Barenaked Ladies

Barenaked Ladies drummer Tyler Stewart has been a rockstar for over 30 years. In that time, the band has soared to fame across North America and the Faces sat down with Tyler ahead world. of their virtual Christmas concert in December to discuss how the Like all other musicians, band has shifted focus due to Barenaked Ladies had to adjust COVID, plans for their postponed amid COVID restrictions in 2020. 2021 tour, and what he’s learned They spent time at home, but after 30 years in the business. continued to do what they loved: make music, together.

What are you looking forward to most this Christmas, any traditions with your family?

I have 3 daughters, they range from ages 9 – 21. So there’s a degree of total Christmas excitement for the nine-year-old, and I think the other 2 are just looking forward to coming back from their university houses, which are essentially very expensive computer rooms right now, because they aren’t going to classes [laughs]. It’ll be nice to have everyone home. It’s a cozy time of year, and you can’t really go anywhere, so we’ll be spending lots of time eating and drinking, watching films and singing.

I know the band has big plans this December with your Very Virtual Xmas show. Can you tell me how the idea for this show came to be and what fans can expect?

I think the mere notion of getting together to play music and to see each other is what started this idea. Everything’s been canceled this year, so we haven’t been on the tour bus hanging out, on stage hanging out, or in strange cities finding the best coffee or sandwich: we’re in our homes. So going to the studio to make joyous Christmas music together and have a few laughs is just what the doctor ordered.

This isn’t your first foray into connecting with your fans digitally in the COVID era, you’ve been doing your #selfiecamjams. Is it a weird feeling performing for a virtual audience?

You know, one of the great things about being in a rock band is playing live. It’s that instant gratification that you get, that hint of adrenaline and serotonin that happens when you’re playing for a live audience. there’s really no substitute for that energy. We’re lucky because we have been around for a long time, so we know how to bring the energy.

It’s akin to making a record actually. Sometimes when bands go into the studio, especially young bands, they find it very difficult to capture the energy of their live show because the studio demands a certain amount of precision. Back in the day, they were spending a lot of money on studio sessions and tape; tape was expensive, and in general the microscope of the studio would sometimes lead to these inhibited performances, and you have to overcome that as a band.

I think overcoming not having an audience, even though you’re playing for one, is a very similar thing. You have to bring the same energy and just assume people are going to be getting down, watching on their tiny computer screens, with a drink in their hand after eating way too much at dinner because there’s nothing else to do.

You’ve had some big names on that show, is there anyone else slated to appear?

Let’s just say we always have some surprises up our sleeve. We are excited about doing this and excited about dusting off our Christmas catalog. We haven’t done much at Christmas in the last few years, so I’m hoping the songs come back to me like riding a bike. Then again, a lot of our catalogs have remained dormant because we haven’t been doing a whole heck of a lot.

LET’S HOPE FOR THIS VACCINE AND

HOPE FOR SOME

SANER, CLEARER HEADS. WE WOULD

REALLY LOVE

TO GET ON THE

ROAD, IT’S JUST SO STRANGE NOT BEING ABLE TO DO

WHAT YOU DO.

“

This past fall the band also celebrated 20 years since the release of Maroon. Is it weird to think that it’s been 20 years?

It’s amazing to me how fast 20 years have gone by. I don’t recall it going so fast from age 0 – 20. You know, I find it harder to fathom these past 20 years because it seems like yesterday. On the other hand, what a nice thing to celebrate. I really think that record, with the 5 piece Barenaked Ladies, was sort of the quintessential statement of that line-up. The process of making it with Don Was and Jim Scott was such an amazing time.

Since we’re talking about the Christmas Season, here’s a story: smack dab in the middle of those sessions, Mr. Wrong Howard, AKA Richie Cunningham, AKA one of the most successful Hollywood directors ever, came in with The Grinch, the one he made with Jim Carrey. He asked us to do a song for it, so we did, and we recorded a song with Ron Howard in the studio. And that song is Green Christmas. Since we did it during those sessions, we decided to put it on the Maroon reissue, and that’s just in time for the holidays, and we love that song. It’s got a lot of fun energy, and the fact that it was in a Ron Howard movie with Jim Carrey was pretty cool.

Looking to 2021, you’ve got your tour scheduled. Anything else you’re excited for in the new year?

I am excited for uncrossing my fingers, because they have been crossed ever since we postponed the tour. We were really looking forward to that tour because of the Gin Blossoms and Toad the Wet Sprocket, two bands who experienced a lot of success alongside us in the 90s and 2000s. They’re all really good guys, so we are looking forward to doing that with them.

Let’s hope for this vaccine and hope for some saner, clearer heads. We would really love to get on the road, it’s just so strange not being able to do what you do. I know I speak on behalf of musicians everywhere that having the rights to play concerts, tour, entertain people and to collaborate, and then having that taken away has been absolutely crushing. We have all found ways to deal, but the best way to deal is to get that vaccine and get us back on the road and get people in the stands having a great time together, like we are supposed to be.

You’ve been with the band for 30 years. What do you think it takes to achieve that level of success and consistency? What’s your best advice?

Always listen. Listen to your fellow band members, what they have to say, and how they think. Be open to criticism and encouragement, from good times, bad times, everything. So listen and be open. I think those two are the key. And failing that, learn how to give good backrubs so everyone loves you.

@Baldy67 “

ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT BEING IN A ROCK BAND IS PLAYING LIVE. IT’S THAT INSTANT GRATIFICATION THAT YOU GET, THAT HINT OF ADRENALINE AND “ SEROTONIN THAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU’RE PLAYING FOR A LIVE AUDIENCE. THERE’S REALLY NO SUBSTITUTE FOR THAT ENERGY.