<… Read Full Bio ↴Wide Mouth Mason is Shaun Verreault, Gordie Johnson, and Safwan Javed.
From the "Paris of the prairies" (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada) comes the the power trio known as Wide Mouth Mason (WMM). Currently, the lineup is comprised of Shaun Verreault, Gordie Johnson, and Safwan Javed.
The original line-up featured Shaun, Safwan, and Earl Pereira, who began playing together in 1993, and their first performances as Wide Mouth Mason coming approximately two years later. As Wide Mouth Mason, the three young men from Saskatoon began to build a fan base, the guys taking their band name from jars of the same name that they once used to drink from. In April 2010, Earl decided to pursue other musical opportunities with his band Mobadass. In February 2011, Gordie Johnson (Big Sugar, Grady) officially joined Wide Mouth Mason as bassist and vocals after helping Safwan and Shaun out in the same role on 2010 gigs.
From their beginnings performing in rural Alberta in 1995, Wide Mouth Mason has seen its fan base grow in Canada and extend to other areas of the world such as the United States and in Europe... as well as becoming one of the first North American bands to tour China in the 21st century. With each new fan gained often quick to share the discovery of Wide Mouth Mason's music with others who have yet to hear the band's music. While Wide Mouth Mason's studio catalogue provide musical snapshots of a band's journey and growth, it is the opportunity of hearing the guys perform live that is something not easily described or captured, only experienced.
Wide Mouth Mason has opened for such groups as AC/DC, The Rolling Stones, The Guess Who, and have gained more fans with each performance along the way. They've played at many different music festivals, including the prestigious Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. Each time the three of them perform, Wide Mouth Mason has ably demonstrated at each instance the innate ability to tailor their performance to the size of their audience and the environment created with each subtle nuance of a music fan enjoying the band's music. Wide Mouth Mason has the rare ability to not just sense the music the audience is hoping to hear but to also often surprise even the most jaded listener with their versatility and range.
Wide Mouth Mason has been a touring band for ten years, during which time they've released four major label records (Warner, and Warner/Atlantic), as well as an independent (Brownsound). They currently have a new record out on Curve Records. Their sound is influenced by a number of sources, and they've sold over 175,000 units worldwide, having received gold records twice in Canada, in addition to 7 Prairie Music Awards, 2 Canadian Radio Music Awards, 1 Western Canadian Music Award, and 2 Juno nominations.
Wide Mouth Mason has gained a plethora of accolades and notoriety for live performances in Canada, and abroad. In having played over 1000 shows, Wide Mouth Mason are seasoned performers who've earned a reputation that precedes them. The touring resume includes shows with: the Rolling Stones (5 shows--Canada/U.S.), AC/DC (28 shows--Canada/U.S.), ZZ Top (10 shows--Canada), George Thoroughgood (20 shows--Canada/U.S.), Kenny Wayne Shephard (23 shows--U.S.), the Guess Who (15 shows--Canada), Van Morrison, De La Soul, Alanis Morissette, Nickelback, Remy Shand, and countless more. The band has played the prestigious Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland (twice), Nashville River Stages, and Edgefest-Canada. They were the first rock band from outside of the Pacific Rim to play concerts in China (2002).
Wide Mouth Mason have had great success at rock radio in Canada. They have had numerous top 10 and top 20 songs, including: a number 3 (Midnight Rain), a number 5 (Why), a number 7 (Smile), a number 10 (My Old Self), and a number 15 (This Mourning). The songs of Wide Mouth Mason have shown themselves to be easily embraced by radio listeners and programmers. Wide Mouth Mason has had a brilliant relationship with other media as well. Of the ten music videos they've made, all have received regular rotation on MuchMusic Canada, MuchMore Music Canada, and MTV Canada. Four videos have reached top 15 in video charting. They've earned critical acclaim throughout their career, in every territory they've set foot in.
Wide Mouth Mason has a publishing deal in place with Warner-Chappel. The band's music has been featured in feature film soundtracks, and they were chosen to perform in the blockbuster 'the Recruit' (starring Colin Farrell).
There exists a substantial and well established Wide Mouth Mason fan base. A large percentage of this fan base has forged a tight knit internet community (www.widemouthmason.net). This group has become the impetus for numerous promotional campaigns (i.e. street teams, etc.). The band also maintains a sold web presence via such sites as MP3.com, www.widemouthmason.com (the official band website), and www.widemouthmason.net (the official fan network website).
The Game
Wide Mouth Mason Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Telling the tale of a life gone by
With a lion's share of greed and little pride
Pardon my hands for I can't feel
But is there anyone besides me
Who can not identify with beer-stained swagger
And reasons why
I see the face of a man in a jail yard lookin' at me
I'm tied up just as tightly
But I sing in my chains
Pardon my mind as it goes astray
But you caught me in a mood today
You can laugh and call me fool
But I'm playing the game as the game plays you
I see the face of a man in a jail yard lookin' at me
As I drive by can he see me
I'm tied up just as tightly
But I sing in my chains
The lyrics of Wide Mouth Mason's song 'The Game' delve into the struggle between freedom and captivity. The song highlights the idea of being tied up, whether it be physically, emotionally or mentally. The singer feels like he is not alone in this struggle as he asks "But is there anyone besides me?" and wonders if others have experienced life's struggles that have left them feeling trapped. He mentions a "lion's share of greed and little pride" which could be a reflection of the current societal structures where people are more focused on personal gain rather than collective prosperity.
The singer concedes that he may not be able to feel much with his hands, possibly because he feels powerless in certain situations, but he realizes that there are others struggling in different ways besides just him. He sees a man in a jail yard who seems to be looking at him and he sees himself in the man's gaze, as someone who is also tied up but hidden behind a guise of freedom. The singer acknowledges that his mind is prone to wandering and although he may feel locked up or trapped, he refuses to give up. His message is that despite life's struggles, one must continue singing, even if in chains.
Line by Line Meaning
But is there anyone beside me
Is there anyone else out there who feels the way I do
Telling the tale of a life gone by
Sharing their experiences of a past that has now passed
With a lion's share of greed and little pride
Having taken more than their fair share without much humility
Pardon my hands for I can't feel
Excusing myself for being numb and unemotional
But is there anyone besides me
Still wondering if there's anyone who can relate
Who can not identify with beer-stained swagger
Who can't connect with the stereotypical hard-drinking bravado
And reasons why
And the motivations behind it all
I see the face of a man in a jail yard lookin' at me
The specter of someone who's lost their freedom haunts me
As I drive by oh so freely
Even though I'm technically free, I'm really not
I'm tied up just as tightly
Feeling trapped and confined despite being physically free
But I sing in my chains
Still trying to make the best of a difficult situation
Pardon my mind as it goes astray
Forgive me for wandering off-topic and getting lost in my thoughts
But you caught me in a mood today
You're catching me at a particularly introspective moment
You can laugh and call me fool
Others may ridicule and mock me
But I'm playing the game as the game plays you
I'm trying to navigate life the best I can, just like everyone else
I see the face of a man in a jail yard lookin' at me
The vision of someone else's struggles keeps me grounded
As I drive by can he see me
Wondering if others can see my own difficult journey
I'm tied up just as tightly
Acknowledging that everyone has their own unique battles to fight
But I sing in my chains
Continuing to make the best of a challenging situation
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: K. CARTER, PATRICK LEONARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
makattak88
Incredibly underrated! What a jam!
krayzie 662
bad ass as all fuck. come back to Edmonton!!
Scott Sandstrom
Love this...
Canabananalism
i just lost the game thanks to them T_T