Equalizing Distort: May 2014

Saturday, May 31, 2014

Top 10 - May 2014

1. COKE BUST "Confined" CD (Grave Mistake)
2. THE INSTIGATION "No Way Out" ep (Self-Released)
3. KOMPLOTT "Sei Vivo, Sei Morto A Nessumo Importa" 12" (Complotto Autoproduzioni)
4. HAYMAKER "Let Them Rot" ep (a389)
5. WARTHOG "Exterminate Me" ep (Katorga Works)
6. CONQUEST FOR DEATH "Many Nations, One Underground" LP (Tank Crimes)
7. SUICIDAS "No nos mata la muerte" ep (No Nostalgia)
8. KAOS URBANO "Sexo Drogas, y Streetpunk" CD (Potencial Hardcore)
9. ACOUSMA "Nothing of Everything" ep (High Fashion Industries)
10. BOIDS "We Stalk Each Other Like Animals" CD (Stomp)

Labels:
* GRAVE MISTAKE - P.O. Box 12482 / Richmond, VA / 23241 / USA / www.gravemistakerecords.com
* INSTIGATION - http://theinstigation.bandcamp.com/album/no-way-out-e-p
* COMPLOTTO AUTOPRODUZIONI - https://komplott.bandcamp.com/
* A389 – P.O. Box 12058 / Baltimore, MD / 21281 / USA / www.a389records.com
* KATORGA WORKS - http://katorgaworks.bigcartel.com/
* TANK CRIMES - P.O. Box 3495 / Oakland, CA / 94609 / USA / http://www.tankcrimes.com/
* NO NOSTALGIA - http://suicidas.bandcamp.com/album/suicidas-no-nos-mata-la-muerte-ep / nonostalgiarecords@gmail.com
* POTENCIAL HARDCORE - http://potencialhardcore.org/web/es/
* HIGH FASHION INDUSTRIES - 2048 N Albany / Chicago, IL / 60647 / USA / http://highfashionindustries.com
* STOMP - 1223 Blvd. Saint-Laurent Suite 305 / Montreal, Quebec / H2X 2S6 / Canada / http://www.unionlabelgroup.com/stomp/

Flyer - Saturday, May 31st, 2014

It's hard to believe that the Upstarts are still alive and kicking given how vocal they are on racism and fascism, but it is great to see when so many punk bands have called it a day. A rare North American show thanks to the Prowlers.

Friday, May 30, 2014

Flyer - Friday, May 30th, 2014

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Flyer - Tuesday, May 27th, 2014

Monday, May 26, 2014

Flyer - Monday, May 26th, 2014

Sunday, May 25, 2014

Radio - Sunday, May 25th, 2014

Tonight's show featured a studio 3 session and interview with the Sofistifucks who I learned was an idea for Sick Error and their guitarist Paul, who plays in the Sofistifucks. The Sofistifucks have been around since 2011 when they recorded a 7 song demo, have toured out West, and have released a full length titled "...And then they came for me" that you can hear a sample of on bandcamp. Tuesday was our third attempt to record the band and we conducted an interview afterwards. which you can hear above of download an MP3 file here.

THE SOFISTIFUCKS - Guts (CIUT)
THE SOFISTIFUCKS - Interview (CIUT)
THE SOFISTIFUCKS - Memento Mori (CIUT)
THE SOFISTIFUCKS - Interview (CIUT)
THE SOFISTIFUCKS - Nuclear Serenade (CIUT)
THE SOFISTIFUCKS - Interview (CIUT)
THE SOFISTIFUCKS - Police Malfeasance (Self-Released)
THE SOFISTIFUCKS - Interview (CIUT)
THE SOFISTIFUCKS - CC AE 217 (CIUT)
THE SOFISTIFUCKS - Interview (CIUT)
THE SOFISTIFUCKS - Chuc Mung Sing Nghat / Loved (CIUT)
THE SOFISTIFUCKS - Interview (CIUT)
THE SOFISTIFUCKS - Hostage Situation (CIUT)
THE SOFISTIFUCKS - Interview (CIUT)
THE SOFISTIFUCKS - Vincible (CIUT)
THE SOFISTIFUCKS - Interview (CIUT)
THE SOFISTIFUCKS - Self Discharge / Terrible (CIUT)

Here is a Top 10 list for May 2014.

BOIDS - P.B.M.F. (Stomp)
ACOUSMA - Nothing of Everything (High Fashion Industries)
KAOS URBANO - Sexo, drogas streetpunk (Potencial Hardcore)
SUICIDAS - Perdido (No Nostalgia)
CONQUEST FOR DEATH - Accursed Battalions (Tank Crimes)
WARTHOG - Exterminate Me (Katroga Works)
HAYMAKER - Let Them Rot (a389)
KOMPLOTT - Oppressione (Complotto Autoproduzioni)
THE INSTIGATION - No Rules (Self-Released)
COKE BUST - Red Line (Grave Mistake)

Grump has been around for just over a year now and have recorded their third demo titled "Back to being normal". They are from Halifax and as the name suggests features some scene vets.

GRUMP - Supplication (Self-Released)
GRUMP - Texas Sharpshooter (Self-Released)
GRUMP - Future Cult Leader (Self-Released)
GRUMP - Cognitive Distortion (Self-Released)
GRUMP - Coherence (Self-Released)
GRUMP - Talking Property Blues (Self-Released)

Flyer - Sunday, May 25th, 2014

SUNDAY, MAY 25TH, 2014
THE HORRIBLE FEST HANGOVER

HANK WOOD & THE HAMMERHEADS / DESTRUCTION UNIT / INSTITUTE / BREAKOUT / SPEARHEAD at S.H.I.B.G.B's & OMGFU

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

HANK WOOD & THE HAMMERHEADS
(TOXIC STATE RECORDS)
http://icoulddietomorrow.blogspot.com/2012/06/new-toxic-state-releases-crazy-spirit.html

DESTRUCTION UNIT
(SACRED BONES RECORDS)
(NEW AMERICAN HEAVY UNDERGROUND)
http://dunit.ascetism.com/

INSTITUTE
(THE TEXAS NEW BREED)
(DERANGED RECORDS/KATORGA WORKS)
http://derangedrecords.bandcamp.com/album/s-t-ep
http://icoulddietomorrow.blogspot.ca/2014/04/upcoming-kw-release-preview-institute.html

BREAKOUT
(THE OTHER TEXAS NEW BREED)
http://breakoutaus.bandcamp.com/

SPEARHEAD
(TORONTO NOISEY HC)
http://spearhead.bandcamp.com/

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

$12 (4 TOURING BANDS!!!)
ALL AGES

at SHIBGB's & OMGFU
225 GEARY AVE
MIDDLE DOOR

DOORS AT 7PM

Friday, May 23, 2014

Flyer - Friday, May 23rd, 2014

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

The Sofistifucks studio 3 session

We have been trying to schedule the Sofistifucks for a session a few times. This was the third and final attempt. Alex, the drummer, had been my contact so we had been corresponding back and forth with proposals and cancellations and re-schedulings and finally a session happened. The Sofistifucks have been around for a while. My first introduction to Alex was at a NXNE show at Dundas Square. I think Devo was playing. He was handing out flyers for a Sofistifucks show and had only a few. I reached out to get one and he wouldn't let me have one. Maybe because I had a Toronto FC jacket on. To be fair I didn't look very punk. It was that snub that made me reluctant to get in touch with them again. But I read about a full length in MRR called “...And then they came for me” which came out in the fall. You can hear some of it at http://thesofistifucks1.bandcamp.com/album/then-they-came-for-me. Listening to that release peaked my interest and the band was also interested given they had a studio recording, which was technically their second.

Paul, the guitarist, reminded me that we had met before during a studio 3 session for Sick Error which was recorded at the other CIUT location on St. George Street. I started remembering more and more as we recorded and then spoke in the interview. In the interview he also talks about how he and Alex came to meet which was through some opposition work to Rob Ford so I guess something good came out of Ford's term of office.

The other half of this band is made up of some Halogonian imports. Downey (the singer) and Jakob (the bass player) are both originally from Halifax. They didn't move here together, but something about a past shared scene in a strange big city can bring people together. Downey's lyrics are pretty deep and everytime I ask him about a song he has to take a moment to figure out how to frame the background or context so as to get the meaning. You really should listen to the interview. I got a lot out of it. The songs are deep and intense and really match the band's sound. We recorded the following songs in tonight's session:

1. Chuc Mung Sing Nghat / Loved / Vincible
2. Hostage Situation
3. Guts
4. Momento Mori
5. Vincible
6. Nuclear Serenade
7. Terrible
8. CC AE 217
9. Self Discharge

The band also did some IDS for the station and the radio show.

1. Turn the Dial ID
2. You put the I back in CIUT ID
3. You put the I back in CIUT, part 2

Aldo and Candy were on hand to film the session and here is some of what they caught for Punks and Rockers.

A full set of photos from the night lives up at https://www.universallibrary.org/details/SofistifucksStudio3Session.

Sunday, May 18, 2014

Radio - Sunday, May 18th, 2014

NASH THE SLASH passed away last week. I found out about his passing in an editorial piece on Q. Here and Now also did a look back at Nash following it with the FM hit 'Phasors on Stun'. That was a song I knew very well having heard it many times on FM Radio. It was also a song that took me back to summer camp. A counsellor there had turned me onto FM. I would soon find out about NASH THE SLASH on after school video shows with the video for "Dead Man's Curve" and "Dopes on the Water". I went to the first Police Picnic where NASH THE SLASH unceremoniously had the plug pulled on him. The only Canadian act to get yanked from the stage in some Gong show fashion like he was some kind of a novelty act, which he was sort of. A mummy impersonator in top hat and white tails that played the electric violin and a few other instruments that includes a glockenspiel. But he was more than that. He was a guy who inspired Gary Numan, one of the first to start an independent label known as Cut Throat records and who sued Pepsi and won. I got to meet NASH THE SLASH on the air once. Jonzo from Mods 'n Rockers arranged for him to come in and we did a full on interview. It was an honour to meet this pioneer of the Toronto punk scene. I learned of his soundscaping to silent films like Nosferatu at places like the Roxy Theatre. He was doing a regular Halloween gig at a club on Yonge Street. Someone posted up a flyer for a Valentine's week massacre set of shows at the Edge. He was into gimmicks but there is no denying that he was a groundbreaker when it comes to punk in this city. So we started off the show with some NASH THE SLASH material mixed together.

Here is an MP3 for the show.

NASH THE SLASH - The Chase (Cut Throat)
NASH THE SLASH - FM Introductions (Cut Throat)
NASH THE SLASH - Phasors on Stun (Cut Throat)

SKUNX - Corporate Death (Chronic Disease / Skull Crasher)
GRUMP - Coherence (Self-Released)
THE PITY - Leather Jacket Separation Anxiety (Self-Released)
SNOB - Stay at home (Hardware)
NOT FRIENDS - Endless Delay (Self-Released)
ALL OUT PANIC - Panic Attack (Self-Released)
THE SOFISTIFUCKS - Self Discharge (Unknown)

DEAD BOYS - Flamethrower love (Sire)
BLACK KEYS - have love will travel (Bomp)
GUITAR WOLF - Wild Zero (Matador)
NEW BOMB TURKS - Drag Strip Riot (Crypt)
HUNCHES - Frustration Rocket (In the Red)

NUEVA AUTORIDAD DEMOCRATICA - Gente Mierda (Solo Para Punks)
BOILING POINT - Thrash the Railroads (Self-Released)
COKSKAR - Cokroachskar(Self-Released)
SLEIGHT - The Sickness (Self-Released)
KENNY KENNY OH OH - the Beauty of Absenteeism (Kontraszt! / Emancypunx)
LIFE CHAIN - Media frozen (Imminent Destruction)

CRIMPSHRINE - Sleep. what's that? (Lookout)
AVAIL - On the Nod (Lookout)
SURF TRIO - Almost Summer (Bomp)
BAD BRAINS - The Big Takeover (Roir)
THE CRAMPS - The Crusher (IRS)

FIT FOR ABUSE - Power Currupts
UPPERCUTS - First Thing's First
MASSHYSTERI - Tvivel
THE TAKE - Tonight
DEAD STOP - Bend and Break
MINORITY UNIT - Minority Threat

BURNING LOVE - No Love
DISCO VOLANTE - Burn In Hell
BROTHER INFERIOR - Who Want's To Live Forever?
BENUMB - Mesmerized by the Insignificant
LAST LIGHTS - U.S. Out of New England
INFERNOH - De Galm Och De Blinda

The Brass are from Vancouver and this is their demo titled "Psychopath". Hardware Records out of Germany has made the cassette available again and you can hear the recording at http://thebrassvan.bandcamp.com/track/psychopath.

THE BRASS - Don't look at me (Hardware)
THE BRASS - Can't (Hardware)
THE BRASS - Damaged goods (Hardware)
THE BRASS - 40 Laces (Hardware)
THE BRASS - Psychopath (Hardware)

COLUMN OF HEAVEN - Such Fragile Bodies (Flesh prison part II) (Absurd Exposition)

Friday, May 16, 2014

Flyer - Friday, May 16th, 2014

The Horseshoe Tavern Presents

Cj Ramone

with guests
FAIRMOUNTS
Plan 37

Friday May 16, 2014
Doors: 9:00pm / $15 ADV
19+

Flyer - Friday, May 16th, 2014

Monday, May 12, 2014

Flyer - Monday, May 12th, 2014

TONY MOLINA
(SLUMBERLAND RECORDS)
(OFF DATE FROM AGAINST ME! TOUR)
https://www.facebook.com/tonymolina650
http://www.spin.com/articles/tony-molina-nowhere-to-go-stream/

SMART BOYS
(MATADOR/DERANGED RECORDS)
(TORONTO POWER-POP, MEMS. OF FUCKED UP)
https://derangedrecords.bandcamp.com/album/rsvp-b-w-cutting-thru-life

MY MAN
(TORONTO POP/ROCKERS)
https://www.facebook.com/mymantheband
http://mymantheband.bandcamp.com/

+ MORE TBA

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

$10 at the door

ALL AGES

DOORS at 8PM

at S.H.I.B.G.B's
225 GEARY AVE
MIDDLE DOOR

Sunday, May 11, 2014

Radio - Sunday May 11th, 2014

Stage Bottles are a great anti-fascist skinhead band from Frankfurt that have been around since 1993. The band has just released two new recordings last year so I thought I would ask about them in the context of the band's back catalogue. Stage Bottles were in town a few weeks back and we got to speak to the singer Olaf and the guitarist Marcel. You can hear the show on the player above or download an MP3 of the show here.

STAGE BOTTLES - We're not bottling out (Mad Butcher)
STAGE BOTTLES - Interview (CIUT)
STAGE BOTTLES - Too Young To Die (Mad Butcher / Insurgence)
STAGE BOTTLES - Interview (CIUT)
STAGE BOTTLES - Real Skinhead (Insurgence)
STAGE BOTTLES - Interview (CIUT)
STAGE BOTTLES - Solidarity (Mad Butcher)
STAGE BOTTLES - Interview (CIUT)
STAGE BOTTLES - Young Til I Die (Insurgence)
STAGE BOTTLES - Interview (CIUT)
STAGE BOTTLES - A friend killed a friend (Mad Butcher / KOB / Red Star)
STAGE BOTTLES - Interview (CIUT)
STAGE BOTTLES - Work Together (Mad Butcher / KOB)
STAGE BOTTLES - Interview (CIUT)
STAGE BOTTLES - They are watching me (Mad Butcher)
STAGE BOTTLES - Interview (CIUT)
STAGE BOTTLES - All you need is hate (Mad Butcher)
STAGE BOTTLES - Interview (CIUT)
STAGE BOTTLES - Dead but not forgiven (Mad Butcher)
STAGE BOTTLES - Interview (CIUT)
STAGE BOTTLES - Power of the city (Mad Butcher)
STAGE BOTTLES - Interview (CIUT)
STAGE BOTTLES - You'll Never Walk Alone (Mad Butcher)
STAGE BOTTLES - Interview (CIUT)
STAGE BOTTLES - Here We Go (Mad Butcher)
STAGE BOTTLES - Interview (CIUT)
STAGE BOTTLES - Politicians don't change nothing (Mad Butcher)
STAGE BOTTLES - Interview (CIUT)
STAGE BOTTLES - Hooligan (Mad Butcher)
STAGE BOTTLES - Interview (CIUT)
STAGE BOTTLES - Good Luck (Mad Butcher)
STAGE BOTTLES - Interview (CIUT)
STAGE BOTTLES - Sometimes anti-social, but always anti-fascist (Mad Butcher)
STAGE BOTTLES - Interview (CIUT)
STAGE BOTTLES - You Never Know (Mad Butcher / Insurgence / Kob)
STAGE BOTTLES - Interview (CIUT)
STAGE BOTTLES - Come Together (Mad Butcher / Insurgence / Kob)
STAGE BOTTLES - Interview (CIUT)
STAGE BOTTLES - New Flag (Insurgence)
STAGE BOTTLES - Interview (CIUT)
STAGE BOTTLES - Punk and Disorderly (Insurgence)
STAGE BOTTLES - Interview (CIUT)
STAGE BOTTLES - Mr. Punch (Insurgence)
STAGE BOTTLES - Interview (CIUT)
STAGE BOTTLES - May I be impolite (Insurgence)
STAGE BOTTLES - Interview (CIUT)
STAGE BOTTLES - We are the Rude Crew (Insurgence)
STAGE BOTTLES - Interview (CIUT)
STAGE BOTTLES - Russia (Insurgence)
STAGE BOTTLES - Interview (CIUT)
STAGE BOTTLES - Bring Back the Red Bricks (Insurgence)
STAGE BOTTLES - Interview (CIUT)
STAGE BOTTLES - Sometimes I'm still up for the fight (Insurgence)
STAGE BOTTLES - Interview (CIUT)
STAGE BOTTLES - Fair Enough (Insurgence)
STAGE BOTTLES - Interview (CIUT)
STAGE BOTTLES - One World - One World, One Crew (Insurgence)

Saturday, May 10, 2014

Flyer - Saturday, May 10th, 2014

The long awaited WHISKEY HEARTS XXII event
With performances by:
Cactus Vella
Bowman
Jenn Fiorentino
And the Whiskey Hearts collective

As always these events are free and the music starts at 10pm
Sponsored by My Freakin' Ears https://www.facebook.com/groups/365652553536015/?ref=br_tf
and Stereo Dynamite Recordings https://www.facebook.com/stereodynamiteHQ

Friday, May 9, 2014

Flyer - Friday, May 9th, 2014

Sunday, May 4, 2014

Radio - Sunday, May 4th,2014

Inspired by the recent Toronto Mayor's escape to rehab the innocent story is a little tired and there is lots of speculation out there that this is part of some redemption story. Coke Bust had a song called "Innocence Complex" which fit perfectly in with these ideas. We won't be fooled again. You can hear tonight's program on the player above or download an MP3 file here.

COKE BUST - Innocence Complex (Grave Mistake)

This opening set is inspired by a couple of shows happening locally with Reagan Youth, Dayglo Abortions, No Problem, and the Wankys. See show listings on the right hand side of this blog for details.

INSTIGATON - Degenerated (Self-Released)
DS 13 - New Aryans (Insect / Communichaos Media)
SNFU - I wanna be East Indian (Cruz Media)
NO PROBLEM - I got a Bomb (Deranged)
WANKYS - Bombs Away (La Vida es un mus)

Some newer releases each with some context as to how they came to our attention.

OBSESSOR - Aftershock (Tank Crimes)
KOMPLOTT - Casa Lavoro Cimitero (Complotto Autoproduzioni)
KAOS URBANO - Somos lo peor (Potencial hardcore)
STAGE BOTTLES - You'll Never Gonna Get Me Down (Insurgence)
NON SERVIUM - Hijos de Puta (Potencial hardcore)

Mostly new Canadian releases in this set.

BOIDS - P.B.M.F. (Stomp)
ACOUSMA - Omnipresence (High fashion Industries)
CONQUEST FOR DEATH - And the Warlords (Tank Crimes)
HAYMAKER - Their Rules (a389)
SPLIT TEETH - Landfill (Tenzenmen)

A great zine called "Art Through Intimidation" came to our attention and it is about Black Flag flyer artwork. "Nervous Breakdown" serves as a starting point for the zine so I came across more recent influences in terms of new releases that made up a set with exception for the Drop Dead song at the beginning.

DROPDEAD - A Fall Of Empires (Armageddon)
BLACK FLAG - Nervous Breakdown (SST)
SUICIDAS - Contra el suelo de hormigon (No Nostalgia)
SCHOOL JERKS - Untitled (Bad Vibrations)
WARTHOG - Potential / Yes, Master (Katorga Works)
BLACK COFFEE - N.I.M.B.Y. (Self-Released)

Some older UK material

STIFF LITTLE FINGERS - Law and Order (Rough Trade)
BUZZCOCKS - Breakdown (New Hormones)
MENACE - GLC (Small Wonder)
SLAUGHTER AND THE DOGS - Where have all the bootboys gone? (Decca)
THE SUBS - Gimme your Heart (Stiff)

U.K. SUBS - Young Cirminals (Gem)
EATER - No Brains (The Label)
SOME CHICKEN - New religion (Raw)
PUNISHMENT OF LUXURY - Brainbomb (United Artists)
THE REZILLOS - 2000 A.D.(Sire)

Japanese material from more recent eras.

CROCODILE SKIN - War Game (Self-Released)
BATTLE OF DISARM - Murderer is Hero (Self-Released)
ABRAHAM CROSS - Same as war (Self-Released)
NOT CUT - Open Way (Epp)
IDORA - Absent Time (Odds ness)
KURO - hey hey hey (Epp)
AGRRESSIVE DOGS - Dizzy Life (Epp)

Tonight's demo feature is a new project bands along the lines of Das Oath or Sectarian Violence. Here is a review in the May issue of MRR which brought this to our attention and you can download the demo at their bandcamp page.

SMÄRTSAM UTLÖSNING - Alla Har Det Bra (Self-Released)
SMÄRTSAM UTLÖSNING - Smärtsam Utlösning (Self-Released)
SMÄRTSAM UTLÖSNING - Dö Ditt Jävla As (Self-Released)
SMÄRTSAM UTLÖSNING - Jävla Parasit (Self-Released)
SMÄRTSAM UTLÖSNING - Jävla Punken I Uppsala och Rockville (Self-Released)

Saturday, May 3, 2014

Flyer - Saturday, May 3rd, 2014

Friday, May 2, 2014

Flyer - Friday, May 2nd, 2014

Thursday, May 1, 2014

MRR Review - Art Through Intimidation

I had heard about this zine through Ben from the School Jerks. He was very excited about it. I had forgotten about it until it showed up in the post. Then I started looking through it and as I started reading the zine I realized that there was an incredible amount of work behind the artistic analysis of Raymond Pettibon's artwork. And as I read through I started to realize that the artwork on Black Flag's flyers was often more powerful than the band itself. Pettibon pulled no punches and covered way more subjects that Black Flag didn't. Here is a review of the zine from the May 2014 issue of MRR (#372).

MRR Review - Simply Saucer "Bullet Proof Nothing" ep

Simply Saucer were this little known proto punk band from Hamilton with a Velvet Underground sound. The Pig Paper started a label and released this single in the mid-70's and this represents the recent pressing of the legendary single. The title to Liz Worth's book "Treat me like Dirt" is part of the song's lyrics. This review is from the May 2014 issue of MRR (#372).

Here is a video for the song: