Ray13 (AKG editor, street walker, ale drinker)
Top 20 Music Releases in alphabetical order:
David Bowie - Blackstar LP
Leonard Cohen - You Want It Darker LP
D Generation - Nothing Is Anywhere LP
Discharge - End of Days LP
Iggy Pop - Post Pop Depression LP
Rolling Stones - Lonesome And Blue LP
Sleaford Mods - T.C.R. 12"
Wire - Nocturnal Koreans LP
Wovenhand - Star Treatment 2LP
Various Artists - Punk 45: Les Punks - The French Connection 2LP
Top 10 Live Shows in alphabetical order:
Arkona @ Esquire Tavern (Moncton NB)
Impulse Items @ Esquire Tavern (Moncton NB)
Mick Futures @ Claude's House (Moncton NB)
Sintax Error @ Aberdeen Cultural Centre (Moncton NB)
SNFU @ Esquire Tavern (Moncton NB)
Mark Sultan @ Esquire Tavern (Moncton NB)
TV Freaks @ Esquire Tavern (Moncton NB)
UK Subs @ L'Anti Bar (Quebec City QC)
Vacation @ Esquire Tavern (Moncton NB)
Voivod @ The Marquee (Halifax NS)
Top Three Disappointments of the year:
1) Esquire Tavern changes management meaning rock and roll shows at this legendary venue are no longer welcome.
2) The continuous rising price of vinyl records at the manufacturing and retail fronts.
3) The break-up of the Impulse Items
Top Magazines of the year:
1) Ugly Things
2) Vive Le Rock
3) Razorcake
4) Maximumrockandroll
5) Shindig
Looking forward to new records by Wire, CJ Ramone, Real McKenzies, Wolfbrigade, Disfear, T.S.O.L., The Damned, The Jesus And Mary Chain and Voivod among others....
Gavin MacNeil (rule breaker, pedal maker, video documentarian, knows a thing about boxes)
Notable Shows:
Mick Futures @ Claude’s (Oct 21)
SNFU @ Esquire (Sept 10)
UK Subs @ L’Anti Bar Quebec QC (Sept 4)
Weird Lines @ Claude’s (Dec 10)
Steve Adamyk @ Claude’s (Oct 28)
Voivod @ the Marquee Halifax NS (Oct 20)
TV Freaks/Impulse Items/Phone Jerks/Reagan’s Rayguns/Dan Hayward @ Esquire (March 26)
Adrian Teacher & The Subs @ the Esquire (July 26)
Iskra @ Esquire (July 24)
Nerve Button @ Claude’s/Esquire (various)
Alienation @ Memorial North Public Library Halifax NS (May 26)
Outtacontroller @ Esquire (April 23)
GOMS @ Spin-it (June 21)
Marie Davidson @ Menz Bar Halifax NS (May 27)
Zs @ Deep Water Church Halifax NS (May 27)
Notable releases:
Iggy Pop - Post Punk Depression LP
Black Mountain - IV LP
Wire - Nocturnal Korean LP
Nerve Button - S/T LP
Zaum - Eidolon LP
The Scientists - A Place Called Bad 2LP
Lisa Leblanc - Why You Wanna Leave, Runaway Queen? LP
Weird Lines - S/T LP
Jennifer Lopan - Full Moon demo
Tyler Boutilier (guitar slinger at Nerve Button and the Phone Jerks)
Five albums I dug this year:
5. Crown Court – Capital Offense (thanks Dan Adhesive! Killer street punk rock'n'roll)
4. Pale Lips – Wanna Be Bad (Cynthia Ross' and Nikki Corvette's bad offspring. Good Bad Not Evil)
3 Vapids – Suburban Reptiles (Still the kings of Canadian Ramones-style punk)
2. Juvie – You Ain't Gonna Rock'n'roll No More (Travis Ramin!)
1. Ancient Shapes – S/T (A Daniel Romano record I actually like. Maybe even love)
Honorable mention: Ramones 40th anniversary S/T release. Mono version of first album (with all 1-2-3-4's intact!). 2nd CD includes Dick Charles Studios February '75 demos - save for Judy Is A Punk" and "I Don't Wanna Go Down to the Basement", for some reason. Some of these were released already over the years on "All the Stuff and More Vol. 1" in 1990 and the Rhino reissue in 2001. But many of them were NOT. "You're Gonna Kill That Girl" sounds SO GOOD as a demo.
Underrated Hero: Josiah Barnett releases 40 local recordings digitally on his Astral Plane label. Two volumes! This Caper is digging the sounds.
Favourite 3 shows:
- TV Freaks (I've never been to Hamilton, but I'm convinced that it may be the 2nd greatest city in Canada after Moncton).
- Neck at No Funswick. Canada's answer to Head. Killer album from last year, and a much wilder show than the Claude's House "snowstorm" show which far too many people missed for understandable reasons.
- BBQ at the Esquire. What a fucking vocal. What a guitar sound. And those SONG! Spaceshits/Les Sexareenos wildman proving once again why he's the king of Canadian garage punk.
Favorite drink of the year: Diet Coke and Snowfox Vodka.
Sonia Noel (east coast enthusiast)
Top Ten Music Releases:
1. Les Hay Babies - La 4ieme dimension (version longue) CD
2. Shotgun Jimmie - Field of Trampolines LP
3. Adrian Teacher and the Subs - Terminal City LP
4. TUNS - TUNS CD
5. Weird Lines - Weird Lines LP
6. Gord Downie - Secret Path LP
7. Frederick Squire - Spooky Action at a Distance CD
8. Nap Eyes - Thought Rock Fish Scale LP
9. Julie Doiron / Nancy Pants - Greville Tapes Vol 2 (four song collaboration cassette)
10. Vanessa Carlton - Liberman Live CD
Honorable Mentions:
Devon Sproule And Mike O'Neill - Colours LP
The Tragically Hip - Man Machine Poem CD
Nerve Button - Nerve Button cassette
Marc Doucet (drummer extraordinaire, epicure of the black bottle)
Top Ten Music Releases:
1 Wire - Nocturnal Koreans LP
2 Various Artists - Punk45: Les Punks - The French Connection 2LP
3 Hawkwind - Onward LP
4 Cheap Trick - Bang Zoom Crazy Hello LP
5 Discharge - End of Days LP
6 Electric Prunes - I've Got a Way of My Own 7" (Record Store Day reissue)
7 The Outcasts - Frustration LP (reissue)
8 Nerve Button - s/t LP
9 Sonic Avenues - Disconnector LP
10 Metal Urbain - Panik 7" (Record Store Day reissue)
Mark McGrath (creature of habit)
Top Ten Music Releases:
1) Wintersleep - The Great Detachment CD/LP (yup, grabbed both formats!)
2) Frightened Rabbit - Painting of a Panic Attack CD
3) American Football - American Football CD
4) Voivod - Post Society CD
5) Bob Mould - Patch the Sky CD/LP (another double format-er!)
6) Lisa Hannigan - At Swim CD
7) Band of Horses - Why Are You Ok" CD
8) Trashcan Sinatras - Wild Pendulum CD
9) Chte'list - Le Dernier Crepuscule CD
10) Teenage Fanclub - Here CD/LP
Best shows:
Voivod @ The Marquee Halifax NS
Spirit of The West @ Tide And Boar
The Once @ the Riverview Arts Center
Mark Eveleigh (local scene supporter)
Top Ten Music Releases:
1. Metallica - Hardwired...To Self-Destruct CD
2. Thee Requiems - Death Perception CD
3. Kappa Chow - Kappa Chow LP
4. Nerve Button - Nerve Button Cassette
5. Heart Attack Kids - No Future LP
6. Use Yr Delusions 2 - Comp. Digital Download
7. Public Animal - Palace Arms LP
8. The Lord Almightys - X-Ray Eyes Vinyl CD Hydrid
9. Counter Clockwork - Counter Clockwork CD
10. Local H - Straight Outta Zion Bluray
Grant Forsythe (self described grouchy old man, microphone screamer at Neighbourhood Watch)
Top Ten Music Releases:
1) Artificial Dissemination - Past. Present. Future CD
2) The Bourbon Saints - Shake, Rattle, Explode CDEP
3) Dayglo Abortions - Apocalypse Survival Guide LP
4) Forbidden Dimension - Every Twisted Tree Watches As You Pass 2CD
5) The Freeze - Someone's Bleeding 7"
6) Hard Charger - Bad Omens LP
7) Jim Threat And The Vultures - Afraid of The Dark 7"EP
8) Mad Parade - Real Horror Show 1982-1983 Demos LP
9) Shattered Faith - Volume 3 LP
10) The Undead - The Morgue... The Merrier LP
Top Five Reissues (in alphabetical order)
1) Broken Bones - Vigilante 7"EP
2) The Cramps - Gravest Hits LP
3) The Faction - Corpse In Disguise 12"EP
4) Mad Parade - s/t LP
5) Mad Parade - Clown Time Is Over LP
Biggest Disappointment:
The Adhesives - Living cassette
(If this was on vinyl or CD, it would be in my top ten. Cassette? Blah!)
Daryl Buote (Port City correspondent, beer, bbq, black t-shirt)
Top Ten Music Releases:
1) D Generation - Nothing Is Anywhere LP
2) Discharge - End of Days LP
3) Hard Charger - Bad Omens LP
4) The Bad Beats - His Vengeful Hand LP
5) Neurosis - Fires Within Fires LP
6) Zaum - Eidolon LP
7) Nerve Button - s/t LP
8) Shattered Faith - Volume 3 LP
9) Victims - Sirens LP
10) Alejandro Escovedo - Burn Something Beautiful CD
Only got to see a handful of shows but the following kicked my ass live :
Nerve Button
Voivod
Bend The River
SNFU
Needles / / Pins
Mental Fix
TV Freaks
Outtacontroller
Craig Pinhey (epicure of fine drink and fine tunes)
Top Ten Music Releases with recommended drink:
1) TUNS - self titled
What to Drink: How about a super beer from one of Nova Scotia’s long standing micros? Garrison Nut Brown Ale is a good session beer, malty but finishes dry. It is at the ANBL. But if I was in Halifax I’d look for Unfiltered, Bad Apple, Tatamagouche or Big Spruce on tap, or head to Rockbottom brewpub or the Good Robot tap room.
2. John Southworth - Small Town Water Tower
What to Drink: This is a contemplative record so I want to have a nice malt whisky to contemplate while listening, something smooth and sherry cask aged. Balvenie and Macallan are nice, but Aberlour 12 is cheaper.
3. David Bowie - Blackstar
What to Drink: This is hard. But I have to toast to him, because he was one of the greatest, and most influential, musicians of my lifetime. I’m breaking the bank and going for Champagne. Piper Heidsieck is always available at ANBL, and it is classic. Cheers, David Jones. PS I also lament our loss of Prince but his last record, the very catchy HITNRUN Phase 2, was in 2015.
4. Robbie Fulks - Upland Stories
What to Drink: I always look for Bourbon when I listen to country music, or watch episodes of Hell On Wheels, Justified or Deadwood. Jim Beam Black is a good value choice, as is Bulleit or Buffalo Trace.
5. Tegan and Sara - Love You To Death
What to Drink: This is dance around the kitchen type music, for the most, part, which is always accompanied at my place with a glass of fresh, crisp white wine, like a good Canadian Riesling. See Ya Later Ranch from BC is great, and you should check out the good examples now made in Nova Scotia, Gaspereau, Avondale Skye, Benjamin Bridge, Lightfoot & Wolfville, and Domaine de Grand Pré all make very good Riesling, although for now you have to go there to get it or get them shipped to your house.
6. John K Samson - Winter Wheat
What to Drink: His sound is rather mellow, but has an edge sometimes, and it’s always passionate, which reminds of good Pinot Noir or Gamay Noir. Peller Estates Private Reserve Gamay at the ANBL is a Platinum medal winner, and so should this album be.
7. Iron Maiden - The Book of Souls
What to Drink: I would suggest Trooper, their own beer brewed by Robinsons in England, but we don’t get it at the ANBL. That said, I think the strong, Belgian inspired Unibroue Maudite is a good choice. It is spicy and delicious.
8. David Brent - Life On The Road
What to Drink: This goes with anything, really, but I’d like to drink something with a sense of humour, so how about one of the Petit-Sault beers from Edmundston, with their cheeky labels. Buckdjeuve ($2.50 a stubby) is a strong (7.3%) dark ale, perfect for winter warming. And it has a jackalope on the label…
9. Regina Spector - Remember Us To Life
What to Drink: Not sure why, exactly, but this makes me want to drink gin and tonic, perhaps because it is pungent and refreshing, especially when you use the local and very botanical Gin Thuya from Distillerie Fils du Roy.
10. ABC - The Lexicon of Love II
What to Drink: This is a dance club kind of record, but a classy kind of spot. I’d drink a Martini. Do it however you like, but I enjoy Gin Martinis with a splash of Absinthe or a similar anise based spirit. There is a very good NB product called La Courailleuse.
Kyle McDonald (bassist at Zaum, promoter, soundman, recording engineer etc.)
Top Ten Music Releases:
1) Lustmord - Dark Matter CD
2) Cauldron - In Ruin LP
3) Helms Allee - Stillicide LP
4) Yawning Man - Historical Grafitti LP
5) Darkthrone - Arctic Thunder LP
6) Stranger Things Soundtrack LP
7) Iggy Pop - Post Pop Depression LP
8) The Melvins - Bases Loaded LP
9) Horseback - Dead Ringers LP
10) Abbath - Abbath LP
Remi Leclair (Comic Hunter, radio host @ Quoi-ce Que T'ecoute? Avec Remi pis Shawn - CKUM)
Top Ten Music Releases:
1. Alcest - Kodama (LP Box Set)
shoegaze/post-rock/black metal hybrid
2. King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard - Nonagon Infinity (LP, black and green splatter)
Surf/garage/psych/stoner insanity with some conceptual continuity and an infinite loop where the first and last tracks sync up
3. Elephant Tree - Elephant Tree (LP)
stoner/doom with a psych/mellow vibe throughout
4. Black Peaks - Statues (LP)
alternative metal meets sludge with elements of prog-metal and math-rock
5. Atsuko Chiba - The Memory Empire EP (digital download only, doesn't exist on vinyl)
Psych/space/prog with occasional hip-hop vocals
6. Motorpsycho - Here Be Monsters (LP)
Prog-rock meets Psych-rock meets 70s hard-rock
7. Hypno5e - Shores of an Abstract Line (LP, Bone / Aqua Blue / Grey Splatter)
Prog-metal/djent/post-metal. Very cinematic feeling
8. Cult of Luna + Julie Christmas - Mariner (LP, Blue Splatter)
Post-metal concept album with amazing guest vocalist
9. The Pineapple Thief - Your Wilderness (LP)
Prog-rock with an alternative rock lean
10. Deftones - Gore (LP, White)
Kind of proggy aggressive art metal
Mark Gaudet (drummer at Purple Knight and Parlour Tricks, guitarist at the Robins)
Top Ten Music Releases:
1) Darkthrone - Arctic Thunder LP
2) Cheap Trick - Bang Zoom Crazy Hello LP
3) The Cult - Hidden City LP
4) Discharge - End of Days LP
5) Death - Scream Bloody Gore 3 CD Deluxe Reissue
6) Voivod - Post Society EP
7) Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow - Memories In Rock 3LP
8) Tuns - Tuns LP
9) The Monkees - Good Times! LP
10) Wire - Nocturnal Koreans LP
Peter Leger (Sackville correspondent, marsh walker)
Top Ten Music Releases in no particular order...
1) David Bowie- Blackstar
2) Iggy Pop - Post Pop Depression
3) Leonard Cohen - You Want It Darker
4) Kate Bush - Before The Dawn
5) Pink Floyd - Discovery Box Set (14 CD Remastered Studio Albums)
6) The Who - My Generation 5 CD Box Set
7) Dr. Feelgood - Original Album Series 5 CD Set
8) The Kinks - Mono Collection 10 LP Box
9) Carl Wilson - Bright Lights: My Father's Place, NYC 4/11/81
10) Bob Dylan - The 1966 Live Recordings Box Set
Once again we have weathered another twelve months and while lots of things remain the same, other things have changed. For better or for worse, here is the local synopsis from where I sit...
VENUES: It was a dark day indeed back in October when we found out that the Esquire Tavern was being run by an aggressive new manager who was not into live rock and roll music and the accompanying revenue that it brings. In addition to not honoring the already booked calendar, the stage and the arcade machines were removed thus cementing the deal. Alea Jacta Est... Plan B Lounge is still booking live music seven days a week often featuring touring bands. Unfortunately for us, the more interesting bands usually play midweek often making it an unlikely proposition for us workin' stiffs. C'est la vie... The Tide And Boar continues to be good to the urban city dweller. Many local and regional bands play on the main floor at the Gastro-Pub where there is fine grub and a decent beer selection. Down the hall to the Ballroom is where the better known touring acts (Alvvays, Frank Turner, Voivod) ply their trade. Word is that there are future plans for the basement (formerly the Caveau). Can't wait... Claude's House continues to be the scene's gem. A small, all-ages, DIY basement venue that caters to hip locals, first-timers and broke desperate indie touring acts. Shows are usually early and are always cheap. Thank goodness...
FESTIVALS: The Mud City Meltdown, continues to improve with each year and we cannot wait to see what Xavier Leger and crew have in store for us in 2017... The Re:Flux Festival bills itself as a "festival of music and sound art" which is a totally accurate description. Features avant-garde, free jazz, noise, drone, neo-classical, ambient, experimental and everything in between. We hope to see this year's program within the next few months... Festival Inspire is a summertime urban street art festival, but features a decent amount of music and most events are free. We hope the tradition continues... Acadie Rock started as a purely francophone music fest with an emphasis on Acadian acts. We are happy to report that they are branching out as evidenced by last year's inclusion of Tribe Called Red among others... No Funswick is the city's 3 Day D.I.Y. punk fest in July. Most of the local bands get to play and there's always cool traveling acts from across Canada who make an appearance. Prices are cheap and there's lots of camaraderie. We hope that the loss of the Esquire as a venue does not have a huge negative effect.
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