#22 Do It Yourself

I spent much of the first weekend of the month in a cargo van, driving here and there across the vastness of Toronto. A city whose size is often unseen if you spend too much time downtown. I was picking up stages and backlines and generators and lights and things to make the November 2nd show at Dupont and Dundas a reality.

It was work, like any other work. Except the outcome wasn’t to convert time and effort into money. It was to convert an ordinary space into something special for an evening. I think we did alright. If you caught the gig, I hope you feel the same.

There’s an alchemy when you do the thing yourself. You can imagine a show at any old venue, and it’s perfectly fine most of the time. Sometimes it’s even special - if you put too many people in there, or you leave with new accomplices, or the artists are particularly on fire. But new spaces? Especially unexpected or unknown ones? I believe it can alter perspectives, define scenes and make things feel entirely new.

Not just that, but it’s a great proxy for reconstructing your own world view. Want something to be different? You gotta change it. Too big to change on your own? Find other people interested in the same result. Work together. It’s none more simple.

A musician is nothing other than a human with an instrument. A venue is nothing more than a room with a PA. A venue with some bodies in it can become something that reshapes how people see the world.

If you can get people together, things can happen. Things can change. Things can get better. There’s a different future available if you’re willing to put in work.

So what are you waiting for?

On the Playlist

While I’m still hung up on the incredible third STRAW MAN ARMY LP, there’s plenty that’s been added to the playlist this week.

That includes the new Brampton Anthem by DOFLAME with “Flower City Do It.” A remix by the by-now-legendary AL NATHER of FAWZI’S “Ma6a6” - further evidence that music can be power. There’s a new cut from CLOAKROOM that sees them take their foot ever so slightly off the pedals. Oh and of course, FUCKED UP are back. It’s almost as if they’ve never left.

The first single off of JULES REIDY’s Kranky debut sees them twisting their string experimentation into something that daringly verges on poppy. And I finally got to the MARCEL WAVE LP, which is a must hear for this year - included one from that. Thanks Repetitive Strain! There’s one from untitled (halo) who lean on the same BARK PSYCHOSIS worship that works so well for BAR ITALIA. This time with appropriately American cynicism instead.

BLACK BUTTON returned last month with “Internal Life.” A woefully underappreciated band in the american underground. There’s a cut from Brazilians AS LÁGRIMAS, with psychedelic dubby post-punk explorations and then one from CARMEN VILLIAN who’s dubbing out in a completely different direction. And NAKED ROOMMATE’S latest delivers some populist synth groove with “Bus” while MAN REI’s “Call” just worms its way into your brain.

Not on Streaming

Feel a bit dirty sharing this one, but it’s finally been ripped to Youtube! If you’ve been following NDY for any period of time, you know that we are enormous MURO fans. Well this year, they released “Nuevo Dogma,” their third full length effort.

It has all that we love - some of the best art in punk, thoughtful presentation, intention and RIFFS. That said, up until this point, the band had managed to make it a purely offline affair. It’s almost as if the imagery, the physical experience, is part of how you need to interact with it. Worth your consideration.

Gig Report

Winding down through the end of the year. You know what that means? The gig announcements for the new year start soon. Hell, we announced two today.

One big note - get those Uniform tickets if you wanna be there!

November 13 - Ex Tradition, Eteon at Low Bar

December 7 - Uniform, Pharmakon, True Body at the Monarch Tavern

December 14 - Mars Red Sky, Howling Giant at The Monarch Tavern

December 19 - Fucked Up, 9 Million at The Great Hall

January 21 - Pom Poko at The Monarch Tavern

February 3 - Geordie Greep, Nnamdï at The Phoenix Concert Theatre

February 6 - Gouge Away, Gumm & The Neverminds at The Velvet Underground

February 11 - Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol & Lip Critic at The Monarch Tavern