Music West '96
Vancouver, B.C.
May 2-5, 1996
Text by P. Freako
Photography by Suzanne Goodwin
What sets Spiderbait apart for me is that they are a punk band
that possesses a sense of humour in their music. A rarity for
sure. Cheers mate! Put a hippie on the barbie! I'm glad my parents
weren't at Slam City Jam. It would have crushed them to see their
27-year-old son towering over 12-year-olds to look at skateboards.
Oh well, I guess I better go now.
Saturday night I was tied to previous personal commitments, so I managed to catch only one band, but it was a very good band. The Colorifics were closing at the Gastown Music Hall on this night and they brought their 30's-40's swing lounge style mixed with a 50's rock influence to the crowd with stylin' fashion polished with poise, grace and fine musicianship. They created a very sultry, smoky atmosphere in which those dancing could peer into their partner's eyes knowing that their night was not going to end after the show. Is it getting warm in here? I've gotta go. See you tomorrow!
The vertical competition, the curvature of air time.
Skateboarding heaven. I was fortunate to catch some awesome skateboarding
this afternoon, which put me in a cocky, happy mood. The result
of this was me seeing a band I had seen before. The shame.
Ten Days Late
performed a quick set at the HMV stage and it was
worth it. So there!! Hometown punkers, they played a fun, energetic
set of their reality filled punk music. They've got a CD coming
out soon, and I'm pretty excited about it.
After viewing some wicked skateboarding and a cool
punk band, I made the mistake of checking out the Music West trade
show. Very few booths this year, and there was hardly anything there.
I ended up talking to this artist from Edmonton for an eternity
and she was just too perky for a Sunday afternoon. I might just
have to go to Edmonton and talk to her about it. Her energy, though,
was a breath of fresh air. I'm catchin' a second wind. On with
the show.
Sunday night it was off to the Music Waste Punkaoke
wrap-up party at the Mighty Niagara. This is karaoke without
the stupid machine. Instead, you use a live punk band, and tonight
it was The Sex Pins. You just sign up for the song you
want to sing and climb on stage and do it. It would be enough
to scare most business people/office types away, I'm sure. Bonus!
Paul Mackenzie of the Real McKenzies sang a trio of songs that
left a lasting impression. He sang his first song and immediately
after asked the band if they could play faster, "you know,
punk rock." Warning signals started going off in my head
sayin' he's gonna get crazy...and he did, wiping out two mic
stands and leaping into the crowd looking like he's gonna pop
a vein or something. He got wild and crazy and tried his best
to destroy the stage and it was bloody amazing! He gets the A... O... fuck
you, middle finger punk salute. Two members of
Diesel Candy were
up next and sang "I Want To Be Your Dog" by
Iggy Pop.
It ruled. Other notables included such punk anthems as "Blitzkrieg
Bop," "Anarchy in The U.K." and "God Save
the Queen." This was a ton of fun, it was crazy, unique and
a wicked idea and next year I'm singing. What will I sing?...
Hmmm. Sorry, I got distracted.
I'm not quite done yet. I headed up to the Gate to
catch Speedbuggy,
an alternapoprock group. They had some
pretty cool stuff happening, but after Punkaoke it just didn't
seem to matter; it lacked that edge I was looking for to end on
a high. Just wasn't there.
So, as I started, I ended, with a lackluster feeling. Hindsight for next year, I suppose, but, then again, I say that every year. We're all going to have to get rid of the bloodsuckers next year and make it a total musicthon -- with Punkaoke of course. See ya next year.
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