Barenaked Ladies Are Recording

07/16/09 4:01pm

by Bianca Marcus (CHARTattack)

Barenaked Ladies are back in the studio, recording what will be their first album without former band member Steven Page.

Singer/guitarist Ed Robertson updated fans with news of the album's progress in a post on the band's website on Wednesday.

"We're still plugging away on... as yet untitled," wrote Robertson. "That's not what it's called though.

"We just did some killer clapping on 'Golden Boy'. Any day you invoke the Bay City Rollers is a good day. I'm setting up to play some guitar on 'The Love We're In'. That song is struggling to find itself. I think we're on the right track now."

Robertson also writes that he's started flying again and wanted to fly himself to a few gigs this weekend, but will take the bus with the band instead. He earned his pilot's license in 2005, and is the host of the Outdoor Life Network Canada program Ed's Up.

In August 2008, a plane piloted by the guitarist crashed near Bancroft, Ont. Fortunately, all four of the plane's occupants were unharmed.

Former BNL frontman Page parted ways with the band earlier this year, after 20 years as main songwriter, singer and guitarist for the popular Canadian group.

Page was charged with drug possession last year after he was discovered with cocaine with his girlfriend in Fayetteville, N.Y. The charges were later dropped.

"After my crash, I felt a huge loss of that part of my identity [as a pilot]," Robertson continued. "It was a crazy time... Steve's Drug bust, my plane crash. It seemed like the world was conspiring to take everything I held important away from me.

"Happy to have that behind me. Feeling REALLY good in this space now. Flying again. Making a killer record."

Drummer Tyler Stewart also contributed his thoughts on the upcoming new album in a post on the website on Tuesday. Stewart's been working on the drum overdubs for the record, and he's also become the session chef after bassist Jim Creeggan bought him a "big green egg" barbeque.

"It was great to cook for my boys while we polished up the tunes," Stewart wrote. "Maybe we should do it on the road?"

Here's a video of Stewart having fun times at the grill:

Barenaked Ladies revealed their own Ben & Jerry's ice cream in May.

The band are scheduled to play Cadott, Wisc.'s Rock Fest July 17 and Council Bluffs, Iowa's Mid America Center the next day.

You can see BNL keyboardist and multi-instrumentalist Kevin Hearn with his band Thinbuckle at these dates:

July 16 New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge
July 26 Guelph, ON @ Hillside Festival
July 28 Halifax, NS @ The Company House
July 30 Toronto, ON @ The Dakota Tavern
Aug. 8 Chicago, IL @ Grant Park (Lollapalooza) w/ Lou Reed