sa国际传媒淚 got an ocean pearl.sa国际传媒�

All it takes is five words before sounds of trucking guitars and stomping bass flood the brain with a wave of nostalgia, transporting the listener through post-punk angst back to the early sa国际传媒�90s.

Vancouversa国际传媒檚 iconic alt-rockers 54-40 will conjure such images as they ignite the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre stage, both with old hits like Ocean Pearl and the groupsa国际传媒檚 newest offerings.

54-40sa国际传媒檚 14th album Keep On Walking, which drops Nov. 24, falls on the heelsa国际传媒檚 of the groupsa国际传媒檚 2016 release La Difference: A History Unplugged. From their formative years cutting their teeth in the Lower-Mainland dive-bar scene to their more than three decades of touring, selling more than a million records worldwide, theirsa国际传媒檚 is a sound that has evolved.

sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 fairly eclectic in nature with a bunch of different types of songs,sa国际传媒� said 54-40 bass veteran Brad Merritt of Keep On Walking. sa国际传媒淚 think the record moves from one place to another sa国际传媒� theresa国际传媒檚 a thematic thread. We have a sense of melody. The words sort of hold together and the chorus ties together the verses. Itsa国际传媒檚 kind of old-fashioned in a way.sa国际传媒�

Despite their success and sonic evolution, 54-40 has always remained true to their passion, Merritt said.

sa国际传媒淚t was a real exploration sa国际传媒� we created our own sound,sa国际传媒� Merritt said. sa国际传媒淭heresa国际传媒檚 growth and regression, which is good, and then we push in another direction. Itsa国际传媒檚 an exploration. When you donsa国际传媒檛 have the will to change and explore, yousa国际传媒檙e just dead artistically. Wesa国际传媒檙e not interested in that.sa国际传媒�

Their unquenchable thirst for creative growth pushed the group to rework a selection of their hits spanning their 36 year history for their most recent release sa国际传媒� a project 54-40 had never imagined.

sa国际传媒淲hat a privilege to be able to re-imagine our catalogue in a way that is equal parts fresh and familiar,sa国际传媒� said 54-40 pianist Dave Genn. sa国际传媒淕iven the opportunity to frame Neilsa国际传媒檚 lyrics in a different light reminded me of the emotional connection between the words and music, and how that connection can be massaged in order to give the songs new moods and meaning. A thoroughly inspiring exercise and a labour of love.sa国际传媒�

When going into the studio to work on an album, that love is what 54-40 focusses on.

sa国际传媒淲hen we hand the thing in, the completed master, and everyone in the band is proud sa国际传媒� thatsa国际传媒檚 a successful record,sa国际传媒� Merritt said. sa国际传媒淥therwise, yousa国际传媒檙e looking to external markers and you have no control over that. We want the validation from the people who like our music sa国际传媒攖hatsa国际传媒檚 all good, but itsa国际传媒檚 not what wesa国际传媒檙e about. Wesa国际传媒檝e never been about that.sa国际传媒�

But their hard work and dedication to the creative process, one of Merrittsa国际传媒檚 favourite parts of being a musician, translates to the stage where they have no choice but to embrace the music.

sa国际传媒淲hether itsa国际传媒檚 good, bad or ugly, no matter what happens, yousa国际传媒檙e out there,sa国际传媒� Merritt said of performing live. sa国际传媒淚 really like it when the stage sound is really good, you just build this emotional momentum and there can be a moment of catharsis that happens.sa国际传媒�

In a few short months, Merritt and singer Neil Osbourne will have racked up 37 years with 54-40, and itsa国际传媒檚 that drive for creative evolution and the resulting catharsis that keeps them going.

sa国际传媒淚 can see right through to 2019. After that, I have no idea what the future holds,sa国际传媒� Merritt said, adding that the group will be on the road until then for La Difference and Keep On Walking.

sa国际传媒淪peaking for myself, I wouldnsa国际传媒檛 mind slowing down a bit here or there before speeding up (again).sa国际传媒�

54-40 rocks the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre stage Feb. 17, 2018. Tickets are available Oct. 14 for $69 all seats from the Ticket Seller, 250-549-7469, .