Multi-platinum band Barenaked Ladies are finally making it to the UK this March for their long awaited UK tour.
Over the course of 33 years, the beloved quartet has sold 15 million records worldwide and built up an arsenal of hits such as ‘If I Had $1,000,000’, ‘One Week’, ‘Pinch Me’, and The Big Bang Theory Theme. Widely acknowledged as one of the best live acts on the planet, BNL has hosted a cruise, had its own ice cream flavour, amassed eight JUNO Awards, and was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 2018. As Ed Robertson, Jim Creeggan, Tyler Stewart and Kevin Hearn put it on ‘Good Life,’ “Wasn’t easy but it turned out alright/Wouldn’t trade it for another…You don’t wanna miss this mutha.”
In August 2021, the band released their 16th studio album Detour de Force with 14 newly minted tracks to great reviews and also teamed up with the legendary Tim Burgess for an esteemed Listening Party for the album for fans both old and new.
Detour de Force is BNL’s most broad-reaching and diverse album to date — fusing the distinct writing voices of Robertson, Hearn, and Creeggan into a cohesive work. “Our band is very diverse in what we do,” says Robertson, “and on this record I really enjoyed the exploration. This record is a journey. Taking off one song would tip it in a way we didn’t feel was representative of the record we made. We wanted everything that’s here to be part of the record.”
Adds Tyler Stewart, “This is some of our strongest material in 30 years, easily. I think it stands up there with our best albums. It hangs with ‘Gordon,’ or it hangs with ‘Maroon.'”
BNL wasn’t dormant as the world shut down but the pause brought a fresh perspective to where the band wanted Detour de Force to go. “The pandemic really affected the album in an interesting way,” recalls Jim Creeggan, who penned a pair of the Detour de Force songs. “I was getting calls from friends to do remote-based stuff, people asking each other to add something to those projects. So we started reaching out and bringing other things into what we were doing.”
“We took several detours de force,” acknowledges Kevin Hearn, “but I think what you get is a beautiful hybrid of a live off-the-floor band, all the way to full-on production numbers.’ It’s kind of reminiscent of ‘Stunt'”.
“There was a lot that was amazing about recording at the cottage,” recalls Robertson, who wrote songs on his own and with friends Kevin Griffin, Craig Wiseman, Danny Michel and Donovan Woods. “The focus was great. The vibe was great. The hang was great. It was super positive for the band dynamic.” “It’s a surreal experience to write with someone whose songs you’ve known and admired for what feels like your whole life,” says Donovan Woods about writing with Robertson. “(Ed) and I sat for hours talking about ideas. We ended up with two songs I love so much (“Man Made Lake” and “God Forbid”) that I had to record them, too. Hearing BNL’s versions was another surreal moment. It’s an honour to have a small credit in such an amazing catalogue.”
Praise for Barenaked Ladies:
“Colorful” – Rolling Stone
“Upbeat, instantly addictive song ‘Flip’ signalled the return of the poptastic Canadians.”
– Daily Mirror
2022 TOUR DATES:
Tues 15 March – Aberdeen, Beach Ballroom
Wed 16 March – Glasgow, Royal Concert Hall
Fri 18 March – Newcastle, Newcastle Uni
19th March Worthing Assembly Room
Sun 20 March – Portsmouth, Guildhall*
Mon 21 March – Cambridge, Corn Exchange
Wed 23 March – Manchester, 02 Ritz
Thurs 24 March – Bath, The Forum
Fri 25 March – Leeds, Beckett University
Sun 27 March – Birmingham, 02 Institute
Mon 28 March – London, Royal Albert Hall**
** KT Tunstall direct support
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