Ottawa Sucks Volume 1: Punk and Hardcore Takeover
Ottawa Sucks Volume 1 kicked off loud and hard Friday night at the Montgomery Legion on Kent.
The dimly lit room at the legion was full for the in your face non-stop punk and hardcore styling of local bands and out of town acts. Friday night’s band were charged with the task of setting the stage for a crazy weekend of afternoon music, bbqs, evening concerts and after-party house shows.
Pregnancy Scares set the tone for the evening. The band with a bunch of veterans of the Ottawa scene know how to put on a show. Following them up was Violent Party from Virginia, a hardcore three-piece who tore it up.
When you play at the legion, you play at the same level as your fans. There is no riser, no good vantage points. But the good thing is the fans get the raw and up close feeling of live music, the way it should be. They also have the chance take liberties sometimes jumping in on the mic to sing a long.
Trioxin 245 played, their first show after a more than two year absence. The threesome from Ottawa played some wicked tunes and capped it all off with “On s’en Calise” after the crowd requested it what seemed like 100 times. Asisle kicked the punk aside and brought a steady dose of hardcore. The pit had had some action for the other bands, but when these local boys launched into their last four songs, people really started moving.
This was much more than just a concert. It was a gathering, a party for the underground. The music might be angry, loud and destructive, but the people attending Ottawa Sucks were all hugs and high-fives. Don’t let the spikes, the leather or the combat boots distort your perspective, there are very nice loving people in the Ottawa punk and hardcore scene.
The most visually stimulating appearance of the evening was Ottawa’s Schizophasia. The guitarist decked in a spiked bra and bullets for a belt, the bass player using a chain for a strap and all three members sporting eery leather masks was quite a sight. They played a pretty short set which ended with the guitarist throwing her axe to the floor and stomping on it to create a chaotic wall of sound. And they all just walked off. They were fast, hard, destructive and addictive.
Montreal’s Proxy took over next. Playing some new material off their latest LP, they stirred the crowd into a frenzy. But fear not, they were ready for battle, as their lead singer sported an old military helmet for protection. They were a nice change of pace away from the hardcore, bringing their gritty punk sound to the Ottawa.
Now that all the can-con had passed, it was time for some international talent to take over. The last two acts of the night were England’s DOOM and Pittsburgh’s Ratface. If the crowd was rambunctious before, they were insane for DOOM! Fist flailing, pit spinning and crowd surfing for the band who is even more musically imposing than their name may suggest. Finishing off the night was the crusty raw punk rock sound of Ratface.
So day one is in the books. Anyone who thinks punk rock is dead is very wrong. The scene is alive and growing, it is just not happening on your TV set. It is happening in small clubs, legion basements, community centers and at house shows. Now go out and support local punk rock by attending any of the four shows going on this weekend for Ottawa Sucks! Details can be found here.