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Top 10 February 27, 2011
Here we go with part two of an attempt to counter the perception of Montreal as merely an “Indie” rock hub. Obviously one can’t deny that the last 5 years has seen this crumbling metropolis spit-polished and heralded afar (with a chorus of glockenspiels) as a mecca for awkward hairdos and furry zeitgeisters of suburban anglo Canada. A closer reading of the musical history reveals that Montreal is deeply stranger and more hardcore than what may be intimated by the majority of the music that escapes it of late. Before rents skyrocketed in the now posh Plateau/Mile End neighborhood there were some sick bands rocking the roach-infested dives here.
See, we do actually have a rich history of gnarly punk, garage and twisted rock n roll here that stretches all the way back to the Yé-yé days of the 50s and 60s (I’ll be doing a fully Yé-yé themed top ten soon). I offer this not to sneer at anyone’s endeavors, not to just be a contrarian.. I ain’t hatin’, just piping up to the effect that the louder, stranger and crazier music has always had foment up here but is too often kept out of sight, like a mongoloid mutand child hidden in the attic.
Here then is a sampling of some of our town’s finer rnr/punk/swamp moments, once again in no particular order!
The Haunted
No, not the Swedish metal band! The Haunted was the proto-punk garage band from Montreal, active only from 1965-1971, who gave the world the oft-covered garage classic “1,2..5”, a slice of sneering attitude started off with that unmistakable harmonica intro. (I still keep my eyes peeled for a copy of this tune in local flea markets and sally anne’s. Apparently a mint copy is worth thousands!)
The Gruesomes
The Gruesomes hailed from a maligned neighborhood west of downtown called NDG (Notre Dame de Grace), or “The Deeg” to locals. Various pockets of working-class anglophones have sprung from there to make the music world a better place, but none had the impact of The Gruesomes. Taking 60s garage rawk played with reverence and skill, blending it with cartoon kitsch and a punken sneer, their music is as fresh and fun today as it was 25 years ago. Bobby Beaton and bassman John Davis haven’t stopped since then either, releasing albums and touring internationally as toungue-in-cheek frat rocker combo Fuad and the Feztones, which, though less fuzzy than The Gruesomes’ output, still slays and plays circles around most other bands who just discovered The Wailers and The Sonics.
Deja Voodoo
Once again, not the NZ garage punk band sporting the same name, Deja Voodoo was a “swampabilly” duo who dealt out punishing caveman tunes on a 4 string guitar and a drum kit with no cymbals.
Not only did they blaze new paths for punk and ripped garage music, they were trailblazers of the whole concept of “Indie” 25 years ago, when they started Og records to release bands no-one would touch. The It Came From Canada garage comps released on Og inspired a whole generation of sludge rockers and gave some balls to an utterly insipid mid 80s Canadian music scene. (Corey Hart, anyone?)
The Nils
Also springing from dank NDG basements in the early 80s was proto-power pop punks (sorry) The Nils. Very inspirational to a genre that later became rather watered down and formulaic, The Nils’ grit was uncelebratedly influential, like Cleveland’s The Mice of the same era. Though sadly lead Nil Alex Soria took his own life in 2004, The Nils music persists, still fresh, relevant and ass-kicking.
My Dog Popper
To me (and lots of you, j’imagine) punk ain’t about the chords or hair or whatever the fuck. Do your own thing, right? Luckily, in a city where many things musical get taken with less grains of salt than needed, My Dog Popper plants their clown-shoe size docs right in your bum. Tongue-in-cheek piss-takes underpinned by awesome skronk and shred. Their enduring “Gino (I Lost My Job to A Guy Named…)” is a great example of the humor that overlayed Popper’s attitude and ability. My Dog Popper is the purest punk of all.. dyed in the wool weirdos that piss off other punk bands!
Ripcordz
Canadian as fuck, Ripcordz are a still active 30 year old crust punk band from Montreal that have still not played outside our borders. Legends of the scene, trailblazing in small towns across french and english Canada, fueling the persistent crust punk squeegee kids’ imagination with anarchic irreverently growled tunes, killer riffs and tight energy.
Modernes Pickles
Ok, these guys came from Quebec City, but whatever. Modernes Pickles had a hard, funk edged no-wave sound, hitting an ESG/Contortions stride with a stronger shot of strange. Pretty ‘core in the context of early 80’s QC! Some Modernes Pickles tracks are going to be reissued soon on a much anticipated postpunk comp currently being amassed by Signed By Force Records , very stokeworthy.
Les Jaguars
From the Saguenay region, Les Jaguars owned in Quebec in the early 60s. The most amazing thing is that they were among the earliest psychedelic surf bands in North America, lead Shadows inspired guitarist Arthur Cosette had a mastery of electronics, building and shaping his own unique effects that took the hard riffs they were laying down and sending them into space. Les Jaguars (well, Arthur at least) is still performing, 50 years after blowing everyone’s minds with tracks like “Guitare Jet”.
SCUM
One of the earliest hardcore punk bands of the early blossom of the genre in early 80s Montreal, SCUM reflects the persistent anger and mistrust of the 5-0 in the general population here. We’re always one brick away from a riot and will blow up cop cars even if our hockey team WINS, songs like “So Much Hate” remain totally relevant to those increasing numbers of people in this city profile, targeted and abused by the Filth.
Terminal Sunglasses
A big part of the canon of Montreal’s penchant for producing bands that are kind of funny, kind of dorky, but still totally rock n roll and fun. Lately things have been so heavy handed, so it’s damn good that we have the solid foundational inspiration of bands like Terminal Sunglasses to inspire new crops of rad bands. Here’s an awesome video from 1985 for Psycho Rail.. spot the accidental Leonard Cohen cameo!
