First time I heard the Trews I thought these guys had a pretty cool sound.  I need crunch and they got that.  I need to know what the fuck the singer is saying sometimes and they got that too.  Their no nonsense approach to rock n roll is easily digestible with absolutely no lumps of cheese to be caught in the gullet.  But what are they like live?  That's always the big question and the answer all in one.  Like Kid Rock telling me he is for real and me, the ever skeptic pessimist, I just had to taste it myself.  Not only taste it but sit down to a full meal cuz really the taste is the radio edited version of the full meal deal, which is the live show.

Every ounce of a band's worth can be measured in the first three songs of any live show.  If that band hasn't piqued your interest in that time, they're not gonna get you later either.  No, not even when they play "the song" that's completely hammered to death on the radio every 4 hours on every station.

Well I waited far too long to get my ass out to a Trews show cuz what my gut instinct was telling me right from the start was that I'd thoroughly enjoy the Trews live.  And my gut doesn't fuck up when it comes to music.  I'm reminded three bites into my McBigWhoppinBaconizer, that indeed my gut DOES fuck up but that's in a completely different arena!

The Trews took stage to a hugely positive response from the crowd. Jackhammers Nightclub was packed.  The sound was superb, the set was all lit up and the smoke machine peppered us with just enough to create that ambience.  Remember when it used to occur naturally through the dreaded and outlawed second hand smoke signals sent by over half the crowd back in the day?  Now, it has to be artificially pumped in with a machine!  What didn't have to be artificially pumped in was the energy.  This crowd was pumped for the Trews with lots of East Coasterners in attendance cheering on their fellow Maritimers.

Again I found myself at a show where I knew very little about the headliner.  All I knew was what I heard on the radio.  I kept getting the overwhelming feeling that I was standing in the front row watching a band that is about to get big.  Last time I got that feeling was standing in front of Finger Eleven a few years back.  I used to shoot them all the time.  Great band.  It was easy to get a pass to shoot them and their crew was more than happy to accommodate a guy just cuz he was a fan.  I'm sure they're still the same friendly guys they ever were but there's definitely some new walls up due to their new found success.

I love it when I get in front of a cool band that has a couple tunes I like but other than that, I don't know Jack Shite.  All of a sudden, I'm shaken awake by the fact that all kinds of tunes I LIKE are THEIRS and I've heard them a million times.  Tunes like "Not Ready To Go", "Tired Of Waiting", "Hold Me In Your Arms", "So She's Leaving" and "Fleeting Trust". Then I love it even more when they play them live like musicians who've sold their souls to Rock n Roll. 

The Trews are made up of 5 talented guys: the brothers, Colin and John-Angus Macdonald. Colin being the lead singer/guitarist, John-Angus being the guitarist/singer.  Yes there IS a difference.  John-Angus is the smokin guitarist, while Colin is the smokin singer.  Jack Syperek, the long, lean, aloof, almost detached bassist plays a mean Rickenbacker, while Sean Dalton, Mr. Personality, kicks some serious ass on the skins.  But who was that 5^th member?  I’d HATE to leave that guy out.  He was a big bearded dude who played a Korg like nobodies business.  I’d go so far as to say that guy was the hidden gem in the band and I seriously hope they make him a permanent member and start listing him WITH the band cuz the Trews WITHOUT that guy is surely a whole different band.

Other tidbits start flowing into your consciousness that raise your eyebrows as well.   For instance, one of my favourite rockers ever, Gordie Johnson, ex Big Sugar, current Grady frontman, has been involved in the band in the writing and production department.  Well no fuckin wonder I like their style so much!   Gordie oozes style, catchy riffs, and other musical gravy served up to anyone around him who wishes to be fast tracked as such.

So if you're out there wondering what band to check out, look no further than the Trews.  Go see em now before they become a big ticket item cuz at this rate, they will be just that in the very near future!  Remember the Don Cherry of music reviews just predicted it.  HUGE.