In today's post, let's look at videos from the well received 1990s punk reunion concert at Soo Blaster on December 27th! These videos all come from former AlgomA guitarist Kevin Campbell's YouTube channel, which hosts various vintage punk videos and albums, not always locally tied (the channel is now known as Canadian Punker, but operated under a different name for years). This show (held in the memory of late Fist Magnet guitarist Chuck Ayotte) raised $5,360 for the Algoma Regional Community Hospice, as verified in this post from ARCH's Facebook page, so kudos all around to everyone who supported the cause! Kevin filmed all bands on this night except late openers The Sault Side Squad (now renamed With Gunfire, more on them in an upcoming post), but he got fourteen videos from the night's other four groups, so in performance order, who else took the stage?
Second up on the 27th was debuting local punk quartet P.R.O.D., featuring former Destroilet bandmates Christian Foisy & John Conway alongside Fist Magnet bassist Andrew Marson and Gambit drummer Clint Wilson. While their Soundcloud (and so far, only online) page has original demos, Kevin filmed them covering NOFX's "Bottles To The Ground", and as embedded below, The Crucifucks' "Hinkley Had A Vision". Christian takes on lead vocals here, and while his singing is somewhat buried in the mix, they have a solid enough 1990s punk spirit on these covers, and I'm game to hear more from them! Check this out below, and watch for ex-Destroilet drummer Matt Waples!
The two one-off 1990s punk reunions came next, starting The Spigots (or, as the screen says, "Some Spigots"). Here, singer Trevor Harding & bassist Frank Guidocco were joined by half of The Inner City Surfers (Mikey Hawdon and Dave Bahun), and Kevin filmed them covering Gordon Lightfoot's "Ed's Boat" and playing their originals "Beer Goggles", "You're So Rad", and as embedded below, "Nothing You Do". Interestingly, all four of Kevin's videos have Mikey on guitar and Dave on drums, a flip of what they usually play, but I don't know if this is how the whole set went or not. Fun throwback sound with Trevor displaying a lot of energy, and the increased crowd on the floor is encouraging, so check these out above & below!
Though not last on the 27th, the long awaited Fist Magnet reunion was the top advertised band, and if you liked P.R.O.D., you'll like that all but Clint took part here! Frontman Garry Ingram (ex-Gatgas) and drummer Dave Stokes joined their old bandmate Andrew plus guests Christian and John for a well received return set, with Kevin filming them covering Death Sentence's "Live To Die", The Lewd's "Suburban Prodigy", and playing their own "Evil God Hater", "Big Fuckin' Joints", and as embedded below, "Fat Lip". It's great to see Fist Magnet back (if only Chuck could be here for it!), and they delivered well on their original heyday's promise and attitude, so check these videos out as well, and hopefully they and The Spigots return again!
Curiously, the closing band here was active local crossover thrash band Hails, in what turned out to be their last concert with founding guitarist Mikhal Muto. Kevin filmed their cover of The Almighty Trigger Happy's "Meathook" (as seen on "Punk Canada Vol. 4") and two songs from their self-titled album, namely "The Drifter" and (as embedded below) "Pink Clouds Of Density" Ending things on a faster and heavier note, Ha!ls were on form from their prior 2025 gigs here, and they definitely fit the theme of the night, as frontman Brenton Ellis got his local music start in the 1990s punk scene, so check out their Soo Blaster videos above & below!
That's all for now, but we'll touch on With Gunfire's set in an upcoming post, and weekend concert previews are on tap next! Thanks everyone!
No comments:
Post a Comment