Flyer - Saturday March 3, 1988

Flyer - Saturday, February 6th, 1988

Nomind "Punkusraucousrex" cassette

Nomind were made up of some seasoned veterans in the scene. As a result this tape collects records from a number of sessions. In fact almost every song on here is from a different recording. the recording dates span from June '86 to August '87 and most of them were recorded at Reaction Studios. The songs on here are:

1. Dirt Desire

2. Lunchbucket

3. Strontium Dog

4. No Mind (Discio Mix)

5. Bonehead

6. Big Bad Bugs

7. My New Amp!

8. Millions of People

9. 5 Year Plan

Zine - Still Thinking #3

The last issue of Still Thinking to come out although there was a fourth issue that they were hoping to publish. Looks like this came out after the "Progress?!" compilation written about elsewhere on the blog. Still Thinking interviewed C.O.C. in their first issue and the familiarity with them helps the interviewer cut straight to the chase with getting to label mismanagement from the outset. They talk about political action and peace and boxer shorts...... It is a pretty good interview. At least better than the first one.

A mail interview with CONCRETE SOX follows this up. This was the first mail interview I read in Still Thinking. Usually they interview bands that have come through town. This interview is with the bass player, Les. This is one of the best interviews I have read in this zine. The interview starts out with he various line up changes that bring them to the line up at the time. They talk about the lyric absences with the HERESY split, specifically the lack of animal rights songs. There is a discussion about anarchism and how to bring it about, similar to Marx evolution from capitalism to communism. There is a discussion about their scene in Nottingham and their loss of their club. They talk about the metal influence on hardcore and they bring up the VARUKERS offshoot band ARBITRAITOR. The song "Speak Siberian or Die" comes up with CONCRETE SOX critique of the racist sentiments behind "Speak English or Die" by S.O.D. They talk about their views on Religion with a few songs. 

A phone interview with Alec Mackaye is done about IGNITION. This was the period just after the first two singles. IGNITION were working on their first full length. There is talk of reviews, talk about DAG NASTY and talk about touring up in Toronto, which never happened. 

The next interview is with Mike Watt of FIREHOSE and they start out by talking about how MINUTEMEN formed which was fascinating. Then they dig back further with talk about the REACTIONARIES. They talk about how MINUTEMEN formed out of that, what the scene was like and what role Raymond Pettibon played in the band. But this talks into how important Raymond Pettibon's artwork is and how protecting Jello was actually protecting Raymond. And eventually they get into how FIREHOSE came to be with Ed from Ohio coming down to audition. There is a number of songs explained through the interview which you don't see in a lot of interviews. 

And this must be one of the first FUGAZI interviews as well. This is with Ian Mackaye and like most interviews I have read with Ian you come out feeling inspired. The interview covers the lineage of the band, how the PAILHEAD project came together, how Revolution Summer came together, some MINOR THREAT gossip, Positive Force DC, some compilations about to come out, and the need to be active. "Always outraged and never discouraged". 

There is an incredible scene report on the Polish scene which talks about some of the difficulties of being a punk in Soviet Poland. Particularly getting jailed or sent to do mandatory military service. And bands having problems getting past censors or being able to afford equipment or riding a place to practise. There is a great list of bands that were active past and present. Just a unique time capsule of punk behind the iron curtain. And they were also starting to make contact with bands from East Germany, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and Russia. Good to see these scenes networking. 

And then there is a DC holy trinity interview with Brian Baker about DAG NASTY. Brian starts out talking about the early days of MINOR THREAT. There is some great insight into the band dynamics specifically with Lyle Preslar. There is a part two of this interview that is supposed to be for the next issue, but the next issue didn't come out as far as I know. 

Flyer - Tuesday October 27, 1987

The bass player, Alisdiar Jones, made this flyer. Other flyers can be viewed at http://homepage.mac.com/alisdairjones/PhotoAlbum85.html.

Flyer - Friday August 21, 1987

The bass player, Alisdiar Jones, made this flyer. Other flyers can be viewed at http://homepage.mac.com/alisdairjones/PhotoAlbum85.html.

Flyer - Friday July 17, 1987

The bass player, Alisdiar Jones, made this flyer. Other flyers can be viewed at http://homepage.mac.com/alisdairjones/PhotoAlbum85.html.

Flyer - Friday April 17, 1987

The bass player, Alisdiar Jones, made this flyer. Other flyers can be viewed at http://homepage.mac.com/alisdairjones/PhotoAlbum85.html.

Flyer - Friday March 6, 1987

The bass player, Alisdiar Jones, made this flyer. Other flyers can be viewed at http://homepage.mac.com/alisdairjones/PhotoAlbum85.html.

Flyer - Friday February 27, 1987

Flyer - Friday February 27, 1987

The bass player, Alisdiar Jones, made this flyer. Other flyers can be viewed at http://homepage.mac.com/alisdairjones/PhotoAlbum85.html.

Zine - Mute Elation

Mute Elation was a punk fanzine from Toronto. This issue looks like it came out at the end of 1986 based on some of the gigs that they covered and when those happened in Toronto. This was not the first issue as content alludes to continuing of features and written pieces in previous issues. There is a significant amount nof content dedicated to writing in the form of poetry and fiction writing and even an interview with a writer. But there is also lots of punk and post punk content. I really like that the issue starts out with a scene update on Toronto, which provides a snapshot of some things happening at the time. This report mentions the Forgotten Rebels, the Dundrells, The Daleks, The Purple Toads, Ameoba Quiche, and Bratty and the Babysitters.

There are extensive multi page reviews on gigs at the time starting out with Iggy Pop who played the Concert Hall on November 9th, 1986. The Rebels opened up that show and the reviewer is quite harsh on them. Iggy Pop's back up band doesn't fair much better, but Iggy gets credit. The review is followed by a review of the "Blah Blah Blah" LP.

DOA played at the RPM on October 2nd, 1986. I actually went to that show and took photos which I posted on the EXD blog. The review complains about the hardcore kids slam dancing and that wasn't such a big part of the show. The RPM was a huge place and there didn't seem to be the scale where kids could slam so it wasn't as bad as the reviewer makes it out to be. But the show was not the best DOA show I had ever seen either.

There is a glowing show review of a Shreikback show which sees a full page photo repeated on the back cover. This is also accompanied by a review of their Big Night Music" LP. Lou Reed played at Kingswood which was the outdoor venue at amusement park known as Wonderland out in Maple. There is also a show review of a Psychic TV show that took place at the Diamond Club (August 11th). The reviewer was disappointed by this show.

The main feature of this issue is an interview with Blair Martin of the Raving Mojos. It was after the Mojos had broken up and Blair had some great insight into a number of things. Blair writes about how the Brits re-interpreated the Ramones version of punk with a little too much theatre and as a result got the speed confused for wanting not to sing. Blair talks about being the original drummer for the Androids and filling on for Teenage Head for one tour on drums. It is an amazing piece. Blair had assembled a band with members of Youth Youth Youth, Living Proof, and Mick Slick, but I don't think they played out.

There is other local content that features a piece on Richard Carstens who I know as the guy who wrote most of the No Mind album. He was the guitarist in Funhouse, Afhaken, and Madhouse and at the time was playing in Sun Zoom Spark, which is the band that Alisdair from No Mind played in. Richard also writes some pieces in this issue. He wrote one of the only interviews I have read about Neon Rome. This is the band that John Borra of the Screwed started out in. The first half of this interview is a made up story by the singer about how the band met. The other interview I read in Nerve about Neon Rome had a similar fiction telling pattern. The interview does disclose that their album ad been recorded by the time and that Comfort Sounds had recorded it.

There is a piece on a new U.I.C. album titled "Our Garage", a review of Fifth Column's "To Sir with Hate", and a funny interview with Erica Ehm, who was a VJ on Much Music at the time. Great time capsule on Toronto.

This piece is courtesy of Dhaibid james archives. Dhaibid hosts Moondog's Ballroom on CIUT.

Flyer - Friday November 7, 1986

The bass player, Alisdiar Jones, made this flyer. Other flyers can be viewed at http://homepage.mac.com/alisdairjones/PhotoAlbum85.html.

Flyer - Friday October 17, 1986

The bass player, Alisdiar Jones, made this flyer. Other flyers can be viewed at http://homepage.mac.com/alisdairjones/PhotoAlbum85.html.

Flyer - Sunday July 20, 1986

One Solution was a zine and this show was a benefit to raise money for what was to become the last issue.

Flyer - Friday June 27, 1986

Flyer - Wednesday June 18, 1986

Scene report - Flipside 49

Issue 49 of Flip Side Magazine had a scene report on Canada. Loads of pictures of bands from late 1985 early 1986. the section was pulled together by Ugly Parasite fanzine and features photos of Death Sentence, Hype, Sudden Impact, October Crisis, Fair Warning, Trapt, Bill of Rights, Direct Action, BFG, DOA, House of Commons, Sons of Ishmael, No Mind, SNFU, and Nomeansno.

Ticket - Saturday, March 8, 1986

Flyer - Tuesday, October 22nd, 1985