Idle Sons Not So Idle Anymore

04/05/06 6:30pm

by Phil Villeneuve (CHARTattack)

Idle Sons have been going at this thing called rock 'n' roll together since 1996, and in that time the Burlington, Ont. foursome have grown up more than they ever expected to.

In the beginning they called themselves Slurpymundae and wrote an album's worth of heart-pounding Can-rock. They signed a record deal, recorded an album, lost the record deal, went back to the drawing board, changed their name, recorded the album again, hit the road and are now ready to release Sixteen Seasons on May 2 through their new label, EMI.

"I think since our first record deal went south to the time we left them and signed with EMI was our biggest growth spurt," says singer/guitarist Mike Eastick.

"We just sort of put our heads down and kept writing and writing. Four or so songs on the new album are songs that were written very close to the recording of the record. Those songs are more reflective of what our next record will sound like. It's more about growth. It shows where we're going and where our heads are at right now."

So where are Idle Sons going?

"I think we're going into a faster, four-on-the-floor rock feel, but we also have some real ballad-esque stuff," explains Eastick. "We're just learning to not be afraid of any certain type of song and being open to what we're jamming."

They've come a long way since Slurpymundae and believe that, through the struggles of being a Canadian rock band, they've come out sounding better than ever.

"We've learned to not take ourselves so seriously and that, unless you're Aerosmith or something, you're not going to make much money," says Eastick. "So you'd better be doing it for the right reasons."

Eastick's favourite song on the album is the wall-rocking "Maggot," which represents a small departure from the fist-pumping hard rock that they're used to playing.

"It's one of the heavier songs that we've done," he says.

"It's short and sweet and a good punch to the groin that gets the point across really fast. I like playing that song live because when we play 'Now Forever' or a slow one like 'Getaway,' people who haven't heard us before might put us in a certain category. Then we can play 'Maggot' and they're like, 'Holy shit!'"

The band tried to capture their live show as best they could on Sixteen Seasons. Their touring sound man has worked for Our Lady Peace and I Mother Earth and helps bring a raw loudness to the Sons' honest rock.

"With our live shows, we just go for it and don't hold anything back," emphasizes Eastick. "Whether we're sick or not, we give it everything we can, and that's what the audience gets."