ArtistDirect News
Crash Test Dummies Return to St. Catharines for September 22 Show
The Canadian folk‑rock trio is back in St. Catharines, and the return promises a trip through three decades of music. On September 22, the band will light up Partridge Hall at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, starting at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $43 for PAC members and $48 for the general public, available online through the centre’s website.
Founded in Winnipeg in 1991, Crash Test Dummies have released ten studio albums and a string of EPs. Their debut, The Ghost That Haunts Me, yielded the Canadian hit “Superman’s Song,” while the follow‑up, God Shuffled His Feet, launched the international single “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm” in October 1993. The track topped the U.S. charts but received limited airplay in Canada, a discrepancy the band has openly acknowledged.
In recent years, lead singer Brad Roberts has kept creative control through his own label, Deep Fried Records. The most recent single, “Sacred Alphabet,” dropped in March 2023 and marks the first full‑band recording in over a decade. Roberts has said that while fans often request the classic hits, audiences respond strongly to new material.
The commercial journey of “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm” was uneven. In the United States, the song was promoted by Arista Records, then headed by Clive Davis, whose backing Roberts described as “key.” Canadian radio programmers and MuchMusic, however, did not embrace the single. To offer Canadian stations an alternative, the band recorded a video for another track from God Shuffled His Feet, “Swimming in Your Ocean.”
The song also appeared on the soundtrack for the 1994 comedy Dumb and Dumber, paired with a cover of XTC’s “The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead.” In the early 1990s, the band was approached by comedian‑musician Weird Al Yankovic to record a parody titled “Headline News.” Roberts recalled the experience as a milestone and noted that he performed the track live with Yankovic on MuchMusic.
Today’s lineup consists of Brad Roberts (lead vocals, guitar), his brother Dan Roberts (bass), drummer Mitch Dorge, and vocalist‑keyboardist Ellen Reid. The group continues to tour, opting to travel by van rather than a tour bus, a strategy Roberts says has provided a steady income for the past decade.
At the September 22 performance, fans can expect a blend of early staples such as “Superman’s Song” and “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm” alongside newer offerings like “Sacred Alphabet.” The set will showcase the band’s signature folk‑rock sound while highlighting recent creative output.
The FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, which opened in 2015, hosts a variety of performances across its four venues, including the 770‑seat Partridge Hall. The Crash Test Dummies show is part of the centre’s broader live‑music schedule.
In short, Crash Test Dummies will return to St. Catharines on September 22, delivering a set that spans their three‑decade career. Their ongoing releases on Deep Fried Records and sustained touring schedule underscore their continued relevance in the Canadian music scene.
Founded in Winnipeg in 1991, Crash Test Dummies have released ten studio albums and a string of EPs. Their debut, The Ghost That Haunts Me, yielded the Canadian hit “Superman’s Song,” while the follow‑up, God Shuffled His Feet, launched the international single “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm” in October 1993. The track topped the U.S. charts but received limited airplay in Canada, a discrepancy the band has openly acknowledged.
In recent years, lead singer Brad Roberts has kept creative control through his own label, Deep Fried Records. The most recent single, “Sacred Alphabet,” dropped in March 2023 and marks the first full‑band recording in over a decade. Roberts has said that while fans often request the classic hits, audiences respond strongly to new material.
The commercial journey of “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm” was uneven. In the United States, the song was promoted by Arista Records, then headed by Clive Davis, whose backing Roberts described as “key.” Canadian radio programmers and MuchMusic, however, did not embrace the single. To offer Canadian stations an alternative, the band recorded a video for another track from God Shuffled His Feet, “Swimming in Your Ocean.”
The song also appeared on the soundtrack for the 1994 comedy Dumb and Dumber, paired with a cover of XTC’s “The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead.” In the early 1990s, the band was approached by comedian‑musician Weird Al Yankovic to record a parody titled “Headline News.” Roberts recalled the experience as a milestone and noted that he performed the track live with Yankovic on MuchMusic.
Today’s lineup consists of Brad Roberts (lead vocals, guitar), his brother Dan Roberts (bass), drummer Mitch Dorge, and vocalist‑keyboardist Ellen Reid. The group continues to tour, opting to travel by van rather than a tour bus, a strategy Roberts says has provided a steady income for the past decade.
At the September 22 performance, fans can expect a blend of early staples such as “Superman’s Song” and “Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm” alongside newer offerings like “Sacred Alphabet.” The set will showcase the band’s signature folk‑rock sound while highlighting recent creative output.
The FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, which opened in 2015, hosts a variety of performances across its four venues, including the 770‑seat Partridge Hall. The Crash Test Dummies show is part of the centre’s broader live‑music schedule.
In short, Crash Test Dummies will return to St. Catharines on September 22, delivering a set that spans their three‑decade career. Their ongoing releases on Deep Fried Records and sustained touring schedule underscore their continued relevance in the Canadian music scene.