The Sadies Power Through Tragedy as a Trio, Release New Live Record Featuring the Late Gord Downie
Last week, Canadian indie veterans The Sadies performed at Pappy And Harriet's Pioneertown Palace, a rustic saloon in California's Yucca Valley. This show was part of a handful of performances the Toronto band played as a trio during their American tour, which also took them to Jackson, Mississippi, New Orleans, Houston, Austin, and Santa Fe within a few weeks.
A Fitting Venue for Cosmic Cowboys
"It's right around the Joshua Tree," says Sadies bassist Sean Dean, speaking from the band van while traveling down Interstate 5 between Los Angeles and San Francisco. "It's this old movie set that used to have Gene Autry films and Westerns. They set up a bar right where the cantina used to be. A lot of the Western sets and structures are real."
Pioneertown embraces a traditional Western aesthetic and heritage, making it an appropriate setting for The Sadies. The neighboring Joshua Tree National Park was famously immortalized on the cover of U2's 1987 hit album of the same name, furthering its reputation as one of America's most mystical and spiritual spots. It was also where Gram Parsons, an alt-country pioneer nicknamed The Cosmic Cowboy, spent his final hours before dying of a drug overdose in 1973.
Bridging Traditional and Psychedelic Worlds
Since forming in 1994, The Sadies have often straddled both traditional and psychedelic musical worlds. Led by brothers Travis and the late Dallas Good, second-generation musicians whose fathers and uncles gained fame as the country band the Good Brothers in the 1970s, they inherited bluegrass virtuosity. Aesthetically, The Sadies might dress in matching country-gentleman suits or Nudie-inspired outfits made iconic by Parsons. Musically, they offer a dizzying mix of:
- Bluegrass and country traditions
- Psychedelic and garage-rock elements
- Spaghetti Western sounds
While critics and fans have struggled to neatly characterize The Sadies' sound, the term "cosmic cowboy" has often been applied to describe their unique musical fusion.
New Live Album Showcases Punk-Rock Roots
Despite their depth of influence, the band is often pegged as a country act. When they toured with Gord Downie, the late frontman of the Tragically Hip, behind the blistering 2014 album Gord Downie, The Sadies, and the Conquering Sun, they emphasized their early punk-rock leanings. More than a decade after that tour, Live at 6 O'Clock will be released on February 27, featuring several cover songs.
The Sadies have a long history with the Tragically Hip, having toured with them on numerous occasions. This live record chronicles the tour they did under the Conquering Sun banner in the summer of 2014.
"The record is really quite punk-rock and raw," says Dean in an interview promoting The Sadies' two-night stint at Calgary's Ironwood Stage and Grill on February 20 and 21. "We liked that aspect. Dallas was kind of spearheading this idea. He said, 'People try to pigeon-hole us in the country genre.' But we are definitely into punk music, so we thought, let's try to make a hard-rock record because the Hip fans love hard rock."
Dean continues: "We thought we'd make this messy record with lots of riffs and distorted guitars and driving beats just like we used to listen to with Gord when we were touring around. He loved a wide variety of music, and it was nice for us to share our love of hard-rocking music. It's reflected in a lot of the covers we chose to do with Gord."
Perseverance Through Loss
The release of this live album comes as The Sadies continue to perform as a trio following the tragic loss of Dallas Good. The band's resilience is evident as they maintain their touring schedule while honoring their musical legacy through this new recording that captures a significant collaboration with one of Canada's most beloved musical figures.
This live record not only showcases The Sadies' versatility and punk-rock roots but also serves as a testament to their enduring musical partnerships and ability to evolve while staying true to their cosmic cowboy identity.
