Every B.C. local knows Ocean Pearl if theysa国际传媒檝e listened to a radio station, but Kelowna residents are getting a fresh twist on the song.

Rock group 54.40 is providing its Central Okanagan audience with nostalgic songs stripped down to the basics as part of its A History Unplugged Tour, at the Kelowna Community Theatre March 31.

Bassist Brad Merritt has been part of the band since its inception in East Vancouver nearly 40 years ago.

The rockers will be playing a different tune in Kelowna compared to his last performance at the Canadian Culinary Championships in February, taking songs from the bandsa国际传媒檚 greatest hits record La Difference: A History Unplugged.

The members decided to put new twists on old songs with violin, banjo, mandolin and other instruments for an intimate sound.

sa国际传媒淭his one heresa国际传媒檚 going to be a very different show. Itsa国际传媒檚 much smaller, more intimate, stripped down,sa国际传媒� said Merritt. sa国际传媒淲hat motivates us is how do we make it more challenging, how do we make it interesting for ourselves.sa国际传媒�

Founders Merritt and singer Neil Osborne have come a long way since their first performance Dec. 31, 1980. Driven by the sound of 1970s punk music, Merritt started with humble beginnings.

sa国际传媒淲hen you first start yousa国际传媒檙e just excited to get together to do it,sa国际传媒� he said.

sa国际传媒淭here was an intent that was there (in punk music), an urgency and I was of that age that I could feel like I was a part of that. You rent the bass guitar and say sa国际传媒榣etsa国际传媒檚 start a bandsa国际传媒� and then you buy one and I donsa国际传媒檛 know what Isa国际传媒檓 doing and Neil doesnsa国际传媒檛 know what hesa国际传媒檚 doing.sa国际传媒�

Over time, the group became craftier at creating songs. Merritt found confidence with his bass line and where he fit into songs.

Last year, 54.40 was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, and its latest album, Keep On Walking, was released in January.

Merritt and Osbornesa国际传媒檚 relationship has also evolved over time. The long-time friends experienced a time of conflict at one point, Merritt called it sa国际传媒渓ittle existential moments,sa国际传媒� questioning the bandsa国际传媒檚 existence and whether it will go on.

sa国际传媒淣ow wesa国际传媒檙e joined at the hip, itsa国际传媒檚 something thatsa国际传媒檚 been successful enough to keep on going,sa国际传媒� he said. sa国际传媒淚 love him, yousa国际传媒檒l have to ask him if he feels the same way about me and hesa国际传媒檒l probably say something funnysa国际传媒� wesa国际传媒檙e like family.sa国际传媒�

The fans have also been changing and growing with the musicians throughout their careers.

sa国际传媒淲hen you first start, the audience is essentially your age, theysa国际传媒檙e all 20,sa国际传媒� said Merritt.

After signing a contract with Warner Brothers, and when 54.40sa国际传媒檚 songs began playing on the radio, younger college fans started arriving at shows.

sa国际传媒淚 found as time went on the sweet spot is 10 years younger, and it still is, but the thing is itsa国际传媒檚 flattening out,sa国际传媒� said Merritt. sa国际传媒淲e see the audience getting steadily younger, once again there are people who cansa国际传媒檛 get their head around pop music, or hip-hop and theysa国际传媒檙e looking for something alternative or independent. (Theresa国际传媒檚 also) a generation where their parents grew up on this and now theysa国际传媒檙e old enough to come and see us.sa国际传媒�

Joined by guitarist Dave Genn and drummer Matt Johnson, 54.40 will perform at the Kelowna Community Theatre, March 31.

Tickets are available online at .

To report a typo, email: edit@kelownacapnews.com.

carli.berry@kelownacapnews.com
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