In the early '80s, albums — and how they were characterized — had to fit into a very limited number of categories.
Of course, there were distinct categories of rock, metal, blues, jazz, pop, country, R&B, classical, and soul — and each genre came with its own criteria.
But what about the artists who were making music that didn’t quite conform to the rigid guidelines of just one genre? These outliers faced an uphill battle to be heard and that battle was made even more difficult for Canadian acts.
One such band that existed between the lines of the established criteria, and can therefore be attributed to being a pioneer of Canadian alternative rock, is The Grapes of Wrath.
Formed in 1983 in Kelowna, B.C., the band crafted a unique sound that didn’t fit easily into any category. Offering dreamy, introspective lyrics with distinctly layered melodies and enough power to hook the ears of any passerby, The Grapes of Wrath were creating music for the future.
Before the band makes a stop in Barrie on May 26, I had the opportunity to ask bassist and vocalist Tom Hooper a few questions.
Richard: What does it mean to be a staple of Canadian music history as one of our country’s most influential alternative rock bands?
Tom: Wow, that is a nice compliment! We feel a lot of pride in the music we produced, and we love the fact that we can play in most places in Canada. Everyone knows our songs and has stories to tell of how much our music was part of their youth. Also, our style of music was not mainstream back in the day. The term 'alternative rock' wasn't used, so (we) weren't part of the big corporate rock scene and basically did it our own way, which is very satisfying.
Richard: Since forming in 1983 and continuing to achieve success for 40 years, how have you seen music change, and what changes would you still like to see?
Tom: Well, the biggest change is no record sales anymore. Obviously, streaming doesn't pay well ... but on the other hand, there are lots of ways to use the tools of the internet, and you need to be creative and original and work hard. I can't comment on music these days too much, because I'm not 20 anymore and don't follow all the young bands like I did, but I disagree when people say there is no good music anymore. There is always good bands and a good underground scene, but I'm not going there because I'm old. (laughs) My kids, who are in their mid-20s, often turn me on to groovy new music.
Richard: Hiatus aside, The Grapes of Wrath has a discography of stellar releases that span decades. How do you decide what is album-worthy?
Tom: Well, in the early days, the first two records we would write and demo and then record the songs we thought were good enough, and usually we didn't have lots to choose from. But later, once we got signed to Capitol and there was lots of recording money involved, we would demo, say, 30 to 40 songs, and then Capitol would listen and give us their favourite 20 of the songs list, etc. Usually, there were no issues with this.
Richard: Is there a particular goal or something you want to achieve when you play live? What do you hope people experience at The Grapes of Wrath show?
Tom: We have been doing this for so long that I think the most important thing for us is obviously playing well and making sure the crowd is pleased. We are genuinely very grateful to still be playing music and especially to our fans who basically grew up with us ... although we do have new younger fans, too.
Richard: In a 1992 interview about the band name, it was said that none of the band members had read or watched The Grapes of Wrath. Has that changed?
Tom: Well, I think Chris had the book and must have read it. I have seen the movie a few times and, of course, it is a classic.
Richard: The band has shared the stage with many well-known and influential artists. If you could share a bill with any other artists, living or otherwise, who would you choose?
Tom: Wow, that's a tough question. I mean, the Beatles, of course, but no one in the audience would care about us. But hanging with them backstage would have been awesome.
Richard: What three albums were influential in crafting the sound and tone of what fans know The Grapes of Wrath to be?
Tom: Another tough question. I'm sure the other guys in the band would have different answers, and it's hard to pick three. The Beatles Help, Echo and the Bunnymen Crocodiles, and REM Murmur.
The Grapes of Wrath will perform May 26 at The Queens, located in downtown Barrie at 94 Dunlop St. E. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the show starts at 7:15 p.m. This is a 19-plus event. To purchase tickets, click here.
