Aug 15, Pt.1, Leave the Living

August 15th 2013
The Vat
Red Deer, AB

Part The First.

In a strange turn of events I somehow managed to show up early to a gig, odd I know. By doing so; however, I was able to chat a bit with some of the cats playing, and the dudes who were putting the gig on (of thorn & vine promotions) and actually grab a seat near the soundboard, possibly my favourite place to sit in most venues, and really get a feel for the Vat as a room.  Now, I'm no stranger to this pub, in the past six months I've actually reviewed two shows in this venue, this time however is a little different, as I was actually invited to do so.  The Vat is a strange place, one full of interesting little stories and odds and ends, like years ago it was actually part of a brewery, and in the early 90s one of the lone shake shops in Red Deer was actually located just around the corner from it, the skate shop is now gone, but the Vat is still here.

Tonights crowd looks good. Seriously good.
Full disclaimer; I love metal, not all metal, but METAL, yet oddly i'm not fond of metal shows.. so really this could go either way, but from what I can tell early in the evening these cats were all raised on Pantera III, I take that as a good sign.
Side note; Of Thorn and Vine Promotions noted that one of the Red Deer scenes regulars was recently diagnosed with cancer, so they setup a little donation box by the door, and are also tossing some cash from the sale of merch towards the fund, all money raised to be given towards any medical, Rx, or other costs & expenses the cat may currently be enduring.

LEAVE THE LIVING

The new stage lights bathe the band in a deep blood red glow, a paper mache man sits between the double kick drums, staring blankly at us all, his mouth open, silently screaming, with his hand ever affixed to his ears. Frontman, Justin Shadows, oozes charisma & energy bounding about the stage, capturing the attention of the crowd. The crowd that has worked its way out from somewhere, and growing with every song played.

Their second song "Undone" comes right out of Metallica's "and justice for all" playbook. Starting slow, and epic guitar battle, drums thundering behind that could loosen bowel movements, thud-stick bass that is more then happy to take us for a walk down a dark alley, and likely leave us there after appropriating our valuables, by the time the verse hits I've come to realize that these boys also have Slayer in their blood. The front row of windmill headbangers more then happy to keep up to pace with the intense energy coming off the stage.

After wrapping up the second tune, doing a plug for the other bands on the bill (West of Hell, The Order of Chaos), and mentioning tossing a bit of coin into the bucket for their buddy facing down the big C, we're back into the fight.

Often times with a two guitarist band, it is obvious who is the lead, and who is the rhythm. Not here, not tonight. Both of these cats quickly remind me that i'm a bit of a hack, though I've never spent weekends locked away in my room playing arpeggios, doing finger practices, and learning old blues licks, after this, I'm thinking its time I reconsider. It's panned out, they're level EPIC, I'm sitting somewhere just past level 1.. Now, this isn't Malmsteen, it's not Steve Vai, it's not solo's for the sake of guitar solo's a la Van Halen, These guitars know their place in a song, they make it all work. They transition it beyond a riff.

Our low end heros hold it all together, with what sounds to be something right out of  Robert Trujillo's mind. The thud-stick lines bread somewhere between Suicidal Tendencies and his current work with Metallica.  The drums, dear god the DRUMS, I haven't been let down, if this cat is ever without a band I'm gonna need his number. Sure there are more cymbals then I would ever know what to do with, a simple snare drum, a couple high toms, the usual floor tom, and TWO kick/bass drums, This cat is bringing the thunder.

That creepy paper mache old man ever more the fitting as one can imagine him screaming "get off my lawn" with this beast right behind him.

Near the end of the set we're treated to a DEATH (From Detroit) cover. Having just missed seeing them at the Pawn Shop in Edmonton a few months back, I was eager to hear how this would pan out. Now if I didn't know the tune, I'd be hunting down the original, Leave The Living nailed it, made me aware of what I missed out on, but also made it their own with a take on the vocals that, although different from what one may expect, worked so well.

I'll be making sure to check these dudes out again.

- Jim Nowhere

Hang tight for Pt. 2 hitting the web in a couple days.


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facebook pages:
THE VAT - https://www.facebook.com/groups/14147269650/
LEAVE THE LIVING - https://www.facebook.com/leavetheliving
OF THORN AND VINE - https://www.facebook.com/OTAVPromotions

Eye Awake.

June 26th 2013.
The Studio in west Edmonton, AB.
Eye Awake takes the stage and starts things off.
I'm not quite sure what I was expecting, maybe I was expecting a metal band, or possibly a punk band.
They surprised me, straight up 90s alt rock.
With song titles like "concrete pillow case" and the hard/soft/hard that the Pixies and Nirvana made work so well. Comes natural to them, this is after all, what I suspect, they grew up listening too.
From what i've known of his previous projects, I don't think that Gill (the drummer) has ever played this slow, 90 - 120 bpm, in a band, before.
Solid gig, solid band, and quite a pleasant surprise. Eye Awake reminding me of what I loved about bands like Silverchair, and Filter, and oh so many others. 

- Jim Nowhere

Looking Back on July 13, 2013

DV8 Underground
8130 Gateway Blvd
Edmonton, AB
July 13th, 2013

The Cleaners, Anatomy Cats, The Rhubarbs, Down The Hatch, Rebuild/Repair
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cross posted with deadcity.ca/press
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Rocked into the "new" location for DV8 Tavern, nay now DV8 underground, somewhere in the vicinity of 9:30pm.  Luckily, and oddly, I had remembered to bring my Dead City press pass with me, I'm not even sure who else (besides Landon & MraeD) has one... However, since an accident back in December, I'm still lacking a non broken lens for my DSLR so sadly I was unable to get any photos. (Rita Hex took some shots, however I have yet to obtain any of them.)

Full disclosure. 

DV8 Underground has probably my favourite crowd of regulars in Edmonton. Hell it's possibly my favourite venue in Edmonton, certainly top 2 (as I'd say it's probably a coin flip, and depending on who is playing.)  DV8 Underground is run by good people. People that will go out of their way to help a touring band.  This actually brings us to the first band of the night "The Cleaners".

The Cleaners

The Cleaners are kind of a greaser/blues/punk band, and they were already tearing up the stage when MraeD and I walked in.  This is the only band on the bill that I've never shared a stage with.  According to the pile of business cards sitting on their mersh table The Cleaners are a "UK/Canadian offbeat Rock n' Growl Band"

About mid set, between one gnarly song and another steezy Rock-a-Billy tune, we get a little bit of band history.  Turns out, at least one of them did an acoustic tour of Canada last year.  They dug the country so much that they moved permanently to Saskadelphia, err, Saskatchewan.  Provided that I heard the spiel correctly. Anyways... The Cleaners are currently mounting a cross Canada tour.

Brittany, the lass with the growl on the mic, bounces effortlessly across the stage. The Cleaners pour intense energy into the room, feeding off the love and energy that the room gives back. You could almost feel the electricity in the air.  My only issue with these cats is that I missed the first half of their set.

Anatomy Cats

Once again, in the interest of full disclosure, I should mention that I consider these guys to be friends of mine. Having said that, it's been far too long since I've last seen the Anatomy Cats live. So, I was standing outside talking shop, catching up, basically shooting the shit with Dustin and Nolan (StruggleFucks, Micelli, others...) and we hear the distinctive clack of drumsticks on a four count. From that point on Blake and company tear a hole through the fabric of space and time.  We're all transported back to the mid to late 1980s, the din of D. Boon going off on a spiel about politics, the smell of Greg Ginn's sweat soaked guitar, you get the picture.

Attending, watching, and listening to the Anatomy Cats live is probably as close to catching an early Propagandhi concert as any of us are likely ever going to get (aside from late night VHS bootlegs that is...) These working class boys from Fort Saskatchewan (located about 20 - 35 minutes north of Edmonton on Manning Dr. NW) live the lives they sing about.  There is no moral or ethical ambiguity to be found here.

One could classify the Anatomy Cats as a Hardcore band, you wouldn't be wrong. You could also classify them as a Punk band, even an EMO band (mind to me EMO still is a word used to describe bands like Husker Du and Jawbreaker.) The Anatomy Cats are as punk as it comes, yet so much more. Hell call them a Thrash band, no one would dare to question your thought process.  But again they are so much more.

These boys, nay, men, come from a long line of humanist Canadian Punk Rock. Checkout the song "Selectively Blind" [Track 6 on A Matter Of Minutes] it would fit perfectly on any D.O.A./SNFU/Propagandhi setlist. As it was the fifth song they played, it helped to further open the minds of all in the room, including those of us who have already been converted. Since their last album these cats have been working on some new material, and its working for them, as the next tune to really draw the crowd in was "Breaking the Walls Against Racism (Tear Them Down)" reminding us all that the global struggle for equality is still just beginning. Unlike some "Political Punk" bands we never feel as though the Anatomy Cats are talking down to us. Instead its like were all equals, just sitting down over a pot of tea, or a pint, and having a conversation about how to make this spinning rock we call home a better place for all of those who inhabit it.

Side note: Is it strange that I wish the songs were longer? You know, coming from the guy who wrote Zero Cool's "Gossip" and "Nineteen Eighty Four" that both clock in somewhere between 35 - 55 seconds (depending upon the recording, or the live tempo)?

Tonight we were treated to a very special event as Blake invited Jerm Hex (Micelli, StruggleFucks, Former Whiskey Wagon, etc..) on stage to play their last couple songs with them.  The first (w/ Jerm) was a tune that I had not heard before, but even in this moderately sized room with the guitar sounds bouncing back at me from all angles, I became aware that part of me just changed for the better. 

Their closing song “Destroy / Exploit” a poignant diatribe about what we’re facing here in Canada under the (Mussolini styled) Fascist Stephen Harper and even more so here in Alberta with our seventy plus years of further and further right wing voting giving us our current crop of small “c” conservatives.  At the end of the song, as the teardown begins to take place, I find a note I made years earlier when I first shared a bill with them; “The Anatomy Cats are a band that I believe will make you a better Human.” The results of what I’ve seen in the last three years would certainly say that this hypothesis is correct.

Full disclosure, every band that I'm reviewing for the rest of this tale are friends of mine. The following is probably going to read a little bit like a bunch of bro-grabs. Now that we have that out of the way....

Between the end of the Anatomy Cats and the start of the Rhubarbs, the population in DV8 Underground easily doubled in size.  So it's pretty safe to say that the new location is working out well for them.  That and folks who were wandering past when The Cleaners/Anatomy Cats were on decided they better come on down and check out this gig.

The Rhubarbs

Funny story, for the first four years that I had known their bassist, I could have sworn his name was Dan. It's Mike. We got that sorted out when we finally hung out, not at a gig, when I had him deliver a copy of their LP to me. See... it was funny. (And before you say it, I was not confusing him for Dan, I am aware they are two different people.)

In some respects the Rhubarbs are almost the exact opposite kind of punk band from the Anatomy Cats, mind all of those are stylistically.  They just come from a different school is all.  Raised on the Ramones, some Descendants, a bit of Minor Threat, and with a little Replacements thrown in for flavour. This is working very well for them.  It also appeared to be working well for the second influx of people who arrived shortly after they took the stage.

This wondrous juxtaposition in sounds, four on the floor, 135 bpm, straight up punk rock keeps the crowd bobbing, the floor moving. From my vantage point near the back of the room the movements of the crowd almost appeared to be like that of a wave crashing against the rocks. The harder the `Barbs played, the more the crowd got into it, and the harder those waves just kept crashing, a beautiful circle of passion and energy.

When I was first introduced to them it was a cold December, one of those Festivus fundraiser gigs I put on every year.  Since then they have dropped the second guitar, gotten tighter as a band, and started to wear their influences on the set list. Words fall short of expressing how much the Rhubarbs have grown as a band in the couple years.

Adding a cover of the legendary D.C. Hardcore Punks Minor Threat's "Seeing Red" near the midway point of the set fits right in with their original tunes.  It all makes perfect sense, kind of like adding a thin layer of brown sugar, as a crust, on top of a rhubarb pie. I actually have a very delicious recipe for rhubarb pie, and these men have a delicious Rhubarb recipe for your eardrums.

Down The Hatch

One knows that it's going to be a good set when Joey takes the stage shirtless, doesn't even bother with the pretense that it might be a mellow set. Keelan hits the four count and Rob's bass begins to come thundering through.  For those of you who are not yet aware, Down The Hatch is a punk band by way of Lagwagon, Black Flag, Black Sabbath, and a myriad of other Metal/Punk bands.. genres never make much sense anyways... mind they sound nothing like Lagwagon, or Black Flag, or Black Sabbath, Joey just has these intense riffs that attack you, just like each of the aforementioned bands.

Now, if you didn't know that Down The Hatch is a three piece band, and you're not looking at the stage, you would swear that there was probably five or six guys up there. They have a HUGE sound, one that they have been developing for a while, one they have somehow managed to develop while downsizing after losing a frontman/second guitarist, had the original ox of a bassist ship off across the Atlantic ocean never to be seen in this part of the world again, and picking up what most folks thought was going to be a timid man on the thunder stick.  Sure Rob isn't near as intimidating on stage to look at, but his sound, my friends, his sound provides the perfect punch and counter balance to Joey's two (or is it three now?) guitar amplifier setup. Now in the middle of all of this sits Keelan, possibly one of the hardest hitting and dynamic drummers Edmonton has ever seen, and I've ever had the pleasure to watch and listen too.  Most don't quite realize everything he does behind his fortress of “sound-itude”, but you have to understand, he more then holds his own against two wizards of electric mayhem and volume mastery.

So, how do I know of this mythology of Down The Hatch? Aside from first having been introduced to them sometime in early 2007, where I played an acoustic set opening for them at the Wunderbar. Since that time I've probably played forty gigs with them, while I was in Zero Cool,  and seen them another twenty or so.  Hell I even shipped off copies of Fiasco! and Space Goat to a couple different record companies in hopes of having them get picked up...  I guess at this point it becomes obvious that not only am I friends with them, but I'm a fan of what they are doing.

From the looks of the crowd still inside of DV8 Underground, and the few more people who wandered in, everyone in the room is as well. Even if, before this very evening, they had never even heard the name, Down The Hatch, or their music before. By the time Joey is singing the second chorus of "Rock n' Roll High School Dropout" most of the bar is singing along.

Since the last time I was able to make it out to a DTH show they've written a few new tunes, retired others, and started asking the audience what they should play. A gamble of some acts, but one that pays off, as much like the Anatomy Cats, DTH has made their entire back catalog available for free online via bandcamp. This has allowed a lot of new fans to learn the tunes and make concepts like this workout. It's also good news for all of you, as you can now go and acquire the albums, mind a physical CD is a whole $5.00 or you can trade a fresh beer for one at a show, so really its win/win for all involved.

So how to explain the intensity, energy, and the power coming off the stage from a band that has self financed and released two albums and one EP (only the most recent album and EP are available.) Maybe its because they come from the DIY skateboarding scene, where its about building something that will last. See, personally, I still consider DTH as skate-punk band. Not shitty Bro-Skate like say, Pennywise, more akin to (Thrasher Magazine's) Bad Shit, but actually serious about what they do. Maybe it's best described by how they can pull up KP (Zero Cool) to sing ETS Blues. It's a fifteen to twenty second song that encompases all the frustration we feel everyday in this city, but is so satirical that most of our "fine" city will never be able to understand.

Edmonton, we need more bands like this. 

Now, with a bill this loaded, and a lineup this good, something bad was bound to happen. Sadly it did, Jon, the bassist for Rebuild/Repair came down with something evil, he couldn't make the show. There was talk for a bit that the band may drop off the bill of their own CD release. There was brief talk that I might even fill in on the thud stick for the night. Fortunately, neither of those things came to pass. Randall picked up some sort of octave pedal, and a line splitter, and words were said, small prayers possibly, and the gods of rock allowed the show to go on, as it must.

Rebuild / Repair

Ever since the first note, of their very first show, I've been sold on these guys. I've said it from the beginning, and now three EPs in it is even more true. Rebuild/Repair is Edmonton's much awaited and longed for answer to Flipper.

A little back story, indulge me.  I first met Randall, god knows how long ago, probably at a gig, but it wasn't until Twitter that we really actually got to talking about random things. Jon I probably met eons ago on one edmonton forum or another, but I suspect indecline. Kelly, he's just always been around, I think... but we never talked until the band formed. Now ever since Rebuild/Repair formed and started to do their thing, I have attempted to get every person I've met into them.  In this time, I'd like to think, we've become friends, possibly colleagues, and over this past May long weekend, we became tour mates. Shockingly no one was tossed out of the Dodge while traversing that devilish piece of Highway One (aka the Trans-Canada) somewhere between Regina and Winnipeg. We made a 3000+ KM journey across the great Canadian prairies, for basically a bit less than the cost of gasoline to do so (after gig money, and merch money that is.)

Somewhere just before we hit the road I was even approached to do the art for the new EP "Arson Awareness Day". Though asked to do it not in my normal abstract style, but something more akin to what I've been playing with art wise, something more like my Edmonton Bands series, or perhaps the Insta-Sketch series. (The Edmonton Band series did include a painting of Rebuild/Repair, among a few others..)

So what I'm saying here, is I'm a bit biased when it comes to these guys.

So, on July 13th 2013, as Rebuild/Repair releases their brand new EP, they will play their first (and quite possibly only) gig as a two piece. I mentioned it earlier that Jon couldn't make it out. Randall's last minute purchases, and slightly more self deprecating than usual demeanor played into the hands of the crowd. It sounded near as good.  The crowd was eating it up, some cats even started to "Pogo". It was kinda like 1983 again, and much like earlier in the evening I felt like we had all been transported to an earlier time.

A time when Punk was an attitude, not an image. A germ of an idea, before we all had to sound the same. When records were a document of a period in time, not some way to "get rich" and be over analyzed by the same sort of music nerd that would type up some long winded diatribe about a local punk gig...

"This one's off our new EP. It sounds better with a bass player." Randall explains before breaking out into a slightly sludgier version of Arson Awareness Day, the title track of the new album. The people are into it, as they should be. This is the music of the people, cranked past eleven, we should be hearing it eeking out of back alleys, burnt out basement dwellers, and garages.. in a perfect world.

"This one is some avant garde bullshit... then we have three more" Our reluctant hero mumbles before kicking into one of my new personal favourite tunes Post-Industrial City-States. In finding that much sought after harmony between droned out sludge and intense power, you can feel it taking its toll on the bodies that remain, as the night ebbs towards its end. Rebuild/Repair sets up for a Shellac like death mantra closing out the night with Summary's Falling Out/Burning Down and Relics' Failure Scene. Those of us who managed to survive into the wee hours of the morning, still wanting to take more from Rebuild/Repair, begging, pleading, chanting... to no avail.

I recall something about Randall saying he wasn't sure if they could do any of their other tune justice without Jon on the bass, Kelly just grinned. The band had accomplished what they set out to do. The thoughts of modern radio rock obliterated from our minds.

Rebuild/Repair is the band you're looking for.

- Jim Nowhere

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http://www.facebook.com/thecleanersbanduk
http://anatomycats.bandcamp.com
http://rhubarbs.bandcamp.com
http://downthehatch.bandcamp.com
http://rebuildrepair.bandcamp.com
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...they're just a bunch of kids with growing pains, they'll probably be doctors and lawyers someday.

Let me set the scene for you, it's mid evening on August 12th 2013 and I'm headed down to this little venue in Red Deer, AB called Slumland Theatre.  They've been around now for just over a year, I think, located on Ross St just west of Allrose Skateboards, but to find them, you have to go around back.. where there is plenty of parking, a faded no skateboarding sign, and then a small sign above a door, it reads SLUMLAND.  They're an all ages + licensed venue run by a super rad chick, and a whole lot of volunteers.

As usual I'm late to arrive, but looks like I'm the only one who is as there is a good crowd out tonight, and considering its a monday, this tells me a lot about what is going to be going down. There were a few folks milling about when I pulled up, and the sound of Saskatchewan's The Man And His Machine was echoing up the stairwell.  This of course means that I missed Edmonton's Lucid Skies, a band currently on a reunion tour, and one that I've actually never seen play. So as I wander towards the door, and quickly send a reply message to Slumland Theatre's owner Desiree to let her know that I've arrived, the live music stops, I hear a swell of crowd cheering, and then.. a flood of people heading out for fresh air, the need to cool off, and probably smoke a cigarette.
I have now missed the first two bands.
So; Lucid Skies & The Man and His Machine for this I apologize  I'm not accustomed to early shows, or ones that even start on time, and sets that are super quick.

Sea Of Dead Serpents

Next up is Red Deer's newest "Hardcore" band Sea Of Dead Serpents, a lot of the nights turn out was there for them, parents of band members, co-workers, random folk just wanting to see something new, people that probably would never have checked out the venue if it wasn't for this. Probably close to seventy people when all is said and done, though that does include members of the other bands, and myself... Hopefully this is a sign that the venue will be able to stick around for a while.

First thoughts; Sea of Dead Serpents is a grimy guitar, distorted bass, double kick on the drums, and screeching vocals. So this is what the kids are calling Hardcore.  The drummer & another member of the band are related to Desiree, brothers in fact, though their placement on the bill wasn't due to that family bond, they deserved second billing. Before starting up they dedicate their set to the singers mom who, without giving or going into much detail, has spent the last couple nights in the ICU ar Red Deer Hospital, He wants us to understand how painful this situation can be, for anyone.

Then the first song starts, sixty seconds long and a wall of noize bathes over us, the aural equivalent of a show to the groin. Quite enjoyable, if you're into that sort of thing, or so I'm told. I'm not into the shoe to the groin, but I'm starting to get into what they're doing.  Structured like a hybrid of Fugazi, the pAper chAse, early (read: the good part) Korn, and Fucked Up.  Furious lead riffs that owe a lot to Greg Ginn, drums that finally provide me with proof that double kick can actually work, and a fuzzed out bass holding down the low end. Their frontman & vocalist stands tall, ever the general in this audio assault  his voice is gruff, his screams shrill, but yet you can actually understand what the hell he is saying.

Four songs in and the microphone has died, it wouldn't be a punk show without some sort of technical difficulties... A quick cable and microphone change and we're back in business. "I wanna see this whole place move. Don't be a bunch of fucking pussies!" the General exclaims, owing as much to the Cancer Bats as to King Buzzo and Keith Morris, before the energy from the band explodes from off stage and into the audience. Up front a mosh pit has been going since the second song, and now a circle pit has formed within this tight space, even the cats hanging out at the back are bobbing their heads and looking to get in on the action. Though with the songs being so short, :50 - 1:20 minutes, it makes it hard to keep the crowd flowing in this chaotic fashion.

One can tell that Sea Of Dead Serpents is working on it, as we currently get a short spiel before each tune, trying to keep the crowd hyped. Not yet putting songs into blocks to keep things flowing, also not quite sure how to approach the people wanting more, but as this is only their second or their show it'll come. The stage presence is already there, and I'm kinda digging it. They saved, in my opinion, probably their best song for last, it's a little longer then the others and shows that they aren't a one trick pony, showing the yet to be realized potential this band has. Once they have a recording, it could easily find a place on any throwback to 90s "grind-core" compilation someone may want to compile.

BONFIRE

Aka,  or perhaps formerly, or maybe featuring members of, Hhogwash. I never actually asked, or bothered to sort it out, maybe I will in the future.  While waiting for the rest of the band to finish soundcheck, and for people to come back down into the venue, their frontman scours the room. Looking for something, searching for anything, his eyes scan the room, like a wolf searching for prey.

I'm already excited.

Bonfire hails from the desolate wastelands of Saskatoon, SK. They're currently on tour with Lucid Skies and The Man and His Machine, bringing their brand of Punk/Hardcore/Post-Hardcore westward trying to spread the message. They start off their set with a feedback drenched cacophony and a slow dirge.  I find myself wondering "Why, or more so how, I've never heard them before? Why haven't they played a gig with Black Mastiff and Rebuild/Repair at DV8? How come Cody (from Exoskeleton) never told me about them?" and then the song ramps up, most of the people have trickled back in, and the room become alive.  Goth grrls, Punks, Metal heads, that girl named Mute, all rocking out. I wouldn't call it moshing, there was no pit, but it wasn't quite dancing either... much more primal, some strange hybrid of hippy love movements and the bodies intense desire to become one with the music.

Lets discuss the band for a moment, we'll start with the bass. Looking as much like a 1991 Krist Novoselic, as someone who isn't nearly as tall can, shoeless and bouncing about on stage. To his right, our left, the singer, channeling a 1985 long haired Henry Rollins, intimidating. No fear of the audience, he chooses to join them, at random, throughout the set. His guttural vocals are juxtaposed with his soft spoken and friendly between song banter. Next in this circle is their guitarist, lost in his own world, between facing the wall, his amp, and the drummer... he is all over the stage.  Think Billy Tallent, not the band, lurching and wandering bumping into Joe Dick. Then when finally facing the crowd going crazy, I become afraid for that thin line telecaster he has chosen for his weapon. He plays it like it owes him money, a lot of money, and has a guitar tone that would probably make D. Boon smile. Now behind all of this sits our man tending the skins, the oft forgotten about drummer. If you saw him on the street you'd never suspect he was in a band, you might mistake him for a mormon missionary, he might be actually... I don't know him, and we never spoke, so unless they band informs me I'll never know.  Yet here, in his element, behind the kit, he truly is on a mission, preaching a different sort of gospel, the gospel of Donny Paycheck (Zeke) and the gospel of Matt Camron (Scratch Acid, Soundgarden, others...) If he was a local cat, or I had any plans of moving to Saskatoon, I'd try and steal him for a project or two.

All of this combines into a rather beautiful mess. One that I enjoy. One that I can't take home because they don't have any albums with them. Though they've been dropping songs online over the past couple weeks, and will be putting more up over the next few as well, getting people hyped about a new album they have coming out. Bread from Flipper and Low, The Melvins and Harvey Milk, if this is the future of Hardcore, or Post-Hardcore, or whatever genre people are calling it, I need to check out more shows. I'm beginning to wonder if (eastern Canada's) Kittens are going to be playing next, its just that kind of night.

At the end of it, as the last note fades from our ears, Bonfire looks drained, exhausted, they have given us everything that each of them has in them, the look about to fall apart. The crowd, not quite done with them, screams and yells, demanding one more song.... it almost happens, but something just didn't work, the exhaustion has won out, and had they managed to do another track I suspect that the exhaustion would have taken all of us as well.

- Jim Nowhere

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Slumland Theatre - http://www.facebook.com/slumlandpromotions
Lucid Skies - http://www.facebook.com/LUCIDSKIES780
The Man And His Machine - http://www.facebook.com/themanandhismachine
Bonfire - http://www.facebook.com/BonfireSK

Cross posted on DeadCity.ca/press

Kaskitayo Today!

This is happening today!

So get your asses down to Kaskitayo Skatepark and get a sesh happening.

We're gonna be onsite from about 1:30pm - 4:30pm

We've got some 2nd Pressings of the File Under Music Comp
(Each CD comes with a download code as well, as it's the only way you can get your hands on Issue 1)
We've also a few Zine+Comp download codes left as well.

Special pricing for this event is:

CD COMP $5.00

ZINE/COMP DL CODE $3.00

$2.00 from each CD will be donated to the water supply fund
$1.50 from each ZINE/COMP DL CODE will be donated to the water supply fund

Don't live in Edmonton? Can't make it to the park? Want to donate anyways? Cool.

$1.50 from each ZINE/COMP purchased at http://onthewallzine.bandcamp.com until Aug 16th will be donated to CRBM's water supply fund.

Both are in limited supply, once this pressing of CDs is gone, we will not be doing another run of them.

Once these download codes are gone, no more will be made available, though you'll still be able to buy the digital copy from http://onthewallzine.bandcamp.com

- Jim Nowhere
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Sadly our costs on producing the Comp, digital or CD version still need to be covered. BUT feel free to donate directly to the cause, I'm sure they're gonna have people around to make sure you can do that.

McKernan Sesh - UPDATE!

So we totally didn't realize that there was a KILLER gig happening down at Wunderbar on Sunday afternoon with a couple of our favourite bands the Rhubarbs & Micelli.
It's part of the new Bermuda Fest that is going on.
More info here: http://www.facebook.com/bermudafest

Might even give one of the board away to whoever does the gnarliest boneless off the back steps at Wunderbar.... it's pretty safe to say its a fun little unsafe spot to skate.

SO we're gonna skate, at McKernan, after the show, instead of while it is happening.
Probably roll in around 6:30pm and stay till 10ish..

You're all still welcome to show up whenever..


oh and jim got bit by a pothole this afternoon.. so look for the guy with some road scars..

- On The Wall 'Zine

KASKITAYO SKATEPARK CRBM Fund Raiser

It's a killer cause with killer bands.

While trolling the ol FB feed spotted this killer Kaskitayo Fund Raiser that is going down on August 11th 2013
Its FREE, though Donations will be greatly appreciated.
A lot of amazing bands
and the 3 Top Billed bands are all on our "File Under Music" Comp.
we're gonna try and hook those bands up with some DIY copies to sell, with the proceeds being donated towards KASK.

The CRBM is trying to raise some cash to get a source of water at the skatepark so that we don't need to spend all our hard earned cash at the 7/11 or be heading into the YMCA to grab water from the fountain...

Head out and support your local Skate & Punk Scene.

(We're gonna see about maybe setting up a booth for a bit as well.. but can't promise it'll happen, or that we'll be there all day unless we get some Volunteers to run it for us, as Jim has a gig in Red Deer that evening..)

Facebook Event Page: http://www.facebook.com/events/389853691114577/
The CRBM: http://www.facebook.com/thecrbm

- On The Wall

The Vat - July 20 - Law of Lucid

I've been wanting to check this band out for a long while. See they picked up a new bass player a little bit back. I grew up next to the guy, we played shitty nirvana covers and started a crappy cover band that never went anywhere.

Lets set this straight, they are what 90s alt rock should have aspired too. This is the progression that is natural. Not bullshit. Less Nickelback/Creed & Gin Blossoms, more Rage Against The Machine/Red Hot Chili Peppers & "Ten/Yield" era Pearl Jam [note: also No Code, my fav. PJ record]

The energy coming from the stage is intense, their front man part channeling Zack DeLaRocha and part Perry Farrell.  Mike killing the five string bass, guitars to ELEVEN, a drummer who, if needed, could probably replace Chad Smith. Once again someone on the keys making me realize just how awesome they can be. (Editing this for typos, and other things days later, I realize I've forgotten his name...)

Next time I may even have an audio clip...
Either way, I'm glad to see that the music scene in Red Deer is alive, and doing better than it has been in years.

- Jim Nowhere

Good Friday Brawl, Shotgun Dolls, Action News Team

A random gig in review.

$10, 18+ At DV8

Ah saturday night in ye `ol Deadmonton Alberta, in March, a balmy -11C a couple new feet of snow, and after the windchill something similar to -27C.  So what could have been possibly the most talked about show happening on March 16th ended up feeling a lot more like a random band jam with a couple handfulls of their closest friends and some dudes who drove north for three hours to drink beer and make loud noise.  We rolled in around 9:30pm, just as Action News Team was finishing doing the load in.  A handfull of regulars spotted the bar, and a turn out that is similar to when i rock a solo show on a monday.  Not what anyone was expecting when this gig was booked, though the best of it was made by all, and really by the time Action News Team started a half decent crowd had wandered in from the cold and was about to get their ears rocked.

Now it's been quite sometime since I last saw Action News Team played (I suspect it might have actually been a bill similar to this one...) Actually I'm not even sure when they got a second guitarist and really beefed up their sound.  Also this might have been the first time I was actually able to hear Max sing, as he's grown leaps more comfortable up on stage, and certainly more with the microphone.  Now these cats come from a mostly punk/garage/folk background, so hearing them play with a bit more fleshed out sound, and two Gibson SGs really made for a total change in tone.  One big thing that I certainly noticed is that as they have grown as a band they really are leaving that garage/punk sound in the background, trading it in for more blues-ish riffs and a heavier Black Sabbath inspired sound.  One should never begrudge a band for growing and evolving in their own sound, the bigger beats, the harder riffs, certainly are destined to make their mark on the fine folks of Edmonton who catch them.  Though at what cost?  I feels as though these small changes almost robs the music of part of the very soul they were creating.  I may be the only one of this opinion, certainly in the crowd that was there.  The vibe in the room was certainly into it, and the signature Snoop Dogg cover near the end won over anyone else who hadn't already been a fan.

After a relatively quick tear down, certainly helped by sharing parts of gear, Calgary Alberta's Shotgun Dolls took the stage. Now I always have a strange feeling like I've shared a stage with these boys, but the fact remains that I've actually only seen them play once before. (Quite possibly with Action News Team, see first paragraph - Jim) So what can I tell you about our southern Alberta rock brethren?  They braved the weather, knowing that a 3am drive home awaited due to a shitty work schedule that had someone punching in at 8am, brought the gear, the mersh, and even the lights.  More then that though these kids brought their passion and energy, and a love for playing to anyone who shows up.  Talent, good tunes, grooves that will haunt your mind for days, they have it all, and are in the process of self releasing a debut album. What I hope you'll hear on the studio album is exactly what I heard coming from the small stage at DV8. Sludgy, skate rock, touching on what makes bands like Rebuild/Repair good, the Melvins & Jesus Lizard great, and Flipper awesome.  This "post stoner skate sludge", as someone coined a while back, is certainly a genre that not many really fit into, but the bands that do are worth checking out.  If you follow my instaLame/twitnerd feed you may have noticed a shot that I put up saturday night stating that what they have going on would fit perfectly in a Lowcard Mag / Blood Wizard Skate video. I stand by that statement.

Now it's been quite a while since I last had the cash ney, the opportunity, to see three of my friends rock out, in this configuration.  Miek, Nolan, & Bert are quite possibly the three nicest dudes in the deadmonton punk/folk/whatever music scene.  Now if you hand them some music makers, turn up the amplifiers, and just start feeding them the booze, all of that changes.  Miek has sass to spare as a front man, and it serves him well, Nolan rocks this sly smile and makes the thunderstick move you in ways you thought only the devil would do to you. As for bert, its hard to say, as all i see are a flurry of drum sticks. Now anytime Good Friday Brawl headlines a show the energy in the room just crackles, reminds me of when I first saw Against Me! tour, circa the eternal cowboy days. Dirty Music, Dirty People indeed.

So despite the fact that weather was shite, and the turn out subpar for a saturday night, each band came out and played the best show they had in them, the preformances blew pretty much everyone who was there away, I'm glad that the lady dragged me out on a half-hearted promise, as for me this will certainly sit in my top gigs of 2013.

Jim Nowhere

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Full Disclosure. I was in Zero Cool with Andy Crackers (Action News Team Drummer) for four years.   Good Friday Brawl and I are signed to the same independent record label Dead City Records

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