It has been almost four years to the day that Vancouver hard rock band Theory Of A Deadman last played Moncton’s Casino New Brunswick, but at long last, the group makes their highly anticipated return to Metro this coming Saturday night.
The tour responsible for bringing the band back to the city is rather different from their previous appearance in the Hub City, however. Although the group is arguably best known for hard-driving hits like “No Surprise,” “Bad Girlfriend,” and “Santa Monica,” Saturday’s concert will feature the band performing in an Unplugged-inspired format.
Theory Of A Deadman bassist Dean Back says the idea to undertake a full-fledged acoustic tour was born in the various radio stations of North America.
“Ever since we started the band, we have regularly visited radio stations and would often get requests to play acoustic versions of whatever song was being promoted at the time. Giving our fans a different taste of our music was something we enjoyed doing,” Back begins.
“We had always toyed with the idea of undertaking an acoustic tour, but never seemed to have the necessary break in our schedule to put something together.”
Earlier this year, as the group was readying for a tour of the U.K. in support of its most recent studio effort, Savages, Back shares that they decided to undertake an approximate two-week test run of acoustic shows through Western Canada.
“Not only did the fans really enjoy the acoustic shows, the tour subsequently brought us to markets and venues we hadn’t previously played.”
Additionally, Back says the acoustic show format also afforded the group the opportunity to haul a number of songs from their five album catalogue they hadn’t regularly been playing live, if at all.
“It’s exciting for us to be able to have our fans hear these songs in a whole new light and for us to be able to reimagine them to a certain degree,” he says. “What is perhaps most ironic about playing these songs acoustically is the fact that even the loudest of our songs are born on an acoustic guitar.”
Rounded out by vocalist-guitarist Tyler Connelly, Joey Dandenau on drums and David Brenner on rhythm guitar, Theory Of A Deadman can rightfully boast of an impressive sales record in the post-Napster age. With more than a half-million records sold in Canada alone, the group has also found continued success in the U.S. as well as overseas.
Back acknowledges the good fortune that has greeted the band since its formation in the early part of the century continues to amaze and delight them.
“We feel extremely lucky to be where we are today. The fact that we’ve had hits with both hard rock songs as well as ballads speaks to the versatility of the band. We’ve been fortunate to be able to appeal to a broad audience these last 16 years.”
With the promotional cycle behind Savages now effectively wrapped up, Back shares the group will spend the first portion of the new year in the recording studio, preparing new material for the release of their sixth studio album.
Although hesitant to put a firm date on when the band’s next record will be on store shelves, Back says the group’s imminent return to the recording studio has lit a fire beneath them.
“It’s been nice to take a bit of a break and spend time at home with our families. We would be the first to admit that we need that time to recharge our batteries. But as we are getting closer to ramping up for the making of a new record and the inevitable promotional cycle that goes along with it, there is a definite air of excitement about the entire process among the four of us.”
What: Theory Of A Deadman
When: Saturday Nov. 20, 8 p.m.
Where: Casino New Brunswick, 21 Casino Dr., Moncton
Tickets start at $29.99 plus taxes and service charges. Advance tickets are available at the Casino Gift Shop, by phone 1-866-943-8849 and online at casinonb.ca.