Zines on the scene

by JOHNSON CUMMINS

Even with the accelerated proliferation of music blogs, the tried and true fanzine format continues to flourish, with three local zines hitting the racks of your favourite rock ’n’ roll wax shacks this month. Vancouver’s Mongrel Zine puts out its fourth issue, and although it’s not technically local, its co-creator, Montreal ex-pat and artist Bob Scott, was. Scott brings a lot of Montreal flavour to his pages with reviews of Montrealers King Khan (okay, also an ex-Montrealer) and BBQ, Complications, CPC Gangbangs, the Cocobeurre/Chocolat split record, the Sunday Sinners and Red Mass, plus interviews with Montrealers the B-Sides and the Gruesomes, Vancouver punk photographer Bev Davies and Stiff Records legend Wreckless Eric. What makes this mandatory is the accompanying compilation CDR chock full of the best of garage, punk rock and rock ’n’ roll.

Local metal zine Morbid Tales hits issue number six and is once again put together by Katacombes metal night DJ Satanick. The zine’s exhaustive 132 pages include interviews with Montrealers Voivod and Metalian as well as Darkthrone, Cauldron and Japan’s recently reunited proto-metal act, the Flower Travellin’ Band (!!!!). The accompanying 16-track compilation includes rare tunes from Dark Throne, Pagan Altar, Flower Travellin’ Band and more. As an added bonus, there’s also a heavy metal cuisine section with some great recipes from members of Cauldron, Trouble, Toxic Holocaust, War Pig and more.

Finally, local zine DG OD continues their mandate to expose the raunchiest in the rawk ’n’ roll underground. The editor’s desk is still helmed by Katacombes DJ Flo the Action and features interviews with the Binges, the Donnas, Orange Goblin, Trigger Effect and more, and three dozen record reviews. DG OD launches its sixth issue on Saturday, Feb. 7, as part of the Le Heart Show art vernissage, featuring artists Omen, the Mirror’s own Rick Trembles, photography from Susan Moss and more. DG OD editor Flo the Action will be DJing throughout the night, with a performance by Ronnie Hayward as a highlight. If you can’t find these zines locally, you can shoot them an email at mongrelzine@gmail.com, degenernationoverdrive@gmail.com and, for Morbid Tales, go_yaten@hotmail.com.

Some great shows happening this week, starting tonight with another edition of Montreal Knows No Wave at Casa del Popolo, with Grand Trine, Dead Wives and the Other Thing. Also happening tonight is one of Montreal’s newest bands kickin’ up some dust—the Desert Owls let loose their ballast blast of noisy punk rock at l’Escogriffe with special guests Boo Hoo.

Saturday night should be a good one for any knuckle-dragging bong bubbler when the doomy stoner sounds of Dopethrone and Downtrodden hit it slow and heavy at Katacombes.

Saving the best for last, and capping off the Punkusraucous week, is the just-confirmed announcement of Paul Collins’s reunited power pop outfit the Beat. You are definitely not to miss a rare chance to see one of the greatest power pop bands of all time, with Atlanta’s Gentleman Jesse and His Men, at Il Motore on Wednesday, Feb. 4. Collins cut his teeth with the super rad band the Nerves (they wrote “Hangin’ on the Telephone”!) in the bustling late ’70s and as truly genius as the Nerves were, the Beat’s self-titled debut would have to go down in my books as the ultimate power pop record of all time. Do not miss this!

SNIFFIN’ GLUE…JONATHAN.CUMMINS@GMAIL.COM