Canadian band Honeymoon Suite have been touring and making records for more than 30 years, and they’ve never lost that epic level of intensity that only ‘80s rock bands seemed able to embody — and their fans love them for it.
Johnnie Dee, Derry Grehan and their bandmates are coming to Sidney next week, ready to rock the roof off of the Charlie White, and there’s still time to get your tickets.
“We’re going to play all of our hits, definitely,” says Grehan. “It’s all about the people. It’s all about the fans, and if you’re a fan, then you should know everything we play.”
The band tours everything from 10,000-seat stadiums and festivals to small theatres like the Charlie White and it’s all about the energy from the fans, says Grehan.
“Every night’s different. These little theatres are a lot of fun, because you get to get up close and personal.
“We go off of the audience. If they’re a bit crazy and having fun, we might stretch out and do some solos.”
And their fans are an energetic bunch, he says.
“We have fans who grew up with us in the ‘80s and they’re still coming to the shows.
“Music does funny things to people. It stirs those memories, and you hear all these great stories.”
And those fans have started bringing their own kids to the shows, introducing their teenagers to the signature sound that is Honeymoon Suite.
Ever since their song New Girl Now won Toronto’s Q107 FM’s Homegrown Contest in 1983, Honeymoon Suite has produced, and kept producing, albums that stay true to their sound.
Their self-titled debut album in 1984 went platinum, followed up two years later with The Big Prize, which hit platinum status in Canada almost immediately and featured a rare appearance by Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson.
The band toured extensively through the ‘80s and opened for Billy Idol, Bryan Adams, Heart and ZZ Top, and later song appearances on Miami Vice and Lethal Weapon catapulted the band into success.
Several Juno Award nominations followed, including Most Promising Group in 1984, Group of the Year and Album of the Year in 1985, with the band winning Group of the Year in 1986.
Their Juno came hot on the heels of winning Best Live Act at the World Popular Song Festival in Tokyo also in 1986.
Twelve albums later, the guys are still putting out their signature sound, with the latest single, If Tomorrow Never Comes, released in 2012 to excited fans across the country.
Grehan hints at some new songs in the works, but fans will have to wait for those.
“We are recording some new stuff now, but it’s not ready to be in the show,” he says.
Honeymoon Suite takes the stage at 7:30 p.m., doors open at 7, on Wednesday, May 6 at the Charlie White Theatre at the Mary Winspear Centre, 2243 Beacon Ave.
Tickets are $47.50 plus facility and service charges, and are available at the box office, marywinspear.ca, or by calling 250-656-0275.
For more information, visit honeymoonsuiteband.com.