Ska fans across Canada have Jasper’s Sean McGrath to thank for The Planet Smashers’ latest tour.
It was his email, which he sent to the band’s booking agent late last year, that gave the stalwart musicians the push they needed to organize their 20th anniversary tour, and to get into the studio to record their latest album, Mixed Messages.
According to the band’s frontman, the guys had been discussing an album for months, but it wasn’t until they received McGrath’s email, asking that the Canadian ska icons play a show at the Jasper Legion, that they started filling in more tour dates and scheduling time in the studio to lay down some new tracks.
“Everyone really wanted it to happen, but we actually had to kick ourselves in the ass to go and get it done,” said Matt Collyer.
So the band booked the Jasper show for April 12, scheduled some more dates around that time and, on Jan. 7, got together to start writing and recording new songs in their trademark mixture of two-tone ska, new wave, punk rock and pop. And one month after that—to the day—their 13-track album was complete.
“It went pretty smoothly and pretty quickly. Thirty days, start to finish. No one intended it to be like that, but everyone’s got such busy lives. It was like holy crap, we really gotta do this.”
Although a quick turn around, Collyer said he’s really happy with the result.
“There’s a real mix and variety of ska tunes on the record.
“There’s some pretty catchy tunes, like “Tear It Up”. The third track, “Waiting for Sunrise”, that’s pretty catchy, too, and it’s different. It’s sort of got a ska, reggae, Motown type vibe going on. It’s not really our bag, so it’s something different for us, which is pretty cool.”
Along with the new songs, The Planet Smashers—who got their start way back in 1994—will be playing all of their old favourites, pleasing fans new and old as they tour the country this spring.
Although still making music and playing shows, the band hasn’t been on tour in awhile—having not released a record since 2011, choosing to focus on families and jobs for the last few years—so the guys have been preparing their livers and brains for the adventure.
“People got a little older,” said Collyer with a laugh. “We think we can [party like we used to]. Then we go back out on the road and everyone’s drunk a lot faster and of course the next morning everyone’s not doing well. Whereas, when we were young, we used to bounce back; it had no effect.”
But even with the hangovers and earlier bedtimes, the ska legend said touring these days is a heck of a lot more fun that it used to be.
“Now that we’re not touring hard and sweating to get by, it’s a lot more fun. It was always fun, but it’s a lot more fun now because it’s like a vacation for us.”
Plus, The Planet Smashers is a well-known name that has withstood the test of time, so each show is full to the rafters with fans new and old.
“The shows are as full as they’ve ever been.
“When we play shows there’s still a lot of new kids, young people coming out for their first ska show, but there’s also a group of people that I recognize, I don’t know them by name, but it’s like ‘I’ve seen you at shows before’ type people.
“That’s the biggest difference, I’d say, from touring back when we had only been doing it for five or six years, we didn’t really know anyone, but once you see someone at your shows eight or nine or 10 times it kind of sinks in.”
And, since The Planet Smashers have rolled through town on numerous occasions in the past, some of those familiar faces might just be at the show April 12, when they rock the Legion.
Nicole Veerman
[email protected]
