Trevor Millet pulls at his scraggly salt-and-pepper beard
before pausing: “We understand you, and thus we can make you feel
better.”
The Sorrys’ affable frontman is being facetious, but, given that the
quartet has been dubbed “the elder statesmen of the Halifax music
scene,” there’s some sage advice in there too. Although in their 40s,
The Sorrys are releasing their second record, Neanderthal Cell
Phone, and once again, teaching the young’uns a thing or two.
“Everyone assumes getting older is terrible, and there are certain
things that suck about it, but I would never go back a decade or a
half-decade,” says Millet. “The shit you figure out in those five-year
increments is pretty important.”
Still sticking with their classic indie-rock pop hooks and power
chords, Neanderthal Cell Phone provides a more nuanced sound.
Recorded while dealing with what Millet calls “D-chord stuff”—death
and depression—producer Charles Austin wanted to really hone the
band’s sound.
Every song is still a product of weekly practice sessions. Since
Millet and guitarist Jim Cameron met at a party seven years ago,
they’ve been jamming every Friday night.
“It’s our night out. We’re having fun. We drink a bit too much
always,” says Cameron. “The primary thing is friendship. Fortunately
music comes out of it.”
The weekly sessions are a cathartic affair. Millet admits the
frustration and anger can be heard in their songs. With families and
careers, it’s tough to get out much and touring is impossible (Millet
spins it as The Sorrys being “a very green band”). So with limited
time, they’re just focusing on writing music and having fun.
“I still read Pitchfork everyday and listen to stuff that’s going
on. But it’s like, two kids and a full-time job, it’s just really
difficult, says Millet. “At this point we’ve sucked up a shitload of
music in our life and maybe it’s time to spit it out instead.”
The Sorrys w/The Lodge
Friday, November 13, 8-11pm
The Frigate, 1581 Barrington Street, $6
This article appears in Nov 12-18, 2009.