Chastity, Queen Victoria, and why Oshawa is closed this weekend.

Hmmm a bit slow this weekend, bit slow indeed. Social Strife is at the Atria Saturday May 20 and . . . 

Ah it's May 24 isn’t it - ah yes - sure what’s the point of gigs, everyone’s away yes. Up North, yes? If ever there was a time for this city to check itself it's this 2023 May 24 weekend coming up. I recall speaking with some promoters who factor in the city’s traditional schedule into their bookings. Winter everyone goes South, summer everyone goes North. Interesting, like its 1983 or something, but it is their money, so I get it.

It never applied to me, this schedule. Maybe because I never had the dollars, maybe because I never had the inclination, maybe because I had no family cottage to hang at or inherit. Maybe yes, maybe no but nevertheless the Regent Theatre is dark this Long Weekend and the Biltmore Theatre only has what they are billing an Old School Dance Night - I don’t know what old school they are talking about, maybe Donovan? Not my old school I hope, gak! 

And my old school, as will be the way with many others, is not in this town anyway, not even in this country. Sure the private sector is based on profit so one has to be cautious. Its said fortune favours the brave but let's not be foolhardy etc. Reality is, the population in this town and this province is changing and so are the summer habits, and within those changes there are real business opportunities 

But I do understand the risk to private enterprise, booking shows on this holiday weekend. But what I have never understood is why the public sector has never stepped in. It may be politicians and staff tow the line that they are stewards of the public purse and also need to be not foolhardy with the hard-earned dollars of their constituents. But they also need to be cognizance of these constituents and their asks, and it maybe not always on such a conservative track. Anyway I kinda think City Hall et al shuts down because many if not all, have cottages to go to as well, yards to spruce up, pools to open etc, so why make extra work with a festival or some community event. And even for those without an actual place up north there’s still lots of reasons I’m sure, big one being of course winter is over so let's get “Straight Outta Dodge” as my new fave band, the jangly just this side of out of control Small Faces ish trio, Spirit Josh, sings.

What about the people who are just getting outta Dodge, just a road trip to shake off the winter webs, and get some air between them or you and their or your routine. Ask yourself where is this mythical Dodge you are leaving from- is it Picton, Peterborough, Papineau? Probably not.

And so ask yourself why isn’t Oshawa on the map for those road trips? Why is Oshawa Dodge? And not Picton or Peterborough or Papineau? Why isn’t Oshawa the destination for people in Picton who want to get outta their Dodge? Why isn’t Oshawa the place for people in Oshawa who just want to take their Dodge out for a run to the Lake and see some entertainment there or even downtown for a stroll and some on street buskers’ buzz.

I understand the risk to the private sector but maybe some research on demographics might be in order, maybe an expanded roster of booking agencies who see opportunity in diversity, maybe see what other businesses in other cities are doing to attract people to their downtowns 24/7 365 - and maybe the public sector should step up and fill the gap, make the investment for economic reasons,  (Ec. Dev. Class 101 - Events attract people, people attract business) and to encourage those who also want a break but don’t do the “traditional Canadian” constellations in Bobcaygeon thing, who want to take that break in their own city, or drive from other cities to Oshawa and spend some $$ here, and maybe the public sector could create that break with a food truck event at the Lake or community park picnics, or bands in the Bandshell (that last one is easy, I mean it’s right there in the name) you know it can’t be rocket surgery to get this happening. Man I can see why people want a break from this City - it's maddening at the very least.  

And of course the long weekend means nothing to me so I, like the mad man I am, booked a band into the new Kops location at 34 King Street East, yes the bit of King downtown!! So hopefully if there are people who like live music still in the city reading this column to find out what they can possibly do, then hi to those folks and yes you are welcome on Saturday May 20 evening at least to Kops to see Chastity. Tickets here.

Slowcity.ca Open Mic: Matt Holtby, Chastity, Mimi Webb, Pierre Kwenders, Margo Price, The Weather, Edwin Raphael, and Noisy

By Will McGuirk

“represents the relationship one has with time, the constant balancing as a slow dance that one tries to weave," - Edwin Raphael

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Born and Raised fest this weekend with Alexisonfire, City and Colour, BSS, Chastity, and more

By Will McGuirk

Its a bit of a coincidence I guess that I am just finishing Michael Barclay’s new book ‘Hearts on Fire: Six Years That Changed Canadian Music 2000-2005’ and there’s a chapter on Alexisonfire, Billy Talent, and Fucked Up, and its a pretty great read, well the whole book’s a great read but this chapter opens up a time and type of tunes which was not on my radar back then, well Fucked Up yeah because they’re later but the former yah not so much, “Try Honesty” awesome, but later zzzz hey thats just not my jam, and Alexisonfire not on my radar like at all. 

And then here we are - this is the line-up for this weekend in St. Catherines; a festival called ‘Born and Raised’, featuring on Thursday City & Colour, with Sam Roberts Band, Ruby Waters, and Chastity (who was born and raised in Whitby); on Friday City & Colour again, with Broken Social Scene, Moneen, and Dooms Children; on Saturday Alexisonfire, with Billy Talent, Hot Water Music, and NOBRO; and on Sunday Alexisonfire, with PUP, Cleopatrick, and the OBGMs. Its a Dine Alone Records celebrating its hometown roots (“bringing the music back to where it all started” is how the PR says it.) with some big names from the hometown, plus obv others who grew up in and around the 905 scene of the late 90s into the 2000s and some upstarts punking it out in the here and now 

So now I’m in the know because I read Micheal’s book and even now listening to Hot Water Music which he mentions in the book too, and now I’m like where did this come from, this fest of these kats? and celebrating where they are from? and I know Dooms Children, because of their very fine new album, and Cleopatrick because well Cobourg is a rad town, and OBGMs - I had a chat with them one time, and BSS = legends but second on the bill wtf, well thats the level these kats are at, these elder AOF kats who back in the day made such an impact that yah straight to the top man, right up there. 

Many of those older bands would be familiar with the Dungeon here in the mighty Shwa;  That diveiest of all-ages clubs was originally supposed to be a folk club kicked up by Jim Fell (I put on the usual failed shows a couple of times) but it morphed into being a rad punk venue under the booking skills of Jay King and then onto William Neville. It became a place for Sum 41, Protest the Hero, Hail The Villain, Cure Gravity, Kathleen Turner Overdrive, as well as the likes of Moneen, Attack in Black, I Hate Sally, and I’m pretty sure but I am guessing because I don’t have durhamrock.com at my fingertips anymore, Alexisonfire,  as well as so many many raging black clad teen bands in the 905, some who became something for a while and some who didn’t - it was also the place where many bands were birthed so to speak simply by watching other bands on stage. Its its own legend but it never birthed a label, nor a festival, nor a band that became something like Alexisonfire or City & Colour. The Dungeon didn’t and neither has Shwarock City. Yet!

Chastity who is on the B&R fest did grew up in and on the Dungeon. He’s several records and tours into his career as a rock ’n roller. He has a gig here in Oshawa, at the RMG Friday July 8. Opening is a band who grew up on the Dungeon legend, Mary + Adelaide. But they owe nothing to the venue’s legacy nor to Oshawa. They’re as punk rock as you can get if you equate punk rock with DIY, because every band in Oshawa regardless of genre is DIY. 

Chastity also came through with Badflower recently at the Biltmore, and although Chastity can play in Toronto and bring out Alexisonfire as an encore act, as he did prior to the Covid shutdown, and he can produce the barn shows where METZ and K-Os join him, here in the city, in the downtown that he says gave him the inspiration he’s still pretty underground. Kudos to the RMG Friday booker for knowing him and getting him on. Thats a big step for that art gallery.

 So yah going to be a fun night July 8 thats a given but this July 1 CDN weekend maybe not so much here in Oshawa but in the Catherines book that dance card. 

I don’t know how much support ‘Born and Raised’ got from the city of St. Catherines or how much Dine Alone was supported by their city as the business evolved (the answer may be in their name) or how much support Hamilton gave to Sonic Unyon at the beginning for their Supercrawl initiative which has grown to having thousands show up for the past dozen years for acts from A Tribe Called Red to Zoon. 

I do know how much support Oshawa has given for such a festival to happen here. A Big Fat Zero. And thats from council, staff and the business community at large. Zero period. Win a hockey cup you get a parade, win a JUNO and crickets. . . Music matters little here in Shwarockville it may seem to the causal observer.

But its not up to council, its up to citizens and it has to be noted that the very fine Shwarockville citizens have not built a fest nor have asked for one to be built for them. No biz has stepped up to build a fest nor asked for a fest to be built for them. Festivals of music are not a thing for Oshawa. And thats very very OK. If you do not like Oshawa’s lack of interest in festivals go elsewhere, - River & Sky, Springtide, Hillside, Mariposa, Field Trip, Riverfest, Northern Lights, Go North, Empire Rock Fest, Kemptville, Revelree, Mattawa Voyageur, Veld, Electric Electric etc and thats just Ontario and just July, lots of choices. If you like festivals and think one would be beneficial to the fine folks of Oshawa build one. Private businesses are supporting these festivals in St Catherines, its the private sector who is kickstarting these things. Its up to the private sector in Oshawa not Council nor Parks & Rec. 

However I’m very left of Left and I do think it is the government’s job to ensure that all have access to the benefits of sports and arts, and the conditions within which private enterprises can thrive. And if the government of the day doesn’t ensure that all have access to the benefits of sports and arts, and the conditions within which private enterprises can thrive, then thats what the ballot box is for.

So here’s my advice if you are asking what to do to celebrate the arts of this very fine country of Canada this Canada Day weekend, go to St Kitts, go see a place its own kids celebrate and praise. I mean do you know anyone from any hometown who thinks their hometown is great, like I don’t. I had some kids in the shop who were from the County who grew up there, and I’m like , man thats so cool, and they’re like, oh man its so boring!!

But being born and raised in St Catherines seems to mean something to these AOF global rockers. Thats something to see and be in on. Thats some celebration.

Plus its on the GO line so you don’t have to worry about the gas either kids. 

Chastity with Badflower, Born Ruffians, Ellevator, plus more announced for Stage 44

By Will McGuirk

Stage 44 has begun announcing shows for the coming months which is all great news as there have been construction delays as well as the fallout of Covid-19 guidelines. The building, located at 44 Bond Street in Oshawa, was once home to the infamous Dungeon but has been converted in the past year or so into two venues; one on the main floor and one back in the basement.

 Indie rockers Born Ruffians are booked for March 24, 2022 and indie folksters The Franklin Electric are coming in April 22. Hamilton trio Ellevator are scheduled in for May 20. In between on May 7 Los Angelenos Badflower with opener, local lad Chastity, who spent some formative years in that building down in the Dungeon.

Get Tickets here ->

Chastity's new album 'Suffer Summer: a review

By Will McGuirk

At the core of what Brandon Williams, aka Chastity, does is community. He is a dissolver of differences and a gatherer of commonalities. From his days as a hometown Dungeon kid to his present release ‘Suffer Summer’ his intentions seem to be, more than seems to be, to be honest, to bring the disparate and perhaps the desperate together. 

His notorious DIY barn shows in north Whitby (his hometown) were icons of that idea. Those gigs were country backyard shenanigans with Metz, K-Os, as well as local Durham Region bands Mary + Adelaide and Wooly. At a gig in TO I saw him perform, he brought on Alexisonfire for the encore and they carried him on their shoulders, a happier kid I don’t think I have ever seen. Heroes as pals, does it get any better.

He also once took over the Whitby Courthouse Theatre for a gig with Dizzy, and once again it was an intimate collection of folks who became friends by the end. He has the knack. His songs too have that knack.

The new album ‘Suffer Summer’ on Dine Alone, also is a gathering; Williams welcomes in. He has co-writes with Stefan Babcock of PUP on a couple of tracks , David Mitchell from Gulfer plays bass, and Dallas Green of City & Colour duets with him on “Vicious Circle,” a co-write with his wife Linnea Siggelkow, aka Ellis.

Chastity’s desire to reach-out, work with, blend, blur, applies to the sounds too. It’s hard to pigeonhole this kat in a rock ‘n roll genre. Even if one could it says more about the reviewer than the review but either way here goes, showing my age - Williams is adventurous an artist as Robert Smith of the Cure, an act I would lean into for Chastity on the basis of a previous track, “The Girls I Know Don’t Think So” from the album ‘Home Made Satan. Williams is as willing to play around with expectations and challenge his audience, to challenge himself, but, although Chastity has the melodic sensibility of Smith he also has 30 years of something else; and what that is is bands he has seen in-person, in dark clubs, small clubs, within the camaraderie of the audience, in the sweaty connections of the mosh-pit, and that is what Chastity is at his core and somehow within all the noise, all of the punk, all of the pummelling, all of the thrash, all of the suburban angst, all the orchestrations, all the righteous rage that there is on ‘Suffer Summer’, it is the innate empathy for others that carries this album. There’s a humanity in this music that, again, showing my age, I can only recall feeling in the Clash and Fugazi, and Broken Social Scene, and even BSS is two decades ago so what do I know, but I know it when I hear it and I hear it in Chastity.

Slowcity.ca Open Mic with Chastity, Cots, Kyla Charter, Ellen Froese, Charlotte Day Wilson, Begonia, Rachel Bobbitt, Wet Leg, and Sam Weber,

By Will McGuirk

“It's about the feeling of not being heard, and just wanting to escape the cycle of thought - planning your next move, and thinking and thinking about what you could say to make them hear and understand you.” - Ellen Froese

“I was taught to believe that there was always a right or wrong and beyond that, that there was a heaven and hell waiting for us after we die and we just had to live our lives accordingly to end up in either place. I had a lot of fear of screwing up and a lot of fear of the unknown. As I've grown, all of those binary ways of thinking have more or less been shattered.” - Begonia

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Slowcity.ca Open Mic with Chastity, Andrea Ramolo, Jasper Sloan Yip, Ellyn Woods, Chris de Burgh, Bazooka Joe 204, Conditioner, Mauvey, and Thao and the Get Down

By Will McGuirk

"This song is about stepping out of the silence and coming together to use our voices for change. There is power in numbers and in song and in carrying each other.” - Andrea Ramolo

“In ‘On the Beach’ we float through the ‘wild motion’ of this new frontier, affirming that we can ‘separate the water from the waves’ before looking up one last time “as the constellations drift apart and lose their shape” to say that we ‘would do it all again’” - Jasper Sloan Yip

“Many people have experienced the challenges of staying together despite being apart, and this is my own story of feeling that pull and hoping that a relationship would survive.” - Riley McCluskey, Conditioner

“Endless thanks to director Linda Mai Green and her fantastic team for giving me the opportunity to physically do what I have been trying to figuratively get at for so long: destroy artifice and defense and false altars, tear away shame and guilt strip by strip, and to be light and free enough to join my life and love, already in progress.” - Thao

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Slowcity.ca Open Mic with Chastity, Ekelle, Charlotte Day Wilson, Ada Lea, Joy Crookes, Alex Cuba, Fleece, Graham Wright, Talleen, Mary Jennings, Jon Stancer, and Rise Carmine,

Ekelle

By Will McGuirk

“‘When You Were Mine’ is a song I wrote about an ex-partner that ended up being with a man after we broke up. It’s a song about accepting their love, but wishing the same for myself. I wrote it with the backdrop of Brixton because that is where their love unfolded and where I spent a lot of my childhood. We recorded a brass section (it was my first time recording brass and excited was an understatement); we wanted it to sound messy so Japanese whiskey was involved and listening to lots of Ebo Taylor.” - Joy Crookes

“My social media feeds are crammed with dire and insistent warnings from scientists, experts and activists, and newsreels showing floods, fires, hurricanes and other horrific, climate related catastrophes. All of this chatter and imagery were swirling around in my head at the time of writing this song.” - Jon Stancer

“We wanted to reflect how our society can sometimes be shrouded in mystery and symbolism, money being the driving force behind the illusion.” - Alex Crow, Talleen

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