OctoBer 12, 2005

THE CADRE ¢ I1

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Kimberley Johnston | A&E Editor

There’s nothing like a song about lubricant to bring people together on the dance floor. OK, maybe that sentence didn’t sound quite right, but the funkadelic beats and sensual song stylings of Slow Nerve Action at Baba’s last Thursday night couldn’t have been more pleasing to the ear.

The climax of the performance was no doubt the oft-requested tune Astroglide (gets ya deep inside/ Soap of Beautiful Women album. This is when the five piece band (whose sound has been described as porno-

_ funk) hit their musical stride for the night— the Baba’s crowd (mercifully devoid of prostitots and over-sexed embryos) began grooving to the funky beats ... not just studying charismatic front man Chris Berry’s aerobic exercises and varied vocal range. While the man is a truly a spectacle to behold, and can go from singing soprano to emulating Beastie Boys at the drop of a dime, it was really great to see the band come together as one entity.

The audience was also receptive to-the songs from the B.C. band’s latest album, Lovenasium, which the group has been promoting nationally since its Canada-wide release in June. The album is a refreshing melange of cool beats, fun lyrics, pop culture references and sexual portents. Songs include stories about a self-gratifying gardener and a milk-delivering transvestite.

When asked if their songs had

Lovin’ Lovenasium

any themes, lead guitarist and back-up singer Josh Gontier, says it’s just to say

what you feel. “1 26 only theme,

maybe, is freely talking about whatever you

“Tt sometimes makes it difficult but Chris and Mike are only 1 2 hours away (in Vancouver). It costs $50 in gas

o get them to Whistler and back.

want... not Jamming being afraid to expenses are talk about sexof |. not hin es any kind ... compared to without touring costs taking which can ourselves too add up pretty seriously.” quickly, Not explained only do SNA Gontier. complete their “Gas mission with and food for Lovenasium, five guys can they manage get pretty to throw steep,” he some culture said, adding it into their } is necessary music by for them to randomly Kirk Avery stay at friend’s adding French lyrics... nonsensical as places when touring to limit costs. they may be. One such family (producer

Nous sommes ton pere /Joyeux Noel / Voila ta mere / Mange la merde

“That song is so weird and so non-sequitor it makes me laugh every time,” explained Gontier.

The bandmembers are from all over Canada, but are now based in Vancouver and Whistler, which sometimes makes it difficult for the band to get together.

Shaun Cole’s clan) came from Sackville to see the likeable gents play and continued on to their next gig in Antigonish. When Gontier entered the bar, he was greeted with a hug and an affectionate “get a haircut” from the band’s adopted matriarch, Mama Boss.

“She’s our East Coast mom. As independent musicians, we have to accept adoption if we can get it,” he

commented, adding the indie band relies heavily on touring to promote themselves.

Bass player Benson (Matt Gilbert) said he enjoys the touring aspect of being a musician.

“Tt’s fun. We get to see a bunch of people,” he said. ““Touring is great for the most part, but sometimes it can be difficult.”

“The only time we need to be apart is when we tour too long.”

Benson added there was one tour a couple of years ago when the band (formed in 2005) played 55 gigs in 90 days. The stress resulted in the keyboard player quitting. He was replaced by Buddha (Jay McLaren) who became the band’s turntablist.

This time though, the band has a game console in the van, where they can play FIFA Soccer 2005 to their hearts’ content.

So what do they want our UPEI readers to know about Slow Nerve Action?

“We are the greatest band in the world,” said Gontier, fists clenched in front of him, in a Masters of the Universe type-of-voice.

“We are better than coke, sliced bread and TV,” added Benson.

“But we’re not better than FIFA 2005,” interjected Mike Lunt, the philosophical drummer.

At this, the humble musicians took a moment to reflect.

Continued on page 12