2024 has been a full circle moment for Finger Eleven. After 25 years, the Juno Award-winning band are criss-crossing America again with their long time labelmates Creed on the current Summer of ‘99 arena tour. Just as when they were rising up, Finger Eleven’s musical hunger has been renewed. They are working on their first new album in nearly a decade. Even better, audiences are packing in for their slot on the tour, and the band members sense that a big rock revival is brewing.
“Last time we were in the States, we felt we had something to prove,” says guitarist Rick Jackett. “This time we have something to show. That happened naturally from us growing. Then to be given an opportunity like the Creed tour is wild. We're very fortunate to be in this situation – where we are as a band and these opportunities.”
Believe it or not, Finger Eleven have been around since 1990. Back in high school, founding members Scott and Sean Anderson (vocals and bass), and guitarists James Black and Rick Jackett formed the band with original drummer Rob Gommerman. They became Rainbow Butt Monkeys. With their blend of ‘90s alt and funk-rock, the Canadian upstarts signed to Mercury and released Letters From Chutney in 1995. While they had fun, the quintet realized they needed a new name and shift in the direction. Thus Finger Eleven was born, and they transitioned into a post-grunge and nu-metal influenced phase on their first two albums, Tip (1997) and The Greyest of Blue Skies (2000).
Their mainstream breakthrough came with their self-titled album. Produced by Johnny K (Disturbed, 3 Doors Down), this 2003 release marked a shift with the acoustic ballad “One Thing” which showcased a new side of the band and helped push album sales past gold in America and platinum in Canada. They have two gold albums in the States and two gold and two platinum albums in Canada.
Finger Eleven would prove elusive to categorize, a concept that fans embraced. Rather than copy their ballad success, they delivered the funky, swaggering hit “Paralyzer” on 2007’s Them Vs. You Vs. Me –. From then on, they got heavy with tracks like “Don’t Look Down” and “Gods of Speed,” dialed back for some waltzing acoustic numbers like “Change The World” and “Love’s What You Left Me With,” then grooved it up on “Living In A Dream”. Anything is fair game in their world.
It’s been awhile since we’ve gotten a full platter of new tunes from them, although Finger Eleven have consistently toured since the release of their last album, 2015’s Five Crooked Lines. They released their Greatest Hits album last year which included a cover of Pink Floyd’s “Welcome To The Machine” and a driving new anthem called “Together Right” which hit #1 at Canadian Rock radio for an incredible 5 weeks. The high energy video for the latter featured overall-clad workers dancing in a factory and was inspired by the movie 1984 starring John Hurt, an adaptation of George Orwell’s famous dystopian novel. As Black envisioned for the video, its choreography reflected an “absurd” dance of “authoritarian joy” and a story with a hopeful resolution.
Times have changed since Five Crooked Lines – streaming is now ubiquitous, social media is a necessity, and Finger Eleven’s loyal fanbase has strengthened and grown during the digital music era. They discovered that they have more fans and a broader international reach than they realized. All the band members are fathers now – it’s been a time of change and personal growth that is fueling an artistic rebirth. This is also drummer Steve Mollela’s first album with the group, and he has proved his mettle behind the kit and behind the boards as an engineer and producer.
The new tunes explore time-honored Finger Eleven concepts with fresh twists. “Adrenaline” is a rousing, intense anthem about banding together and pushing forward against adversity. “Blue Sky Mystery” is another hard-hitting rocker about being beguiled by something just out of reach. “The Mountain” rides musical peaks and valleys in its quest to chase the song, about the creative process expressed in a fantasy setting. And then there is the upbeat acoustic number “Last Night On Earth” which deals with the fallout of an argument. It’s the most personal new track for frontman Scott Anderson with its push-pull tagline, “Nothing’s right when you all say is nothing’s wrong.”
“That was written about a moment in time where a conversation is going to go all night,” the singer explains. “The joke is I don't remember the conflicts. I just remember how I felt. Hopefully it wasn't over stupid bulls**t, but there's a really good chance it was, arguing with my significant other. Was I wrong? Probably. I don’t know.”
Yet while Anderson is still exploring tumultuous emotional states, there’s a noted difference a decade later, especially after becoming a father. “I think it's disingenuous to hang on to that 2000s angst that I used to have,” he asserts, adding that the band is showing a stronger sense of humor than before. “We're having a good time. And with the music itself, there's a little more of a rock 'n roll spirit than we used to show.”
Reflecting this camaraderie, Finger Eleven’s songwriting process has become truly democratic. They split the songwriting credit equally and stay open to other people’s ideas. One person might write a whole song, others might contribute. Their singer writes most of the lyrics, but he is open to other people’s ideas to make things better. As Jackett points out, “Scott can come up with the drumbeat, Sean might suggest the guitar hook, James might suggest the bass line, and Steve suggests the vocal. At this point, that's the best way Finger Eleven works. We're all writing all the parts all the time.”
Since Finger Eleven brought out new music, they have a renewed artistic vigor. And if a big rock revival is coming, they’re pumped. “We are in a primed state as far as abilities and connection to our music,” Black declares. “If the spotlight is going to come back around to what we do, it's the perfect time for us to do it.”
