Swan song
Canadian a cappella group The Nylons bids farewell to fans after a long run
It is the end of a seemingly endless life on the road.
For Canadian a cappella institution The Nylons, its current string of dates will be the final ones, a farewell to fans who’ve followed the group for the better part of four decades.
It’s a career that’s seen members come and go over time, but has produced more than a few lasting musical moments for the Toronto act, most notably successful covers of songs such as The Lion Sleeps Tonight and Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye that helped the group achieve gold or platinum status for its albums on seven occasions.
Garth Mosbaugh, who has been the tenor for the quartet for the past 20-plus years, spoke about the farewell tour.
Q So, this is it. This is the end of The Nylons.
A Pretty well. I’d say so. I like to call it our first annual farewell tour, because like so many others who’ve done farewell tours, as you hit different markets it seems like you’re just kind of repeating yourself.
Q I’ve read that the reason is just because the touring is getting to the band after all this time, especially Claude (Morrison, founder and only original remaining member).
A Yeah. Claude is just approaching 65 and it’s becoming harder. It’s becoming harder for all of us. Touring on the road for extended periods of time is not a particularly easy thing to do. It really very slowly takes the wind out of your sails. It’s become a time when you just have to go, “OK, you know what, I need some downtime.” ... When you’re on the road you’re getting up early, going to bed late, you’re trying to catch sleep where you can, you’re trying to make it all work, you’re trying to pace yourself so you can get through it all. It has its challenges.
The glamour of it, like anything, it’s always a little overplayed. (Laughs.) Or a little over-perceived, let’s put it that way. People see the glamorous side, but thank God they don’t see me the next morning when I wake up. (Laughs.)
Q Is this a happy time or a sad time in the camp with it winding down?
A It’s a little bit of both. For Claude, he’s been doing it for some 37 years ... It’s one of those bittersweet things where you really do get used to certain freedoms that you have being on the road, but then, of course, you miss your loved ones. So the answer is absolutely a bit of both: it’s a happy time and a sad time to be giving up that lifestyle.
Q On a personal level, what are you going to miss the most about it?
A Just at the root of it, the performing. Being on stage in front of people is a blast. It’s a great thing to do. It’s extraordinarily satisfying.
Q So what’s next for you? How will you fill that void and what will you be doing?
A I will likely be moving to Australia. I’ve got a business opportunity in Australia that’s pretty attractive for me. It’s with a really good friend who has presented this opportunity to me. So, yeah, I’m going to go to Australia and see what happens there, sort of a new chapter in life.
Q What can fans expect from the final (shows)? I’m guessing all of the favourites, but will there be tears, laughs — what can they expect?
A I think all of the above. We’re putting it together to be a little representation of what The Nylons have been through the last 35 years. It certainly has been a massive evolution. There have been over 12 members of The Nylons … with Claude remaining the “founding father,” we call him. He’s been the one constant, and that will be reflected in the show as well.
But, yeah, a lot of laughs, a lot of fooling around (and) great music.