BA presents
Vapors of Morphine
with Jeb Cardwell
Crowbar Brisbane (Fortitude Valley, QLD)
Sunday, 4 May 2025 8:00 pm
Some legacies are too powerful to fade. The music of pioneering '90s "Low Rock” trio Morphine, was as hypnotic as it was groundbreaking. Fusing baritone saxophone, 2-string slide bass, and drums into a sound that was sultry, raw, and entirely their own. But when frontman Mark Sandman died suddenly on stage in 1999, Morphine’s story seemed to end.
Yet from those ashes, a new sound emerged. Vapors of Morphine isn’t just a tribute; it’s a continuation, an evolution. Formed in the late 2000's by Morphine saxophonist Dana Colley and multi-instrumentalist Jeremy Lyons, the band continued to evolve and their latest album, 2021's Fear & Fantasy (Schnitzel Records, UK), represents a new era, blending fresh material with the signature Morphine sound.
The story of Vapors of Morphine is as serendipitous as it is poetic. Years before they met, Colley unknowingly captured a photo of Lyons and his street band in New Orleans, pasting it into his tour journal with a note about their evocative blues sound. A decade later, after Hurricane Katrina forced Lyons to relocate to Boston, the two musicians were introduced, only to discover they had matching halves of the same Polaroid, a moment of fate that sparked their collaboration.
Since then, Vapors of Morphine has grown beyond nostalgia, carving new sonic landscapes while staying true to the moody, intoxicating essence of their predecessor.
Their live performances are a hypnotic blend of Morphine originals, deep blues, African rhythms, and psychedelic rock that pushes boundaries while honouring the experimental spirit that Sandman championed.
With Fear & Fantasy, Vapors of Morphine embraces both the past and the future. Featuring both Deupree and Arey on drums, the album recalls Morphine’s final masterpiece, The Night, while incorporating lush new textures, electric baritone sax, and haunting two-string slide bass. It’s proof that while Morphine’s original chapter may have ended, the story is far from over.
Contrary to common belief, Morphine wasn’t named for the drug but for Morpheus, the Greek god of dreams. But Vapors of Morphine? Their music is the kind of intoxicating, transportive experience that lingers long after the last note, no prescription required.
Yet from those ashes, a new sound emerged. Vapors of Morphine isn’t just a tribute; it’s a continuation, an evolution. Formed in the late 2000's by Morphine saxophonist Dana Colley and multi-instrumentalist Jeremy Lyons, the band continued to evolve and their latest album, 2021's Fear & Fantasy (Schnitzel Records, UK), represents a new era, blending fresh material with the signature Morphine sound.
The story of Vapors of Morphine is as serendipitous as it is poetic. Years before they met, Colley unknowingly captured a photo of Lyons and his street band in New Orleans, pasting it into his tour journal with a note about their evocative blues sound. A decade later, after Hurricane Katrina forced Lyons to relocate to Boston, the two musicians were introduced, only to discover they had matching halves of the same Polaroid, a moment of fate that sparked their collaboration.
Since then, Vapors of Morphine has grown beyond nostalgia, carving new sonic landscapes while staying true to the moody, intoxicating essence of their predecessor.
Their live performances are a hypnotic blend of Morphine originals, deep blues, African rhythms, and psychedelic rock that pushes boundaries while honouring the experimental spirit that Sandman championed.
With Fear & Fantasy, Vapors of Morphine embraces both the past and the future. Featuring both Deupree and Arey on drums, the album recalls Morphine’s final masterpiece, The Night, while incorporating lush new textures, electric baritone sax, and haunting two-string slide bass. It’s proof that while Morphine’s original chapter may have ended, the story is far from over.
Contrary to common belief, Morphine wasn’t named for the drug but for Morpheus, the Greek god of dreams. But Vapors of Morphine? Their music is the kind of intoxicating, transportive experience that lingers long after the last note, no prescription required.