Sunday 26 January 2014

Primrods - Reunion (2011)


Something that we're never asked - and really wish we were - is: do you have a recording of the Primrods reunion from a couple of years ago? Well, of course we do! We also have (somehow - maybe don't ask, okay?) a one-of-a-kind poster from that night at the #1 Legion - which was in honour of the 40th birthday of Jenny Falconer, bassist Ben Falconer's wife. Well, that's what we were told: we really think it was held to honour all the good work Gene Poole has done in spreading the word of the Primrods.

This show was what we like to think of as the classic Primrods lineup: P1, P2, P3 and P5. It sounded like the guys put a lot of effort into this - they were tight, and played an hour-long set that included all the hits. Including our all-time favourite, "Santa Lucia":



We think you can hear Gene singing along in that clip. He's the off-key one, obvs.

For those who were lucky enough to witness this, you can relive the moment. For those who didn't: nyah-nyah.

Friday 24 January 2014

Primrods - Eurovision 97 (1997)



This is the final Primrods 7", recorded at Sundae sound prior to them getting signed/recorded/dismembered by Geffen. We're pretty sure that by this time P8 had ascended to the drummer's throne.

We really like the updated "Aye Aye Eaters" on here - kind of a sign that the band had completed their transformation and were ready to be consumed by the Corporate Music Machine.

Wednesday 22 January 2014

Primrods/Tristan Psionic - The Allied Nations' Victory is Now Certain (1996)



So, while we're making up for lapses in our Primrods posts, we had better include this split with Hamilton's Tristan Psionic (and also a Melodiya/Sonic Unyon joint venture). The one thing we're not sure of is who drummed on this - if this was before P1 was upgraded (?) to P8.

Maybe it doesn't matter. Maybe they're interchangeable?

Monday 20 January 2014

Primrods - Unreleased (1998)



One of the things we're asked on a fairly regular basis is: do you have the Primrods' unreleased album? To which the answer is always, of course! Here's a link to the download!

But for some reason, we've never posted it here. Sure, other folks have already posted it, but that's never stopped us before. Plus... Primrods!

We're not sure what more there is to tell about this thing that you don't already know. The Primrods got signed by Geffen, went to Vancouver and recorded an album with GGGarth, got the album pretty much ready... and then Geffen got reorganized, leaving this album in limbo. The Primrods split pretty soon after that, from what we remember - but to be fair, by that time they were a very different band than the one that recorded the Electrosity cassette. A really good band, but a very different band - the angular elements of those first tapes were rounded off a bit by the shoegazer influences of Garrett McClure.

We really like this CD. We wonder what would have happened to the Primrods if this hadn't died on the shelf at Geffen. Maybe "Barbet Lad" would have become an AOR hit!

Anyways, for all those who have ever asked, I wonder if the CCPS can hook me up with the Primrods' unreleased CD? We say: of course! Here's a link to the download!

Wednesday 15 January 2014

El Caminos - Live (Pre-Kamil)

Sometimes, the CCPS archivists get a bit confused and forget about things we've received. This hasn't happened for a while, but our auditors discovered this over the weekend, and demanded that we post it, post-haste.

This was among the tapes that Daaren Boreham gave us last year. He assures us that this was the original line-up of the El Caminos, without Kamil Krulis/Bobby Torpedo. Which means (we think) that this was Pete Roe, the Nuder and... who else? It sounds like there's two guitars on here, not the one of the latter day El Caminos. Also... this is from back when they were a straight-up garage rock band, right down to a cover of one of our favourite songs ever, the Haunted's "1-2-5."

The sound quality's not great, but it's certainly worth a listen. And who knows, maybe Boreham's been having us on, and this is really just a tape of a Gaye Rage practice.

Thursday 9 January 2014

Even the Unfair - Even the Unfair (1986)


We got another box of stuff from Greg Kushner that we're trying to sort through, but we thought we'd at least get this out into the open. We hadn't heard of this band until Greg brought them to our attention. He says:
EVEN THE UNFAIR was a band fronted by bassist Shannon Sweeney – one of the sweetest and friendliest people I ever met during my time at CJSW. She and her drummer (I think her name was Maureen, but I’m not sure) worked with a variety of guitarists (including my brudder Jeff briefly).
This is fairly straight-ahead rock musics, not as playful as, say, the Golden Calgarians, but certainly in the same musical direction.

Get even!

Tuesday 7 January 2014

Bowness Back Yard Blues Band - Live 1985 (1985)


Local beer guru Mike Tessier got ahold of us about a month ago, and offered us a few tapes he'd found laying around. Among them was this dusty little nugget, a live recording of a band he played bass in nearly 30 years ago. Rounding out the lineup were Todd Devini on vocals, Dave Lewis on drums and future Arktik Power/Yr Scapegoat guitarist Pete Linckens. It's scrappy, fun stuff with very little to do with any of the following: Bowness, back yards, and Blues.

Go figure.

Sunday 5 January 2014

Dixie's Death Pool - 13 Days (1992)





Among the many, many regrets we at the CCPS have is that we somehow lost our copy of this tape. So, we're super thrilled that Christopher Truch has lent us his copy. Yep, get ready for another dose of Dixie's Death Pool!

It's worth noting that although he got his start here, Lee Hutzulak has kept this project active during his time in Victoria and Vancouver, putting out his most recent recording a couple of years ago. We found a great Discorder interview with Hutzulak, as well (bringing it home) an F-word review of his last record.



But you probably just want to download this gem.

Friday 3 January 2014

Dixie's Death Pool - Melanoma (1991)



One of the holy grails of the CCPS (see, here's how it works - we get fixated on one thing and quest after it for years, We finally find it, celebrate, and then we get fixated on a other thing and quest after it for years... it keeps us occupied, if nothing else) has been the early recordings of Dixie's Death Pool, the vehicle for artist and musician Lee Hutzulak. Lee calls Vancouver home now, but recorded his first pair of tapes here in Calgary while attending ACAD (we think - we might be making that last part up).

This is really great bedroom psych-weirdness. We've always heard a bit of a goth influence - but maybe we're the ones who are on drugs.



Huge thanks to Christopher Truch for sending this our way. Dive into the Death Pool !

Wednesday 1 January 2014

Wagbeard - Radio Sessions

So, it's New Year's Day. Maybe your day is going like this: you've just woken up from a night of reverie that may not have involved leaving the house. You're a bit hungover. You're also a bit grumpy. And you're Steve Elaschuk.

Well, don't worry! We've got just the thing to keep your sprits up! Or sink them further into the ground, depending on whether or not you really are Steve Elaschuk. Steve casually slipped us two tapes a few weeks ago, and said that they might be of interest. He also said one had Wagbeard's only ever attempt at doing an acoustic set, hinting that it may have been horrible. Well, there's nothing like the vague scent of failure to get us excited, so of course we have to share this with you.

It's actually not as bad as Steve lets on - Wagbeard were a big rock band, so the songs don't translate too well to the acoustic format, especially when the snare drum appears to have been placed directly in front of the mic. Also, the tape appears to be slightly sped up - host Andrew Henry (we think it's him - this is from the show Big Foot Rocket Ship, which he co-hosted with Jaime Frederick) sounds somewhat chipmunk-esque.

Also included is a brief interview on AM 1060's The Edge, in which the Wagbeard boys terrorize the show's host.

Get your new year off to a questionable start and get Wagbeard's radio sessions here.