By William Loeffler

Published: Friday, November 9, 2012, 3:50 p.m.
Updated: Friday, November 9, 2012

Sloan's power pop anthems have sometimes obscured their formidable live chops. If their albums are bright and catchy but a tad restrained, it's a different story when the Canadian quartet walks onstage.

Thursday's show at the Shadow Lounge in East Liberty galvanized a small but vocal audience and may have rattled the stained glass windows of the church across the street. The band played their entire 1994 album “Twice Removed” before hurtling through a second set that included blistering versions of “Losing California” and “Who Taught You To Live Like That?”

The evening's best moments came when Sloan's arena rock drive combusted with their stingingly sweet choruses that recall the Beatles, Byrds and Beach Boys circa 1966. Bassist Chris Murphy sang like his life depended on it and drummer Andrew Scott seemed to be shooting the (Keith) Moon. Guitarists Patrick Pentland and Jay Ferguson injected rock and roll grit to “I Hate My Generation,” “Fading Into Obscurity” and “Take Good Care of the Poor Boy.”

William Loeffler is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at wloeffler@tribweb.com or 412-320-7986.

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