Anatomically correct

>> Sudden stars the Slip give pigeonholes the slip

by JOHNSON CUMMINS

You’d be hard-pressed to find a local band that doesn’t sport at least one member transplanted from elsewhere to Montreal soil. The Slip are no exception to the rule. Two members of the trio, the brothers Andrew and Brad Barr (drums and vocals/guitar, respectively) pulled up stakes in their native Boston and settled down in our fine city. Bassist Marc Friedman, meanwhile, chose to keep the home fires burning and has remained in Boston.

Unlike most musician types that are drawn to Montreal like moths to a candle, Andrew Barr admits he didn’t grace us with his presence because of our internationally recognized music scene, cheap rent or even our easy late-night access to poutine, but rather felt a pull far greater. “I am going to have to admit it was for a girl,” he says. “We were playing at le Swimming a couple of years ago and I got to meet this waitress I had been eyeing all night, and we started talking…”

Flash forward, and Barr has a lovely life with the aforementioned lady, a cute little apartment overlooking Parc Lafontaine and two cats that battle for space on the couch. Too bad the guy won’t be seeing much of any of this.

Things have been bustling for the band, with the promise of almost never-ending touring looming, since the band were recently deemed highly downloadable thanks to a placement of their song “Life in Disguise” on the hit show Grey’s Anatomy. That started a brush fire, culminating in an appearance on Late Night With Conan O’Brien and the unlikely inclusion of their song “Even Rats” on the immensely popular game Guitar Hero—at which bassist Friedman claims to be an expert.

Further success is in the cards with their new record, Eisenhower, marking the first release from Montreal label and DKD offshoot Studio Plateau. Given the Slip’s crafty, creative take on pop rock, which wriggles through the net of convenient categorization, it’s no wonder Studio Plateau tapped them to become the flagship band for the label. Despite moving into uncharted waters with an as-yet untested label, the Slip insist there was no trepidation on their part. “We actually went on tour with Drew [Malamud, Studio Plateau producer/label head] as our sound guy, so there was really nothing but absolute trust going in. It really feels like family.”

With many eyes now on the band, including a recent “band to watch” hat tip from Rolling Stone, they admit that they’re still blushing brides when it comes to their sudden celebrity.

“It’s so weird,” says Friedman. “A couple of months ago, we had just finished touring and were kind of burnt out, just eating potato chips on the couch. Then all of this stuff just started happening. We didn’t find out about Conan until three days before we did the show, and now we meet all these people who know us from that, or through Grey’s Anatomy. I mean, it’s great, but we’ve been a band for 10 years—one minute you’re just relaxing at home, and then there’s all this.”

CD launch with Wintersleep at
la Sala Rossa on Friday,
March 23, 9 p.m., $12