The end of slumber

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 17/10/2013 (4725 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

They haven’t had a new album out since 1998’s Democracy of Sleep, but influential Winnipeg punks the Bonaduces haven’t exactly faded from consciousness since their ’90s heyday.

It helps the band’s members — Doug McLean, Bob Somers, Mike Koop and Chris Hiebert — keep busy with a bunch of other high-profile projects. McLean fronts hyper-literate indie-pop outfit the Paperbacks (currently on hiatus) and is playing in a buzzed-about new band called Yoyote with Hiebert, who played in Paper Moon with Somers. Koop, who did stints with Buick Six and Cheerleader, has a solo project called Mike Koop’s Multitude of Sins.

Still, all four have come back to the Bonaduces, remounting the band for one or two “reunion” shows every year, fuelling rumours a new album might be in the works.

And, as it turns out, there is. On Oct. 20, the band will finally be releasing new music for the first time in 15 years. The wait is over, Bonaduces fans.

Well, sort of.

The band is releasing a new single off its forthcoming full-length record, which is due out in the first half of 2014, McLean says. He’s intentionally keeping things vague. The single and the album will be released via Parliament of Trees, the local label that began as a home for the Paperbacks’ releases and expanded to include associated projects and a few signees from beyond the Perimeter, including Ottawa musician Kalle Mattson, who is on Sunday’s bill.

“We didn’t know what we were going to release when we booked this show,” McLean admits with a laugh. And, at press time, they weren’t sure which song they were going to release. “But we do have a song,” he assures.

Don’t let the 15-year gap between releases fool you; the Bonaduces have their punk rock down to a science.

“(Music) comes very quickly for us. It’s an easy band when it comes to producing music,” McLean says.

Finding time to make music together, however, is the challenge, especially between playing in other bands and burgeoning families. The guys are lifelong friends — McLean and Somers have been buddies since kindergarten. Making music keeps them bonded.

“Having a project allows you to meet up with friends. It’s easier to do than not to do,” McLean says.

The prolific songwriter, who is also sitting on “lots of music that I’ve recorded in my bedroom that I’ll hopefully get out sometime soon,” is feeling good about the Bonaduces’ new material.

“To me, it sounds like the Bonaduces. It sounds like us playing together. It has the speed and bounce of what you’d expect, with my old aggression.”

And hopefully, the wait for a full-length won’t be so long. McLean is optimistic.

“(This release) might be a good impetus to get it done. I think we’ll get (the new record) done relatively fast.”

 

jen.zoratti@freepress.mb.ca