Trews to rock Mavricks next week

The Trews know their way around Barrie. They’ve been here on New Year’s Eves back through the years and understand that we get a lot of snow and ice in this area. The Trews are coming to the rescue of rock fans with the Winter Meltdown Party Concert at Mavricks Music Hall on Dunlop Street, Friday, Feb. 23.

The band, originally out of Antigonish, N.S. but now based in Hamilton, will bring their brand of hard-nose rock, following up-and-comers Ruebella and Bigfoot’s Hand, getting the evening started.

Frontman and lead vocalist Colin MacDonald says it’s always great for him and his mates to touch down in a place so receptive to rock music in general.

“Barrie is a great music town,” MacDonald tells BarrieToday. “We always have good shows. We got to check out some of the local scene downtown after our show in the summer. Some really cool punk rock is happening. Rock is alive and well in Barrie so we feel right at home.”

MacDonald, along with guitarist John-Angus MacDonald, bass player Jack Syperek and drummer Gavin Maguire, first struck it big with their 2003 House of Ill Fame album. Those who drop into see the band at Mavricks will hear something familiar like Every Inambition, Not Ready to Go, Tired of Waiting, and Fleeting Trust.

This, incidentally, was just after the boys had shed their earlier moniker, One I’d Trouser, based on a Monty Python sketch. Pretty soon that handle became just Trouser, and it was from there that the name 'The Trews' emerged

House of Ill Fame went gold in Canada, likewise, their sophomore album, Den of Thieves. Three other albums followed – No Time for Later and Hope and Ruin – and then, including a self-titled effort in 2014, whose sales soared as high as number three in Canada.

Hold Me in Your Arms, from Den of Thieves, and the title track from Hope and Ruin burned up the charts, and are likely to raise the decibel level among the crowds wherever they play, but then, the boys get near the end of the show when the roar goes up what MacDonald calls their most requested song.

“Highway of Heroes holds a special meaning for a lot of people. We’re really proud of that song."

The most recently completed album by The Trews was 2016’s Time Capsule, a 20-song collection of 16 of their greatest hits. The album's first single Beautiful and Tragic peaked in the top five on Canadian Rock Radio and became the bands 17th Top-10 rock radio single of their career.

MacDonald says a new album is on the way.

“I’m really excited about all of our new songs and I can’t wait for people to hear our new album! We just finished it last month and it’s sounding really great.”

Juno nominations came out this week, providing a yardstick to Canadian recorded music is at. Where do Colin and The Trews think the future of Canadian rock is?

“I think the Glorious Sons, The Arkells and July talk are carrying the Canadian rock torch and are doing so with gusto."

And the soon-to-be-reigning queen of Canadian records is worth mentioning. “Serena Ryder’s last record Utopia is brilliant pop music.”

When it comes to what expect Friday, Feb. 23, MacDonald cuts right to the chase. “A great rock show. I’ve always enjoyed our shows at Mavricks; it’s a good room. I hope to see lots of people out having fun.”

Mavricks Music Hall is located at 46 Dunlop St. W. To learn more about the Feb. 23 show, click here.