乌鸦传媒淚 got an ocean pearl.乌鸦传媒�

All it takes is five words before sounds of trucking guitars and stomping bass flood the brain with a wave of nostalgia, transporting the listener through post-punk angst back to the early 乌鸦传媒�90s.

Vancouver乌鸦传媒檚 iconic alt-rockers 54-40 will conjure such images as they ignite the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre stage, both with old hits like Ocean Pearl and the group乌鸦传媒檚 newest offerings.

54-40乌鸦传媒檚 14th album Keep On Walking, which drops Nov. 24, falls on the heel乌鸦传媒檚 of the group乌鸦传媒檚 2016 release La Difference: A History Unplugged. From their formative years cutting their teeth in the Lower-Mainland dive-bar scene to their more than three decades of touring, selling more than a million records worldwide, their乌鸦传媒檚 is a sound that has evolved.

乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 fairly eclectic in nature with a bunch of different types of songs,乌鸦传媒� said 54-40 bass veteran Brad Merritt of Keep On Walking. 乌鸦传媒淚 think the record moves from one place to another 乌鸦传媒� there乌鸦传媒檚 a thematic thread. We have a sense of melody. The words sort of hold together and the chorus ties together the verses. It乌鸦传媒檚 kind of old-fashioned in a way.乌鸦传媒�

Despite their success and sonic evolution, 54-40 has always remained true to their passion, Merritt said.

乌鸦传媒淚t was a real exploration 乌鸦传媒� we created our own sound,乌鸦传媒� Merritt said. 乌鸦传媒淭here乌鸦传媒檚 growth and regression, which is good, and then we push in another direction. It乌鸦传媒檚 an exploration. When you don乌鸦传媒檛 have the will to change and explore, you乌鸦传媒檙e just dead artistically. We乌鸦传媒檙e not interested in that.乌鸦传媒�

Their unquenchable thirst for creative growth pushed the group to rework a selection of their hits spanning their 36 year history for their most recent release 乌鸦传媒� a project 54-40 had never imagined.

乌鸦传媒淲hat a privilege to be able to re-imagine our catalogue in a way that is equal parts fresh and familiar,乌鸦传媒� said 54-40 pianist Dave Genn. 乌鸦传媒淕iven the opportunity to frame Neil乌鸦传媒檚 lyrics in a different light reminded me of the emotional connection between the words and music, and how that connection can be massaged in order to give the songs new moods and meaning. A thoroughly inspiring exercise and a labour of love.乌鸦传媒�

When going into the studio to work on an album, that love is what 54-40 focusses on.

乌鸦传媒淲hen we hand the thing in, the completed master, and everyone in the band is proud 乌鸦传媒� that乌鸦传媒檚 a successful record,乌鸦传媒� Merritt said. 乌鸦传媒淥therwise, you乌鸦传媒檙e looking to external markers and you have no control over that. We want the validation from the people who like our music 乌鸦传媒攖hat乌鸦传媒檚 all good, but it乌鸦传媒檚 not what we乌鸦传媒檙e about. We乌鸦传媒檝e never been about that.乌鸦传媒�

But their hard work and dedication to the creative process, one of Merritt乌鸦传媒檚 favourite parts of being a musician, translates to the stage where they have no choice but to embrace the music.

乌鸦传媒淲hether it乌鸦传媒檚 good, bad or ugly, no matter what happens, you乌鸦传媒檙e out there,乌鸦传媒� Merritt said of performing live. 乌鸦传媒淚 really like it when the stage sound is really good, you just build this emotional momentum and there can be a moment of catharsis that happens.乌鸦传媒�

In a few short months, Merritt and singer Neil Osbourne will have racked up 37 years with 54-40, and it乌鸦传媒檚 that drive for creative evolution and the resulting catharsis that keeps them going.

乌鸦传媒淚 can see right through to 2019. After that, I have no idea what the future holds,乌鸦传媒� Merritt said, adding that the group will be on the road until then for La Difference and Keep On Walking.

乌鸦传媒淪peaking for myself, I wouldn乌鸦传媒檛 mind slowing down a bit here or there before speeding up (again).乌鸦传媒�

54-40 rocks the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre stage Feb. 17, 2018. Tickets are available Oct. 14 for $69 all seats from the Ticket Seller, 250-549-7469, .