Numerous drummers came and went until June of 1986, when Don Schmid joined to make it a permanent quartet. With the help of friend and local booking agent Robert Hodgins, the band cut its teeth on the prairie bar circuit. The combination of exciting live performances, well-received indie albums, and the continuous stream of demos caught the ear of Doug Chappell, President of Virgin Records, Canada, and with the help of managers Fraser Hill and Ed Smeall, The Pikes signed to the label on December 19, 1986.
In January 1987, the band began sessions at Metal Works Studio in Toronto with producers Rick Hutt and Fraser Hill, and they finished mixing at McClear Place Studios for what would become its first Virgin album, titled 'Big Blue Sky'. It was released in June of '87 and featured the singles "Teenland" and "Things I Do For Money", introducing the band to a wider audience and expanding the touring range to all parts of Canada and the USA.
Spring of 1988 saw The Pikes at Bearsville Studios in Woodstock, NY. and later in Le Studio, Morin Heights, Quebec for the recording and mixing of 'Secrets of the Alibi'. The sophomore album had a more "live off the floor" feel, and the heavy airplay of single "Wait For Me" and "Hopes Go Astray" kept the band on the road virtually non-stop across the continent until the summer of '89.
Up to this point, the primary singers and songwriters were Jay and Merl, with the exception of some group compositions and "Hopes" written by Bryan. The Pikes third album Snow In June saw the blossoming of Bryan as a singer and writer, most notably for the hit single "She Ain't Pretty". In addition the album featured other hits, "Girl With A Problem" and "Kiss Me You Fool", and featured a star-studded cast of additional musicians - Garth Hudson, Crystal Taliefero, John Sebastian and Stan Szelest, as well as mixes by acclaimed engineers Bob Clearmountain and Hugh Padgham. Recording again in Bearsville and mixing at A&M Studios in Los Angeles, the Pikes spent almost six months working on the album, considered by many to be their finest.
After almost two years of touring to support Snow In June, the band began work on Neptune in July of '92 at A&M Studios in LA with Rob Jaczko as co-producer. Subsequent sessions continued at Metal Works in Toronto and Blue Jay Studio in Boston. From start to finish the album took exactly two months to record, mix and master¤ the fastest turnaround since their indie days- Released in November, Neptune featured the keyboard work of Ross Nykiforuk, also a native of Saskatoon and an on-stage addition for the Snow In June tour. Also featured were two duets with Margo Timmins of "Cowboy Junkies", one of which¤ "Worlds Away"¤ made its way onto an episode of the TV series "Due South". The album featured the singles "Twister", "Believe" and "Everything", and in December saw the band fly from one end of Canada to the other on a whirlwind tour promoting the record.
The spring of '93 saw the last tour for The Pikes, and the fifth and final album gig, recorded live during concerts in Montreal and Toronto. It featured 13 songs and showcased the raw energy the band always exhibited onstage.
The Northern Pikes played their final concert of this first era on July 2, 1993 in Fort Frances, Ontario. Their unofficial final recording session took place July 9, '93 in Don's "Fresh Vibe North" studio where Jay, Bryan, Don and Ross laid down the original tracks for the theme song to "Due South" written by Jay and Bryan. Shortly afterwards, the band disbanded.
However, in 1999, the band reformed to build a Greatest Hits package, called "Hits and Assorted Secrets 1984-1993." On the subsequent tour to promote this album, the band decided to release a live work in 2000 ("Live"). This was followed by a studio album in 2001 ("Truest Inspiration"), and another in 2003 ("It's a Good Life"). A collaborative album with fellow Canadian artist Les Stroud followed-up in 2008. They've continued to tour over the past few years.
Place That's Insane
The Northern Pikes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Got wrinkles on her face, but she's only twenty-one
I go there every day
She always looks good and has something to say
And it amazes me to no end how you can
Stay sane in a place that's insane
It amazes me to no end how you can
Stay sane in a place that's insane
It must be her smile or the lick of her lips
She lives in a room upstairs
Where there's no running water
And she can't wash her hair
I asked her if she likes her work
If she ever got tired of the drunks and the jerks
She told me that it pays the rent
And there's no need to stop
'Til something better comes along
And it amazes me to no end how you can
Stay sane in a place that's insane
It amazes me to no end how you can
Stay sane in a place that's insane
Life can be cool and life can be cruel
Life can be sweet and throw flowers at your feet
But the girl that works in the club downtown
Knows all about life, man, she's been around
And it amazes me to no end how you can
Stay sane in a place that's insane
It amazes me to no end how you can
Stay sane in a place that's insane
The Northern Pikes's song Place That's Insane is a haunting portrait of a young woman who works in a club downtown. The song is a commentary on the challenges of survival in a world that is often chaotic and unsettling. The song's opening lines describe the young woman's physical appearance, which is underscored by her wrinkled face, despite her young age of 21. The singer in the song visits the club every day and observes the woman closely. Despite her environment, she always looks good and has something to say.
The song describes the young woman's difficult living conditions, including her struggles with no running water and an inability to wash her hair. Despite the challenges, she remains remarkably stoic and committed to her work. The song's chorus speaks to the remarkable resilience of the human spirit, particularly in the face of adversity. The singer is amazed at how the young woman can remain sane in a place that is so insane. The theme is reinforced further by the line, "life can be cool and life can be cruel, life can be sweet and throw flowers at your feet," which underscores the precariousness and unpredictability of the world.
Line by Line Meaning
She works in a club downtown
The girl in the song has a job in a club that is located in the city centre.
Got wrinkles on her face, but she's only twenty-one
Despite being young, the girl's lifestyle has led to premature wrinkles on her face.
I go there every day
The singer regularly visits the club where the girl works.
She always looks good and has something to say
The girl in the song is always well-presented and can hold a conversation with the singer.
And it amazes me to no end how you can
The singer is impressed by the girl's ability to do something.
Stay sane in a place that's insane
The club that the girl works in is a hectic and challenging environment, but she manages to remain emotionally stable.
The pay's not good, but she gets some good tips
The girl's primary income is from tips rather than her low base wage.
It must be her smile or the lick of her lips
The singer speculates that the girl's pleasant demeanor is what encourages patrons to tip her well.
She lives in a room upstairs
The girl resides in a room that's located on the floor above the club.
Where there's no running water
The girl's living conditions are poor, and she doesn't have access to some basic amenities like running water.
And she can't wash her hair
Due to the lack of running water, the girl can't wash her hair.
I asked her if she likes her work
The singer in the song asked the girl if she enjoys working at the club.
If she ever got tired of the drunks and the jerks
The singer asks if the girl gets fed up with the rowdy and unpleasant patrons at the club.
She told me that it pays the rent
The girl explained to the singer that her job at the club helps her pay her rent.
And there's no need to stop
The girl sees no reason to quit her job despite its difficulties.
Til something better comes along
The girl intends to continue working at the club until she finds something better to do.
Life can be cool and life can be cruel
The lyrics are making a general statement about the ups and downs of life.
Life can be sweet and throw flowers at your feet
The song posits that life can also be rewarding and kind.
But the girl that works in the club downtown
The girl is different from the average person, and the singer admires that about her.
Knows all about life, man, she's been around
The girl has experienced more of life's highs and lows than most people her age.
Contributed by Ethan J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.