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She Stole My Beer brewing up new tunes in the studio

Band playing rare live gig at the Imperial next week
SSMB
She Stole My Beer (Liam MacDonald, Jordan White, Chad Chilibeck, Tom Taylor, Dean Waisman, Franco Diligenti and David Hughes) have been laying down tracks for a new album, scheduled for release in the fall.

An Evening with She Stole My Beer, Imperial Vancouver (319 Main Street), Saturday, June 9, 8 p.m. until late. Tickets available at Red Cat Records, Zulu Records, Highlife Records, Neptune Records, and Ticketweb.

She Stole My Beer had a few band names before they settled on the one they’ve kept since high school.

“Each of them equally ridiculous,” says vocalist/guitarist Tom Taylor. “SSMB was always in danger of being changed, we actually can’t believe it hung on – much like the band, I suppose.”

There’s nothing ridiculous about SSMB or their sound. Begun by a bunch of buddies at West Vancouver’s defunct Hillside Secondary back in the ’80s, She Stole My Beer developed over the years into one of Vancouver’s great party bands.

The seven-man unit features three singer/songwriters up front (Chad Chilibeck on lead guitar and vocals, David Hughes on bass and vocals join Taylor on the frontline) performing over organic grooves manufactured by an incredibly funky rhythm section made up of two drummers (Dean Waisman and Liam MacDonald), a percussionist (Franco Diligenti) and B3 Hammond organ (Jordan White).

SSMB cite the Allman Brothers, John Prine, Grateful Dead, Neil Young and AC/DC as major influences on their sound but they make everything their own. Like the Dead, live the band jam out on original and cover tunes to a devoted fanbase who have been following them for years.

They released a couple of albums, including Sparks off the Guardrail and Mule on MCA Records, and toured Canada coast to coast, before settling down and starting families.

Performances became less regular but they’ve continued to play several shows each year particularly in Whistler where their gigs have become annual social events.

The good news for Lower Mainland fans is SSMB is gearing up for a live show at the Imperial and also plans to release a new album in the fall.

“Some of the songs have been kicking around for awhile but about two-thirds are new,” says Taylor. “Chad, David and I write together when we can.”

Three songs that will be familiar to fans, “King Of July,” “Sandman” and “All Your Love” will be on the record as well as a few that have not been on setlists for awhile.

Over the past three months SSMB have been working with producer Eric Reed in North Vancouver.

“As much as possible we’ve been doing it live off the floor,” says Taylor. “We want to keep that live sound.”

For more information on the band visit shestolemybeer.com.