IN CONCERT
What: The Tea Party with the Proud Sons
When: Saturday, May 11, 7 p.m. (doors at 6)
Where: Distrikt Nightclub, 919 Douglas St.
Tickets: Sold out
More than half of the dates on the Tea Party鈥檚 in-progress tour of North America sold out in advance, which is both a testament to the band鈥檚 enduring popularity after more than 25 years together as a group and the desire of rock fans eager to see a concert in which musicians on stage actually play their instruments.
鈥淚t鈥檚 like an old-school rock show,鈥� drummer Jeff Burrows said during an interview with Global News in Kelowna.
鈥淚鈥檓 not dismissing any pop or rock bands or country bands, but they rely on click tracks, they rely on backup vocals that are pre-recorded. You won鈥檛 get any of that [with the Tea Party].鈥�
That pendulum shift is to the benefit of the 13-time Juno Award nominees. Very few tickets remain for the trio鈥檚 concert at the Port Theatre in Nanaimo on Sunday, but their return to Distrikt nightclub in Victoria 鈥� a room they last played in 2002, when it was known as Legends nightclub 鈥� has been sold out for weeks.
Which is another way of saying the band has returned to its former glory after coming back in 2014 with The Ocean at the End, its first album of new material in close to a decade. The Tea Party is touring North America in support of Black River, a single the trio of Jeff Martin (guitar, vocals), Stewart Chatwood (bass) and Jeff Burrows (drums) released in 2018. The song will be accompanied by a full album this year, a necessity if the group is going to satiate its fans, Burrows said during an interview with The Herald in Australia this month.
鈥淭o have the support of radio, it almost acknowledges that we are still doing something right,鈥� Burrows said of Black River, the most-added song at rock radio charts in Canada the week of its release. 鈥淏ecause regardless of the radio success, we would do it anyway.鈥�
Although the group from Windsor, Ont., has sold nearly two million records worldwide, it was always the underdog. Much was made during its late 1990s peak of Martin鈥檚 affinity for Led Zeppelin and the Doors, and the band was criticized being too indebted to its classic-rock forebears. A prickly relationship with the press was the result, and the band broke up in 2005 with something akin to a whimper. Time apart worked in its favour, and the group reunited in 2011 to a warm reception from fans.
Martin, who lives in Australia, hit upon a newfound creative streak and the group appears to be having more fun than ever. Over-thinking isn鈥檛 part of the equation anymore.
鈥淩ecently, we were working in Jeff's garage and we were pretty limited with the type of gear we were using, so it was like: 鈥極K, we鈥檙e going to do this a little simpler. Let鈥檚 just rock the s--- out of it,鈥� 鈥� Burrows told The Herald.
A return on April 18 to Windsor, where the group got its start in 1990, was rapturously received, with a performance before nearly 5,000 fans.
The setlist from that show gives some insight to where the group is at currently, with six cover songs snaking their way into the set in medley form. Led Zeppelin鈥檚 In My Time of Dying and Bring it On Home made appearances, as did U2鈥檚 With or Without You, the Tragically Hip鈥檚 Bobcaygeon, the Rolling Stones鈥檚 Paint It Black and David Bowie鈥檚 Heroes.
Songs from each of their seven studio albums have been performed on the current tour. Chatwood told Global News in Kelowna he feels re-energized playing the music of their youth.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a spiritual thing. When it hits you on the right night, it鈥檚 transcendental. Just the vibration. Singing is a healthy thing. I just saw all these reports on the internet where going to see rock concerts will lengthen your life. Live longer. Go see the Tea Party.鈥�
Martin, who has not lost his edge in interviews, recently told the 91原创 Press that the group feels confident knowing it still has fans who want to hear new music. And its audience is a worldwide one that isn鈥檛 exclusive to Canada, he added.
鈥淚鈥檝e been travelling the world, going to places like Lebanon, Turkey, Morocco, Egypt,鈥� he said.
鈥淣o one knows who the Tragically Hip is in Istanbul. They know damn well who the Tea Party is. And what an accomplishment.鈥�
