The Trews new music I Wanna Play pandemic style (don’t we all !)

The Trews
I Wanna Play new music alert

We’re all freaking tired of this G’damn Pandemic so hearing new music is a breath of fresh air after being shut in for nearly a year! The Trews just dropped ‘I Wanna Play’ and it’s the snappy, light hearted, upbeat, ironic, bittersweet cathartic anthem we all need. Video included! (shot just before Ontario went into yet another lockdown!).

After having heard the song acoustic with only Colin MacDonald singing it on his regular Instagram “couch sessions” its a real treat to hear it for the first time with the full band sound from the rest of the guys. Set in a hockey rink (arena!), with the band hooking up for a clandestine but socially distanced concert to empty seats, it really does bring a flood of emotions back – OH HOW WE MISS CONCERTS! But we miss people too – little snippets of each band member hanging out alone, trying to find ways to relieve the boredom and ‘stay busy’ will resonate with us all.

“I’m like a broken melody, without the harmony, what’s a verse without a chorus line.” 

Guitarist John-Angus MacDonald doing a walkabout and killer guitar solo in the empty nosebleeds almost brings a tear to the eye, softened by janitor Bob (artist Bob Lanois) mimicking the solo on his broom handle, and the band moving to centre ice to dance and ham it up with each other like they haven’t seen each other in… well, months. Until janitor Bob cuts the power, echoing the darkened ambience of a normal concert, but also leaving Colin MacDonald to frantically sing, “I’m not all right, I’m here alone at night“. Reality rather than metaphor for many of us.

The band (bassist Jack Syperek, drummer Chris Gormley, keyboard wizard Jeff Heisholt) and the brothers MacDonald close out the impromptu concert turning to face the ‘audience’ like we’re all really there (which is kind of cool) with one last appeal, “I Wanna Play!” Me too!

Our advice – crank it up. Loud. Sing at the top of your lungs. Dance. Air guitar. Sing some more. We guarantee you’ll love it, and you’ll feel amazing.

*special mention to Jack Syperek for that bass groove at the song’s beginning which just gets under my skin in the best way possible! Also kudos to drone operator Christoph Benfey and director Marcel Preston. Check out the video below, and find the song at all streaming sites!

The Trews I Wanna Play

Follow The Trews on Instagram and check them out on Patreon.

May 8 – Horseshoe Tavern (Livestream)
June 5 – Peterborough, ON – PTBO Live Concert Series
June 10 – Burnstown, ON – Neat Shed Sessions
June 11 – Burnstown, ON – Neat Shed Sessions SOLD OUT
June 12 – Burnstown, ON – Neat Shed Sessions SOLD OUT
June 13 – Burnstown, ON – Neat Shed Sessions SOLD OUT
Nov 7-12 The Rock Boat