Men Without Shame

The legendary party band Men Without Shame has a home away from home. They've bought into The Roxy On Broadway, and plan to play there as much as possible. Their first shows are tonight and Saturday. The band started as a lark 10 years ago when no one was taking 70's rock seriously. But before they knew it, crowds were digging the show and the band was opening for icons like Cheap Trick, Sammy Hagar, The Doobie Brothers, Nazareth and many more. Renovations to The Roxy, formerly The Wash N' Slosh, include new carpet, paint and lights and the removal of the washing machines. "We are planning to play there a lot and especially on occasions such as band guy birthdays,"says Jason Gervais, "kinda like Sammy Hagar and his Cabo Wabo Cantina bar in San Lucas, except ours is in Saskatoon and the girls are prettier."
Plans are to focus on "fun" rock bands, including tribute bands like Outside The Wall, in addition to touring acts like Kick Axe and Todd Kerns. - Saskatoon Star Phoenix November 19, 2004

Men Without Shame had nowhere to go but down. The veteran Regina cover act was on top of the world — literally — during a 10-day CFPSA military tour that took it to the North Pole during this past holiday season.
In a place where bassist Irvin Fines says temperature is measured on a tiered scale of “Cold. Really cold. Or f’in cold!” the group’s experience was primarily with the last of those three.
“The worst day was minus-49,” he recalls, not so fondly. “We ran out in our underwear and rolled in the snow when it was only minus-31 — that’s called a ‘polar roll’. ”
Participating as part of a tour that also included The Wilkinsons (Men Without Shame doubled as their backup band), the group’s journey began at CFB Trenton, Ont. From there, the performers and their equipment boarded a CF-130 Hercules for a flight which took eight and a half hours and transported them to Thule Air Base on the northern tip of Greenland. “When you get there it is like being on the moon,” Fines says. “The plane lands and the vehicles come out to get you, and the steam is in the air — it’s unbelievable. “Everyone is dressed to the nuts in arctic gear. It’s actually bearable when you’re wearing the right stuff.”
Singer Jason Gervais, guitarist Brent Taylor and drummer Rob Green must have been wondering how Fines got them into this fine mess.
“I remember my first thoughts when we were asked to do the gig,” Fines laughs, in retrospect. “I was thinking . . . ‘Oh, my. Now I’ve done it.’ I remember calling the guys and saying, ‘Uh, we've got this gig . . .’
“But going and playing for the troops was an experience of a lifetime. And getting thanked after by them, having them come up and shake your hand . . . it was unbelievable. It was rewarding and humbling. Our music got us there. This is something we could have never done on our own.”
It’s just one more chapter in the 12-year history of a bunch of musicians who played original material and started Men Without Shame as a lark. If playing “Roxy Roller” was meant as a joke, the punch line has yet to be unveiled.
According to Fines and his mates, sometimes good dumb fun is still the best kind. - Regina Leader Post Feb 24, 2005