THE TEA PARTY

Your dad’s favorite Canadian rockers are back on tour—did they play all the hits? Almost…

It’s less a trip down memory lane than a drive down Highway 1 to Abbotsford’s Roger’s Forum (formerly the Abbotsford Arena). The last time I caught The Tea Party live was back in the early ’90s at a tiny Winnipeg bar called the Spectrum. They had just dropped their psychedelic debut Splendor Solis, with “The River” standing out—wah‑pedal riffs swirling while Jeff Martin’s vocals channeled Jim Morrison with uncanny precision.

I remember being floored by Martin’s musicianship, switching effortlessly between guitars and percussion, commanding the stage with a kind of mystic intensity. Word spread quickly about the band, though the chatter often circled back to one sticking point: Martin sounded too much like Morrison. For some, that resemblance was a thrill; for others, it was a distraction

The Tea Party remains true to its original lineup: Jeff Martin commanding vocals and guitars, Stuart Chatwood anchoring bass and keyboards, and Jeff Burrows driving the drums. A split over “creative differences” in 2005 briefly derailed the journey, but the trio reunited in 2011—thankfully restoring the chemistry fans had come to expect.

Across nine albums, their catalog stretches from the psychedelic grit of Splendor Solis to the more recent Blood Moon Rising (2021). As for what’s next, whispers of a new record haven’t surfaced yet, leaving fans to wonder if another chapter is on the horizon.

Tonight, after all these years, The Tea Party has graduated from bar‑band grit to full arena stature. They’re on a cross‑Canada tour, flanked by heavyweight support from Finger Eleven and the Headstones.  I’m eager to see what kind of journey they’ll craft in this larger setting—and judging by the turnout, the anticipation is shared. The arena looks close to 4,000 strong, packed mostly with Generation X fans, with a scattering of younger faces curious to see what the buzz is about.

The Tea Party wasted no time—nonchalantly stepping onto the stage and launching straight into the rocker “Writing’s on the Wall.” By song two, the unmistakable Middle Eastern textures of “The Bazaar” filled the arena, its hypnotic riff drilling into the crowd’s collective memory. Classic Tea Party.

“Psychopomp” followed, with Stuart Chatwood taking over the keyboards while Jeff Martin stretched his vocals wide and deep. And yes—he still sounds exactly like the Jeff Martin we’ve known for 35 years.

The hits rolled in hard: “Heaven Coming Down” and “Temptation,” staples of Canadian rock radio, drew massive cheers. “Save Me,” a track I first heard back at that Winnipeg show decades ago, brought a welcome dive into their more psychedelic side. Then came “Winter Solstice,” with Martin on a 12‑string acoustic—his underrated guitar work shimmering in every chord.

If they’d broken bigger in the U.S., I suspect many more would recognize just how versatile Jeff Martin is. He’s not shy about grabbing a hand drum either, layering extra percussive textures alongside Jeff Burrows’ powerhouse drumming.

Jeff Martin wasn’t shy about grabbing a hand drum, adding extra percussive textures to Jeff Burrows’ powerhouse rhythms. From there, the band leaned deeper into their psychedelic side with “Sister Awake,” only to detour midway into a Rolling Stones cover of “Paint It Black.” With the Headstones also dropping “Sympathy for the Devil” earlier in the night, I half‑wondered if a Stone had passed away—but a quick check of my phone said otherwise.

And then, just like that, the set was over—10 songs in total. That’s when the warm rush of disappointment hit. No “The River.” The very song that pulled me, and thousands of others, into The Tea Party decades ago. Sacrilege! I was sure “Good night Abbotsford!” was a fake‑out, that they’d return for an encore. But no—lights up, show over. Did Jeff forget his wah pedal? Maybe they’re tired of playing it, but one more song wouldn’t have hurt.

Finger Eleven delivered 14 tracks, the Headstones 12, while The Tea Party capped at 10. Yes, their songs run longer, but still—c’mon guys. Despite my grumbling, though, it was a stellar performance. They haven’t lost a step, their sound remains massive, and the chemistry is intact. Here’s hoping they hold it together for another album and tour—so next time, Abbotsford finally gets “The River.” Generation X fans, you won’t walk away disappointed.