ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½

But he says he owes a significant amount of Barenaked Ladies’ success to American audiences, who have bought millions of records and helped their quirky, hyper-literate tracks chart nearly 100 cumulative weeks on U.S. record charts since the release of the band’s fabled self-produced debut indie tape in 1991.

The recent trade war, threats to Canadian sovereignty from Donald Trump and the subsequent revival of Canadian nationalism have, naturally, been delicate to square for a freewheeling, humour-inclined musician who wears his national pride on his sleeve.Ìý

“My whole career is America,” Robertson told the Star from his dressing room at Boston’s Leader Bank Pavilion. “I have to be conscious of what I say, when I say it. But I believe, ultimately, we’re here as ambassadors and entertainers.”Ìý

Audiences, however, have shown little animus toward the band on its latest summer swing. They’re just as warm and responsive as ever, Robertson said.Ìý

“I approached the tour with some consternation and concern, and was immediately welcomed back into the arms of America and our fans down here. There’s quite a divide between the administration and the people,” he observed.Ìý

More than 35 years on, not much has changed for Robertson, drummer Tyler Stewart, bassist Jim Creeggan and utility man Kevin Hearn, even in the post-Steven Page era; they still jump about and joke onstage as if they were in their mid-20s, they still elongate the outros of classic songs to allow for impromptu rap breakdowns, and they even cover Van Halen and Chappell RoanÌýwith their trademark acoustic accents.Ìý

“It’s a bunch of old pals on the road. It’s summer camp, it’s awesome,” Robertson said of the 38-show tour, which sees them joined by fellow ’90s hitmakers Fastball (“The Way,” “Out of My Head”) and Sugar Ray (“Fly,” “Every Morning”).Ìý

Logistically, though, Robertson has taken a different approach to touring, flying his Cirrus SR22 — a small, single-engine plane — to most gigs. He has started chronicling his travels on a low-key which has garnered the attention of some of the band’s more sky-minded fans.Ìý

In one direct-to-camera video, Robertson sits in the cockpit explaining the controls and aerodynamics of his vessel. Of course, puns abound when he mentions the plane’s side-mounted yoke.

“Side-mounted yoke, by the way, is what should be ordered with every breakfast,” he says with a smirk. “I’m not with this egg white crowd. I want more yoke.”Ìý

For someone who’s long struggled to get consistent sleep on tour buses, Robertson says the change of pace and scenery has been a welcome adjustment, especially since it hasn’t taken away the fun of being on the road.

“It has added something I love and removed something I hate about touring,” he said.

On a personal note, flying between shows allows him to exercise a more mechanicalÌýpart of his brain that might otherwise go unused over a long — but admittedly fun — tour across North America.Ìý

“My whole job is all creative. It’s all improvisational, it’s all just connecting with the audience, and this aviation side of me is all technical, all demanding, all planned, all rigid. And so it’s nice for me to have both,” he said.Ìý

As the band prepares to return to the GTA for a hometown show at Budweiser Stage next week, Robertson is quick to note there’s little that’s more stressful for him than playing a hometown show, not because of the bigger crowds, brighter lights or more dedicated, attuned audience, but because of the number of people he has to look after.

All in all, he estimates he’ll have some 100 people on the guest list.Ìý

“It’s so stressful to play at home,” he laughed. “The whole tour, I am never preoccupied or nervous or considering anything other than walking onstage and having a great time. And then in my hometown, I’m just freaking out making sure I’ve got all my friends looked after and they’re on the guest list, and they’ve got the right kind of passes and they know what time we go on, and I haven’t forgotten somebody.”Ìý

Barenaked Ladies perform with support from Sugar Ray and Fastball at Budweiser Stage on July 25 at 7 p.m. See Ìýfor tickets.