Radio What Wave Playlist Nov 13 2014
We've got Nick Perry (original drummer for The Demics and NFG) as a special guest as we remember Robert Brent, original guitarist for London Ontario's first punk band, The Demics. Rob passed away last week...so this week we play many Demics tunes with Rob on guitar.
1. The Demics....Oh Well....from the New York City CD on OPM Music from 1996, as are all The Demics tunes that follow. This is an alternate version of Oh Well and as Nick explained, singer Keith Whittaker wrote this while riding on the bus to Rob's house for a practice.
2. The Demics....I Wanna Know....from the NYC CD as above.
3. The Demics....You Tell Me....as above.
4. The Demics...Talk's Cheap...as above.
5. The Demics....New York City....as above. This is the song that The Demics are most remembered for. That perfect anthem that sums up trying to escape for something that must be better than what you presently have. And it made the top of some bogus chart of the best singles from Canada or something like that. This song rocks and charts suck! Nick explained how and why Keith wrote this one, listen to the archived show for the story.
6. The Demics....Oh Well...as above. This is the version that came on the Talk's Cheap EP on Ready Records from 1979. This was the first punk rock record outta London Ontario and the first release on Ready Records which was based in Toronto. This, and the above 4 songs comprised that EP.
7. The Demics...Cowboys Are Fags....as above, but unreleased. This might have been inspired by some of the pictures in some of the zines that Mike Niederman released around the time of this tune being written. Pics of well hung muscular young men wearing chaps, guns and little else.
8. The Demics....Factories...as above.
9. The Demics....Talk Talk....as above, but this was recorded live at The Schooner Inn, St Thomas Ontario, spring 1979. 60's garagepunk was a big inspiration to The Demics and many like minded bands of the time. I can still see singer Keith spitting out the words into the mic from the stage of The Cedar Lounge in London Ontario. It knocked me on my ass that these guys would cover material like this, and do it justice!
10. The Demics...All Gone Wrong.... as above, live at the Schooner Inn.
11. The Demics....The Gift....as above.
12. The Demics...Lost Woman Blues...as above. Nick remembered seeing singer Keith's highschool band covering this tune in the very early 70's.
13. The Demics....Blue Boy... as above. One of my fave Demic tunes and one that would always get me up and going.
14. The Demics....Mercy Killer... as above.
15. Mettle....5/4...from the Domestic Animals cassette compilation. Mettle was the minimalistic art rock band that Rob Brent formed after leaving The Demics. Total opposite direction, but totally makes sense as Rob was the thinking man of The Demics and loved a lot of non-punk inspired music. Mettle released a 12" in 1982 that CHRW played the shit out of back in the day. Mettle was around for a couple of years and moved in a dance/funk direction which some UK postpunk bands did back then. Roze White (Ukase) joined on vocals and they renamed the combo Camino Real.
Back to the Domestic Animals cassette, this was compiled by Peter Moore (ya, that guy that does mastering for the big name bands nowadays as well as works on CBC documentaries and countless other projects....and did i mention he was also the best fucking DJ this station ever had? Ya, he went by the name of Simon Less as he'd do bad things and get kicked off air, hence the name. But he was my fave DJ up there with the knob from Young Fast And Scientific!) and Gerry Collins (he was in Mettle, Cicadas and more) and was released without the bands on the compilation knowing anything about it! Many heard their songs for the first time right here on CHRW!! Released in April 1983 and you could pick it up at Records On Wheels in downtown London. Records On Wheels was the ONLY place to get punk rock records until Dr Disc opened up in the early 80's. This cassette was the first tangible evidence that London Ontario had a viable underground music scene. First edition, 50 copies.
16. The Scenics...Oh Boy....from the Last Pogo CD. Rob Brent was good pals with Andy Meyers of The Scenics and almost joined The Scenics at one point. Andy also had a record store here in London back in the mid 80's, SE corner of Wellington and Clarence, lower level.
17. The Scenics....Waiting For My Man...from the How Does It Feel To Be Loved CD. The Scenics and The Demics played together many times, sharing gigs here in London and Toronto.
18. Shakey Jack....I Won't See You No More....from The Demics Covers CD that Nick Perry released back in 1998. Shakey Jack is actually Jack Whiteside, former lead guitarist of Uranus, Sci-Phonics and many others as well as his present combo, The Psycho Daisies. Uranus and The Demics used to alternate weekends at The Cedar Lounge back in the late summer, early fall of 1978. Uranus fucking rocked!!
That's a wrap, big thanx to Nick Perry for coming on air to talk about those great times in London's musical history. Robert Brent....RIP!
Since this has taken life as a history lesson, here's 5 essential sources for info on London Ontario's late 70's and upwards musical history/scene/whatever. If you have any interest, give them a read or watch...
1. Treat Me Like Dirt...By Liz Worth, Bongo Beat Books 2009. This is an oral history of the punk rock scene in Toronto, Hamilton and London from the mid 70's up to the early 80's.
2. Graphic Underground: London 1977-1990...Brian Lambert McIntosh Gallery 2013. This accompanied the art exhibit of the posters, zines and artwork of the era as on display at Forest City Gallery. It's a book about the posters, zines and ephemera of the punk rock scene.
3. What Wave 24...Rena and Dave O'Halloran. Longtime London based zine returns for the above art show. The family trees of the London Ontario and area bands from the mid 70's to early 90's. Comes with a 90m cassette featuring unreleased songs from some of the bands from that era.
4. Stinkin' Out The Joint....Mario Circelli 2003. Documentary of the London and area punk scene. Mario was the Manager of CHRW for many years prior to the release of this film.
5. Last Pogo Jumps Again....Colin Brunton and Kire Paputts. Documentary of the early Toronto and area scene that has just been released on DVD. Have not seen this one yet, but it is HIGHLY recommended by those that have.
Thanx for all the phone calls and encouragement.....much appreciated!!! Back again next week with more noise to annoy.
The show is archived for 2 weeks here:
http://chrwradio.ca/programs/radio-what-wave