I Hate Change

Steven Page has left the Barenaked Ladies. The band made the announcement on February 25, but apparently I was too busy doing other things to read the official announcement on Facebook.

I discovered this band late -- about ten years ago -- and they instantly became my favorite band. After watching the documentary about the band, Barenaked in America, I decided this was a group of guys I could totally hang out with. I got to go to three of their concerts, and just loved the atmosphere at their shows. Even the one I saw in Gwinett, GA -- in a minor league hockey arena -- was great despite the fact that the building was 2/3 full. (I remember Ed Robertson getting the crowd revved up but quoting the words on the water tower by the interstate: "Gwinett is Great!") My ex-wife and I used to giggle at the lyric in one of their songs, "I just made you say underwear," a genuinely happy memory. And I'll never forget singing along to "If I Had a Million Dollars" in the piano bar in Las Vegas during my first trip there.

Well, I had a sense of foreboding when lead singer Steven Page was arrested on drug charges last summer. The band had just come out with an album of children's songs (of all things) and they basically had to cancel their tour, because of Page's boneheaded move of getting caught with a bunch of cocaine. At the time, their website had messages of support for Page, but something didn't feel right. It was the end of the innocence for me. The remaining members of the band are going to tour and record new music, and I think Ed Robertson is awesome. But Steve Page had a sound quality to his voice that cannot be replaced.

I know nothing lasts forever, but this really bums me out. I guess time will tell if the four- membered new BNL can carry on and thrive, but I know it just won't be the same.