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Last hurrah
Sloan's weekend shows likely to be last
by Andy Pederson, The Daily News. July 28, 1995
An era comes to close this weekend when Sloan, the granddaddies of Halifax's alternative music scene, play what will likely be the group's last two hometown shows.
"Yes," said bassist and singer Chris Murphy yesterday when asked of Sunday's show at Birdland Cabaret will be the band's last. The band is also playing there Saturday night.
"Maybe... I don't mean to be vague about it because it makes it look like we're trying to milk some campaign or something."
Then, finally: "In our minds right now, it's the last show."
Sloan broke open the local pop rock floodgates in 1992 when it signed on with Geffen Records, the label that fueled a renaissance of punk rock with Nirvana.
The band's homegrown success triggered a surge of major label interest in Halifax, and a surge in the number of local bands hoping to be the next in line for a major label contract.
Sloan's two full-length albums both sold moderately well, especially in Canada (the first album, Smeared went Canadian gold, selling more than 50 000 copies) but commercial success south of the border was elusive.
Momentum petered out after the release of the second album, Twice Removed, despite favorable reviews for its experimental songwriting. Since the band finished its Twice removed tour early last winter, there have been rumor's about its future.
Impending split
Drummer Andrew Scott has moved to Toronto; Murphy was playing drums and touring with another local pop outfit, the Superfriendz; and guitarist Jay Ferguson had become manager of The Inbreds and was spending more time working for the band's murderecords label.
Their release of a two-song seven-inch single in May (on murderecords) tempered the rumors of the impending split.
"Personally, I wish it was just one show this weekend," says Murphy.
"It'd probably be more of a blow-out. You know, we're hoping it's going to be something special. We hope that lots of people are able to come out for it."
The Sunday afternoon show will also mark the end of another chapter in local music history- it will be the last time a Nova Scotian bar can open its doors to people younger than 19 for an all-ages show.
Cause Celebre
"The commission (in charge of the Gaming Control Act) established that on rare occasions it would allow all-ages shows in licensed establishments. But the board never intended that it become a frequent occurrence," says Dan Lawlor, the commission's assistant director of inspections. "We've been getting requests every month from all over the province. So the board has decided that it will not entertain any more requests."
Coincidentally, the all-ages show has long been a cause celebre for the Sloan band members.
Murphy says he hopes the board will reconsider its decision.
"It's always been a bit of a mandate for me to try to separate the music culture from the beer-drinking culture," says Murphy. I hate playing in bars where people are drinking; I'd play anywhere else if I could.
"You can tell that the kids are more into the music when you're playing an all-ages show. It's a real ego-rush to play for people who actually care about what you're doing.
"I'm willing to take the financial hit (of not playing bars) for the sake of our fan base."
In fact, Murphy says the local music scene has been hindered by the commission's hard line on all-ages shows.
"If they'd easy up a bit on the liquor laws here, I'm sure the scene would be a lot big
