Hamilton, Ont. rock band the Trews have been going through “a lot of growing pains and new learning curves” over the past couple years, but now that the band has settled on a new drummer, manager and record label, lead singer Colin MacDonald said they’re ready to rock.
Last fall the Trews – Colin MacDonald, guitarist John-Angus MacDonald, bassist Jack Syperek and drummer Chris Gormley – released Civilianaires, their first album in four years and their first without longtime drummer Sean Dalton.
“There was just a lot of growth a lot of change and attempts to embrace the chaos and disorder and make something worthwhile out of it,” MacDonald said.
He said themes that run through the record include growth, change, perseverance, things falling apart and “holding things together even though they might be falling apart.”
“I think it was a journey of us finding our footing and keeping on the path that we’ve been on for 20 years and hopefully with something that inspires us and makes us feel like we’re still moving forward,” MacDonald said.
Friday night the Trews begin their cross-Canada tour in support of the album, with a stop at the Port Theatre in Nanaimo on Jan. 23. MacDonald said so far playing with Gormley has been “a bit dramatic, a bit unpredictable, a bit rock ‘n’ roll, very Trews-y.”
“We haven’t been playing with him for years, so we still have to play ‘heads-up hockey’ as they say, but it’s been good,” MacDonald. “There’s been some really, really special shows that I don’t think we would have played with any other drummer.”
MacDonald said the band’s New Year’s resolution is to release more new music this year and not take four years between albums again.
“I just feel like we’re writing all the time and I’m kind of ready to make another record like as soon as this tour is done,” MacDonald said.
WHAT’S ON … The Trews perform at the Port Theatre on Wednesday, Jan. 23 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $39.50 and $49.50. Available at the box office.
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