Chris Murphy, the bassist and frontman of Sloan, expressed his excitement about joining an R.E.M. tribute band led by actor Michael Shannon for a tour in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Murphy, who has not visited the U.K. professionally for some time and has never been to Ireland, finds the opportunity appealing, especially since he is a Murphy and feels a connection to Ireland.
Known for playing original songs with Sloan like “Money City Maniacs” and “The Rest of My Life,” Murphy will now tackle learning around two hours of music from the American rock band R.E.M. for this gig. Despite having experience touring with groups like Trans-Canada Highwaymen, where he mainly plays drums, the level of preparation required for this tribute band is different. Murphy admitted feeling a bit nervous but is looking forward to the challenge.
The upcoming shows, titled Michael Shannon & Jason Narducy And Friends, will feature performances of R.E.M.’s 1986 album, Lifes Rich Pageant, along with other songs from the band’s catalog. The regular bassist, John Stirratt, is unavailable due to commitments with his band Wilco, leading to Murphy’s inclusion in the lineup based on his friendship with Narducy and the drummer, Jon Wurster.
Describing Narducy and Wurster as kindred spirits, Murphy is excited to collaborate with them, considering their reputation in the indie rock scene. The tour marks Shannon and Narducy’s first-ever tour together, following successful performances honoring artists like Neil Young and Bob Dylan, including a guest appearance by R.E.M.’s Mike Mills.
Reflecting on R.E.M.’s influence on his own band, Murphy praised the group’s business model of splitting income equally among members as a guide for Sloan. He finds it ironic that he will be playing R.E.M. music, especially since his bandmate Jay Ferguson is a huge R.E.M. fan. Despite the irony, Murphy is looking forward to the experience and jokingly mentioned Ferguson’s potential U2 cover band in Athens, Georgia, to counter his R.E.M. tribute band in Dublin, Ireland.