Slabs - Feed Our Dirty Dark Souls (2013)

Christmas came early at the CCPS offices! We just got this in the mail, and are super-excited. We're not sure if it's because we're getting more tolerant or because Kamil is getting better (at assembling a good group, at least) - but we really like the Slabs. 

"I'm rolling now and I'm not rewinding it!" someone says on the shambling intro track. Yep, this is recorded straight to ghetto blaster, so you get the Slabs in their raw glory. If you've seen their live show, this tape pretty much captures it. In fact, we're listening to this now, having just seen the band at Republik last night, and it might be the exact same set list. Hmm. 

Anyways, get the limited edition tape from Shake Records. 

For Pete's Sake - The Fourth Dimension Experiment (1996)

We want to apologize up front for this. Gene Poole loves a bargain, so the three tapes for $10 offer at Recordland combined with our No Tape Left Behind policy means that we didn't pay as much attention to the imagery on this tape as we should have. We haven't posted any overtly-Christian rock on this site, and this tape shows why. Again, sorry for this.

Solid - Tales of Woe (1996)

Here's another regrettable Recordland purchase. However, we have a rule at the CCPS: No Tape Left Behind. So, here it is, regardless of the merit of posting it.

This is certainly a product of it's time: semi-heavy, grunge-tinged rock. These guys thank CJAY 92 instead of CJSW, which is always warning sign.

Devonian Gardens - Solar Shifting (2013)

We often feel weird for our obsessions with (a) local music and (b) cassette tapes, but the good folk down at Melodiya made us feel downright dirty about it when we picked up this one. There's nothing like having to ask, "can I see one of the tapes under the counter?" to make you feel like the dirty old man that Gene Poole is.

Anyways, so here's the tape in question, a recent release from the band formerly known as Deadhorse. Devonian Gardens play spacey psych rock, with an unapologetic hippie flair. Which we'll put up with as long as they keep turning out tracks like the opener, "Swallow the Sun."

Get their tape like a dirty old man, or download it off bandcamp.

Sissys - Sissys Sleep (2013)

We were starting to get a bit worried, as we hadn't seen a release from Bart Records in an alarmingly long while. So we were quite excited to see this, the second tape from what is quite possibly the loudest band in Calgary.

Seriously, all of the stereos in the CCPS office together can't match the volume and might of a Sissys live show. There's a certain physical quality to their shows, having your internal organs pummelled by Darrell Hartsook's massively over-the-top guitar rig. So we won't try to match that with this tape - we'll just take these anti-lullabies at whatever volume our aging eardrums can withstand.



Get the tape from Bart Records or the download from the Sissys bandcamp.

Pygmies - Inside Your Mind (2013)

We suspect that Nuggets-revivalists the Pygmies put out their newest album on both LP and cassette at least partly as a way to get included in this blog. Which we're more than happy to do: the CCPS office stereo tends to play a lot of garage rock, and this time around the Pygmies have upped the psych quotient a bit to put together that Gene Poole has termed "a real humdinger." We think Gene needs to get out more.

You can get inside the Pygmies' minds at your favourite local record shoppe, or through their bandcamp.

Unusuals - The More I Drink the Better She Looks to Me/So Goode (1981)

So, the reason why we accidentally found that Rikki and the Rokkits record is that we had been looking for this one, the Unusuals' second 7". Which, as you probably guessed by now, we found.

Two things about this CD: first, there's no cover - which is sad, because their 44U EP art is so amazing. Second... it's maybe not as consistent as that first record. The A side is Raspberries-ish power pop, the B side is more reminiscent of New York scene pre-punk. Good songs, but an odd mix.



But maybe the more we drink, the better they will sound together.

Rikki and the Rokkits - New Wave/They Never Know (1980)

It's always exciting and terrifying when you find a record you didn't know about. Exciting because, look, it gets the CCPS collection one step closer to being complete! Terrifying because, yikes, how many more records are there out there that we don't know about? Will this thing ever be complete?

So, this one. This record was, as the MOCM tells us, featured on the Dr. Demento Show in 1980. Which gives this pretty high nerd factor. Side A is the novelty song you'd expect (if this had cover art, it would probably be a scathingly satirical illustration by Warren Kinsella), while side B is Raspberries-esque power pop.

More importantly, the songs are authored by Living Room Records guru Richard Harrow and Miles Jackson, both of whom appear to still be active in the recording business.

Get the 7" here.

Huevos Rancheros - Trouble's A-Brewin' (1997)

Before we bail from the Huevos posts completely, we might as well include this beauty, a CD that looks like it was put out for the band's, well, September 1997 tour of Spain. We had to go to Google translate to figure that out - our Mexican exchange student turned out to have a not-quite-perfectly-in-order student visa.

Our ever-present proofreader has pointed out the typo of "Tokio" on the track listing. We have suggested that she build a time machine so that (a) she can go back in time and point this out to the label and (b) we can go back in time to when we had more room on our credit cards and buy more records.

Huevos Rancheros - Wild Turkey Surprise 7" (1999)

We're sad, not just because this is the final Huevos single, but rather because the line art on the back cover is so terrible. Seriously, Mint, would it have killed you to call Bagley for a cover illustration?

Oh, also of note - this is latter day Huevos, with one-time Cooper bandmate Tom Kennedy on bass.

That's about as factual as we can get here. We're going to go pour a glass of turkey and toast the memory of one of Calgary's greatest garage rock bands.

Huevos Rancheros - Jezebel 7" (1995)

1994 was a busy year for singles with thee Huevis (is that plural for Huevos? Our research intern claims it is, but he also claims there's no more bourbon, which we know can't be true... there's got to be more bourbon!) as evidenced by this split with another band, another one not released by a Calgary label. Uh... we actually haven't listened to the other band's side of this thing.

Mostly because the cover art for their side isn't nearly as good as the Huevos side.

Huevos Rancheros - The Various Boss Sounds from Beyond the Far Reaches and Then Some! (split with Man or Astroman?) (1994)

This one brings back bad memories for Gene. Surprisingly recent ones, too: earlier this year he knew he was going to be in Portland when Man or Astroman? was playing and didn't buy and advance ticket. So, Gene got to see the outside of the Doug Fir Lounge rather than the stage (and Man or Astroman?'s legendary live show).

Not even Tom Bagley's cover art can make up for that much regret.

Huevos Rancheros - Rockin' in the Henhouse (1994)

You know we were starting to wonder about the cover art on those last singles. Where was the Bagley art? Well, thankfully it's back with this one. To make up for it, though, it's released on a UK label.



What the cluck?

Huevos Rancheros - Go West Young Bee 7" (1994)

You know, judging from the labels that put out Huevos' records, you'd think they were from, well let's just guess Bellingham. But WE know better, don't we?

We like this record because it includes a track that Coop did back with the Cryin' Helicopters. And also because the band are wearing matching glasses on the back cover.

But what happened to Coop's hair?!?!

Everymen/Inquisition - E-I-E-I-OI! (1996)

We're not usually a big fan of split 7" records but this one works for so many reasons, the most notable of which is embodied in the group photo inside the sleeve. Look at all them happy punk kids! Look at l'il smiley Dan Izzo! So cute!

We also love that Inquisition's name was misprinted on the cover - kind of like a super-collectible stamp. But not.

Knucklehead - Knucklehead 7" (1997)

So, as much as we at the CCPS love 10" records, we really, really like 7" records. Mostly because there are way more of them in our collection than any other size of vinyl. So, time to dig into the CCPS 7" collection!

We'll start here, since we just posted a bunch of related 10-inchers. We have no idea how this record ended up on a Florida label - but there you have it.

Also, "Summertime Beer Song" (which also kicks off their 10") is perfect for a day like today when the snow is starting to fall.

Inquisition - Red (1995)

Really, we should have posted this record before yesterday's Knucklehead record. We forgot that this came out first... and you know us, we like to tell our stories in sequence.

Anyways, here's another 10", also on Melodiya. But this time from Inquisition. Who share a name with an ever-increasing number of bands. Note to just-forming death metal bands: Inquisition is not as original a name as you think.

Get red.

Knucklehead - Ode to the Old Reliables (1996)

We're digging into some vinyl that we've collected over the years, and it seems amiss that we neglected to post this earlier, for a few reasons. First, it's on Melodiya. Second, it's a 10" record (our favourite vinyl format). And, third, it's from Knucklehead. Who, according to Wikipedia, "uses fast tempo rhythms and chant choruses". Well, with that said, we don't know what else to add.

So, we'll just point you towards the download.

John Lesbian Seagull/Root Administration - Dirt/Heavy Metal and Communism (2013)

So, after all our bitching and moaning about bands who don't give you a way to buy their tapes via bandcamp, we want to say a huge thanks to Eddie from John Lesbian Seagull for at least answering our request, and happily passing us a copy of this split cassette.

This is kind of an odd mix of bands - in our experience, split records/tapes usually are (except for that Wagbeard/Primrods 10" - that's a high water mark for us. And an excuse to write about the Primrods for a bit...). The frantic pace of the John Lesbian Seagull side kind of outstrips the more by-the-books alt-rock of the Root Administration. But the cover art on the John Lesbian Seagull side is kind of unsettling...

And even though this is a split cassette, you have to go to the John Lesbian Seagull bandcamp to get their side and the Root Administration's to get theirs.

Viet Cong - Viet Cong (2013)

So, being folks that easily find things to obsess over, we at the CCPS have been delighted with the wonder that is bandcamp. It's a great way for us to window shop, and - usually - actually shop. Yep, we really, really like bands that give us an option to either buy the mp3 or buy their tapes, CDs and Edison Cylinders. Yep, we really, really like that. So, we were kind of disappointed when this popped up, without any way to buy the tape. Bands: don't tease the CCPS with mp3s of a tape. Tell us how we can buy it. It's a simple request, right?

So, we were super excited when we found out that Ketamines/Mammoth Cave braniac Paul Lawton had the foresight to grab a pile of these tapes when Viet Cong passed through Toronto. And we were even more excited when he sent us one! Oh, boy, do we ever get excited easily these days...

Anyways, we're taking a lot of time getting to the content today, aren't we? Yep, we sure are. It's almost like we're stalling for time, isn't it? Well, maybe we are. Maybe... we... are...

See, it's tricky for us to put our love for Viet Cong into words. We saw them for the first time at Broken City earlier this year and were pretty much awestruck. It's disingenuous to call these guys a supergroup or a spinoff of Women... sure, a lazy writer could call them that (wait, we're usually lazy writers... what's wrong with us?), but this is a more-than-the-sum-of-their-parts thing. There are touchpoints to the more angular elements of 70's punk, krautrock and, underneath it all, a great pop sensibility. Great, great stuff.



Get the mp3s from the Viet Cong bandcamp, or... hope that someone in Toronto snags you a copy.

Iconocast Magazine (1980)

One of the things we had always wondered, not having been part of the original punk scene in this city, was whether there had been any 'zines pre-VOX. We didn't really expect to find the answer in the Local History room of the Calgary Public Library, but then, we didn't really expect an answer.

The CPL had three issues of Iconocast neatly tucked away in its pamphlet file (which, if you press the point, contains very few actual pamphlets). This crudely- but also lovingly-assembled 'zine is a great document of the early days of the scene. We can't tell who exactly was behind this great endeavour, but they did a phenomenal job. Here are a few highlights.

Cartoons by Warren Kinsella!

A pun-filled interview with the Lips!

Local record reviews!

An interview with Random Scrapings!

The Remains and a very early reference to the Golden Calgarians standard "Chicken on the Way"!

Scathing criticism of the Unusuals!

Heartthrob-worthy photos of the Verdix!

And Warren Kinsella writes about... uh, Warren Kinsella.

On a side note, our trip to the library showed how significantly the CCPS has poisoned this whole local music history thing: tucked into the folder for Punk Music was a clipping from a Calgary Herald article about the CCPS, featuring Gene Poole. We go looking for answers, and end up looking in the mirror. We're not sure what that means.

Our apologies for relying on Issuu to house these glorious pdfs. It seems like the only solution out there that fits right now...

Culture Boys - Wisdom Of The Ancients (1991)

CCPS facebook fan Richard Christensen pointed us to this tape, which he found and has since uploaded to his blog. We have no idea who these guys, but this thing is really a product of its time, that brave, wonderful era when the wistful, clever lyrics and acoustic guitars of the Barenaked Ladies were threatening to turn us all into CBC Radio One hosts. Or something. Anyways, if you can make sense of that, you know what to expect and can go listen to this over at Richard's blog.

Tau Ceti - Live on KIK FM (1987)

Another gem arrived in our email a short while ago, this time thanks to the Mannequin Depressives' Russ Magee, who writes:

I saw Tau Ceti live only once, during the "Auditions '87" contest, at the age of 16 (my brother's band, "Echo Echo" (nee "The Stand") was competing, but I really tweaked onto Tau Ceti). I've had this tape sitting in my boxes, moving with me, all these years. Recorded onto a home stereo from the live broadcast on May 18, 1987. The set has 5 songs which aren't on any of the albums/singles linked from your site, so far as I can tell:

"City Boy"
"Sold Out" (?)
"Hearts Don't Break"
"Marry Me Mary"
"Paralyzed By Fear"

Our favourite part of the 20-minute set is where frontman Dan Klauss takes the time between songs to spell out the band's name. An excellent example of awkward stage banter, preserved for future generations.

Shoutin' Abner Pim and the Puritans - Demos (1995/1996)

We got an email a couple of weeks ago from the one and only Bob Keelaghan, with a request and an offer. He asked (politely) if we wouldn't mind removing the download link for the Shoutin' Abner Pim and the Puritans tape we'd posted long ago (as downloads were interfering with the significant income the band was reaping from iTunes downloads of the CD it was later included on). In return, he said he'd give us some old Puritans demos. Well, we're scared of Bob, so we capitulated.

And, boy, are we ever glad we did. Here's what Bob gave us:

1. Three 4-track demos recorded some time in 1995, released only to CJSW as Shoutin' Abner Pim and the Puritans, before the band underwent a dramatic name change: "Welcome to Persia, Batman," "Song Bea," and "Dennis Wilson". Bob says, "They sound crackly, either because they sound bad to begin with or because I couldn't get the volume down on my pre-amp when I did the transfer." The band at the time was:

• Bob Keelaghan: guitar, backing vocals 
• Michael Paton: guitar, backing vocals 
• Vladimir Sobolewski: bass 
• Chris Temple: Lead Vocals 
• Jason Woolley: drums

2. "Salt and Vinegar," recorded in 1996 at Sundae Sound during the same sessions as the "Let Me Stand Next to Your Attitude" single. Never released. Line-up: 

• Mitch Hendrickson: lead vocals 
• Bob Keelaghan: guitar 
• Michael Paton: guitar 
• Vladimir Sobolewski: bass 
• Steve Nykolyn: drums

We want to make sure you caught that: the first three tracks feature one of our favourite Calgarian voices, Chris Temple. Well, two of them do, as one is an instrumental. And one of them is super slowed down, to hi-larious effect. 

Anyways, we think our deal with Bob worked out pretty well.

Hag Face - Hag Face (2013)

As you know, we at the CCPS have a thing for low-fi garage rock. So we're really enjoying this tape - it's sludgy and fun, and doesn't take itself too seriously. Plus, former members of the Myelin Sheaths and Bash Brothers... both of whom, we've just had the intern point out, were not Calgary band.

Thankfully, it's the intern's last day with us. And you can grab this from the Hag Face bandcamp.

Telstar Drugs - Telstar Drugs (2012)

This tape caused a bit of confusion at the CCPS offices since (a) it didn't come with a track listing and (b) the version we got ahold of has different art than the one over at Weird Canada. Anyways, we actually listened to the thing, and confirmed that this is the tape the band put out last year.

We like (a) that this band has named itself after a Calgary landmark (formerly just around the corner from Chicken on the Way, even!) and (b) the weird, meandering, angular pop that they play.

Get it from the Telstar Drugs bandcamp.

Liquid Light - Liquid Light (1988)

Here's another one from Ian Chiclo, one that we think the former proprietor of Golden Rock would have appreciated. This tape includes a studio version of "Between a Rock and a Hard Place," which was originally posted by Golden Rock way back when as a live recording. Liquid Light sits nicely alongside the more rock/less punk part of the scene and bands like Big Bang Theory.  Frontman Scott Kelly (Skali) continues to be active in both music and art, it appears.

Damn, we already made the "get liquidated" pun...

Same Difference - Demo

Former VOX editor Ian Chiclo passed us a couple of tapes a while back, and we're finally getting our crap together and posting them. First up is this, a five-song demo from Same Difference. These are (we think) different versions than the ones on their self-titled tape. Plus the last two songs don't appear to have been on any other releases that we're familiar with.

Vive la difference!

Infradig - Malaria (1991)

It's hard to tell if this second Infradig should be called spoken word or... a radio play. The latter is probably accurate - this looks like it was recorded for CJSW, and over its hour and a half is primarily narration, sound effects and ambient sounds.

Get the sickness here.