Wednesday 21 December 2011

Smash L.A. - Smash L.A. (1990)

We're embracing our inner Jett Thunders with today's tape, which comes to us via - of all people - Airship One's Chris Zimmel. 

Smash LA (i.e. Smash Law N Authority - not Smash Lawn Authority, as we initially thought, although we're now considering getting Steve Elaschuk drunk and changing his landscaping company name to the latter) was Calgary's answer to early 90's glam metal icons like Poison and, well, Guns N Roses. This a highly-underrepresented genre here at the CCPS, most because the Live Wire was in the deep south of the city and we still have a rule that prohibits us from attending rock shows south of 17th Ave SW. What interests us about this band is not the power ballads, but the involvement of future-Zuckerbabby guitarist Reed Shimozawa. We also note that three of the folks from Lanigan, SK's Age of Electric contribute backing vocals, including future-New Pornographer drummer Kurt Dahle. We also also note that several of members of both bands continue to be involved in modern versions of hair metal, proving once again that hairspray does have long-lasting effects.It looks like these guys did quite well in their time, though. This one independent tape spawned three music videos, which have been lovingly posted to the youtubes. Here's our favourite, featuring Shimozawa in a Slash-style top hat:  This is the most time that all of at the CCPS have spent seriously (well, okay, not really seriously) looking at hair metal, collectively, in our lives (like, totally, no way! Dude!). So we'll just direct you and your big hair to the download.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

They were fun then ... but that album was weak. It was there "girl girls girls" ... unfortuantely it was their first album and not an antipated follow up. They were fun live but a club band at best. Yet Electric was going somewhere. It was clear even then. For one, Todd could sing. Although Harley was more entertaining at the time. Checks loved that guy. If they could only see him now. A mess.

Anonymous said...

What happened to Harley?

Anonymous said...

Saw harley about 2005 playing some dump with chubby short hair t shirt wearing kids who could barely play. Harley was back in sull makeup and boa round his neck, doing his kicks etc ... only he had a massive gut. It was sad.

Anonymous said...

yeah .... they seemed better back then but you hear it now and its pretty sub par.

-=NoXiouS=- said...

-=NoXiouS=-
Harley was at the A.O.E./Zuckerbaby reunion show Aug.29,2015. An announcement was made that Smash LA will play a reunion show in October! Women still love Johnny and his gut isn't nearly as bad as half the people in the bar. We're all getting older eh....

Kevin Woron said...

People never recognize the talent of these bar bands. Unlike today, these bands played six days a week, two 45 minute sets and a 60.

You want more like the Electric tapes and other Calgary rock/metal? Hit me up...you know where to find me.

Anonymous said...

LOVED those guys back in the day. I was a kid, and looked up to them. They could have been huge...
Brings back the memories. Wish I still had my shirt haha

Anonymous said...

Last in Vancouver in a band called Wreaking crew