blog post Weakerthans Return With Reunion Tour!

No, you didn't miss anything. The Weakerthans never broke up. But my favourite Canadian band has decided to call their new album "Reunion Tour". It's the Winnipeg four piece's first record since 2003's "Reconstruction Site", and will be their fourth album to date. I just wrote a massive "W" on Tuesday, September 25 on my calendar, the exact date of the album's release.

I was able to reach John K. Samson, the Weakerthans' lead singer and songwriter, for a couple of quick questions regarding the new album.

Grant: Why are you calling the record "Reunion Tour"?

John: Well, Reunion Tour is the name of one of the songs on the record. I wrote it after the Great White tragedy, thinking about old metal bands on reunion tours. But all the characters on the record seem to be speaking about some kind of connection they are missing, therefore I think of the record as a tour of reunions- missed, thwarted, longed for. So the title seemed inevitable.

Grant: For whatever reason, confidence has been an issue for you in the past when it comes to being an artist. How was your confidence level this time around?

John: My confidence is never all that high, but I did feel quite certain about where the record was going after I had a few songs written, which is rare for me. So, my confidence was better than normal, I guess. Maybe that means no one will like it. For once that doesn't terrify me.

The album was produced by Ian Blurton, and contains a couple of intriguing song titles: "Elegy For Gump Worsley" (in reference to the recently deceased NHL goalie legend), "Virtute The Cat Explains Her Departure", (a follow up to "Plea From A Cat Named Virtute"), and "Bigfoot!" (what could only be a re-telling in song of when John saw me without a shirt on at the Dawson City Music Festival).

Can't wait for September 25!