The New Class Act is a hard-hitting, rock-riffing, reggae-grooving track from Canadian reggae-rock veterans Street Pharmacy — and for nearly two decades, it’s been their show-stopping finale.

 

“This song has long been our closer,” says vocalist and songwriter Ryan Guay. “I can probably count on one hand the number of shows in the past 20 years where we didn’t end with it. First-time fans always ask, ‘What’s that last song?’ or ‘Can I stream it anywhere?’ For years my answer was, ‘You’ll have to come see us live.’”

 

That changes this summer. The New Class Act is finally available on Delusional Discourse, Street Pharmacy’s sprawling new 20-song double album. So why did it take so long?

 

“Capturing the unpredictability and intensity of our live show in the studio was always a challenge,” says Guay. “Most of our albums are built layer-by-layer, but this song’s a runaway train. This time, we went for a partially live recording — and it worked.”

 

Street Pharmacy’s sound — a unique fusion of hard, guitar-driven rock and reggae — is delivered with remarkable songcraft and commercial sensibility. This style is gaining renewed momentum in the global marketplace, particularly with the return of Sublime featuring Jakob Nowell on lead vocals, stepping into the role once held by his late father, Bradley. “I believe there’s strong potential for a serious reggae-rock resurgence,” says Guay, “and with The New Class Act, Street Pharmacy is uniquely positioned to be at the forefront of that movement in Canada and beyond.”

 

For the first time in years, Street Pharmacy’s original lineup — Nate Triano, Dan Fretz, and Brandon Ventresca — joined Guay in the studio at Halo Studios in Hamilton, Ontario. “The rest of Delusional Discourse was recorded in a completely different way. But for this track, we went live off the floor — even the vocals — with minimal overdubs. That old SSL board at Halo gave us exactly what we’d been chasing. Growing up, I loved the energy of early Van Halen with Roth and Stand By Your Van by Sublime. This track is the fusion of ‘don’t give a f***’ energy with the tightness of a seasoned live band.”

 

Lyrically, The New Class Act doesn’t pull punches. The chorus warns would-be “ops” (as the kids say) to watch their backs, no matter which lineup of Street Pharmacy takes the stage. “I wrote the lyric in high school,” Guay recalls. “I was listening to a lot of golden-age hip-hop, where being braggadocious is second nature. The reggae shuffle in the verses just naturally lent itself to that cadence — and it stuck all these years.”

 

With over 500 shows performed, 95 songs released, and two decades in the game, Street Pharmacy remains a rare constant in Canada’s indie music landscape. The band has toured across Canada and the U.S., played major festivals, and even hit #1 on the MuchMusic Countdown in 2010.

 

“Street Pharmacy is my passion,” says Guay. “I’m lucky to still be writing songs and playing with a talented crew of guys I’m proud to call friends.”

 

The New Class Act and the rest of Delusional Discourse will be released August 16, 2025 at Street Pharmacy’s 19th Anniversary Album Release Show at The Belmont in Port Colborne, Ontario