The Trews are putting cataclysmic guitar riffs on the backburner as they try to capture the spirit of the kitchen party on their cross-Canada acoustic tour, said guitarist John-Angus Macdonald.
“It really feels like every show is a big kitchen party,” MacDonald told Metro in a recent interview. “People are shouting out requests and we’re playing stuff we haven’t played in years.”
The Antigonish homegrowns are hitting up Halifax to play four back-to-back shows from Friday through Monday at The Seahorse Tavern. The Friday through Sunday shows are sold out, but some tickets still remain for Monday.
Across the world in Tokyo, Japan, the four-piece were set to play the Oscar Peterson Theatre at the Canadian Embassy in 2008. But with hardcore rocking comes heavy gear – too much to lug over oceans. The band checked their acoustics and assorted bongos instead, igniting the first spark of the acoustic flame.
“A lot of the industry was there, and they planted a bug in our ears saying we might want to do this back home,” he said.
The band did just that and released Friends and Total Strangers on Oct. 6.
“The reason for doing the acoustic record was to refresh everything and give the fans a little something different.”
And the fans have taken to the acoustic Trews, said Macdonald.
“I think people are pleasantly surprised. People think what we do is a one-dimension thing, you know, like raw raw raw rock,” he chuckled.
The Trews, known for their electrifying three-part harmonies, are pushed to the edge of their vocal abilities with no electric guitars to assist – the essence of the song is at the forefront, said Macdonald, adding he drinks less before an acoustic gig for that very reason.
The band will play two sets comprised of well-known hits and lesser-known gems that will both excite and test die-hard fans on their Trews vocabulary.
“We’ve been airing out songs that we haven’t played live, ever,” Macdonald said. “It’s a good free-for-all of Trews tuneage.”
