Chris Murphy steps into the acoustic spotlight with some of Sloan’s biggest fan favourites
Since stepping onto the stages of Halifax in the late 1980s, Chris Murphy has always played in a band. That is, until now.
The Sloan bassist and drummer brought his new, one-man, acoustic show to Ottawa’s Rainbow Bistro on June 15, as a way to play fan favourites, and classics that don’t always appear on your standard Sloan setlist. Tracks like “Autobiography”, “Deeper Than Beauty” and “G Turns to D” which showcase Murphy’s signature strengths as a wordsmith and often comedic songwriter were played to an audience that had no problem singing along and even harmonizing (albeit, to varying degrees of accuracy) just as they’ve been doing for over 30 years.
The chance to see Murphy perform acoustically also allowed Sloan fans to bask in the pleasure of singing to true deep cuts, such as “Spin Our Wheels” from 2018’s 12, the Navy Blues-era b-side, “Summer’s My Season” and “Fading Into Obscurity” from the 2006 classic Never Hear The End of It; and to hear delightful and often hilarious stories that accompany the songs. But of course, Murphy’s biggest singles, “The Other Man”, “The Rest of My Life” and “Underwhelmed” were given the warmest reception when the audience occasionally out-sang the singer in celebration of these Sloan classics.
Opening for Chris Murphy at the Rainbow Bistro was Montreal’s Chris Snelgrove, who opened the show with songs of loss, grief, and healing through music; particularly as it pertained to his experiences in losing his parents, and helping Ukrainian friends find their footing in Canada after fleeing war.
Band life returns for Chris Murphy this month as Sloan continues to tour in support of their latest album, Steady, with festival dates across Canada and the US, including a stop at Toronto’s History on July 9.
Chris Snelgrove
Chris Murphy
