Radio - Sunday, September 1st, 2019

Tonight's show is the third band in the Tomorrow is Too Late series, which is the radio interviews from the early Toronto hardcore bands that were conducted for the book by the same name. Tonight's band is Micro Edge, Toronto's first skate-core band. They shredded in a way that those early skate bands did (think JFA). They wrote one of the most memorable songs from the era called "(So You Think You're) Hardcore, eh", which is where we start this interview. The song appeared on the limited edition compilation that came with the first pressing of the book. But all of us wanted to see that song come out on vinyl. 

I had interviewed the band once before back when Sudden Impact did a reunion show at our old studio. The interview was lost and consequently never aired. It was one of my biggest regrets. So when they agreed to take a chance again and do this do over, I was super grateful. 

We get talking about how the band got into punk and skating and how the two things intertwined. Reminiscing about the early days of skateboarding reliving the spirit of skaters and that can do spirit, and developing their own culture with a zine that Dave put out called "Bong Out". "Bong Out" had interviews., show reviews, skate shots, and raditorials. I am going to put some pictures of the issues that Dave shared with us on the Facebook page under a Micro Edge photo album. They play with S.C.U.M. who were skaters. They skate with JFA. Reid's editorial and artwork, Dwayne skating shots, reviews of a lot of early shows in Toronto - it's a fantastic time capsule. 

In the interview we talk about some iconic shows in Toronto's hardcore history. We start out by talking about the Circle Jerks for shows in Toronto which included their gig at the Bev under the Spankin' Monkeys. The Dead Kennedys gigs at the Concert Hall were paradigm shifting in terms of the punk scene at the time. Their first gig at the Wexford Battle of the Bands with Boris sporting a mohawk (see right). They talk about Quarantine's all ages matinees. They opened for the F.U.'s from Boston which gets covered in Bong Out. DRI and JFA slept on Boris' kitchen floor. JFA skated the parking garages in Kensington Market. They got to play Start Dancing and saw some of the shows at the Desh Bhaget which is the hall that Start Dancing broke in.  

Micro Edge spend some talking about the scene back then. Getting to see Teenage Head at the Wexford school dance had an impression on Boris. They shared a practice space with YYY and NJF after losing Dave's dad's basement. Dave meets Brian Taylor by chance at the York Mills subway station and wind up being gifted a "Why Pay More" demo which becomes a fought over prized possession. Chronic Submission's association with the skinhead scene. The importance of the Record Peddler on finding out about music, finding out about shows, and meeting people. And the Young Lions who had the Garage, supported Rock Against Racism, and set the groundwork for this scene.

You can download the show here. Download the full interview here. Pick up their LP through Ugly Pop. The playlist looks like this:

MICRO EDGE - (So you think you're) Hardcore, eh? (Ugly Pop)
MICRO EDGE - Attitudes, Feelings and Ideas (Ugly Pop)
MICRO EDGE - United We Skate (Ugly Pop)
MICRO EDGE - Energy through Noise (Ugly Pop)
SUDDEN IMPACT - Bent OK (Marquee)
MICRO EDGE - School (Ugly Pop)

MICRO EDGE - Livin' After Midnight (Ugly Pop)
MICRO EDGE - Louie Louie (Ugly Pop)
MICRO EDGE - Assholes (Ugly Pop)
MICRO EDGE - Untitled (Ugly Pop)