Countdown

Columnist catches up with Sloan's Jay Ferguson, Alliston's Grant Boyer ahead of their New Year's Eve performances in Barrie.

With things opening up more and more, we’ll be spending 2023 playing shows in Canada and the U.S.A. I still almost always feel a pull in that direction when I sit down to write lyrics, but most times, all I can do is laugh at the things that frustrate me. (Socials for details.) Summer festivals and touring in the works. JF: I think a memorable concert is usually helped by having a great and enthusiastic audience (hello, Barrie) or an unusual locale or venue. GB: Our first ’23 show is a solo acoustic set at Wintersong Music Festival in Stouffville, Ont., Jan. If I’m going to vent, the least I can do is stretch out the crazy, ridiculous parts to give the listener something to laugh about along the way. RV: It was announced that you’ll be sharing the bill at Barrie’s New Year’s Eve Downtown Countdown. We’re not exactly a band that jams together to bring about new ideas, so the creative process for me is kept alight by listening to other artists that spark inspiration. JF: When we play outdoor festival-type shows, or this type of New Year’s Eve concert, we typically play our most well-known songs. JF: I don’t think that’s a question for me to answer. The first time we played in Tokyo on the Navy Blues tour in 1998 and having the sold-out audience singing our songs back to us is surely a top-five concert experience. JF: For me, the creative process of songwriting remains fresh by still having an interest in not only music, but also in the process of songwriting and producing records.