sloan love

This post is entirely for the benefit of Marie.

She wrote a story about her life
I think it included something about me
I'm not sure of that, but I'm sure of one thing
Her spelling's atrocious

She told me to read between the lines
And tell her exactly what I got out of it
I told her 'affection' had two F's
Especially when you're dealing with me.

The very first time I heard those words coming over the KCOU airwaves, I knew I would love Sloan. I immediately went down to the station and made a copy of Smeared, their first record, and wore the tape down to a tiny nub, and then bought my own copy on CD. I reviewed Twice Removed for the station when it came out, and then largely forgot about Sloan for a while, till Devin picked up the 4x4 singles promo cassette from the Twice Removed era and we started listening to it in the car in about 1999. Suddenly the songs were shiny and new again, and I renewed my obsession. I bought Navy Blues and went to see them at Slim's. The show was so incredible and amazing and full of energy that I got really into them and sort of delved into a Sloan-only space for a few months.

So, last night, I got to see them again, and it was pretty exciting. I think EVERYONE there but me and Devin was Canadian or had dated a Canadian at one point. Where the fuck did the Canadian contingent come from in this area? They played a lot of older stuff, and everyone knew the words and was singing along which was kind of creepy, for a band who gets almost zero attention in the US. Their harmonies, as usual, were impeccable. Chris & Patrick especially have these voices that just blend and soar and they have these great arrangements using 5ths and 7ths and they don't even have to TRY, it just comes out sounding like a choir of angels.

Chris's Rawk Posturing was kind of annoying me this time around. He kept doing those really arrogant rockstar things that amused me the last time I saw them play. I examined my feelings after the show and decided that the reason they rubbed me the wrong way is because there's only room enough for one ego that large inside Slim's, and mine was expanding to fill it. "Where does he get off acting like a big rock star? He's not so special." Jesus, I'm insufferable.

Lastly and most importantly, Andrew, the drummer, has suddenly become unbearably hot. I don't remember ever finding him attractive before last night, but it was all I could do not to stand there and drool while I watched him play. Since the last show, his hair's gone almost entirely grey, but he still looks like the young man he actually is, and boy, that's sexy. Devin has another theory as to why I suddenly think he's a babe, but I won't repeat it here, lest I get myself in trouble.

Anyway, there's your Sloan preview, Marie. I know you'll love them when you see them next month.

I swear to GOD I am going to post about recording eventually. We're mixing down tomorrow, which completes the process, so I'll probably just do a wrap up post. Love yas.

Posted by laura at June 26, 2002 10:46 PM