Canadian rocker 54-40 are winding down their 2023 tour dates and with just a handful of dates remaining, the September 8 & 9 shows in the Bear’s Den at the Seneca Niagara Resort and Casino are the only performances in the United States left on the schedule.

Bass player Brad Merritt noted that each of the two shows will be different; each with their own surprises including some new tunes from their upcoming album “West Coast Band”.

Recently 54-40 released a new album – “Live at the El Macamba”.  The album was recorded in September 2020 during the height of the pandemic to a near empty room.  The band performed at the El Macamba as a part of this tour…this time to a packed house.

A new album is due out in mid-October – “West Coast Band”.  The first single (and title track) is available now.

While they were unable to perform during the pandemic, the band members met each week via Zoom to visit, talk, and share stories of days past and the music scene in Vancouver.  The stories became songs and the songs an album.

Looking to capture the spontaneity of the songs, the band recorded the music live in the studio with the band members playing off of each other.

For the upcoming Niagara Falls dates the band will be a foursome while sax man and organist Dave Osborne will not be making the trip while he continues to recover from chemotherapy and radiation treatment for throat cancer.

Throughout the history of rock music, bands have sought a way to stand out; whether it be via an unique sound or a catchy name.  Mates in high school, Neil Osborne and Brad Merritt lived only a few blocks from the border and used their interest in history in finding a name.  Brad also spent a good bit of his childhood living in the Unted States.  Using the slogan “54-40 or fight” – a rallying cry used by U.S. President James K. Polk when he wanted the border between Canada and the U.S. to be at the 54th parallel and the Canadians wanted it to be at the 40th parallel.  Avoiding a “fight”, the compromise was at the 49th parallel.

Over the past 40 plus years 54-40 has had a number of platinum selling hits.  But their biggest hit was recorded by another artist when Hootie and the Blowfish recorded “I Go Blind”.  The song later appeared on the “Friends” soundtrack.  54-40 band members say that they earned enough in royalties to build a recording studio.

Don’t miss 54-40 as they wind down the 2023 tour and 43 years of making music.