54-40 bringing the hits to Stampede

After more than 30 years on the road that has taken them around the world and across Canada too many times to count, 54-40 has a pretty simple formula for their shows.

“We just usually lay the hammer down and play the hits,” said drummer Matt Johnson this week. “We will sneak in one or two new songs for sure but mostly it’s our popular songs from the last few decades.”

The most popular of those songs are “Ocean Pearl,” “I Go Blind” and “Nice to Luv You,” all which are still heard on radio today.

It’s a legacy Johnson and the band is proud of, and why fans will be out in droves to see 54-40 at the first Stampede nightshow of 2017 on July 26.

“We feel very fortunate, we got under the wire before the music industry changed so we were able to create a body of work that seemed to resonate over two or three decades.”

In 2016, the band revamped and reworked 10 of its hits for an intimate unplugged album called “La Difference: A History Unplugged.” Johnson calls it a significant project both professionally and creatively.

It’s not all history for 54-40 though. The band recently completed an album that could be released as early as this fall, with a single possibly out in the next few weeks. Johnson said several producers worked on two or three songs each for the album, resulting in a diverse sound.

“It will sound a bit eclectic but I think people’s musical tastes lean that way anyway, considering our attention spans are hovering just above zero,” he said with a laugh.

Joining 54-40 for the Wednesday show are Glass Tiger (“Don’t Forget Me When I’m Gone” and “Someday”) and The Stampeders (“Sweet City Woman” and “Carry Me”).

Tickets, starting at $59, are available at www.mhstampede.com.

Blue Rodeo takes the Stampede stage on July 27 with The Band Perry closing the week on July 29.