Some legacies refuse to dim. The music of ‘90s cult trio Vapors of Morphine – with its signature blend of baritone sax, two-string slide bass and drums – wasn’t just genre-defying; it was a universe unto itself. But when frontman Mark Sandman tragically collapsed on stage in 1999, it seemed that universe had imploded.
Now, more than two decades on, Vapors of Morphine are proving that story was only the end of one chapter.
Formed in the late 2000s by original sax player Dana Colley and multi-instrumentalist Jeremy Lyons, Vapors of Morphine aren’t just resurrecting the old sound – they’re pushing it further. Their latest album, 2021’s Fear & Fantasy (via Schnitzel Records, UK), leans into the band’s noir-jazz foundations while drenching it in new textures: electric baritone sax, hypnotic rhythms, and bluesy psychedelia that nods to Africa as much as it does Boston dive bars.
Fear & Fantasy features both Tom Arey and Billy Conway’s successor, Deupree, on drums – a nod to 2000’s The Night, the band’s swansong – but it’s no tribute act. This is a reimagining. A dream-state continuation. A sound still stoned on its own groove.
And if you’re wondering about the band name: no, morphine was never named after the opiate. It came from Morpheus, god of dreams. But with internet filters now censoring “morphine” due to its pharmaceutical ties, Vapors of Morphine wear their censorship like a badge of underground honour – after all, nothing about this music was ever built for algorithms.
Joining them on tour (excluding Gumball Fest) is Melbourne’s Jeb Cardwell – a slide guitar whisperer whose resume includes Kasey Chambers, Steve Earle, and Tony Joe White. His solo LP My Friend Defiance was called “poised and assured” by Rhythms Magazine, and his dusty soul-blues fits right into the VOM trip: think desert highway grooves and late-night licks.
Some bands play music. Vapors of Morphine bend time.
Tour Dates April / May 2025
Sun, April 27: Gumball Fest, Hunter Valley
Wed, April 30: Crowbar, Sydney
Thurs, May 1: Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
Fri, May 2: Theatre Royal, Castlemaine Vic
Sat, May 3: Vinnies Dive Bar, Gold Coast
Sun, May 4: Crowbar, Brisbane
Tickets HERE.
