Concert Review: Sloan Show Music Innovation At Bowery Ballroom
You know you are a big deal if you have no opening act. It happened with Lily Allen, and then again with Sloan. Albeit, both have had different careers and different spans, but they share a similar attribute: loyalists. Their fans will ride or die with them, and, sincerely, believe that they have changed the “music game” since their entrance. Celebrating 30 years at Bowery Ballroom, Sloan showed they were not just music makers; they were music innovators.
Interchanging vocals between all four members, Patrick Pentland, Jay Ferguson, Chris Murphy, and drummer Andrew Scott, I got the most cohesive feeling from the group. They were a unit, and it was not just because they had shared 30 years or 12 albums together. Moreover, I could not solely attribute that creative harmony to their personal experiences. It felt more like a meeting of the minds/ mindful pact that does not happen as much in the current music scene. While you always have the “star” of the group, for Sloan, if they did not shine together then they dim.
Sloan “The Day Will Be Mine”
Playing two whopping sets amidst a nice, little thunderstorm; Sloan managed to give a cozy setting with a rock n’ roll twist. Tracks like “Spin Our Wheels”, “44 Teenagers”, and “Have Faith” were their most recent additions to their discography, and showed that these guys have matched their life experiences with their inner teen. They still want to get “the girl” that revs their heart, but, lyrically, they are asking themselves, even more, how their heart works. Tracks like, “The Good In Everyone”, “Coax Me”, and “People of The Sky”, which all came from their earlier, classic album, Twice Removed, showed they always had dreaminess for and about humanity. Something they kept throughout all their work, but learned it was something you have to fight to keep.
Sloan – Coax Me
With how they laughed with each other and the crowd, Sloan showed the key to longevity is to not focus on prosperity. Never focus on the fame or the riches or, at least, do not focus it on it more than the fun, creativity, and love of what you are doing. For being in this business for 30 years, Sloan felt light, grateful, and bombastic. Click Here For More Information On Sloan.
Sloan – People Of The Sky
