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Knows Who They Are And What You Want
Before the rest of the nation was singing “Every Morning,” Sugar Ray was performing to sold crowds at The Shelter. “People were lined up around St. Andrew’s to see us before anyone in other cities knew who we were,” frontman Mark McGrath said. That’s one reason Sugar Ray digs Detroit.
“Plus it’s always going to be a party because I have so many friends there,” McGrath says of his pals within the Kid Rock /Uncle Kracker camp. His band's upcoming show at The Emerald isn’t about reeling in tons of money, McGrath, now 41, said. Sugar Ray band members are really doing just fine and want to party.
“It’s just about playing music,” McGrath said. “We haven’t had a big album in years so a lot of people think we broke up, but we still play at least 40 shows a year.” Sugar Ray has gone gold and platinum, repeatedly, with their albums Floored, 14:59 and Sugar Ray. But In the Pursuit of Leisure in '03 (Atlantic Records) didn’t sell so well, McGrath said without embarrassment.
“We saw the writing on the wall. We were in the same boat as 90s bands like Everclear, Third Eye Blind and Smash Mouth,” McGrath said. “We're very self-aware. We know where we stand in the music world and how things change.” So the bandmates pursued other careers in the entertainment industry. Known for his sex appeal — voted People magazine's Sexiest Rocker in 1998 — and his charisma and smarts (he completely kicked ass on VH1’s Rock 'n' Roll Jeopardy), McGrath landed a big role as co-host on Extra and on other TV shows and did well financially.
But it's the music world where the band feels most honest; exploring new sounds and playing their hits. “If a musician ever tells you they’re tired of performing their old songs that were smash hits ... there’s something wrong with that person,” McGrath stated.
Recently the band's new label Pulse invited the band to make a CD and the result is Music for Cougars, a 12-track LP with catchy pop tunes that should please fans. Particularly nice are reggae-infused songs “Girls Were Made to Love” and “Dance Like No One’s Watchin’” featuring Donavon Frankenreiter. The group has learned not to stray from the sound the masses love and they diplay that on Music for Cougars. | RDW
Sugar Ray • 7/28 • Emerald Theatre
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