New Show On The Horizon

I have finally got in gear and contacted Jessie of the Thrashers to put together a new show.

This show surprise surprise will be at the Cavern. I would try other places, and have, but they cost money or you got to bring your own PA and I have no cash ready to be dropping on shows when the Cavern is the right size, people like it, it is central, and James Brown that runs the place is pretty easy to get along with.

This show will hopefully have Acid Scar at it as well, and is slated for late February.

If you know any bands that are looking for a gig and would work well with a surf style band, and an experimental rock group then send me a line and we can hopefully work something out.

Listen to The On-Slot Wednesdays 6-7 PM On 92.9 KICK FM

I thought it might be time to do some shameless self promotion on the War On Music blog.

Rick Baverstock has been good enough to permit me to do a radio show for the past year called the On-Slot. The On-Slot was originally a ska and reggae show on CKUW, but that was only because CKUW had punk shows, and metal shows on the station. It was really a good thing for me, as I was quite ignorant to great ska, and the ska scene throughout Canada.

The On-Slot is now a radio show dedicated to fast music. Fast is what I like, and it doesn’t have to be a hardcore band playing with reckless abandon, so of my favorite tunes are the jig style tunes you here from the likes of the Pogues, or Flogging Molly.

The On-Slot features The Cover Up sponsored by War On Music. This is where I play an original version of a song, and then a punk or metal cover of the same tune. It is usually pretty cool, but occasionally the two versions are too similar, and it ends up sounding lame. I’ve learned from that, and always listen to the tunes before I play them on 92.9 KICK FM.

If I am able I try to grant any request, and so far I have not been let down. Get those request ready and call 780-5425 and give me a run for my money.

Tiger Army Will Never Die

I'm sitting in a edit suite, D in fact, at Red River College Princess listening to Tiger Army and I don't think there is anything else I would rather do.

There is something unique about the styles of Tiger Army. Their music is fast punk, with rockabilly twang, and the under tones of something that I think might connect with 80s kids. The tunes remind me of The Real Ghostbusters cartoon.

I think I have heard most of their tracks other than early under ground recordings, and I got to tell you this is the kind of music that should be popular. Tiger Army puts a weird decrepit romantic something into their music and the vocals by 9999 are amazing.


The music makes you feel like you are going some where you have never been before. I can't explain it. Message me and I will make you a disc. Here are a few of my favourite tunes by Tiger Army.


http://youtu.be/BU-EVLryGxo

Bored To Death Has Eliviated Much Boredom

I moved into my new place, and with a new apartment comes new challenges. My first challenge was to clean up my sloppy behaviour. There has been too much partying, too much carrying on, and way too many shananigans. With that in mind I have decided to go minimalist, and focus on a few key aspects of my life right now.

Internet at home is out, and so is cable, but finally my obsession with collecting music and movies has come in handy. I’m getting acquainted with some of my old favourite shows, and some classic music. There isn’t a heck of a lot else to do, but I’m loving it.

Kids in the Hall has been on a lot, as well as Modern Family, and Motorhead, and the Descdendents have been keeping me company on the sound wave. Orgasmatron is really getting me going lately. It’s such an epic.

Hopefully I get my internet going soon, because the last thing I need is more obstacles getting in the way of these blogs getting written.

Viva Las Moustache, A Video For The Ages

There has not been too much going on at War On music of late other than the usual great tunes, and great deals on shirts and stuff like that, so I am digging to find topics.

One thing that has gone well,and is DIY, is the video me and friend Jaremy Ediger put together for our broadcast journalism assignment. It is to the Dead Kennedy's cover of Viva Las Vegas. The basic premise is me dressed up as a Elvis look-a-like or something as I get ready for the day and proceed to steal food, start fights and have "encounters", all of which I get away from scott free because I twirl my moustache.

I do my own stunts including a slow motion scissor kick, and Jaremy really blew up the set with his killer shooting skills. My favourite shot is Jaremy's TSN runway shot. Special thanks goes out to Brian Couch for being on point with a great high five.

Jaremy was kidding around about doing it, but we thought what the heck let's shoot this shit and see how it goes. It was gold Jerry, gold.

Here is the video, and if you like it show your friends, because there may be more in the future.



Stay tuned for my favourite used pick ups of 2011 wrap up blog.

We Have A New Second Show A Foot

After a brief SNAFU concerning booking my December 9 show has been moved to February 10.

It will now be known as the Valentines Bop, and feature the Afterlife, hopefully Quagmire, and the Xanad00ds playing a punk show for the first time. The Xanad00ds are an experimental rock band, so I wonder how that will go. Knowing lead vocalist James Hiebert they will know how to work the crowd, and put on a really unique set. They do it anyways, now I want to see it punk style, and I wonder if James will straighten his hair again for that one. With the right toque

I'm still working to get a show going with the Thrashers; Winnipeg's answer to the Smugglers. If that does come together expect it to be in late January or February.

I'm Not A Punk - Just A Square Going Nowhere

First off nobody knows. I think this may be the most controversial music genre, because the only thing that may be more prominent in under ground music than types of punk is the type of core something might be. Is punk a style of music, a style of thought, or a style of expression. When I say expression I kind of mean fashion, but the word fashion has too many negative aspects to it, but I hope you understand my point.

The point of this blog however is to look at the way the rock, has been dropped from punk rock. A good friend of mine at CD Plus Madison when it was still open told me that Alkaline Trio was actual punk, and that bands like Strung Out where closer to metal. Now I thought him mad at first too, but look at bands like Cock Sparrer, the Clash, the Sex Pistols, and yes even the Ramones. They played fast, but there is a distinct rock influence on the tunes. I may be wrong, but I think punk in whatever terms you speak is about being unique, and yourself, not being as fast and as offensive as possible. Not that I don’t enjoy the abrasive, sounds of the Meatmen occasionally.

I think when you look of examples of people that are considered the "punkest" you got to look at guys like Joey Ramone who was not flashy at all. Tight black pants, white shirt, and a leather to complement a truly mop top hair-do.

The fashion can be part of it to, but that was more of a European thing, which is cool. I love the Exploited mohawks, and bowlers and make-up of the addicts, but I think the British just do it better. The punks from Britain remind me of Degrassi High 80's, and the Gourmet Scum.
　
And as for the question about punk, it is all three, at least in my opinion, and I know that in many views it is wrong so don’t get pissed off at me. I think that punk rock is the attitude that you do what you want as long as it doesn’t prevent others from doing what they want. In terms of expression, and I think this is the part that separates the punks from the poseurs is being able to be yourself completely. That doesn’t mean that you compromise. For example I want to someday work in radio, but I often am not a fan of what is played on the airwaves, so I am combining two of my favourite things sports and radio.


For the record I did not put this up to tell anybody what to think. I just think it is a fascinating topic when you consider the different types of people that are considered to be in the punk rock genre, and I am interested to hear what other people think it is to be "punk". I can tell you on thing it takes balls, and I hope I have the Cajones to punk.

Promoting Shows Just Got Harder

If you were looking forward to the big Thrashers, Xanad00des, and Acid Scar, and Jeremy Williamez show you may be in for a little disappointment, as there may have been a double booking at the Cavern for this one.

So for now hang tight, but if the show doesn't go December 9, then look for it to appear in the new year some time, and also look forward hopefully to a Valentines Bop sometime in February, featuring the AFterlife, and hopefully Quagmire and the Pinkslips so I can actually tape a show properly for them this time.

Stayed tuned I will work this out with James, and get you some great local music.

Gwar Loses Flattus For The Last Time

This blog is a little late coming out, but I had to give some attention, however late, to the passing of Cory Smoot, better known as Flattus Maximus, guitarist for Gwar.


Flattus was found when the band was crossing the Canada - U.S. border into Manitoba. I don't want to focus on his death though. I want to remember the good times when Flattus would be shredding the guitar, while characters such as Hitler, George Bush, and Lady Gaga are shredded on stage.


There is not much that can be added after you watch the show, and listen to the music that Gwar and Flattus helped create. For my buck the greatest entertainers I have ever seen. Sugar Sammy is a close second.

Quagmire brings down the Sold Out House

The action at the Cavern last night started about 10:30m when the new and improved Afterlife led by my cousin Mark Yerex came out firing with some great old school sounds and some great cuts from guitarist John McGowan. These guys are just going to get better as they haven't been together in this form for very long.

The Pinkslips came up next, and what doesn't like a quality all female punk band. The highlight of that set for me was the Minor Threat cover they preformed. They did a great job, and if you haven't checked them out before do your best to see them live. It's some good old gritty speed at it's best.

Finally Quagmire came on and just blasted out a gerat set with a crazy mix of killer tracks off both their albums. I didn't lose the camera, nothing got broken, and everybody got paid. What a night. Oh wait I did screw up my hand putting up Christmas lights with James.

By the way anybody setting up shows James Brown from the Cavern is a great guy to work with. He does everything (I almost had to force him to let me help) and has the cash for you upfront asap, and paid in full. It was great and he even showed me how to do sound for a concert. Great.

The whole thing was great thanks to all the people that came out, and especially Dewey Parker who did a heck of a job helping me record the video, and even got the SD card clear so that we could actually get more than 8 minutes of footage. Groovy.

See you on Decmeber 9 at the Cavern for the Xanad00ds, Acid Scar, Jeremy Williamez, and the Thrashers. Should be awesome

It's The Big Day, Quagmire Anchors My First Show Ever

Yes I have put it together, and it looks to be a very respectable line up. The Afterlife opens, the Pinkslips follow them, and then Quagmire goes on last to blow the crowd away with their Rock-a-billy, punk, Anola MB sound.

I got the camera so this baby will be recorded, edited, and put up on the Internet for all to see, and bask in the glory of the Winnipeg punk rock scene which looks like it might be having a resurgence.

The sound check is happening at 8 o' clock, so I suspect that the bands should be hitting the stage at around 10-11. It is going to be a good one, and tickets are only five dollars.

Come down and meet some of what we like to call the CreComm Mafia. There would be more people there but Peter Mansbridge is stealing my thunder and my TFJ.

Se ya there.

I'll post tomorrow to let you know how things went.

American Vs British Punk Part Two

We revisit the beginnings of punk rock, and this time I am comparing what I think are the three best punk songs from both countries, and I will give my humble, and yes flawed opinion as to which version of punk had the best songs.

American Punk

3. No Values - Black Flag
This is a great hardcore tune that I think sets the bar, and has a lot more of the rock from punk rock in it’s design. Great lyrics, and it almost embodies that snotty British attitude.

2. Police Truck - The Dead Kennedys
This is the first Dead Kennedys tune I ever heard. It was on the first Tony Hawk game for Playstation one. It is well written, the music is executed perfectly, and if Jello’s voice doesn’t piss you off it is a great intro to some of the more experimental punk like Flipper, or Husker Du.

1. Blitzkrieg Bop - The Ramones
The song that everyone knows. Probably the most recognizable punk song of all time. Heck it might be one of the most recognizable period. Great tune. Great anthem, and one of the few songs that don’t suck at sporting events.

British Punk

3. Oi, Oi, Oi - Cockney Rejects
This song is what punk is all about. It is an anthem for the Oi scene as far as I am concerned, and it just gets you moving. I twas the first song that really caught my ear from the Cockney Rejects. If you like this track check out Shitter, or The Greatest Cockney Rip-off.

2. Working - Cock Sparrer
What is more punk than ripping of the government for what I would assume is the equivalent to EI here in Canada. It's been covered many times, and most notably the Dropkick Murphys. The entire Shock Troops album is amazing. Check out Argy Bargy, and I Got Your Number if this song is what you like.

1. God Save The Queen - Sex Pistols

I know a lot of people will hate this pick, but it may be the most recognizable punk song ever. It is either this or the Blitzkrieg Bop. I like the story about the way the song was created the most. From what i understand EMI had wanted the boys to write a song for the Queen's bicentennial or something, and this is what they came up with. The song is political, it is fast and it has some great lines "There is no future and England's dreamin'."


I have to give round two to the British side, not so much because the quality of the songs is better, but because it is so hard to choose which songs are really the rockinest from across the pond. I wish I could have got some GBH, Clash, Addicts, Major Accident, and however more I am forgetting about.

See you soon, and comment. I want to know what is rockin people for my radio show the On-Slot 6-7PM Wednesdays on KICK FM.

Two Weeks To The Big Show

There are just over two weeks remaining until I present my first ever punk show. If you were unaware Quagmire, the Pinkslips, and the Afterlife will be performing at the Cavern on Friday November 4 at the Cavern (it is under Toad in the Hole in Osborne Village).

Here is the poster.

Nomeansno Puts the Old in Old School

I have had terrible luck when trying to see Nomeansno live, but I finally after three tries in the last fours years made good on the third, and the boys didn’t let me down. They are as sarcastic as heck, and (something I respect maybe most of all) they sound the same as they do on their albums. I find that the really unique, and most technical bands are the ones that can reproduce the work they do in studio.

The lighting in the West End is amazing, and really made a punk show that I had never seen before. This show was all presence, and not a lot of staging. The guys played songs such as I Got A Gun, and Devil or Angel with precision, and had great chatter in between tunes, including a nice crowd flip off from the drums as the encore began.

One criticism I do have is that there wasn’t enough of the fast tracks, which are by far my favourite, but perhaps these three have lasted this long because they are savvy and know how best to present their product.

Either way if you have never seen Nomeansno live, or even hears of them I implore you to get some sort of contact with this trio before they stop touring, although from the looks of things they will be coming through Winnipeg at least once more.

Where Have I Been? At War... On Music... Doing Homework.

I keep trying to write more often, but it is tough with all the other things U have to do for this War On Music promotional campaign, not to mention the Queers show I’m am trying to bring to town.

Here is the word on the Queers, they want to come to town, they might bring a couple of bands with them, and if I can put this together it will be happening in the spring at a venue something like the Pyramid, or West End Cultural Centre. My side of things is pretty much in order, so there is a good chance this show will be happening. Tell friends. I need to gauge interest so I know what venue to use.

In other War On Music news I have arranged to have Charlie come in and voice a commercial about War On Music, and the value of cooperatives in the community.
I have already voiced one commercial that stations War On music as an outpost in the war on corporate rock. I just need to get some
Quagmire beats in the background and that baby is ready to air.

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 4 AT THE CAVERN QUAGMIRE, THE PINK SLIPS, AND THE AFTERLIFE. TICKETS $5, IF YOU CAN’T GO TELL YOUR FRIENDS, BECAUSE WE NEED MORE REAL PUNK EVERYWHERE, NOT JUST THE PEG!

One last thought before I close. I like that War On Music lets me do whatever I want and attach their brand to it. That is a prime example of why cooperatives are a great thing in any community. The people running the co-ops need each and the community to prosper, and this helps to create a sustainable, symbiotic relationship. Cooperatives may not be the answer to every economic dilemma, but the spirit behind them is a start.

British vs. American Punk Part 1

I was watching SLC Punk for about the fourth time, with a friend who had never seen it before. We decided that until stuff gets serious with Heroin Bob it is one heck of a film with a pretty sweet soundtrack.

What got me thinking during the film is when Matt Lillard’s character asks who invented punk rock first, the British or the Americans, and which is better. He then let’s us know he doesn’t give a stuff, and that he hates the British fashion.

Who Had The Biggest… Bands (Most Influence)

This is probably the weakest argument on which scene is better, because really most people don’t take their music serious enough to find hidden gems from each such as Major Accident, U.S. Bombs, Blitz, or even the Dictators – Shucks.

But anyway here is my list of the three biggest (I would like to say influential but I’m not old enough to know who was actually inspiring all these kickin’ bands) names from each side of the pond. If you care to differ, or know wicked underground bands that didn’t get the credit they deserve shoot me a line.

Let me just say right now I think you could argue that the Pistols, Clash and Ramones are each the most popular ever, but I award number one to…

1. The Clash

I want to put the Sex Pistols up here, but they only had one album (sorta), and they were I believe more about the fashion than the music. The Clash on the other hand released several quality albums, and Joe Strummer was touring with bands almost until the day he died.

The Clash mixed it up with fast pure punk tunes, and dabbled successfully in ska and reggae jams as well. Some criticize the Clash for some of their later music, but you can tell that this was a band that was about the music, not all the hype that can go along with music.

2. The Ramones

The Ramones are just classic. They are such a punk rock cliché that it actually works for them. Three chord punk, fast, with a thick layer of leather. Like the Clash fashion wasn’t what the Ramones were about. Black leather, long hair, some dark shades if you are feeling sassy.

I couldn’t really choose between one and two, but let me tell you after seeing the Queers this summer I can see the influence the Ramones had on them, and I’m sure most American punk bands, but the musical prowess of the Clash gave them the edge.

3. Dead Kennedys

I’m partial, because I think the Kennedys are amazing, so I will just make one point. They may be the most popular political band from the 70s. Politics is huge in punk now so you have got to give them credit. Plus the Kennedys and Jello still tour. Apart, and as enemies, but they both still tour. Actually I had better check on East Bay Ray and the rest of the Dead Kennedys. Who is the drummer now?

4. The Exploited

Oh yeah these guys were political before the Dead Kennedys, but they weren’t quite as unique as Jello n’ the boys musically.

I don’t know who had the first Mohawk (First Nations I guess. It was named after a tribe, and first is in the name) in punk, but these guys are the first I can see that were pictured with them so much, and so colourful. And never has a haircut been so misappropriated by mainstream fashion.

5. Black Flag

Punk got a little tougher when Black Flag formed, and evolved. I’m personally not a fan of the Rollins days, but he is still touring on the spoken word circuit, and is probably one of the more credible characters to come from the punk scene.

Black Flag is like the anti-Pistols. My favourite tunes are from the Chavo, and Morris days, but Dez had his moments. Some of those tunes are the best punk has ever scene Gimme Gimme Gimme, No Values, Wasted. I could go on but I have to get onto the last and probably most controversial selection.

6. The Sex Pistols

Yeah the Sex Pistols are probably overrated, but they were influential, kinda tragic, and embraced all the fashion and pageantry we have gotten used to from punk bands still today (check out Pour Habit – totally awesome and not about fashion – you gotta see the hand stands on stage though). I am anti-Sid Vicious, but I still think Johnny Rotten is the snottiest British punk to date.

I think round one is a draw tune in soon for the next addition

Labels: Punk, Sex Pistols, The Clash

Visit War On Music on the web www.waronmusic.com or on Twitter @waronmusic

I promised a long time ago that I was going to update this blog more and talk about what is was like putting on a promotional campaign.

I lied. I'm sorry. Not only have I not updated the blog every three days like I promised Cathy Hanson (who is over seeing this project), and I don't think I have done one blog about promoting War On Music.

I'm sorry, but now I have been re-inspired by a short film I created starting the Nomeansno Wrong album I picked up for the very War On Music I'm promoting. Video soon to be on the web starring Dewey Parker, and Mike "Diggit" T.

Anyways this is what it has been like for the first few months. I'm having a great time. Nobody reads the blog, but i haven't been giving it my best. The Twitter is going like gangbusters. I have 106 followers @waronmusic, and some of the people on their are kinda funny I like Bad Sandwich, that is Brendan from the Lawrence Arms, and Matt Skiba, even Jamey Jasta has a pretty good feed.

The concerts seem to be going well. Tell your friends Quagmire, the Pinkslips, and the Afterlife at the Cavern November 4. $5.

DECEMBER 9, that the last day of school folks. 5 bones at the Cavern and you get all teh thrills of the Thrashers, Acid Scar, and the the Xanad00des.

Other than that news I think the Queers are going to come to town one way or the other, and heck what else do you need to know.

Next episode in three days or less is about what it is like to work for one of Winnipeg's best worker co-ops.

Kewlierd - yeah I don't get it either.

Nomeansno Means Get Your Ass To The WECC

Nomeansno is coming to town in less than a month, and I gotta tell you every time Nomeansno comes to town they put on a legendary show.
This crew is legendary. Around since 1979, Nomeansno cares not for commercial success, but for what I believe is true greatness. They are experimental, but what they play is still recognizable as music, unlike some stuff people label as experimental I don’t want people to think that these guys come out of left field with crazy crap that is based of feedback, or static sound.
No, Nomeansno is a band that sounds different not just from album to album, but song to song as well.
If you have no idea who Nomeansno is believe that the Worldlhood of the World (as such), but even if you don’t know or even listen to the tunes Nomeansno is the second best show IU have ever scene next to Gwar.
Don’t miss your chance to see Nomeansno. They have been around forever, but you never know when they may not be back.
Canadian legends, support the scene.

http://www.nomeanswhatever.com/

　
Follow us on Twitter @waronmusic, the website www.waronmusic.com, or the Facebook page.

And listen to the On-Slot Wednesday night 6-7PM on 92.9 KICK-FM.
　

The Queers May Come To Town

I just got a hot tip that the Queers are playing Grand Forks soon, and are actually looking to play Canadian dates as well.

The thing is the Queers haven't been to Canada for so long that they don't have contacts to book shows for them. Enter your very green concert promoter Matthew J. Nicholson (that's me if you didn't know)who would be thrilled to bankroll a Queers show, but I am poor, very poor, so I have to gage the popularity of a Queers show in Winnipeg.

The reaction Rancid got at the MTS Centre worries me that it would sell badly at a place like the West End Cultural Centre. I don't know though.

If you are interested please comment, and let me know if you know others that would go to a Queers show for between $15 and $20.

Madd about the Caddies

Shows are never the same as when you were a kid, so I might be remembering the Madd Caddies with some rose coloured glasses. I remember having the time of my life watching lead singer 999 getting girls to make out for shirts, letting some guy sing a hardcore song about riding the bus, rocking out their first two albums at shows that seemed to come every year. Now I cannot remember the last time they came through town.

There are a few bands that used to frequent Winnipeg that haven’t been here in years. Death By Stereo is one that comes to mind. The last time I saw them was at whatever the downstairs of the Die Machine was called I think in 2005 with Protest the Hero.

The first time I saw Death By Stereo was with one of my favourite bands that came frequently, Good Riddance. The last time Good Riddance played in Winnipeg someone spit on Chuck, and then a fight almost ensued with Chuck yelling for people to kick the guys ass, and the Russ pleading for everyone to calm down. I never saw them again.

I guess that is enough nostalgia for now. Keep reading and look for new posts more frequently as the War On Music promotional campaign has been put into full swing.

Before and After (90’s bands in 2011)

Before (Wednesday August 24, 2011)

It is the day before Blink 182, Rancid, and Against Me play the MTS Centre.

I was excited when I first heard about this show, but now I think paying for this ticket may have been a mistake.

After (Friday August 26, 2011)

Thanks to Winnipeg Transit, and there routes that occasionally stop only a quarter of the way to your destination I missed Against Me entirely, and then thanks to not enough seats being sold my ticket was changed so I had to stand in line and missed the first part of the first song Rancid played.

It was all worth it though as Rancid kicked the crowd’s ass with all the hits, and maybe the best selection of old and new deep tracks I have ever witnessed. Old and new stuff. It is too bad that the crowd was weak, and even prompted the band to switch from Salvation to Bloodclot.

This set blew my mind with tunes like, well three quarters of …And Out Come The Wolves, and tracks so deep Ron Jeremy would have trouble getting to them. I’m talkin St. Mary, Otherside, It’s Quite All Right, and Outta My Mind just to name a few.

Rancid is one of the best punk bands ever to be sure, and they prove that you can fuck up for a long time, and still make it if you dedicated. At least in Lars’ case.

Blink on the other hand was exactly the disappointment I thought they would be. Although they started strong, I think they had some residual Rancid greatness giving me rose coloured glasses, because after about fifteen minutes I had had more than enough of the Blink 182 Trio. I was about ready to go when First Date or whatever it is called came on - I was out of there before a song about getting grounded came on.

But really Rancid stole the show, and is clearly still worth going to see every time they come to town.

I may have made my best pick up at War On Music last week.

War On Music is always getting new vinyl and on the last order in came the Gorilla Biscuts self titled debute album. I have been looking for it for years and finally Charley Justice answered my prayers.

Man, this album is awesome. If you are familiar with Start Today you know that this is some of the best hardcore punk you can find, and like a lot of hardcore it is positive, and straight edge. If you can deal with the straight edge thing then I highly recommend both albums.

Gorilla Biscuts is similar to Sick Of It All which is not too surprising becuase they were both dominating the NYC hardcore scene in the late eighties.



Follow me on Twitter @waronmusic

Cassettes, Yes I Still Listen To Cassettes

A friend of mine looked at my new Buck O Nine and Dag Nasty albums and scoffed at first sight.

“I hope you didn’t pay two ninety-nine on those tapes.”

Yeah I did, and what of it? I am getting sick of people turning their noses up at good music just because of the form that album may be found. I would rather have a cassette version on Falling Sickness, which I got at War On Music, than have never heard it before. Plus, the van I drive still has a cassette deck, so I should get a new stereo, but these tape finds have made it acceptable to rock out in a 97 Plymouth Voyager.

You wouldn’t believe the pick ups I have made in the last couple months, so here is a quick list so you know what can be found at War On Music.

GWAR - Hell-O, This Toilet Earth
THE CRAMPS - Look Mom No Head, Stay Sick
FALLING SICKNESS - Right On Time
SKANKIN PICKLE - Skankin Pickle Fever, Live
LESS THEN JAKE - Demo
MISFITS - All Hell Breaks Loose
DAG NASTY - Rock Out At Denkos
BUCK O NINE - Twenty Eight Teeth
MIGHTY MIGHTY BOSSTONES - Noise and other Disturbances
RUN DMC - Raising Hell

Now I admit that cassettes are not ideal in this at this juncture in time. I hate having to rewind, and the irritation of a finicky deck, or a tape that some how got wound to tight playing in slow mo. But these are not your regular cassettes. I don’t know where Charley is getting these from as more come in every week. They are all rare, and all in great shape, save for a few roughed up cases, but those are cheaper, so I always go for the damage case.

Last I got to let everyone know that the tapes are not the usual crap you find at other stores that have a weak collection of hundreds of allbums no one would want in any format. At any time there are about 50 cassettes at War On Music and they are all rare, quality albums that are mainly metal, punk and a litlle rap. It is worth a look. I have been shocked how excited I have been for tapes after passing up on them until the new location opened.

93 Albert Street

@waronmusic

Milo Goes Classic

The Descendents are one of my favourite bands, but for the longest time I didn’t have I Don’t Want To Grow Up. I made sure to remedy that about two months ago on a special order from the crew at War On Music, and now it is a go to listen whenever I need something to really kick some ass.

This got me to thinking if it possible that I Don’t Want To Grow Up is better than Milo Goes To College?
After a quick couple listens with my boy Dylan at work we collectively decided that Milo Goes To College and I Don’t Want Grow Up are very close to equally rockin’, the classic Descendents tunes come mostly from Milo Goes To College which gives it the edge as the greatest Descendents album, and arguably punk album of all time.

My favourites are Hope, Suburban Home, Jean Is Dead,, Kabuki Girl,

That said I hate the song Parents. It is on of those that the lyrics are so age specific it is kinda a drag to listen to a song that is really not written that well.

I Don’t Want To Grow Up has it’s share of great tunes too. I suggest listening to GCF, Ace, Descendents, Good Good Things, and one of my all time favoutire songs: Pervert.

Follow @waronmusic on Twitter

The Show is On !!!

Yes after a slow start the War On Music series of shows will be a reality come November 4, 2011.

I have confirmations from both the Pink Slips, and the Afterlife, and I am in talks with Quagmire and the Thrashers to round out the bill. We have a couple of birthdays that day too, so it should be a full and excited crowd.

Get the venue and the bands will come. That is my best advice. I had started trying to get all my friends in bands to agree on a day and then book, but that is too complicated especially during the summer when everyone is going on holidays.

In other news another couple of shows are being organized including hopefully a punk versus metal back to back week showdown that I'm trying to get Ryan from the shop to collaberate and really do it up proper.

Another cool addition is going to be having the shows recorded and hopefully put to DVD.

Check out the Twitter feed for all the latest. @waronmusic

Here are the Pink Slips playing a previous gig at the Cavern.

Shows Must Go On

Hosting a show is a little more difficult that I had originally expected, but all hope is not lost, just a little time. Hey I am learning which is the main thing, right?

Anyway my first tip to anyone promoting thier first show is to get the venue first. This may be shows 101 but bands, especially local ones don't know a lot of the tie if they will be together in a month, let alone if they are going to be available to play a show that doesn't have a locked location time, or date. Get those and from what I here the bands will come. It is like Field of Dreams, on the dreams at these clubs probably aren't acceptable in mainstream society.

Maybe if you are a judge you get into that stuff. I don't know. I must admit though getting older, and less in touch with the local music scene has made getting commitments from bands more difficult, heck even responses. The solution, of course is to go see more shows. I'm getting there, but shows duirng the summer are so few and far between I am lucky I have good friends and family helping me out, and if everything works out this should be the show I promote in a month, with thanks going already to Brad from Quagmire for all the help he has given me.

Quagmire, Pinkslips, the Afterlife, and if I am lucky the Terribles. Hopefully at the Standard.

Wish me luck, and shoot me some tips if you.

Bad Religion New Album Not All Bad

There was not a lot going on at the shop today, so I decided to give the new Bad Religion album The Dissent of Man a critical listen, and let old, and new Bad Religion fans alike know what someone who has been listening to them for 15 years and hasn’t bought a new Bad Religion albums since the Grey Race. New Maps of Hell was all right, but, as you will soon figure, I pine for the earlier BR cuts.

The best songs on the album are Turn Your Back On Me, I Won’t Say Anything, and The Devil In Stitches. These songs are a few of the faster tunes, but they rely more on quality vocals and melodic choruses, rather than the great time changes, and incredible lyrics. That is not to say that the lyrics are lacking, but the old tunes had ideas and messages that may be some of the finest ever to come out of punk.

The album is nothing close to their classic albums such as Suffer, and No Control, but that doesn’t mean it is not worth a listen. This album is a good, more mellow listen, but Bad Religion puts together a good mix of up tempo songs so you don’t get bored. Speaking of boring that style that Bad Religion was living off of for about 8 years which appeared in songs like Sorrow, and Let Them Eat War is finally gone. I hated those songs, if you take anything away from this review know that the style of this album is completely different than anything they have released before.

Check us out on Twitter @waronmusic

Why Am I Doing This?

This blog, and the twitter site I use to promote it and War On Music are part of my Independent Professional Project for Creative Communications at Red River College in Winnipeg.

The students got to choose what project they would do in order to earn credit for one entire course. I chose a promotional campaign for War On Music because it is one of my favourite music stores in the world, but I thought they could use more exposure as they are a niche shop that has a very particular audience.

To get a passing grade, and expand War On Music’s popularity I must complete several tasks:

Run a Twitter account for War On Music
Update this blog regularily
Create four print, and four radio ads for War On Music
Organize three concerts to raise awareness of War On Music

Follow the blog and see how things go for me in my first shot in the advertising game, and also updates on concerts, music, and the War On Music scene.

New Format New Objective: Short, Informative, Useful.

The blog has not been going quite as well as I had wanted early, but that is because I have not thought of unique posts I can write to get more, or any followers.

This is what I propose. The blog will keep some of the old style posts because it is good to know what is happening in the local, and national music scene, as well as what is going on at War On Music. However in addition to that I will post regularily about what it is like trying to do a promotional campaign for the War On Music Worker Cooperative.

In fact that may be a good place to start with a blog.

Check out my next post that explains what you are reading, and why I am writing it.

See you Monday, at 6PM Central time.

Arsonfest 2011

Mount Elgon Productions has brought Arsonfest back for an eleventh year, and this years show is sure match all expectations that the others have in the past. The shows start on Friday August 5 and go until Sunday August 7. All shows are at the Death Trap (93 Albert Street) and start at 10 PM except the Sunday show which starts at 8PM.

August 5 - $10

Mares of Thrace
Vilipend
Wolbachia
Cooked and Eaten
Violent Gorge
Willing Feet

August 6 - $13
Bloody Pheonix
Haggaiha
Putrescence
Enabler
OSH
Wake

August 7 - $10

Subjugation
Urine Trip
Hand of the Horse Witch
AHNA
Scab Smoker

All proceeds benefit the pow wow to honour children who have been affected by violence.

Get out there and some great local and abroad talent as they blast out some of the best metal and obscuro tunes you can find on a hot August night. Stay tuned for more about Arsonfest 2011, and check out @WarOnMusic on twitter.

Ringworm: It's Not Just Bacteria Anymore

Ringworm was the flavour of the day at work today. I don't work at War On Music by the way, but I still have access to so dudes in the know about local, and foriegn music.

My buddy Dillon tells me about this band Ringworm. I don't like the name, but the tunes are not too shabby.

They are on Victory Rebords, and I thought I was in a time warp becuase nothing this hard has come off victory from STRIFE's Truth Though Defiance release.

Ringworm is a throw back to the great hardcore scene that erupted in the 90's but fizzled when emo provided a scene that was less intimidating to a bunch of whinners with Bieber like hair cuts. By the way, what happened to Snapcase?

Who cares, I forgot about that debaucle after Ringworm brought some heavy double kicker reminiscent of hatebreed, some some hard rifts that were similar.

Ringworm is classic Victory Records, but most similar to Inegrity, and Hatebreed. But if you are not down with the Holy Terror scene, or very religious this may not be the pick for you. However if you are serious about your tunes I would give them a listen before you diss them for their message or beliefs.

15 More Asian Man Years

I got to the last night of shows just as the first band hit the stage at The Bottom of the Hill, where Lawrence Arms was headlining. Bomb The Music Industry was top bill over at Thee Parkside.

The truth is I barely made it to this show. I'm not a big Lawrence Arms fan, and after four shows and an A's game and Alkatraz in four and a half days I was about ready to start uploading all the discs I had collected on the trip. I knew though that to miss the last show was to miss ... well the last show but I'm nosatalgic so it was a necessity.

The bands were all good, but I forgot the camera and the info is of the Asian Man Facebook site so I can only remember that Spraynard, Short Round, and Chollo Ghetto played before the Lawrence Arms.

You could see the exaustion in the crowd that had been to most of the same shows I had been to throughout the week. Pits were sparce, and movement was at an all time low.

I thought Brendan Kelly ended the festival right when he said, "That was our last song, now go get some sleep."

Don't worry if you follow War On Music this is the last you will hear of the ASIAN MAN RECORDS 15TH ANNIVERSARY EXTRAVAGANZA.

Best ever onestopshopforskapunkrock - MIKE PARK!

A Saturday O' Surprises

Saturday was probably my favorite of the entire Asain Man Records 15th anniversary. What put it over the top was teh BBQ that included about 10 surprise bands that played between three and six songs, and intited whoever on stage to party with them.

The festivities started with Mike Park and a friend flipping tofu burgers and turning wieners for whoever came to this free event. Then he treated his about two hundred friends to some more free stuff. The bands that played right after included teh Apers, O Pioneers!, Kepi Ghoulie, and Bomber the music industry. It was awesome, and I even came away with two King Aparatus CDs.

I have a few pictures from the show that night which I will put up, but only video can do the night justice. Instead of that video here are some brief descriptions.

The night started with a band made up from the remenants of Link 80, but I cannot remember the name for the life of me. Long story short it was quite the stage show, and included a Mike Park song, a Roxette line, and the singer humping me as I stood watching.

What did I do you ask? I humped him back and enjoyed the rest of the show, including the parts that included a lot of crawling around the floor of the Bottom of the Hill.

The best part of the whole thing was the two Link 80 tunes that were played at the end Verbal Knit, and Dimestore Hoods.

I missed the next band because I went up the street to see Kepi Ghoulie, but instead spent the entire set in the can, but I made it back in time to see the Apers play.

The Apers were recommended to me by a couple of guys from Switzerland, and they were as rockin, as promised. They even played a Mr.T Experience cover. Shecky claims they were the longest set of the night. Great chatter knocking Blink shows, why they never play the same somg twice (in a two show gig), and a bunch of stuff that my translatter was away for provided another great band that I was unaware of before the trip.

The Queers ended the show, and it was my favourite set of the festival. Shecky claims that the set lasted just over a half hour, but I think he is full of it just because I like the Queers so much. It's kind of our dynamic.

The set was nice and old school with fast tunes played fast with no bullshit inbetween. I can deal with some talk, in fact I love a good chatter, but this was a cool set. Tons of stuff off of Love Songs For The Retarded, some new stuff that was well selected: Tit Fuck, Back to the Basement, and even thier cover of Black Flag's White minority. They had a lot of other memorable tunes plastered throughout including Debra Jean, Born To Do Dishes, and Janelle Janelle.

Great night that even included a trip to the hospital, and some 3AM BBQing.
Sorry Travel Lodge, we didn't know the BBQ hours. We also had chips in the pool.

Day 2 - Monkey Around On Ska Night at Thee Parkside

The second day of shows was hard pressed to match the excitement of the first night in San Francisco, but the line up at both The Bottom of the Hill (Alkaline Trio, Kepi Goulie), and Thee Parkside which I attended equalled if not surpassed the night before depending on which bands you came to see.

The Parkside show included Monkey, Unsteady, Buck o’ Nine, and Slow Gherkin. Monkey was my favourite band that I was not familiar with before the festival. They were masterful with the instruments, and put on a stage show that may have been the best of the week topped of when the band would start skanking or “working it” around the small corner stage. Things really picked up when a cover of Skankin’ Pickle’s Fakin’ Jamaican was played prompting lead vocalist Curtis Meacham to invite everyone on the stage before retracting the invite due to an obvious lack of space.

If Monkey comes to your neck of the woods get out to see them, and be blown away by their fancy matching outfits.

Actually, I’m listening to their Lost At Sea album right now, and it is a really nice mello listen that keeps a good tempo. Great for a sunny day, and we actually got one today in Winnipeg.


Unsteady followed with another smooth set of ska that I unfortunately had to miss part of, because my friends room storage was broken into. No, wait, we later figured out that the wind had pulled it open on the freeway, because someone forgot to latch it closed.



Buck o’ Nine had the most energy of any band that played the Asian Man 15th. They came out fast, and old slowed down the action for moments in songs like Pass The Dutchie to crank it up again in the same tune. Their were highlights throughout including My Town, Drink and Fight, and my personal fav of the night, Calling in Sick.

It was also cool to talk with the lead singer of Buck o’ Nine Jon Pebsworth who actually knew a little about Winnipeg, and wanted to meet my buddies kids he brought along. Good guys, and you could tell they were having a good time.



Slow Gherkin was the last band on, and if Buck o’ Nine had the most energy Slow Gherkin matched the energy with crowd enthusiasm. There was a group of about 20 or 30 guys that seemed to know every word, and appeared to be some of the few locals.

It was cool to be immersed in another city’s scene, and see some bands that haven’t played in years. It reminded me of the Bacteria Buffet show (including the free stuff), only it lasted five days, and played in three different venues, and had a really cool BBQ, that included Mike Parks special pasta salad.

The horn section for Slow Gherkin was outstanding, and certain members were going so wild their glasses were flying off, being put away, and then put back on and lost again. Wild stuff. Shed Some Skin, Trapped Like Rats, and Turned Off are some of the other highlights, and videos that you can find on YouTube.

Almost every band I saw at this festival was a first time, and it is pretty amazing to see so many bands that rarely to never make it all the way up to Winnipeg. This show was the one that really made me realize how cool the Asian Man Records 15th really was. That and the fact that people I talked to were rarely from San Fran. I went to many shows with a guy from England, and two dudes from Switzerland turned me onto this band the Apers from Holland that were another huge surprise during the week.



Thanks to MNSKA1 for posting these videos. Mine were not worthy of putting up, but here are some photos that kinda suck too.

Day 1 - A Walk With The Park

It is hard to believe that it has been a week since the Asian Man Records 15th Anniversary spectacular. The first night was held at Slim’s, and started off right with buckets full of free shirts, Cds, pins, and posters.

It was rumoured throughout the week that Link 80 was supposed to also be on this bill, but the bands that were there included the Chinkees, MU330, and a Slapstick reunion that blew the crowd away. Oh yeah, a very drunk Matt Skiba also made several memorable appearances.

Mike Park head of Asian Man, and lead for the Chinkees started the festival right, with a high energy skankin’ set, and some great chatter in between including where the name name the Chinkees came from. Turns out that as is well known Park hates racism so he chose this name to bring a focus on the subject. He explained that he want the Chinkees to attck the subject on a constant basis, but the crew ended up having to much fun , so they didn’t tackle quite as much as they would have liked. But from all the anti-racism gear available you can tell Park heads that fight as much as possible.



MU330 was next up and they kept the momentum going. Pumping up the crowd with an aggressive set that include great tunes like Tune Me Out, Hoosier Love, and Ireland. The MU330 set was like every other one as it felt like one of your buddies was up thier playing due to all the interaction , and have most of the band members milling through the crowd throughout the show.



The reunion of Slapstick was definitely the highlight of the show for most of those in attendance, and Slapstick did not disappoint. Bredan Kelly, who played every night of the festival put on a great show, playing several great songs (she doesn't love me, sick of this place, broken down), and letting Matt Skiba put the show over the top with some great druken humour.

If you ever get a chance to see Slapstick get on top of it becuase they are unreal. Here is just a taste.





The entire show was awesome, and from the "it was a perfect night" category even the security was pretty cool. They let the kids mosh hard, and even found my hat when it was knocked off while MU330 was playing.

Best music experience of my life.

Asian Man Records - Your One Stop Shop For Skapunkrock - Mike Park

Back from the greatest music festival I have ever encountered, the Asian Man Records 15th Anniversary. This thing was a non stop energy trip that left most of the people who were at shows every night exhausted by the end.

The experience was unique as the members of just about every band hung out in the crowd before and after sets, and Mike Park, who runs Asian Man, was even flipping tofu burgers, and hot dogs at a barbeque he hosted which include a bunch of surprise bands including Kepi Goulie, Bomb the Music Industry, and the Apers just to name a few of the eight bands that played brief sets that afternoon.

Oh yeah, and there was loads of free stuff in exchange for donations. Really good free stuff. Mike Park really did it up proper in San Fran last week. If you were there you know that it was unforgettable.

Check out the blog over the next week as I post pictures, and reminisce about the great sets, the big surprises, and the people from around North America, and Europe that I met during my days in the city by the bay.

QUAGMIRE - Local feature 1

I had heard a lot of talk about this band named Quagmire, but I didn't know who they were until a team named Quagmire appeared in my work football pool. I put two and two together, and talked to Brad the drummer of Quagmire about being in the War On Music concert series. The wheels are in motion and hopefully near the end of August Quagmire will be headlining the first show.

What will you get from this trio of gents and lone female. I tells you ya get one hell of a vocalist that can front songs that range from rock to punk, to psychobilly.

I haven't been able to hear the latest release becuase Brad keeps forgetting to bring one for me and my buddy Matt, but I do have One For The Ditch, and it blows me away.

The best part of the tunes are the uniqueness of the style. It is similar to some bands, but over the entire album you will be hard pressed to pigeon-hole this quartet.

My favourite tunes are Anola MB., State Of The Quagmire Address, and Johnny Q. These cats love Qs. What can I say?



If you like Necromantix, Farrell Bros., or Tiger Army I would definitely try to get my hands on their latest as One For The Ditch is all sold out.

Death (Metal) and Taxes

So I'm in War On Music the other day, and I am bugging Charley about what the best items at War On Music (for the record Voivod, but that is for the next blog).

Charley at this point is trying to file invoices, and other monetary responsibilities for the store when we get onto a conversation about filing taxes, and to my surprise Charley is not only a tax whiz, he also is a source of great savings on your taxes.

So here pre-empting the TOP 5 BEST ITEMS AT WAR ON MUSIC BLOG, is the

TOP TAX TIPS FROM WAR ON MUSIC - or is this war on taxes?

1. Make Sure You Claim the WORKING INCOME TAX BENEFIT.

This part of the process is on Schedule 6, and even though everyone qualifies for this break the government doesn't prompt you to fill it out, so many miss it. Apparently this can add up to $900 to you rpocket. I cannot say for sure becuase I miss it every year when I do my taxes.

2. Split Rent Claims with Roomates.

There is a cut off of $4500 on what you can claim on your 2011 tax form. This could change next year, but the point is anything over that amount you should put on a room mate's return, becuase anything over that $4500 mark doesn't sdd to your total.

Minority Justice League is Coming Back

I was just at War On Music, and Charley gave local punk fans a little good news in the form of reviving Minority Justice League (MJL).

After former MJL drummer Dean went on hiatus the band soon followed. I remember Charley lamenting on how hard it was to find a good drummer in Winnipeg - That back was at the original location.

Well after a three year search MJL finally found a new drummer. He's good. He is really good, but just before Charley is able to get MJL practicing again he finds out that the drummer from Evil Survives was not going to be able to go on the east coast tour Evil Survives just completed. MJL was put on the shelf again for a few months while the new drummer learned the Evil Survives tunes. He did, and according to Charley the tour was a success, especially because there were no snafus that can occasionally screw over a great string of shows.

Long story short MJL is back together and practicing, sans one Dean. Follow the blog for upcoming show times, or check War On Music out on Twitter.
@waronmusic.

New Stuff at War On Music

Lots of new stuff just in at War On Music - 42 Albert Street.
Here is the entire list of everything that came in on the last order.

Blogs and tweets (@waronmusic)upcoming in the next week on special features, primo items, and what is new with the War On Music record label.

Order on-line at www.waronmusic.com

Get to War On Music fast, becuase I'm heading down there after work to pick up that Queers LP.

Aborted Archaic Abbatoir LP
Aborted Archaic Abbatoir CD
Absu ST CD
Acid King Free / Down With The Crown LP
Acid King Busse Woods LP
Acid King III LP
Across Tundras Dark Songs of the Prairie LP
Across Tundras Sage CD
Adrenaline OD Wacky Hi Jinx LP
Aggression Forgotten Skeleton LP
Agoraphobic Nosebleed / Despise You Split LP
Agoraphobic Nosebleed with Apartment 213 Domestic Powerviolence LP
Alderbaran Dwellers in Twilight CD
Alderbaren From Forgotten Tombs LP
All Pigs Must Die ST LP
Amebix No Sanctuary LP
Amort Winter Tales LP
Arkanum PPPPPPPPPPP CD
Asunder Like Flies on Flesh CD
Asunder Clarion Call CD
Autopsy Awakened By Gore LP
Avulsed Nullo CD
Baptists ST "7"""
Baroness red album LP
Bastardator Identify The Dead LP
Bathory ST LP
Behemoth Thelema 6 CD
Beherit The Oath of Black Blood CD
Belphegor Bondage Goat Zombie LP
Bestial Mockery Gospel of the Insane CD
Bestial Raids Reversed Black Trinity LP
Bethlehem Dark Metal CD
Bethlehem Victius Te Hevace CD
Black Breath Heavy Breathing CD
Black Dahlia Murder Miasma CD
Black Flag Process of Weeding Out CD
Black Flag In My Head CD
Black Flag TV Party CD
Black Lips ST LP
Black Market Fetus / Discider Split CD
Black Sabbath Paranoid LP
Black Sabbath Masters of Reality LP
Black Sabbath ST LP
Black Sabbath Born Again LP
Black Witchery Upheaval of Satanic Might CD
Blank Dogs Phrases LP
Blitzkreig Time of Changes LP
Bongzilla Amerijuanican CD
Book of Black Earth Horoskopus CD
Book of Black Earth The Feast LP
Boris Akuma No Uta CD
Boris Absolutego LP
Boris Amplifer Worship LP
Boris Flood LP
Botch Unifying Themes Redux LP
Bound Cartography s/t LP
Brutal Knights Tshirt M Shirt
Brutal Truth Evolution Through Revolution CD
Brutal Truth For Drug Crazed Grind Freaks Only CD
Brutal Truth Need to Control LP
Buffalo Brutality v/a "7"""
Buzzcocks Blue Logo Tshirt XL Shirt
Cancer Spreading "7"""
Cannabis Corpse The Weeding LP
Cannibal Corpse Gore Obsessed CD
Carcass Symphonies of Sickness CD
Carcass Reek of Putrefaction CD
Carpathian Forest Fuck You All CD
Casualties For the Punx Tshirt M Shirt
Cathedral Serpents Gold CD
Cave In Anomalies Vol 1 LP
Cephalic Carnage Anomalies CD
Charles Bronson Tshirt S Shirt
Chronic Seizure Cutest Band In Hardcore LP
Church of Misery Vol 1 LP
Circle Jerks Wild In The Streets LP
Circle Jerks Wonderful LP
Circle Jerks Golden Shower Tshirt XL Shirt
Clash Pink Logo Tshirt M Shirt
Clash Green Tshirt S Shirt
Cobra Skulls Bringing the War Home LP
Cock Sparrer Shock Troops Tshirt XL Shirt
Coffins Mortuary In Darkness LP
Coffins / Otesanek Split LP
Copeater Wisconson Grindcore CD
Corrupted Paso Inferior CD
Cro Mags Live At Wellingtons LP
Crowbar Past and Present CD
Crowpath Red on Chrome LP
Damned Black Tshirt L Shirt
Danava ST CD
Danava Unonou CD
Darkthrone Transylvanian Hunger CD
Darkthrone Goatlord LP
Darkthrone Panzerfaust CD
Darkthrone Total Death CD
Darkthrone Ravishing Grimness CD
Dayglo Abortions Feed Us a Fetus Tshirt L Shirt
Dayglo Abortions Feed Us a Fetus Tshirt M Shirt
Dead For Lovers of the New Bizarre LP
Dead Kennedys In God We Trust LP
Dead Kennedys Plastic Surgery Disasters LP
Dead Kennedys White PhotoTShirt M Shirt
Death Trap No Hicks "7"""
Deiphago Satanik Eon LP
Deiphago Pic Disc "7"""
Deiphago Satanik Eon LP
Deranged Obscenities of B Flat CD
Descendents 'Merican "7"""
Destruction Cracked Brain LP
Destruction Eternal Devastation LP
Dils White Tshirt M Shirt
Dimmu Borgir Stormblast CD
Direct Control Bucktown Hardcore LP
Disincarnate Dreams of the Carrion Kind CD
Dissection The Somberlain CD
Doom ST (Japanese Text) CD
DRI Violent Pacification Tshirt L Shirt
DRI Violent Pacification Tshirt S Shirt
Dying Fetus Killing on Adrenaline CD
Dying Fetus War of Attrition CD
Dystopia Fetus TShirt M Shirt
Dystopia Gas Mask TShirt S Shirt
Earth Bees Made Honey in the Lions Skull CD
Earth Phase 3 CD
Earth Pentastar:In The Struggle Of Demons LP
Earthless Sonic Prayer CD
Earthless Rhythms From A Cosmic Sky CD
Earthlings? Humalien "10"""
Eddy Current Suppression Ring Rush To Relax LP
Electric Wizard Witchcult Toady CD
Electric Wizard Dopethrone LP
Emperor ST / Wrath of the Tyrant CD
English Dogs Mad Punks Tshirt M Shirt
Enslaved Vertibrae CD
Evoken Shades of Night Descending LP
Exodus Bonded By Blood LP
Exploited Dogs of War Tshirt M Shirt
Exploited White Tshirt S Shirt
Exploited Dogs of War Tshirt XL Shirt
Exploited Skull Mohawk Tshirt L Shirt
Falkenbach Ok Nefna Tysvar y CD
Fear The Record LP
Fear Live TShirt L Shirt
Final Exit / Dethcharge Split "7"""
Finntroll Visor Um Stutet CD
Folk Earth Father Victory CD
Freeze White Tshirt L Shirt
Freeze Black Tshirt XL Shirt
From Ashes Rise Live Hell LP
Fucked Up Here Lies Are LP
G.G.Allin Res-Erected LP
Gas Chamber s/t LP
Gates of Slumber The Wretch CD
Gauze Tshirt M Shirt
Gauze Equaling Distort Tshirt L Shirt
General Surgery Corpus Extremis LP
Germs Return Dec 3 Tshirt L Shirt
Germs Black Tshirt L Shirt
Germs Black Tshirt M Shirt
GG Allin White Tshirt M Shirt
Ghengis Tron Dead Mountain Mouth CD
Ghengis Tron Cloak of Love CD
Gism Red and White Tshirt S Shirt
Goatwhore Haunting Curse CD
Godflesh Love and Hate In Dub LP
Godflesh Streetcleaner LP
Godflesh Songs of Love and Hate X 3 Set CD
Godflesh Pure / Coldworld / Slavestate 3 X Set CD
Gojira Way of all Flesh CD
Gojira Terra Incognita CD
Gorgoroth The Antichrist CD
Government Issue Black Tshirt L Shirt
Government Issue Fun Just Never Ends LP
Government Issue Sheer Terror Tshirt M Shirt
Graves At Sea Documents of Grief LP
Hate Anaclasis LP
Hate Morphosis LP
Hate Erebos CD
Hate Eternal Pheonix Amongst The Ashes CD
Haunted ST CD
Hell Bastard the Need to Kill CD
Hewhocorrupts Master of Profits CD
High on Fire Surrounded By Thieves LP
Holy Grail Crisis In Utopia CD
Horna Sanojesi Aarelle CD
Ill Repute What Happens Next Tshirt S Shirt
Immolation Unholy Cult LP
Immolation Shadows in the Light CD
Impaled Nazarene Manifest CD
Impaled Nazarene Death Comes in 26 Carefully Selected Pieces CD
Incantation Primordial Domination LP
Incantation Primordial Domination CD
Iron Angel The Tapes CD
Iron Monkey Iron Monkey / Our Problem 2 X Set CD
Isengard Vinterskugge CD
Isis Oceanic Remixes CD
Isis Wavering Radiant LP
Isis Holy Tears LP
Ives / Amort Split CD
Jesus Lizard Wheelchair Epidemic "7"""
Jigsore Terror World End Carnage LP
Keelhaul you waited five years for "7"""
Killing Joke Absolute Dissent LP
King Diamond Fatal Portrait LP
King Diamond Conspiracy LP
Kiss Kiss My Ass LP
Kleenex Lilliput 1977 1983 LP
Krallice Diotima CD
Kraut Tshirt M Shirt
Kreator Terrible Certainty CD
Kreator Pleasure To Kill LP
Kreator Extreme Aggression LP
Krisiun Apocalyptic Revelation CD
Kyuss Blues For the Red Sun LP
Larm Cow Tshirt L Shirt
Last Days of Humanity LP
Leatherface/Hot Water Music split LP
Lieutenant s/t LP
Lightning Bolt Earthly Delights LP
Lip Cream Multi Color TShirt S Shirt
Magrudergrind Crusher "10"""
Mentors Red TShirt M Shirt
Mercyful Fate Don't Break The Oath LP
Mercyful Fate Melissa LP
Mesrine Unidentified LP
Minor Threat Out of Step Tshirt L Shirt
Minor Threat Out of Step Tshirt XL Shirt
Misfits Skeleton Crossed Arms Tshirt XL Shirt
Misfits Feind Club Tshirt L Shirt
Misfits Skeleton Crossed Arms Tshirt M Shirt
Mondo Generator III the EP "10"""
Morgoth Cursed LP
Morgoth Resurrection Absurd / Eternal Fall LP
Morgoth 1987-1997 CD
Motorhead Orgasmatron LP
Motorhead ST LP
Mudhoney touch me I'm sick "7"""
Mudhoney Every good boy deserves fudge LP
My Disco Little Joy LP
Nachtmystium Demise LP
Nachtmystium Eulogy LP
Nailed Down Ressurection CD
Nails Unsilent Death CD
Nails Unsilent Death CD
Napalm Death Noise for Musics Sake CD
Napalm Death Harmony Corruption LP
Napalm Death Utopia Banished CD
Napalm Death Inside the Torn Apart CD
New York Dolls Tshirt L Shirt
Nile In Their Darkened Shrines CD
No Rest For tHe Dead End Of Space CD
Nobunny Third Man Live LP
Oakhelm Bewixed and Between LP
Obituary Cause of Death LP
Off! Compared To What / Rotten Apple "7"""
Offal / Decrepitaph Split LP
Officium Triste The Pathway CD
Om Pilgrimage CD
Om God Is Good CD
Orcustus Wrathras "7"""
Parish / Gate Split LP
Parlamentarisk Sodomi / Laserguys Split "7"""
Penis Enlargement / Casaconia Split "7"""
Pestilence Malleus Malefiucarum CD
Phobia Total Anarchist Tshirt XL Shirt
Pixies Trompe le Monde LP
Poison Idea Skull TShirt S Shirt
Poison Idea Feel The Darkness LP
Portrait Crimen Laesae Majestatis Divinae CD
Primordial Shift the Earth Aflame CD
Primordial Dark Romanticism CD
Primordial Storm Before Calm CD
Raw Power Screams From The Gutter LP
Raw Power After Your Brain LP
Reanimator Thrashin The Neighborhood CD
Reanimator Ignorance is No Excuse CD
Red Fang Red Fang LP
Rudimentary Peni Fetus Tshirt M Shirt
Sahg I CD
Sahg II CD
Samiam Whatevers Got You Down LP
Sargeist Satanic Black Devotion CD
Sargeist Disciple of the Henious Path CD
Saviours Warship CD
Saviours Into Abaddon CD
Scaremaker LP
Sepultura Schizophrenia LP
Skepticism Aes CD
Slaughter Nocturnal Karnage LP
Slayer Seasons in the Abyss LP
Slayer Hell Awaits LP
Social Unrest Red Tshirt S Shirt
Sodom Better Off Dead LP
Sodom Agent Orange LP
Sodom Persecution Mania LP
Soilwork Chainheart Machine CD
Soilwork Steelbath Suicide CD
Soothsayer To Be A Real Terrorist LP
Soundgarden Badmotorfinger LP
ST Vitus Born Too Late LP
Stiff Little Fingers Inflammable Material Tshirt L Shirt
Still Born Answer's Left Unquestioned LP
Striborg Solitude CD
Striker Road Warrier CD
Striker Eyes In The Night CD
Subhumans Skull Face Tshirt XL Shirt
Subjugation Mutillation Rites Tape
Suffocation Souls To Deny CD
Summoning Let Mortal Heroes Sing Your Fame CD
Summoning Nightshade Forests CD
Summoning Lost Tales CD
Sun Ra Arkestra Live at the Storyville LP
Sunn White 2 CD
Svart Crown Witnessing The Fall CD
Sword Gods of the Earth CD
Sword Age of Winters CD
Terrorizer World Downfall LP
Texttures Polars CD
Textures Sihlouettes CD
Textures Drawing Circles LP
Textures Silhouettes LP
the Hex Dispensers self titled LP
the Smiths the Queen is Dead LP
the Smiths Strange Ways, Here We Come LP
the Smiths the Smiths LP
the Sword Gods of the Earth LP
Torche Meanderthal CD
Torche Songs for Singles CD
Total Fucking Destruction Hater CD
Total Fucking Destruction Zen and the Art of Total Fucking Destruction CD
Trees Lights Bane CD
Unholy Grave Blast Mayhem LP
Until the Light Takes Us DVD
Urban Blight More Reality LP
Velvet Cacoon Northsuite CD
Verbal Abuse Tshirt M Shirt
Voetsek Infernal Command CD
Voetsek Infernal Command LP
Voivod War and Pain LP
Voivod Killing Technology LP
Vomitory Opus Mortis VIII CD
Warpig ST LP
Wartorn Tainting Tomorrow CD
Weedeater Jason The Dragon LP
Weekend Nachos Worthless CD
Willful Neglect ST LP
Witchcraft The Alchemist CD
Wolfbrigade Skull TShirt M Shirt
Wolfe ST CD
Wooden Ships ST CD
Wormwood Starvation CD
Xibalba Ancients LP
Yob Catharsis LP
Zombi Escape Velocity CD
Zond ST LP
Zoroaster ST LP
Zoroaster Matador CD
Zoroaster Dog Magic LP
Zoroaster Voice of Saturn LP
Accept Blood of the Nations CD
Acid Bath Paegan Terrorism Tactics CD
Acid Reign Moshkinstein CD
Acid Reign The Fear CD
AFI Black Sails in the Sunset LP
AFI Shut Your Mouth and Open Your Eyes LP
After All The Vermin Breed LP
Afterdeath Retronomicon LP
Against Me Eternal Cowboy LP
Agent Steel Unstoppable Force LP
Agoraphobic Nosebleed / Despise You Split CD
Agoraphobic Nosebleed / Despise You Split LP
Alkaline Trio Maybe I'll Catch Fire LP
Amebix No Sanctuary LP
Annihilation Time II LP
Antiseen Exploding Barb Wire Death Match "7"""
Artillery My Blood CD
Atheist Jupiter LP
Augury Concealed CD
Austerity Program Backsliders and Apostles Will Burn CD
Avenger Feast of Anger CD
Backslider ST "7"""
Baphomets Blood Metal Damnation LP
Baptists ST "7"""
Batallion of Saints Hells "7"""
Bathory Requiem CD
Bathory Goat M Shirt
Behemoth Evangelion CD
Belphegor Bondage Goat Zombie CD
Between the Buried and Me Parallax CD
Black Flag Whos Got The 10.5 LP
Black Flag First Four Years LP
Black Flag Slip It In LP
Black Flag My War LP
Black Steel Hellhammer LP
Blood For Bood Outlaw Anthems LP
Blood Freak Mindscraper CD
Brutal Truth Sounds of the Animal Kingdom CD
Brutal Truth Evolution in one Take CD
Burning Empires ST "7"""
Burst Origo CD
Burst Prey on Life CD
Buzzoven Revelation: Sick Again LP
Buzzoven Revelation: Sick Again CD
Bywar Twelve Devils Graveyards LP
Carrier One Year Later LP
Cephalic Carnage Misled By Certainty LP
Charles Bronson Complete Discography CD
Choking Victim No Gods No Managers CD
Choking Victim No Gods/No Managers LP
Chuck Ragan Feast or Famine LP
Chuck Ragan & Brian Fallon Gospel Songs "7"""
Cities Annihilation Absolute CD
Cock Sparrer England Belongs To Me LP
Cock Sparrer Shock Troops LP
Cold World Dedicated To LP
Converge Axe To Fall LP
Cough / Wounded Kings Split LP
Cretin Freakery LP
Crow Bloody Tear LP
Crowbar Sever the Wicked Hand CD
Crown The Burning CD
Crown Eternal Death CD
Cursed Last Session "7"""
D.R.I Violent Pacification "7"""
Daath ST CD
Dark Funeral Vobiscum CD
Darkest Hour Human Romance CD
Darkest Hour Deliver Us CD
Darkness Conclusion and Revival LP
Death Sound of Perserverance CD
Death Mechanism Mass Slavery LP
Decrepit Birth Polarity CD
Defeated Sanity Chapters of Repugnance CD
DI Ancient Artifacts LP
Dillinger Escape Plan Ire Works CD
Dillinger Escape Plan Option Paralysis CD
Dillinger Four Civil War LP
Disfear Live the Storm CD
Disfear Misanthropic Generation CD
Double Negative Daydream Nation LP
DRI Dirty Rotten EP CD
Dysrhythmia Psychic Maps CD
Electric Wizard Black Masses CD
Eliminator Breaking the Wheel LP
Eliminator Breaking the Wheel LP
Emperor / Thorns Split CD
Erazor ST LP
Erazor ST LP
Exhumed Anatomy Is Destiny CD
Exhumed Gore Metal CD
Exhumed Your Funeral L Shirt
Exhumed Slaughtercult CD
Face the Panic the Reclaimation LP
Face The Panic Reclamation "7"""
Fear Factory Mechanize CD
Flatliners Cavalcade LP
Foundation Hang Your Head "7"""
Foundation Hang Your Head "7"""
Frank Turner Rock & Roll "10"""
From Beyond Thrashin Machine LP
Fu Manchu In Search Of… LP
Fucked Up Hidden World CD
Gamma Ray Sigh No More CD
Ghost Opus Eponymous CD
Goatwhore Funeral Dirge CD
Good Riddance Ballads of the Revolution LP
Gorgoroth Black Mass Krakow DVD
Grails Deep Politics LP
Grave Ritual Euphoric Hymns from the Altar of Death LP
Gravewurm Ancient Storms of War LP
Gunlinger Earthquake in E Minor LP
Hatred Surge Deconstruct LP
Hatred Surge/Mammoth Grinder Split LP
Havok Time Is Up CD
Hawkwind Text of Festival LP
Hellbringer ST LP
Hellbringer ST LP
High on Fire Death Is This Communion CD
High on Fire Death is this Communion LP
High on Fire Snakes For the Divine LP
High on Fire Snakes For the Divine CD
Holy Grail Crisis In Utopia LP
Hot Snakes Suicide Invoice LP
Hot Water Music No Division LP
Hot Water Music Never Ender LP
Husker Du Metal Circus LP
Husker Du Land Speed Record LP
Husker Du Flip Your Wig LP
Icemen ST "7"""
Ihsahn Angl CD
In Flames Jester Race CD
Indian Guiltless LP
Inquisition / Profane Creation Split CD
Insane Wait and Prey LP
Instangd Drag Utan Drog "7"""
Integrity Blackest Curse LP
Integrity We are the End "7"""
Irons / Pulling Teeth Spilt LP
Kataklysm Heaven's Venom CD
Kevins Seconds / Matt Skiba Split LP
Kililng the Dream Fractures LP
Killing the Dream Lucky Me LP
Kyuss Wretch LP
Lagwagon Trashed LP
Lamb of God As the Palaces Burn CD
Lamb of God New American Gospel CD
Leftover Crack Mediocre Generica LP
Lewd Acts Black Eyed Blues LP
Lightning Swords of Death Extra Dimensional Wound CD
Lightning Swords of Death Extra Dimensional Wounded LP
Macabre Grim Scary Tales "10"""
Macabre Grim Scary Stories CD
Machetazo Necrovered CD
Marrow Of Slaughter and Slime "7"""
Mars Volta Octohedron LP
Maserati Pyramid of the Sun LP
Maserati Pyramid of the Moon LP
Mastodon Call of the Mastodon CD
Mastodon Blood Mountain CD
Maximum RnR #336 Magazine
Megadeth Rust In Peace CD
Megadeth Peace Sells CD
Melechesh Epigenisis CD
Mentors Slutfucking Man Pic Disc LP
Menzingers Chamberlain Waits LP
Mike Patton Mondo Cane LP
Minutemen Double Nickels on the Dime LP
Minutemen Punch Line LP
Mogwai Hardcore Will Never Die LP
Mudhoney Touch Me I'm Sick "7"""
My Bloody Valentine Isn't Anything LP
Nachtmystium Demise CD
Nachtmystium Reign of the Malicious CD
Nails Unsilent Death CD
Nails Unsilent Death LP
Napalm Death Time Waits For No Slave LP
Necrodeath Into the Macabre LP
Neightborhood Watch ST LP
NOFX S & M Airlimes LP
NOFX White Trash Two Heebs and a Bean LP
Noise Reduction Issue 2 Zine
Noisear Pyroclastic Annihilation LP
Noisear Subvert the Dominant CD
None More Black File Under None LP
None More Black Icons LP
Obituary Darkest Day CD
Obscura Omnivium CD
Oceano Depths CD
Off With Their Heads Trying to Breathe "7"""
Off! First Four Eps "7"""
Off! ST "7"""
Omar Rodriguez Lopez Se Bison LP
Omega Second Coming Second Crucifixion LP
Only Crime Virulence LP
Otep Atavist CD
Parasytic Poison Minds CD
Pentagram Last Rites CD
Periphery Icarus CD
Primordial Redemption at the Puritans Hand CD
Propagandhi How to Clean a Couple O'things Fuck Off "7"""
Propagandhi Today's Empires, Tomorrow's Ashes LP
Protest The Hero Scurrilous CD
Putresence / Enbalming Theatre Split "7"""
Queens of the Stone Age Era Vulgaris "10"""
Queers Day Late Dollar Short LP
Rancid Rancid LP
Red Chord Fed Through The Teeth CD
Red Fang Murder the Mountains LP
Rezet Have Gun Will Travel LP
Riotor Beast of Riot LP
Rise Against Endgame LP
Ritual Steel Invincible Warriors LP
Rival Mob Hardcore For Hardcore "7"""
Rival Schools Pedals LP
Rocket From the Crypt Paint as a Fragrance LP
Russian Circles Enter LP
Russian Circles Station LP
Sabbat Envenom LP
Sabbat Sabbatrinity LP
Sarcofago INRI LP
Saxon ST CD
Shining VI: Klagsopsalmer CD
Slint "10"""
Smartbomb Diamond Heist LP
Smiths the Queen is Dead LP
Smiths Meat is Murder LP
Social Distortion Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes LP
SOD Speak English or Die CD
Spazz Crush Kill Destroy LP
Star Fucking Hipsters Until LP
Steelpreacher Drinking With The Devil LP
Stinking Lizaveta Sacrifice and Bliss LP
SU19B / Deadeye Split "7"""
Suffocation Close of a Chapter LP
Swans My Father Will Guide Me Up a Rope to the Sky LP
Swingin' Utters Here, Under Protest CD
Sword Warp Riders LP
Sword Warp Riders CD
Terror Keepers of the Faith "7"""
the Get Up Kids/Rocket From the Crypt Split "7"""
the Jesus Lizard Fly on the Wall "7"""
the Jesus Lizard Gladiator "7"""
Title Fight Flood of 72 "7"""
Tokyo Blade No Remorse LP
Tony Sly 12 Song Program LP
Tragedy Nerve Damage CD
Tragedy Vengeance CD
Trap Them Darker Handcraft LP
Trapthem Darker Handcraft CD
Turnstile Pressure To "7"""
Unconsecrated Slave to the Grave "7"""
Unsane Visqueen LP
VA Americas Hardcore LP
Venom Black Metal LP
Vespar Posession of Evil Will LP
Vex Uncontrolled Aggression LP
Vex Act of Revenge LP
Vicious Rumors Razorback Killer CD
Victimizer Ressurected Abominations LP
Virulence If this isn't a dream CD
Voivod Tatsumaki DVD
Vomitory Opus Mortis VII CD
Vreid Milorg CD
Watain Casus Lucifer CD
Weedeater Jason the Dragon LP
Weedeater Jason the Dragon CD
Whitechapel New Era of Corruption CD

Shows Galour For Under $50

With a slew of great shows coming up War On Music is happy to jot them all down for you, and give you a hint on what you can expect if you take in one of these great shows.

1. Creepshow @ The Royal Albert - May 25

The Creepshow visits Winnipeg tomorrow. This is going to be a superb psychobilly rock out. There are not enough thrash, rockabilly, or psychobilly bands in the world today. Lucky for Canadians that we have a few like the Matadors, Farrell Bros., and of course, Creepshow. Gotta see them.



2. Sepultura @ The Zoo - May 26

I was shocked to here that Sepultura was coming to the Zoo. It is a little disappointing to me to see a bad that used to have a pretty major foothold in the metal scene possibly struggling, but to see a band like this up close is going to be amazing.

These guys have great movement on stage, and the vocals are so perfect for their almost tribal style of music, that in a small venue will blow the audience away. Do not miss this show, it could be a once in a life time experience in the Peg.


3. BoozFest @ The Zoo and Ozzies - June 3

These are the kind of shows that, if you are just getting into the harder music, make a great introduction to bands and styles you cannot find elsewhere. My best experience like that was in 2000 (I think) when I went to a show presented by the Winnipeg Hardcore Festival at the University of Winnipeg. It was held in the basement, but I was introduced to music based on distortion, and the headliner was Mastodon. They were awesome by the way. You never know which of these bands has the potential to blow you away, or change the way you listen to music.

There is a great variety of bands on the bill for those that are so entrenched in the scene they will be pissed that I cannot pull one off the top of my head, but I will have them tomorrow so watch for a blog Thursday, and twitter all day Thursday @waronmusic.

Sorry, I work all day and then it is softball night, but I will try to get the band names out on Twitter tomorrow.

4. Dropkick Murphys @ Burton Cummings Theatre - June 19

The Murphys brings in a wicked combination of gritty punk, Celtic rock, and the odd merry ol' jig. If you have never seen them before I would do what I could to get a seat for this show, even though punk shows are horrible at the Burt, because rumours have it that Dropkick may be hanging it up after this alnum. We'll see, hope they do stick around. They are one of those bands that stays the same, but changes there style on every album. One of the few bands where you see them whenever you can becuase the new songs are good.




5. NOFX @ Burton Cummings Theatre - June 27

NOFX is in Winnipeg with Teenage Bottlerocket and Old Man Markley. This going to be a good old fashioned Fat Wreck Chords skate punk show. All three of these bands play an ubeat fast style that would have a great pit for each set, however pits are forbade at the Burt often so get ready to rock out in your seat.
Even with this draw back the line-up is so good that you are missing out if you don’t show to this one.

Get there for all the bands as well, because Old Man Markley is unique, in fact they rock a washboard so get ready for that. Here is a Screeching Weasel cover.



All these shows are going to be quality, and although stuff like U2 is coming I suggest getting to these shows because there is nothing like a nice small venue compared to a stadium or arena show.

Whatever, crank it up rockers.