Permanent records

>> Local band Complications, DJs all,
pick a peck of chunks of punk

POLYMER TWIST: Complications

by JOHNSON CUMMINS

Montreal punk band Complications is made up of confirmed record junkies who, when not slinging their own riffs, can be found slinging their stacks of wax around town. Guitarist Jo Turbo and drummer Alexandre Legare man the decks at Katacombes on Thursday nights, and bassist Pete Beaudoin is a recurring DJ at the Time’s Up nights in St-Henri. The Mirror met the three at their home away from home, the record store Musique-Disque Sonik, as they raided the bins and held the turntable hostage before announcing from on high just which punk platters constitute absolutely mandatory listening.

Beaudoin chose, firstly, Wipers’ Youth of America. “Singer/guitarist Greg Sage was such a great songwriter that it makes sense that bands like Nirvana and the Melvins were influenced by them, and covered Wipers songs.” He also taps Rudimentary Peni’s Cacophony. “They’ve been my favourite band ever since I got into punk. I discovered them on a Crass Records compilation, and I’ve always just loved them for their energy and their dark, politically based lyrics that could easily slip into a personal viewpoint as well.”

Jo Turbo, meanwhile, selects Poison Idea’s Latest Will and Testament. “This is the last record they did with guitarist Pig Champion on it before he died. They’re definitely one of my favourite bands—they were such a great, straight-ahead punk band, but could add in metal elements as well without sounding forced.”

Alexandre Legare gives the nod to Peligro Social’s No Religion, of which he says, “They’re a real young band from San Francisco with kind of a Latino punk twist. I saw them last summer and they blew me away. I would say that this is my favourite record that came out last year.” Going back a bit, he also champions Wire’s After Midnight. “This record has live tracks and demos, all from the period that was their first three records, which were the only good ones. I would say that this era of Wire would be a big influence on Complications.”

With Brutal Knights and
the Confusers at Katacombes
on Saturday, Feb. 9, 9 p.m., $7