It may be Hallowe'en but the maple leaf is prevailing over the pumpkin in this corner of North London. Canadian pop-rockers Sloan are massive in their native land (that's massive as in being outsold only by Celine Dion and Bryan Adams) but have got a bit of ground to make up in this neck of the woods. However, the Canadian posse is out in full force to worship these four unassuming guys from Nova Scotia.
And, make no mistake, these boys may be playing a club but you can tell they're at home in more spacious settings. This is classic arena rock with a low-fi scuzz, they even climb up on the monitors and do scissor kicks. They've got five albums to pick from, which means each of the versatile members gets a chance on vocal duties with bassist/lead singer Chris Murphy and drummer Andrew Scott frequently swapping places.
What do they sound like, I here you ask? Well, like The Beatles circa-'Revolver' and The Who circa-'66 put in a blender with The Ramones and the more accessible end of Sonic Youth. There are gorgeous harmonies aplenty, while Scott and Murphy are both a blur of arms behind the drumkit. The basic musical template doesn't differ too wildly but the onstage antics ensure boredom never sets in.
Highlights include a good proportion of last year's 'Between The Bridges' album, the slower 'I Can Feel It' from 1994's 'Twice Removed' and the seismic 'Good In Everyone', sung with real zeal by guitarist Patrick Pentland. They finish with the single grunge forgot, 'Underwhelmed', from way back in '92 when they were tipped as 'the next big thing'. A female audience member gets up on stage and takes Murphy's guitar before indulging in some playful bump'n'grind with the gangly bassist, capping a great evening's entertainment.
While Sloan may never extend their UK audience beyond ex-pats and a few in the know, it really is heartwarming to see a band so in thrall to the essence of rock'n'roll. Compared to the studied posturing of some of the biggest bands on the planet, it makes for a very refreshing change. From small acorns, indeed.
IMAGES: Winnie Chang
