Nice and New: The Courtneys & Vierance

For those of you who don't know, I have a day job doing freelance subtitling for movies and TV. This basically means I sit at my computer watching movies all day, every day, mostly terrible. Today, completely unexpectedly, I got promoted! So starting Monday I will no longer be working from home.

But, before leaving my home office behind, I have one one last hurrah this weekend. Tonight, SINS and Vierance are invading our fair city, from Toronto. They will be playing at the Death House on SATURDAY with Brusque Twins and it would be lovely to see you there. Event info HERE.

But, before I get ahead of myself, tonight after picking them up from the train station, I will be putting in an appearance at the Lumpy and the Dumpers show to see some very old friends from the STL which I am totally excited about.  It's been way too long. If I have the time, energy, I will also try to sneak over to the Courtneys show which you can look into HERE.  Who knows if I will actually make it despite my best efforts.

Tomorrow I will be resting so you will not see me at Angelic Upstarts.  But Saturday, ugh, Saturday will start with Kids Pop, a going-away picnic for our Finnish friend and ending with the aforementioned show. There is another show at the Vitrola on the punker side featuring Malokio, if that's more your speed. Sunday, baby shower and taking my favourite German to the airport. It's a weekend of brief hellos and long good-byes and, honestly, I'm happy to be so busy so I won't start crying that everyone is leaving. So, come find me and buy me juices and gelatoes to cheer me up since I'm also driving around and not drinking. Here are some songs from bands you can come and see with me.
Love,
Megon

 

Hilary Laddin-The Sell 7" (US, 1980)

It's a wonder at the end of some days I don't just fall over, dead, on the floor in a puddle of my own drool. Today is one of those days. Work was gruelling and I was just not expecting that.  My eyes are completely glazed over and I feel like if I actually close them, they will never have the power to open again. Otherwise, so far, it's been a lovely week with a helluva weekend coming up. Loads of friends in town including my German bestie who brought me presents including a Christmas pyramid and some hand cream/shampoo, not sure which because I can't read German.  And, starting tomorrow, there are a bunch of shows including, but not limited to, Tropic of Cancer on Saturday with our dear friends Police Des Moeurs opening.   

ANYWAY, y'all don't really care about any of that. You just want the songs, right? Well, here's one for you, going back to my roots with some pics to boot. A little jammy jam from Hilary Laddin, who also drummed in the band The Leaving Trains, whom you may remember. This is not like that and I like it way better. Here are both sides to her only solo single The Sell, released in 1980 on What Records? most famous for a couple Dils and Germs records that were KINDA popular, or something, I don't know. Unfortunately, Hilary passed away in 2007 but this is still a pretty rad record that deserves more light of day. 

Alright, I'm wiped. Talk to you after the weekend.

LOVE!!!

Megon

Karen Marks-Cold Cafe 7" (Australia, 1981)

Alright, here's a real little slice of pie for you. And good goddamn if you can't tell this is Australian just from listening to it. There's a sweet little write up of this sweet little record over on Systems of Romance HERE, produced and partially co-written by Ash Wednesday, just so you know. If you don't have an extra $500 to drop on the real thing, you can also download it there as well. Anyway, I'm pretty much head over heels for this record, so without further ado:

In other news, still DJing tomorrow night at Minimale Musique and I'm home alone for the next few days so don't expect to hear from me till well after the weekend. Okay, off to do the million and one chores and errands I have. Hope to see you all tomorrow! 

Love,

Megon

Valerie Krystal-Piece Of My Heart LP (Canada, 1983)

Oh man. It's been a minute since I checked in here. I have been deathly ill for about a week and simultaneously slammed at work so, I've been going to bed at about 9 every night. Right now I am about 75% human, about 25% snot, but working on bringing that latter percentage down. Anyway, pretty much the only other thing I have been doing for the last week is listening to disco. I know what you're going to say but just hear me out. It's awesome. That's all the semi-convincing I have the energy to do. Anyway, if that's not enough, here's a song I have been jamming a lot lately. I think it's pretty fucking catchy and totally Canadian, eh? Meet Valerie Krystal. Man, there are so many things I like about this but mostly it's her little kid voice. I was only gonna post Jailbait, my favorite song of hers, but Tic Toc is like a new wave Sparks song so I'm putting it up for you too. I just can't stop, I love her so. 

Anyway, the actual reason I'm posting this is to lead into this: next Thursday, May 8th, to be exact, I am going to be doing an ODIF inspired DJ set at Minimale Musique. I have a lot of tricks up my sleeve for this night and I hope you can all come out and drink, dance, both or neither. The event info is HERE. I hope to see some of y'all there. Bring your dancing shoes. TGIF!
Love,
Megon

Wrath-Warlord 7" (US, 1975)

I pretty much have nothing to say today. My brain is completely turned off due to quite a hangover and some intense lingering pain from separating my shoulder last night. Anyway, I woke up to this in my inbox from my friend Francois and it's so crazy rockin' I am stealing it. I am gonna actually quote the Numero Group website bio of this band because I think you're more likely to read it this way than if I link you:

Forged in a Canton, Ohio, musical instrument depot in 1970, Wrath combined guitarist Ralph Minocchi, bassist Glen Sikora, and singing drummer Rick Page— an ore unparalleled in the seat of Stark County. In a North Canton Battle of the Bands, Wrath clashed with a then-unknown Joe Walsh; in Akron, they opened for Ted Nugent, years prior to that warlord Detroiter’s eponymous debut LP. Neighborhood garages served Wrath as practice spaces, before Sikora got warehouse keys from his generous boss, a Wrath fan in his own right.

“Warlord”—penned by Minocchi, who wrote most of Wrath’s martial and darkly metaphysical material— summoned up Satan, sea snakes, and the titular combatant forced to dig his own grave. Originally conceived to showcase his vocals, “Warlord” was taped during Page’s bout with laryngitis. In his stead, Sherry Minocchi—Ralph’s wife at the time— took a one-time lead-singing stint...and nailed the double-tracked speak-sing vocal to Wrath’s mournful instrumentation. But Sherry never sang “Warlord” again, yielding to Page’s delivery during live sets, and a subsequent “Warlord” master tape featuring Page’s vocal take was stolen, likely lost forever. 1975 saw the release of Wrath’s “Warlord” b/w “Rock n’ Roll Fever” 45 on Stone Cold Records, founded by Wrath itself on the advice of a shrewd attorney.

In touring afterward, Wrath stuck to its Rust Belt roots. Sikora’s army photographer brother brought the band to an Atlanta, Georgia, military base for a Black Sabbath concert, before which Wrath and Sabbath briefly warmed up together. But in the early part of the 1980s, Wrath’s membership, no longer unencumbered teens, lost hope in touring enough to support family needs. Minocchi and Page moved on to the far less wrathful Holiday Inn gigging circuit.

You can also check out the comp this track appears on HERE. Chock full of some other heavy gems. Anyway, lunch break is over. Yes, I still have to work with my fucked-up shoulder.

TGIF!!!

Megon

Nice & New: Tweens, Douce Angoisse, Pale Lips, Pleasure Leftists, Dum Dum Girls & Blouse

I told you I'd be back at the end of the month with more show updates and here I am! Most of these bands probably don't need an introduction. But, I just want you to know, they are all gonna be playing Montreal in the next week. So, if you wanna come say hi, I will be at ALL of these shows, even the ones happening on the same night. Of course, as always, you are welcome to come drink and dance with me. Here's what's happening in chronological order:

Friday, March 28th. (tomorrow) 

Blouse and Dum Dum Girls are playing at Il Motore. I am super curious to see how this show is gonna go. My gut says it should totally sell out a venue this size, but Il Motore is a notorious kiss of death so...we will see! Event info HERE.  After the show we will be staying to dance at the monthly Faggity Ass Friday dance party where Douce Angoisse will also be playing, who I have somehow never managed to see.

Alright, moving on to next week, because who knows if I'll make it back before then.

Saturday, April 5th.

Just a reminder about something I've already posted, our friends SVPER, from Barcelona, will be playing their ONLY Canadian date (sorry Toronto) so don't miss it. Police Des Moeurs will also be playing as it is a show to celebrate the release of their new LP. Event info HERE.

Sunday, April 6th. 

***Not blog related***, but just a bit of shameless self promotion, our dear friends Processor will be playing at Casa with Cell Memory and Hobo Cubes. So, come out for a lovely evening of dream noise, soundscapes and reasonably priced drinks and nachos. You know in your heart that Mac Demarco and Amen Dunes is way too expensive anyway. Event info HERE. 

Monday April 7th, 

Pleasure Leftists vs. Tweens.

I have been bugging people left and right trying to figure out which show to go to and I have finally decided I'm gonna bust my ass and go to both. I have loved the Pleasure Leftists since I first heard them, and you may remember even interviewed them for the zine HERE. But, the new LP fell a bit flat for me. Tweens, on the other hand, are still fresh in my mind and have not disappointed me...yet. so, I'm gonna give both bands a chance to dazzle me. Pleasure Leftists are playing at Il Motore (gross, I know) and the event info is HERE. Tweens are playing at Cabaret Playhouse with our friends Pale Lips, who I'm probably sadly going to miss...again. Event info HERE.

Okay, I have to leave it at that for now. I think that's a bit of info overload anyway. Maybe I'll see you this week! 

Love,

Megon

Bernthøler-My Suitor 7" (Belgium, 1983)

Everyone always tells me that they love how personal the blog is. But, despite my overly familiar and casual writing style, the blog is not actually very personal at all. Anyone who knows me well will tell you I am actually very guarded with my emotions. Right now, I am going to let the guard down...A LITTLE, and just to explain why I have chosen to post this song. Some of you may know that my mother has been going through a bout of cancer for quite a while now, her third. On this front things are FINALLY looking up. But, another friend is also going through a battle with the disease. Without spilling any dirt that's not mine to dish, I have had a really hard day with some news we've gotten regarding this and some news we haven't. 

I was listening to a French ODIF playlist earlier to lift my spirits and mistakenly (because they are from Belgium) stuck in there was Bernthøler. I had forgotten about this band and this song punched me right in my face and I have been listening to this record pretty much since then. Sometimes you find a perfect song for how you're feeling and this is it for me today.  This particular single was pressed in England on Blanco Y Negro and touted by John Peel so you know it must be kinda alright.  

 

This second track is a little more accessible as it sounds more like other stuff that was going on at the time. Anyway, there are other good tracks, most of which you can find on Youtube as this group had a pretty big following at one point. You can read a brief history HERE and or some more HERE.

As a bonus, here's the title track from their first single Japanese Garden. 

Okay, I hope you are all having healthy and happy days out there. 

Love,

Megon