May 20, 1995
Our Lady Peace Finds Bliss in U.S.
By Kieran Grant -- Toronto Sun
Our Lady Peace now drink from the fountain that eludes most Canadian rock bands: They're selling records in the United States. "We've been working so hard, we haven't had time to enjoy it," says Our Lady Peace singer Raine Maida, whose band plays Edgefest tomorrow at the Molson Amphitheatre. After two months of touring the U.S., a project that will continue until Christmas, Maida sounds exhausted. "Because (the U.S.) is so big and there are so many cities, it seems a lot more overwhelming than Canada, just from the amount of work we're doing." In the year since the Toronto outfit's debut album Naveed was released in Canada, it's gone certified gold, having sold over 50,000 copies. But more notable is the fact that only two months after Naveed's subsequent U.S. release, the album has surpassed sales of 100,000 copies in the U.S., with Starseed, the single, getting good play. Receptive audiences aside, Maida still hasn't cracked the American mystery. "My whole preconception with America was that thing with The Tragically Hip," he explains. "I don't understand why, an hour-and-a-half across the border, people don't know the Hip. It just floors me. "But with us, (U.S. audiences) have been coming out just because Starseed has been on the radio. Then, as we go through our set, we're winning pockets of people over. Halfway through a set you can see it on their faces, and from then on it's easy." Lately, some of those faces have been recognizable. Among the punters on hand to see Our Lady Peace at CBGB's in New York last month were Iggy Pop, Henry Rollins and even John McEnroe. And, a personal invitation from Jon Stewart to appear on his talk show wound up turning the heads of Robert Plant and Jimmy Page. The band opened four dates for Page & Plant several weeks ago. "Plant was so nice," Maida says. "None of us were Zeppelin fans, but in four days I think I became one." Even more memorable for Maida was a recent gig in Oklahoma City, where the band donated their $400 keep from the show to the Red Cross. "We were really hesitant about going in and doing a show," says Maida. "We weren't confident that city was ready to hear music. But in walked 150 of these Special Forces people in all their gear. What an experience." As for Our Lady Peace's premeditated goals? "We've already achieved a lot of what we wanted to do: Just get down here and be able to fill a 500-seat club. "The luxury I think we have now is that when we decide to do another record we can plan a U.S. tour right away. "We're really lucky," he adds. "Our perspective is a lot different now."
