Editor’s note: This story references a Feb. 14 musical event at Mateada, but it has been cancelled due to illness.
One of Salt Spring’s favourite bands has released its first CD — called Roots — and is inviting the island to celebrate with them on Valentine’s Day.
SugarBeat is comprised of Greg Pauker on guitar and vocals; Sarah Dawn Morris on vocals and percussion; Dave Roland on bass and vocals; and Mike Stefancsik on drums and percussion.
Roots showcases the veteran performers’ talents in songwriting and musicianship.
“I’ve been pretty proud of what we’ve come up with, and it’s got some catchy tunes,” said Pauker, who is also known internationally for his sound engineering and design work.
It was after Pauker returned to Salt Spring in 2020 after six years of working in Atlanta, Ga. that SugarBeat was formed, although some members have performed with others for years in various incarnations, from Salt, to Beat and the Sneaks, The Party Band and Sea Biscuit.
It didn’t take long for Pauker, Morris and Stefancsik, plus original bass player Bob Delion, to think about creating an album of R&B-infused original songs. Roots consists of three songs written by Morris, three by Pauker and one by Delion.
“And the one thing we really like to do is capture it all with all of us playing together,” said Pauker, explaining that they recorded multiple takes of each song and then agreed on the best one, rather than recording parts and putting them together later.
The band considered putting the album on vinyl, or a USB stick to accommodate the higher-definition files created, but in the end went with a CD as it’s the most universally accessible format.
People attending this Friday night’s event at Mateada will receive a copy of the CD with their tickets, which cost $40 per person or $60 for a couple. (Tickets are available through mateadaguayaki.com or at Windsor Plywood.)
For the Mateada gig, the band will be joined by guest saxophonist Alan Ett, a multi-talented musician and producer from Los Angeles who recently moved to the island. Claire Lawrence did the sax work on Roots.
The evening will feature a presentation set of songs on Roots, and then a set of uptempo music that will get everyone dancing.
Pauker and Stefancsik have high praise for their bandmates.
Not only is Morris a great songwriter, they said, but she consistently gives her all to whatever she takes on.
“She just brings it home every time,” said Stefancsik, “whether at rehearsals or live shows. Whenever she’s behind the mic it’s all feeling and power. The only way I think she can perform is to put all her heart and emotion into her song.”
With such a long history of playing together, Pauker and Stefancsik communicate easily on stage.
“Let’s just say that I can always tell when he’s having a good night,” laughed Stefancsik, who was a touring musician as a younger man.
While bass player Delion is no longer part of the band, one of his songs is on Roots, and Pauker and Stefancsik love it. As a sort of celebration of Canada, it’s particularly timely, they said. Delion is set to sing the song at the Mateada event.
Doors open at Mateada at 7 p.m. on Feb. 14, with music starting at 8 p.m.