The Grapes of Wrath (band)

The Grapes of Wrath were formed in Kelowna, British Columbia, in 1983 by Chris Hooper, Tom Hooper and Kevin Kane.[5] All three had been members of the short-lived punk rock band Kill Pigs.[6] They came up with the new band name after looking at a movie guide, though nobody in the band had seen the movie or read the book.[6]

In 1984, they signed to Nettwerk, and released a self-titled EP that year.[7] The following year, their debut album September Bowl of Green was released.[8]

Treehouse (1987), produced by Tom Cochrane, was the band's Canadian breakthrough, yielding the hit single "Peace of Mind".[9]

Their 1989 album, Now and Again, produced by Anton Fier, was the band's most successful.[10] During the demoing process for the album, the band officially added their touring keyboard player, Vincent Jones, to the band as a full member. The band's tour to support this album was also notable for its opening act, a then-emerging singer/songwriter named Sarah McLachlan.[11]

Produced by John Leckie and mixed by Leckie and engineer Gareth Cousins, These Days, released in 1991, found the band experimenting with a harder rock sound,[12] and spawned the band's highest-charting singles, "I Am Here" and "You May Be Right". It received the 1992 CASBY Award for Favourite Album, and "I Am Here" won the CASBY for Best Song.[13]

These Days was, however, to be the band's last new album for almost a decade.[14] Kane then split from the other members of the band, who continued to perform and record together as Ginger.[14]

In 1999, Kane and Tom Hooper, the Grapes' principal songwriters, decided to work together again, and in 2000 released Field Trip under the Grapes of Wrath name.[15] Neither Chris Hooper nor Vincent Jones took part in the reunion.

In 2009, Kane and Hooper decided to play together again as an acoustic duo.[16] Several concerts were scheduled in Western Canada.[16]

On July 18, 2010, the three original members performed together at the Surrey Fusion Festival in Surrey, British Columbia.[17] It was the first time the original trio had played together since 1992.[18]

The trio of Hooper/Kane/Hooper continued to tour regularly thereafter, and the Grapes of Wrath announced that they were beginning work on a new album. Two newly recorded tracks from these sessions were issued on the band's 2012 compilation Singles (EMI).[19] To mark this release, the band was joined by guests Sam Roberts, Whitehorse, Ron Sexsmith, Hayden, Great Lake Swimmers and other notable Canadian musicians at Toronto's Mod Club.[19]

The band's latest studio album High Road was released in March 2013 through Aporia Records.[20] The band continues to tour and play live dates.

Kevin Kane joined The Northern Pikes in 2019, though he continues to play festivals with The Grapes of Wrath.

• The Grapes of Wrath