DESTROYER at Lee’s Palace, March 31. See listing.
With each new Destroyer album, fans wonder whether main man Dan Bejar will tour it alone or take along a band. He’s partial to both. Seeing as his cryptic, impenetrable lyrics and yelpy David Bowie-esque delivery get a bit intense on their own, we’re excited to learn that his ninth album, Kaputt (Merge), is getting a seven-piece-band treatment that includes two horn players.
Toronto’s own Joseph Shabason (Everything All the Time, Peter Elkas, Oldies 990, Loving in the Name Of) is one of them.
“I went out to Vancouver last January to visit my girlfriend and I hadn’t seen Dan since I’d played [on the same bill] with him at the Horseshoe five months before, so I emailed him to see if he wanted to hang out. He was recording a new record and wondered if I’d play on it. I’ve been a huge Destroyer fan for years, so I was reallyexcited.
“I asked if he could send tracks in advance, but he told me to just listen to the song Avalon by Roxy Music. Based on that, I figured I’d be playing a few smooth sax parts, but the record ended up being geared toward soulful, wailing saxophone. The vibe is actually similar to Bryan Ferry’s Boys And Girls.”
Shabason’s on seven of the 10 tunes. As for Bejar, he’s also flatlined his singing style, evident in the bizarre video for the title track.
“I wouldn’t say the sound is a major departure, but it’s definitely different from his last few albums,” Shabason says. “It’s way more electronic and soulful than loud and rockin”
Destroyer play Lee’s Palace March 31.
