"It feels good, playing those tunes again," says Steve "Baby Eagle" Lambke of Constantines, one of Canada's most-loved indie rock bands. The London-Toronto group has reunited after cooling down in 2010. In June, the Cons reissued their 2003 hit record for Sub Pop, Shine a Light, with vinyl bonuses. "It's been out of print for a long time and people have been asking us about it for years," says Lambke, adding that the reissue is as much a nostalgic effort as a commitment to the future. A reunion at SappyFest 9 this August was an explosive performance for both die-hards and brand new fans.
"This was true back then and it's true now: when we perform those songs, it has to be very live, present and in the moment, and so it feels new to me. We've all kept playing music, so at times it's like, I haven't played guitar like that in years," he says, laughing. "It's been awesome to integrate that into the present."
Lambke says Constantines has always been strong due to the sum of its parts: both he and Bry Webb have embarked on successful solo careers and Doug MacGregor drums for City and Colour. Coming back together with new approaches and experiences has only made their collective potential more special. "Rock and roll bands operate on such a mysterious chemistry," Lambke says. "It's indescribable, it's strange and it's hard to source where the energy comes from. But we know the magic is still there."
Constantines w/Jon McKiel
Friday, November 14, 10pm
Marquee Ballroom, 2037 Gottingen Street
$30/$35