Archive for the ‘Punk Music’ Category
Ben Disaster, an Edmonton-based acoustic-punk artist is currently seeking a gig in the Medicine Hat area from the 19th to the 20th. Ben’s music can be described as what punk music would sound like with no other instruments besides a good ol’ acoustic guitar; that, and slower melodies. His music reminds me much of Justin Sane’s (of Anti-Flag) solo work. Ben’s message to us on MySpace as follows:
Hi guys and Girls, My name is Ben I am a folk singer from Edmonton. I have been booking a tour through out western Canada will be leaving in less then a week. I had some problems with some pending shows and now i have a few days open. I am touring with my friend Dylan Thomas from Vancouver.
We are touring together and playing separate set and also combining sets. We are both pretty mellow guys and keep a positive atmosphere.
We will be in the Area of Medicine from the 19th to the 20th. I am wondering if you might know of any places that would book us last minute or if there are any open mikes that we could check out. at this point we are just looking for something to do even if it’s playing a back yard BBQ. If you could get back to me I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Cheers
-Ben
Dylan’s stuff is a little bit more indie-rock-ish with a folk twist but they suit each other quite nicely. Please contact Ben via his MySpace.
Mr. Chi Pig - Photography from CBC.ca (Jess Watt)
Just got a Facebook message alerting me that SNFU, the popular Canadian skate punk band is returning to play in Medicine Hat. They were last in the city nearly a year ago, a little bit after we first started this site, although we didn’t write about it at the time even though Sean and I both went. They played in the now late Doghouse, which burnt down shortly after they played there.
This time they will be playing at The Ottoman Lounge which means you we get to see first hand the weird and twisted, gross-out humour displayed by the band’s lead singer, Ken Chinn (Mr. Chi Pig) up close and personal. They have a weird assortment of stage props and masks that Mr. Chi Pig just loves to sing with.
I also shouldn’t state that they are a “skate punk” band because they do tend to delve into more hardcore or melodic punk as well. SNFU, as a band have recently (2007) reassembled after several previous break-ups and have been touring and playing quite steadily since, even though they haven’t released a new CD since 2004. However, according to some articles, they are gearing up to begin recording their new album this year.
Location: The Ottoman Lounge
Where: 502 South Railway St. SE.
Tickets: $15 (available now)
When: Saturday, June 20th
Start Time: Show will start around 10PM
Warped Tour is geared up again for the year and hitting Calgary on Wednesday, August 12, 2009 at The Race City Speedway.
Alexisonfire Moshpit, Warped Tour, Calgary 2006 - Photo by dristis-mudra
For those who are unaware, Warped Tour or Vans Warped Tour began in 1994 as a showcase for Punk Rock and Third Wave Ska music. More recently; however, it has begun incorporating different types of genres, including electronica, post-hardcore, metalcore and Christian rock, though punk rock bands still regularly play on the tour.
Along with featuring over 100 bands, the tour will host many more popular bands on the main stage, including Bad Religion, NoFX, Anti-Flag, Flogging Molly, The Bouncing Souls, Underoath, and much more. The tour will also offer half pipes for skaters and bikers (a tribute to the connection between punk and skate), merchandise booths for most of the bands that perform, independent magazines and non-profit organizations/sponsors offering their wares. It is not unusual to see band members at their merchandise booths before and after their performances to meet fans.
Beginning in 2006, Warped Tour has been committed to the Warped Eco Initiative. The cross-country tour buses now use Bio-diesel fuel, which reduces petroleum usage by 30%. One stage is entirely run on solar power. Catering now uses washable dishes as opposed to disposable dishes. And the packaging used is made from compostable corn and potato-starch.
Tickets can be bought through Ticketmaster. Check it out!
Warped Tour
Warped Tour in Calgary page
SoundProof Magazine’s 2008 Warped Tour Calgary coverage
dristis-mudra’s 2006 Warped Tour Calgary photostreak on Flickr
There’s a Young and Pretty Folk Music Association show going on tonight at CAPE School which means it’s one of those rare all-ages show. Thomas DiNinno, creator of the Young and Pretty Folk Music Association, states that they are talking a break from doing bar shows to do some all-ages shows.
Thwomp - Photo via MySpace
There’s a mixed bag tonight featuring Russia Attacks, an all-girl band from Medicine Hat that sing about Russian history. There’s Thwomp, a Calgary-based Nintendo cover band who cover songs from classics such as Chrono Trigger, F-Zero, Final Fantasy and more. Mordichia is Jonathan Micheal Walker from Medicine Hat who plays music that can be described as techno-indie experimental kinda stuff. Lastly is Ghostkeeper is some genuinely good indie-rock from Calgary.
CAPE School
830A Balmoral Street SE, T1A 0W9
Also keep in mind there is also a Gob show tonight happening in Redcliff (it’s kinda pricey though). Doors open at 8PM and admission is $5, and like I stated before, it’s an all-ages show so bring your babies – I’m talking about newborns and the like – bring em’ all.
Russia Attacks @ MySpace
Thwomp @ MySpace
Ghostkeeper @ MySpace
MORDICHIA @ MySpace
Gob will be stopping by Redcliff’s Harmony Hall on February 7th. Notice the question mark in the title. Redcliff? I have no idea why, but this can probably be attributed to the late Doghouse burning down and all. But still? Anyways, back to Gob…
Gob - Photography via their MySpace
Canadian punk rock band, Gob is recently touring promoting their first new album in four years, “Muertos Vivos”. If you don’t know who Gob is, you probably do, you just forgot about them. They did the popular “I Hear You Calling” which has been featured on like… everything. They can also be tagged as some of the bands that sparked the “pop-punk” movement in the early 2000’s. Sum 41, Good Charlotte, Treble Charger… ring any bells? They were all the rage in high-school with awesome pop-punky songs like “Soda” (this is also before they got big, and controversially “less punk”). Hey, I even got their autographs on a sticker when I was 15. To this day it’s still proudly stuck to… actually I have no idea where it is.
Anyways, admission will cost $25 dollars in advance and tickets can be purchased at Dayz Off Pub (640 Kingsway Avenue S.E.), Revolution Tattoo Company (110-3215 Dunmore Road, S.E.), and Who’s on Third (222 Broadway Ave. E. in Redcliff). A little pricey, no? Video and links after the jump:
One Shot Left is a punk rock band originating from Medicine Hat, Alberta. They have been together for over ten years and have been a headlining band for much of that time, and what is more, they have toured extensively across Canada to boot.
One Shot Left - Photography from their MySpace
The band is fronted by guitarist and vocalist Jeff Barrett and to either of his sides are guitarist Blair Cooney and bassist Corey Tapp, both of whom provide backing vocals, and drummer Chad Schiebelbein. The band has received much praise from fans, including crediting from sources such as The Leader Post, Beatroute Magazine and PunkRocks.net. They are currently signed to MeterRecords.
One Shot Left - Red Deer 2005
They continue to play across south eastern Alberta, mostly between Calgary or their hometown of Medicine Hat, but in either case, if you manage to see one of their shows, you will invariably be in for a night of listening to awesome music and be provoked by an unstoppable force driving you to either tap your toe, or even jump in the pit.
Flogging Molly arrived, Dave King’s unmistakable Irish voice filled the venue and the crowd was on its toes.
Paddy’s Lament came from the stage, a song from Flogging Molly’s new album – ‘Float’ and the crowd dived in and immersed themselves in the Irish punk rock. The 7-piece band busted out about 25 songs from their just over a decade long repertoire including older favourites: Salty Dog, Drunken Lullabies, Seven Deadly Sins, and many songs from their new album including Requiem For A Dying Song, Float, Lightning Storm, and others. Flogging Molly proved there is no rival, accompanied by Dave King putting down his guitar and dancing around on stage and his newly wedded bride and fellow band member, Bridget Regan, sawing on her violin. The rest of the band performed a myriad of banjo solos, accordion solos, mandolin solos and many other seemingly obscure instruments that ten years ago, would have been unfamiliar to the punk going community, but now are beloved by them.
The crowd managed to pull Flogging Molly back out for an encore which they were more than thrilled to perform and after an hour and a half, the show had came to an end, leaving the crowd well pleased and cheering.
Bad Religion, obviously eager to meet their fans, were mostly all out in the crowd during the first two opening acts of Ultimate Power Duo and The Briggs. Jay Bentley and Brooks Wackerman walked around, watching the show, checking out the sales tables and talking to fans. Time passed and it was their turn to perform.
Bad Religion, sans-Gurewitz, nonchalantly stepped out of the darkness around the stage of the (Venue). They have been on the stage since the early 80’s, and fourteen albums later, they have nothing to prove to anyone. As of late, their shows seem to have become almost a time for them to party and fool around while performing for their fans instead of just a job where they get on stage, perform and leave.
21st Century Digital Boy kicked off their set list, an old time favourite, and followed by the newer epic, New Dark Ages. The new epic was followed by their blast from the past, Suffer. The first three songs encompassed Bad Religion’s nearly 30 year career in the Punk Rock business, and nearly 30 years later, they have not lost their edge and appeal to the crowd. They performed a surprising amount of twenty-eight songs, including an acoustic set from their deluxe reissue of New Maps Of Hell which included such songs as Won’t Somebody and Dearly Beloved. The crowd left Greg Graffin on stage after that, much to his joking dismay, and he began a song solo. Bored and Extremely Dangerous came out of his guitar and voice and during the break in the song, the lights dimmed, he got off stage, the silhouettes of the rest of the band coming on stage could be seen and for the latter half of the song, the band returned in full on punk rock, contrasting and juxtaposing the acoustic first half.
Bad Religion performed many such staples as Generator, Infected, Sorrow, No Control, American Jesus, and some older more rarer songs such as News From The Front and Anesthesia.
Despite a nearly 30-year long career, Bad Religion shows no signs of slowing down or waining in their art.
Ultimate Power Duo is an indie band from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
Having never heard them before, I was surprised at their stage presence and musical style. Interesting drumming which was more than just “1…2…3…4…” with saw-like guitaring and rhythmic bass. New bands who perhaps not many people know, results unfortunately with not many people dancing; however, the band easily provoked the audience in a positive manner and many heads were bobbing from side to side and feet tapping to the beat on the ground.
Their set list, only about 30 minutes long, was enough to satisfy the punk-going crowd in making way for Bad Religion.
Tim Armstrong stepped onto the stage and the crowd nearest to the stage raved. Like lightning, more people looked to the stage and realized the band was coming out, ran as one from the back of the complex to get as close as they could. The first hi-hat hit was struck and the accompanying guitar strummed as Tim Armstrong spoke the familiar words “Never fell in love, till I fell in love with you…” and a circle pit erupted instantly, some 400-500 punks strong.
The band surprisingly and unsurprisingly rocked out for over an hour. Surprising on one hand that to the contrary of what many older non-punks say such things like the old school bands being passed their time and should quit, but unsurprising (and almost expected) at the size of the crowds these older and legendary bands draw, and the energy and love for the music they play. It was not a surprise at all to see 40-50 year olds in the crowd, on the edge of the pit with foggy glasses as they danced to one of the bands they grew up with.
Rancid rocked out such familiar songs as Radio, Fall Back Down, The Wars End, Nihilism, Gunshot, Time Bomb, Bloodclot, Antennas, and a myriad of others.
Image from AxYoung at Wikipedia.org
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