Established 43 years ago at Vancouver’s famed Smilin’ Buddha Cabaret, 54•40 have penned countless iconic, enduring, chart-topping gems, rightfully catapulting them to worship-worthy status among millions at home and around the globe.

54-40 are going to be performing at the Rock The Kootenays on August 9 in Cranbrook for their latest album and single, West Coast Band, to go along with their just-released Stormin’ Live At The El Mocambo album.

“When I started playing, I was an angry young man with a big mission,” chuckles Neil Osborne of their New Year’s Eve start in 1980. “I used to say, ‘If I’m still doing this when I’m 30, I’m going to shoot myself.’ And then I said, ‘If I’m still doing this when I am 40, someone please shoot me.’

“Now it’s like, ‘If I am still doing this at age 50 and over… Wow, eh?!’”

The group’s longevity is a testament to the potent mix of talent and tenacity. Keep On Walking is 54•40’s most eclectic, propulsive, and flat-out excellent album in a career already teeming with them. “This record already feels like a success to me,” said Osborne. “The fact that we created it while really enjoying playing together is an accomplishment, and why Brad Merritt and I started the band in the first place.”

West Coast Band Is the first single offering from the forthcoming album of the same name, released in October 2023. The track is an autobiographical origin story of 54•40. The sound and production pay homage to the local Vancouver music scene that inspired Neil and Brad to form 54•40 and commit to a creative life.

  “At the time, seeing local west coast bands like DOA, The Subhumans, Pointed Sticks and Young Canadians playing live, making records and doing it their way was a huge signal that we could do this too!” said bassist Brad Merritt.

Recorded remotely during the lock down, 54•40 occupied their time like many of their contemporaries; writing and recording trading files until the songs took shape.  The track was produced by Neil Osborne and Dave Genn and mixed by west coast producer Adam Kasper (Nirvana, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam) with a superb video directed by Millan Curry-Sharples.

54•40’s ‘West Coast Band’ is really about being in a rock n roll band, writing some songs, recording them, and getting in the van and taking the show on the road. Something that 54•40 has been doing for 40+years.

Find out more about ‘Rock The Kootenays,’ ticket information, camping registration and more.

Lead image: 54-40 has been telling Canada where they came from and where they’re going for the last 40 years. Now, it’s time for lead vocalist and guitarist Neil Osborne, bassist Brad Merritt, guitarist, keyboardist and vocalist Dave Genn, and drummer Matt Johnson (with the help of keyboardist David “Oz” Osborne) to reveal their band culture in a collection of songs called ‘West Coast Band.’  Through self-referential and often very literal stories, the songs explore bizarre shenanigans, odd dynamics, and personalities of its members.

e-KNOW

Article Share