B y B e n j a m i n L e r n e r
MATT BARNES, COURTESY OF BARENAKED LADIES
The Naked Truth
POP GIANTS BARENAKED LADIES RETURN TO TANGLEWOOD WITH FASTBALL AND SUGAR RAY
Barenaked Ladies will bring their Last Summer on Earth 2025 tour to Tanglewood on Tuesday, July 8, at 7 p. m., joined by special guests Sugar Ray and Fastball in the Koussevitzky Music Shed. The tour, which spans 38 cities across North America, celebrates the enduring legacy of 1990s and 2000s alternative pop and rock while embracing the continued creativity and evolution of these celebrated bands.
For Barenaked Ladies, who have thrilled audiences for over 35 years, this performance marks a special return to Tanglewood, where they last performed in 2013. Their infectious energy, genre-blending style, and signature humor make the band a perfect fit for the Tanglewood Popular Artist Series, which highlights artists from folk and Americana to rock and blues. Ahead of their performance, Barenaked Ladies drummer Tyler Stewart sat down to talk about the tour, the Canadian band’ s eclectic sound, the evolution of pop and alternative music over the past several decades, and what it means to them to play again at Tanglewood.
Lerner: Your Last Summer on Earth Tour is a tradition for Barenaked Ladies. What makes this year’ s particular tour stand out in terms of flavor, the set list? How would you describe it?
Stewart: I think it ' s a great celebration of an entire era of music. You could say that all of the bands on the bill had their heyday in the‘ 90s, but you can also say that all of the bands on the bill continue to make records and continue to tour and do their thing. We ' re still around today, doing what we love to do. So, that fact alone, that we all go back so many years, makes it a special occasion. With every iteration of Last Summer on Earth, that ' s been the case, even when we had people on the bill like Violent Femmes and OMD, who were successful in the 1980s. Having veteran bands around, guys who are doing this because they love it and they love putting on a great show, makes for an amazing atmosphere— not only for the artists on the tour but obviously for the audience. Everyone has a great time, and everyone gets a great show.
Lerner: What do you like most about performing in the Berkshires, and what specifically do you enjoy most about performing at Tanglewood?
Stewart: Every member of Barenaked Ladies attended summer music camps when we were growing up, and we all love to play concerts outside. So, the idea of Tanglewood being the traditional home of summertime classical music is something we all relate to, and something we love. Also, Massachusetts is kind of like a second home for Barenaked Ladies. Boston has been one of our greatest markets since we started, as well as around the whole state. We always have great crowds, so we look forward to coming back anytime it ' s on the schedule.
Lerner: One thing that strikes me about you coming to Tanglewood is that both Tanglewood’ s performance schedule and Barenaked Ladies’ musical catalog are incredibly eclectic. What do you think is the secret to integrating multiple elements into a cohesive sound?
Stewart: I would say bringing different musical elements together is directly in line with the philosophy of Barenaked Ladies. We all strive to make the best music possible. We bring everything to the table that we can. I think it’ s really a reflection of the guys in the group. Everyone has their different taste, whether it’ s Ed Robertson with his country and western roots from his parents, or Kevin Hearn with his prog-rock tendencies. Jim Creeggan has a definite jazz influence in a lot of his stuff, and he was also in an a cappella quartet. Me? I grew up with Led Zeppelin from my dad and James Brown from my mom. So, all of this crazy stuff comes together in our music. We wear our influences on our sleeve, but when we get together, it creates this thing we call the Barenaked Ladies. I really believe we have a unique sound, and we do things differently than everybody else. That’ s just a product of four interesting personalities coming to the table with everything they’ ve got.
Lerner: Your newest full-length album, In Flight, puts that mixture of musical elements on full display— both with the production choices and the diversity of the material. Today, music is even more genre-fluid than ever. What motivates you to continue elevating your craft?
Stewart: As music fans, the guys in this group are always open to new things. And we all have children— well, actually, we all have adults now— but, we used to have children! And you know, we’ re influenced by them, as well. With sampling and streaming, you hear all elements of music in a three-minute pop song these days, and it’ s very interesting to me. This band— we just try to be as honest as possible. We’ re not afraid to pay tribute to something. We’ re not afraid to blatantly rip something off— whatever it takes to make an interesting and compelling track. We feel like our audience trusts us, and they’ ll be on the journey with us. n
May Holiday / June 2023 2025 BERKSHIRE MAGAZINE // // 37