“I think that helps keep a band together. Or else you’re like The Police, where Sting made the majority of the money by writing all the songs and then he wants to go solo.
“I think it’s a good way if everybody is in the same boat then it’s easier to keep something going for a longer period of time.”
Additionally, in celebration of the milestone of One Chord To Another Sloan has created a triple LP box set edition, which also includes unreleased music from the era and a 32-page book with lots of photos and ephemera.
Be sure to catch them at one of their four SoCal shows: Pappy & Harriet’s Sep. 23, The Constellation Room Sep. 25, The Casbah Sep. 27, The Roxy Sep. 28.