the Sweet Nothings - July 15, 2008

THE SWEET NOTHINGS @ Hooligans in Winnipeg, Canada

Wandering through the West End

Community centre on St Matthews Ave.


I could hear the roofers debating my motive for photographing as their voices carried far beyond our line of sight.


"Green Gorilla"














Best store name ever.


Continuing down Ellice Ave.


A rarity throughout much of Winnipeg during the work day (or any part of any day for that matter): foot traffic. As you head downtown it picks up.


Came upon this traffic accident as I was heading down to the radio station.

Marry me Pacman!

I was bored at work. So bored that I was watching boxing. So bored watching boxing that I played with my camera while doing so. I looked at what I shot the next day and found this deeply amusing. Sorry if you don't.

That's Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao by the way.

Late night back lane wandering...

Wandering around on June 25, 2008

Trying out the new camera on Canada Day...

My new Epson R-D1S digital rangefinder camera arrived in the mail the other day. I got around to trying it out as the Canada Day festivities were winding down. I slept through the day after failing to catch a bus down to the Forks so that I could catch a few of the good bands that were going to be a part of the festivities. Go figure; a sparse holiday bus schedule pared with a holiday where thousands of people choose to bus downtown. Genius. But I did get to try my Voigtlander 35mm 1.5 Nokton lens on the R-D1S and I'm pleased with my researched decision in acquiring a new setup. Nothing too special; just me putting around.


Why don't you just name your business Burning White Jetstream or Jizz'n'Jugz? I wonder what it takes to become a fluid expert.


Mr Lube is also into exhibitionism.


I think this is my favorite shot from the evening. Nothing profound; I just think the composition turned out alright. There were hardly any people walking around outside; mostly traffic which is typical for a cultureless, community-deprived, ultra gas-dependent, sprawled-out shithole of a city like Winnipeg. I want to start catching people on the street but I think I'll start off in the daytime and in more heavily-trafficked areas.




This place caught my interest. I guess I find stores selling stuff that most people have no desire for for its outdated/uselessness intriguing. Right below the tattoo studio I go to.




Double suicide? It's better than blowing your head off alone. Mutant manic-depressive Maytag repairmen.


Bor-ing. Yeah, but I'm just fooling around. I can't wait until I start getting a feel for this camera and using a manual fixed lens. Wanna try nailing some walk-by-you shots.


If only it were that easy.

the Squareheads - June 13, 2008

THE SQUAREHEADS @ the Graffiti Gallery in Winnipeg, Manitoba

CPC Gangbangs and the Hot Live Guys - June 4, 2008

Maybe I just feel like making observations when they're pessimistic. It seems to me that as Summer arrives, less people are attending shows and there seems to be less enthusiasm in general. I was surprised how few people decided to check out Montreal's CPC GANGBANGS. The theme for the evening seemed for the most part to be silent and observant. Maybe there was some hard partying going on in the nights leading up to June 4th, I dunno.

Well, unfortunately, the headliners proved not to quite have the firepower to decimate such a crowd. Perhaps this could be blamed on the muddy work of the soundman. I enjoyed some songs more than others and it seemed the band was having a bit of an off-night. I'd check them out again to determine just what it is that all those effects pedals do. At least they had their looks down; macho new wave hair-farming sleazes just back from Mardi Gras... with the exclusion of the bassist, who was more bent on an acid-washed crust/rockabilly hybrid mutation.

Some rock'n'roll salvation was supplied by THE HOT LIVE GUYS; the particular moment I am referring to is when lead guitarist Joe crashed on the floor to the side of the stage and thrashed around on his back while continuing to play. Some girl decided it was time for her potty break and she was almost, almost crippled by a barage of bicycle kicks. Joe, work on your aim. Fuck potty breaks.


THE HOT LIVE GUYS @ the Royal Albert Arms in Winnipeg, Manitoba




CPC GANGBANGS



The rest of Jason Penner's photographs from this show can be viewed here.

KEN mode - May 31, 2008

KEN mode released their new CD/3x7", Mennonite, on the last day of May. Winnipeg's loudest band, and they finally secured themselves a roadworthy bassist, so expect them to hit the road with greater frequency.


KEN MODE @ the Royal Albert Arms in Winnipeg, Manitoba



The rest of Jason Penner's photographs from this show can be viewed here.

Condominium, Born Bad, the Sweet Nothings - May 3, 2008

Minneapolis is still a punk mecca. The only thing is that most punks don't go to shows... ever? There is a great scene developing though. It's small but yielding great bands like QUESTION, THE AGENDA and now CONDOMINIUM. Winnipeg was fortunate enough to have CONDOMINIUM come up and play UNDER PRESSURE's US tour sendoff show on May 3rd at Ragpickers. Ragpickers, along with the Rocker (both located in Winnipeg's historic Exchange District) has to be my favorite all-ages venue. That's kind of a redundant statement to make because a good all-ages show will always win over any bar show in my book. Anyhow, the bands were great and I hope this Winnipeg/Minneapolis exchange will continue.


THE SWEET NOTHINGS @ Ragpickers in Winnipeg, Canada


BORN BAD


CONDOMINIUM

American Flamewhip - May 2, 2008

Ozzies is an awful bar. It's caught in a time warp and seems to attract plenty of old, tired scummy subhumans. AMERICAN FLAMEWHIP were the only band I could get into that night. Hanging with my friends Angela and Trish also helped make the subterranean experience tolerable. Unfortunately, AMERICAN FLAMEWHIP played far too long (apparently they won't be playing out again for a long time and I guess this was reason for them to play every song they knew). The crowd continued to thin and as the last note rang out and I turned to make a hasty exit, I realized that the few familiar faces had disappeared. Panic set in. I don't ever want to return to that place again unless I have someone willing to implement the buddy system with me. Still, AMERICAN FLAMEWHIP are hot shit.


AMERICAN FLAMEWHIP @ Ozzies in Winnipeg, Canada

First full day back in Winnipeg...

the Insaniacs - April 18, 2008

The Royal Albert threw a joint party celebrating the INSANIACS 10th anniversary/one-night reunion, as well as Royal Albert mainstay Maladin's 10th year of terrorizing Winnipeg.

For a reunion performance, I thought the INSANIACS exceeded expectations and were in fine form, and it was a nice touch having original bassist Karla come on stage to play a few of the band's older songs. Johnny Nuclear is one of Winnipeg punk's great frontmen and apparently has a new band almost ready to go. The crowd was lively but not as retarded as I had anticipated.

The opening bands aren't my thing at all. QUAGMIRE have a loyal and rowdy following and scored points for covering TURBONEGRO but to me they don't come across as confrontational or as rocking as they seem to aspire to be. Maybe requesting that their singer stab me during their next set will do the trick.

KRAWTCH ROCKET features Winnipeg punk rock veterans and play the most god-awful cliche-diseased cock rock I have been subjected to in a long time. Fuck was that insufferable. Their singer Norm used to front mid-80's hardcore band THE UNWANTED and has resurrected the band recently with a new lineup. They're totally worth checking out. How someone could be involved in both of these opposed bands is anybody's guess.

THE AFTERLIFE opened the show and were the worst band I've seen since my youth. I don't even know what they are. Generic bar punk/rock with 4+ minute torture sessions of complete bullshit deprived of any songwriting. Their drummer wore a TYPE-O-NEGATIVE shirt and would randomly have outbursts of prolonged double-kick rolls. The singer/guitarist was apparently in Winnipeg's old punk band, DISCHARGE. (I haven't heard them; for all I know they might be just as bad.) I read this in a copy of Stylus that I found laying around in the Albert lobby, where I retreated to distance myself from the "music". The writer introduced the band with something to the effect of "Do you know when you go to see a band and they throw 15-minutes of improvisation at you... and it totally blows you away?" The band went on to describe themselves in the article as having MC5 and STOOGES influences. Fuck off you assholes.


THE INSANIACS @ the Royal Albert in Winnipeg, Canada















The rest of Jason Penner's photographs from this show can be viewed here.

Rip It Up Fest - April 12, 2008

Rip It Up fest... It ended up being the source of much confusion, controversy and messageboard entertainment the last few months. What was initially planned out to be a convergence of some of North America's finest short, fast and loud bands. There were a lot of misunderstandings and cancellations... What resulted was a single show that ended up being a lot of fun. The bands that ended up playing were (in order): MIND CONTROL, UNDER PRESSURE, BORN BAD, DR BENWAY (BC), THE AGENDA (MN) and THE WEDNESDAY NIGHT HEROES (AB).

Quick rundown: MIND CONTROL were new and played a competent set with a VOID cover (I think?!). UNDER PRESSURE started off okay but then blew some nasty chunks after Mike's amp stopped working. BORN BAD's set was ridiculous was it should have been. DR BENWAY played nondescript melodic crusty stuff and weren't something I could get into. THE AGENDA were sloppy, noisy and terrific. THE WEDNESDAY NIGHT HEROES played melodic sing-along punk really well but weren't my cup of tea at all. Their singer had a ridiculous amount of energy but his antics were kind of cheesy. Seem like really nice guys though and there were folks there who were into them.


Upon arriving at the venue (the Graffiti Gallery on Higgins) I immediately noticed some punks hanging out in an adjacent lot. We were entertained briefly by the junkyard of office equipment.






Da punx hanging outside the Graffiti Gallery.


Cam and I caught up with Tim and Charlie from Minneapolis punk band, THE AGENDA. Unfortunately, most of the out-of-town bands canceled their appearances at the fest but thankfully they were able to make it down.


BORN BAD @ the Graffiti Gallery in Winnipeg, Canada


When Matt (the soundguy) wasn't handling the levels and broken gear, he was nursing this bad boy. Shit...


THE AGENDA @ the Graffiti Gallery in Winnipeg, Canada






DEAD DOGS @ the Lipton house in Winnipeg, Canada

After the show James hooked me up with THE AGENDA's ride to an after show at the Lipton house. I'm glad I was clued in and ended up attending because it was a lot of fun. DEAD DOGS started playing as soon as Paul, Cam and myself got back from an organic munchies raid.


THE AGENDA @ the Lipton house in Winnipeg, Canada

MODERN PROBLEMS played after DEAD DOGS with an altered lineup. Not sure if it was temporary or permanent. Unfortunately, I didn't get any good shots of MODERN PROBLEMS. Steve was quite lively throughout the set and cannot fault him for not putting on a performance.


THE AGENDA were great at the fest but were even better the second time around. Singer Tim has a great explosive energy; you don't know what is going to happen next other than that it will probably end with him plowing into you. They kicked off their basement show performance with a cover of "Manimal" by THE GERMS and it was all uphill from there.





The rest of Jason Penner's photographs from these shows can be viewed here.

the Gorgon, Search + Destroy and the Sweet Nothings - April 3, 2008

THE SWEET NOTHINGS @ the Royal Albert in Winnipeg, Canada




SEARCH + DESTROY @ the Royal Albert in Winnipeg, Canada




THE GORGON @ the Royal Albert in Winnipeg, Canada







The rest of Jason Penner's photographs from this show can be viewed here.

the Sweet Nothings - March 29, 2008

From the ashes of THE DETENTIONS, the terrific SWEET NOTHINGS rise and deliver on providing Winnipeg with brilliant tuneful punk.


THE SWEET NOTHINGS @ Hooligans Pub in Winnipeg, Canada

Electro Quarterstaff - March 22, 2008

I've uploaded photos from Electro Quarterstaff's free March 22nd performance at War On Music. These are my digital shots. I shot a roll of film but it might be a while before I get around to developing and printing it.







The rest of Jason Penner's photos from this show can be found here.

Winter's overstaying its welcome...

Under Pressure US Tour - Day 10 - August 3, 2007

New Brunswick, New Jersey...

I can't remember much of the morning in New Brunswick. We didn't stay in town to do anything more than find a supermarket to eat out of on our way out. I really enjoyed the drive up to Syracuse for the most part. The forests, the rolling hills, and the occasional tired old town that we saw made me wish I could just wander the streets and look in old store fronts. We had concerns to stay on top of though. It was still hot out and our van was still overheating. We tried to find a speed and a driving method that would keep the temperature as low and as long as we could. This meant coasting down hills and timing our acceleration into an approach as best we could. We got stuck in some road construction a couple hours away from our destination, Syracuse, but while it had us worry whether we would make it on time to the early all-ages show, it did give the van a break. And as it turned out, all the other bands were running late.

We pulled up to one hell of a large house that looked to have been built around the turn of the last century. Chuck, the promoter and who also sings in BLACK SHEEP SQUADRON, was there to greet us. The show was still a while from starting. Only a few members of the opening local band were around.

As it turned out, not that many people showed up. But those who were there were friendly and seemed to be in the mood to have a fun evening. It's hard to be bummed out about that. The opening band, a female-fronted hardcore band who's name I can't remember, finally started. Although there were three other touring bands missing in action--probably stuck in the same stretch of road construction as we had been--the show had to go on. I crossed my fingers hoping that at least DRY ROT would make it.

We waited around for a while after the first band's set wrapped up. Chuck gave us the call to set up and get ready to play because there was still no word on any vans showing up. I was hoping to play later, and in front of more people but what can you do? We played a pretty solid set, and just after we finished, both DISNIHIL and DRY ROT pulled up to the house.

DISNIHIL went on first and played TRAGEDY-inspired hardcore, and by the time they were done, THE JURY from New Jersey had arrived and they played a solid set of fast snotty hardcore punk.

DRY ROT closed the evening and once again failed to disappoint. Small, cluttered show spaces are ideal for this band. Their bassist Cam stumbled across an old pair of rollerblades and put them on. He didn't appear very comfortable standing with instrument in hand. I wondered if we'd be in store for a concussion this time around.

Drew showed no signs of having recently suffered an chemical burns to his bodies and lurched and jabbed across the basement. At one point he started pushing Cam around on his rollerblades and miraculously, Cam managed to stay on his feet. Towards the end of the set, Drew put on the inserts from said rollerblades and put them on his hands, and then a large plastic bucket over his head. He howled away and banged the microphone onto the bucket and Cam finally had his feet fly out from under him as the band descended into another chaotic ending.

Chuck paid us out from the door, then had everyone follow him to a nearby gas station where he put some gas into all of our tanks. That was really decent of him, certainly doing that out of his pocket as not that many had paid to get in. I've since found myself occasionally in a similar situation, where the local support decided to stay home on the evening of a show, and I haven't hesitated to help make a band's trip a little more worthwhile if I can.

While everyone else went to Chuck's house, DRY ROT went with us to a nearby all-night supermarket to grab some food. For some reason I had a lot of fun walking through the store, the air conditioners blasting, the bakery dark with the skeleton crew all hovering around the cash registers, turning to look down an aisle and see someone familiar every time despite being so far from home, laughing at Joe for his ridiculous meals involving clearance items such as liquid cheese spread or dinged no-name clam chowder soup...

After hanging out in the entranceway of the supermarket for a while, comparing deals and meal selections, we made our way to Chuck's place. Folks were already settling in for the night. Drew and Jordan were preparing noodles in the kitchen, so I set with them for a while and talked about some great psychedelic music that I had been getting into as of late, like VULCAN and ARTHUR BROWN. Conversation was later steered over to concern about Drew's burns. He showed me the damage. I suppose it could have been a lot worse but I had no desire to ever find myself in his state. After a quick bite it was time to crash hard. Joe was out on the 2nd floor deck, surrounded by some guys who were smoking cigarettes and chatting. Almost all of the house's floorspace was taken. I rolled out my sleeping pad and stretched out, much to the dismay of Mike, who found himself too close to my feet. A couple of portable fans that we had brought with us on tour were plugged in and I drifted away to the loud hum.

"Dragon Cake" from My Poetry Is Out Of Control by Jason Penner

My errant communication to God:
"Out-sized, out-matched
An elongated, soft-bodied invertebrate
An inch at the most
I'll call you Dragon Cakes"

God pays me a visit:
knock knock

Me answering the door:
"Oh-wandering one
Why don't you stay a while?"

God's retort:
"I am a god, you faggot!
I could fit not even a toe
inside your house
But let us see
What I can stuff in your butthole!"

Impostors
Taking it to glorious new heights

[For those stumbling across this and not aware of an earlier entry in which I explained both the concept of "honking" and my mandate to write one poem a day no matter what, I offer no apology.]


Dan.


Hanging around outside between bands in Syracuse.


DRY ROT at a house in Syracuse, New York.








Drew throws a bucket over his head and adds percussive sounds with the handy microphone.




Drew attempts to feed himself into a portal a.k.a. "the bucket".




Don't bother arguing this; there's nothing more fun than hanging out with friends at a supermarket in the middle of the night.




This is what a bleach accident does to your flesh.





All of Jason's photographs from Under Pressure's 2007 US tour can be found here.

Under Pressure US Tour - Day 9 - August 2, 2007

Allentown, Pennsylvania...

We had just enough time to drive across town and check out Double Decker Records for an hour or so. It was easily the best punk record store that I've ever been in, although I haven't been to Octopus Ink in Edmonton. Sadly, this proved to be a missed opportunity, as I was completely broke. I ended up walking away with an earlier Damned single and a reissue of a heavy psych band called Morgen. I wish I had the money to get an original pressing of American Wino. One day I will visit such a store and have $500 to blow in 5 minutes. Not that I'm that kind of guy but it'd be something to do once.

The drive to New Brunswick, New Jersey was uneventful. We pulled up to the Fuck Mountain house and saw the SEA SICK guys loading everything out of their van; they had arrived from their tour just 15 minutes before us and lived at Fuck Mountain. Actually, they lived in a duplex. In the back yard was a shed called Fuck Mountain.

Joe and I ended up hanging out with Mark for a bit. He told us about the grease trucks--where you can get sandwiches filled with pretty much whatever you want--along with other trivial things, apparently all to do with New Jersey. Sadly, Jon Bon Jovi never came up. Though I did find out what a brass monkey was; a Colt 45 drank down to the end of the funnel and then topped off with orange juice. (Isn't that referenced in a Beastie Boys song?)

Rather than wander around the neighborhood (some of the guys ended up shooting for the grease trucks) or sit outside in the heat, I invited myself inside and enjoyed the air conditioning. I collapsed on the couch and watched the guys in SEA SICK mill about, being greeted by girlfriends, talking about what they wanted to do first thing now that they were home. I like that feeling, of returning from a long trip. The air is buzzing, everything is slightly off balance, everything old is briefly new again. Sometimes it can help shake up my life, get me started on doing things living and working at home rather than daydreaming about the next road trip. I was looking forward to having a renewed perspective upon walking through my front door after over four weeks on the road. It was too soon to think about it though, so I walked back outside. The only way I was going to arrive at that state was if I truly left my home behind and lived in that drifting personal nowhere land that changes with every moment, every block walked, every room entered, every time waking up from a nap during a long drive.

Felix Havoc had arrived and was already setting up the merch table in the tiny backyard that was squeeze between the house and the shed. I greeted the REGULATIONS guys, and was then introduced to Ian, the promoter who was setting up the New Brunswick and Brooklyn Regulations dates to which we'd been added.

Two local bands, KILLIN' IT and of course SEA SICK kicked things off as people slowly filed their way down the narrow pathway that ran between adjacent houses and into the show. It became apparent that everyone was here to check out the headliner. Most people stayed outside of the really cramped and hot space of the shed until the REGULATIONS went on. I can't remember much about UNDER PRESSURE's set, so it was most assuredly neither a disaster nor a life-changing experience for the folks who stood witness. You know, to be honest, I initially wasn't so much into THE REGULATIONS records but seeing them live does it for me every time and now when I listen to their records I'm transported to memories of catching them live. Their songs are fun and catchy, and they just seem totally on every time they launch into a set. It was a great one. People finally decided to cram their way in and within minutes the shed had become a filthy sauna and my fingers were turned into prunes. We would be playing 3, maybe 4 more shows with these guys, and then we'd be rejoining DRY ROT for more dates. I love touring with other bands who charge me up.

After the show I sat on the back porch with Otto (REGULATIONS singer) and Jens (drummer) and Otto's younger brother Henrik who was on tour with the band and visiting the US for the first time. Henrik and I hit it off right from the start. Our conversation was derailed when a drunk frat girl approached the chain link fence that closed in the back yard and started asking us drunk questions. Our answers only served as encouragement and before you knew it, she was tumbling over the fence and repeatedly giving us high-five's and telling us we should go play on the swings. I was amused at first but then got bored and left her with the other guys. It was getting late and after the girl was successfully ditched, we all sat in the house's kitchen and continued our visit before finally passing out. A great night spent with great folks.

"Grease Trucks" from My Poetry Is Out Of Control by Jason Penner

Frankenstein, drunk
Begging to take you over to the swings
He'll tell you anything
He'll tell you that isn't piss running down his leg
And he'd be right
Ditch him and shoot for the grease trucks
Hook him up with a jug of bleach
Sick him on the Swedes
Don't ride no monkey
Don't get electrocuted
Don't slide no slide
Ride the grease trucks
Don't climb up into no jungle gym


Going through the records at Double Decker. As foretold, some punk memorabilia hanging up on the wall...


...the jacket worn on THE ABUSED Loud And Clear EP. I'd rather be listening to SWEET though.


Silver shorts, a yellow reflective safety vest, Greg Norman's golfing hat and a beat-up acoustic guitar. Wish I could have pulled off a better shot as we drove out of town.


We arrive at Fuck Mountain.


THE REGULATIONS @ Fuck Mountain in New Brunswick, New Jersey.






I think I impressed Jens with my idea of starting up a punk band called RETARD. "I am... RETARD.". I think you would have had to have been there. Errr, or something. Marcus is trying to get a good night's rest.


Good times, having a late night chat with Henrik, Otto and Jens.

All of Jason's photographs from Under Pressure's 2007 US tour can be found here.