Sloan's sugartunes rock Pontiac show

Normally, Sloan treats the audience to every song they've ever recorded with words that they can still remember. Often, they'll throw in a few songs that they can't remember just for good measure. This creates a relaxed, large-scale garage band, sing-along atmosphere that has been a successful formula for the past several Detroit shows.

Sloan's recent performance before a sold-out crowd at Pontiac's Clutch Cargo's consisted of a much shorter set (due in part to the fact that the apparently wildly popular "Latin Dance Night" was scheduled immediately following the concert) comprised mostly of songs off their newest album, "Between the Bridges." Such old favorites as "Deeper than Beauty" and "Underwhelmed" were axed in favor of the newer "So Beyond Me" and "Delivering Maybes." In addition, Sloan's intensive touring schedule has

Courtesy of murder records Canadian based Sloan has served sweet fun for fans since the early '90s.

had the (tongue firmly in cheek) unfortunate side effect of polishing each song and developing the band's talent. Despite this horrifying evolution, Friday night's crowd thoroughly enjoyed every moment of Sloan's exciting concert.

And you get the feeling that Sloan also enjoys its reinvented self. Careful concert-goers may have noted a beaming smile on the face of usually stoic guitarist Jay Ferguson at several points during the evening. They may have noticed his homage to The Who as he "windmilled" closing chords instead of trying to sneak a peek at his watch. Both drummer Andrew Scott and bassist/vocalist Chris Murphy played the drums with a passion.

Wearing a large t-shirt and struggling to keep his glasses from falling off his face, Murphy evoked images of a little kid banging away on his first drum kit. It is these images that will ingrain the show in the minds of fans and that prove the necessity of witnessing a live performance.

Slower songs such as "The Marquee and the Moon" were performed even more subdued than their studio versions, while fun tracks like "All by Ourselves" and "Anyone Who's Anyone" made it clear than Sloan's tight harmony is legitimate, not the product of studio doctoring.

Sloan's ability to rotate like volleyball players to new instruments after every few songs continues to impress both old fans and new and shows the breadth of their talent and experience. Their musicality was also featured in an extended instrumental jam during a song from the Japanese version of "Between the Bridges." During their performance of last summer's radio hit, "Money City Maniacs," Sloan embarked on a surprise tribute to Kiss and the Rolling Stones. Bandleader Murphy first clawed his way up a speaker stack to sing "Detroit Rock City." He then managed to vault himself into the balcony to pluck a lucky few from the audience to join him on stage as he led the crowd in the frenzied chorus of "Jumping Jack Flash."

After returning for a short encore that reminded the audience to see "The Good in Everyone," Sloan left the stage and left the audience with memories that will last a lifetime.

11-01-99