FFWD Weekly
Copyright © 2000. All Rights Reserved
Street Sounds
by Aubrey McInnisI remember walking past Republik as frequently as possible as a curious teenager absolutely starving for a musical climate a little more enriching and edgy than DJs making wacky noises on AM 106. Back then, from the sound escaping through the front door, it signified the mecca of cool to me. When I was finally legally welcomed, I began to experience indie music in all its glorious forms – live from a stage only inches away.
For all the memories and great music, I thank everyone involved in the Republik and warmly wish you all future success. Echoing those sentiments, here are just a few reflections from Calgary music scenesters on the closing of Republik.
· Lisa Wilton (music writer for The Calgary Sun): "Favourite memories of the ’Pube (that’s what we liked to call it in the olden days)? The first time I ever set foot in the Republik was about 10 years ago. It was reggae night with Leo C. and the club was packed. Since I was only 17 and had snuck in, I spent the whole night thinking I was going to get found out and thrown out. Still, I managed to dance for hours, thrilled that I was actually hanging out with mature, sophisticated university students... ha!
"I’ve seen so many shows at the Republik and I can’t remember half of them, but there were a few really great ones that still stand out as some of the best shows I’ve ever been to. The Posies/Treble Charger/Wagbeard show, the Yo La Tengo show – man, when they played ‘Blue Line Swinger’ at the end, now that brought tears to my eyes."
· Steve Elaschuk (formerly of Wagbeard, now Earthquake Pills): "The New Model Army show; the night that (a bartender) let me... serve draught beer after the CJAY 92 rock awards (after I lost to Zuckerbaby’s Brian Doss) just ’cause I don’t think I’ve ever been that drunk; the night I watched Cal whiz through the chain link fence into the ice machine; the first time (ex-Wagbeard drummer) Trevor McGregor came back and played the ‘Trevor Charger’ show; Alien Sex Fiends; the first Jesus Lizard show...."
"Vic (Choy) might not have paid very well, but every band and local musician from back in the day owes him thanks for promoting us and the scene."
· Chad Saunders (former CJSW program director): "The best show I saw was the CJSW Ramones Wrap-Up Party (where I) dressed up as Dee Dee Ramone in a moppy wig, sunglasses and this tiny leather jacket I used to wear in junior high school. I can’t remember who exactly played but I do recall Huevos Rancheros, Skin Barn, Same Difference. All of those early wrap-up parties were pretty good. Not to be forgotten: Shonen Knife, Yo La Tengo, The Choads, Jesus Lizard, and all those Calgary bands who ever played a gig at the Republik... all dynamite (even if they stunk)!"
· Leo Cripps (CJSW and former Republik DJ): "As one of the founding members of the Republik and one of the three creators of reggae nights on Tuesdays, I have more stories than I would care to share. But one of my favourite memories is visiting with Desmond Dekker and the Aces at a very sold-out concert. Dekker was past 50 at the time, but the energy he exerted in the show was that of a teenager."
· CP Walsh (CJSW DJ): "I remember checking out Hole circa ’91. It seemed like there were about three dozen people there. They came on late, played seven songs (still got the set list) and as they were leaving, Courtney smuttered: ‘Buy our T-shirts so we can buy some hash.’ I bought two stickers."
· Zoltan Varadi (photographer): "The Republik is the only club in town that I frequented that, at one time or another, did not politely ask me to take my patronage elsewhere. It’s true, it’s the only club I’d never been kicked out of."
· Cam Alty (Republik manager): "The Bay City Rollers – it was my second year there and the crowd was probably the happiest I’ve ever seen them. And when the underwear started flying onstage... the crowd went into a frenzy."
· Gregg Baekeland, Craig Evans, Colleen Langford (The Night Gallery): "Contrary to what people might think, we feel it’s a genuine shame to lose respected colleagues. Hopefully, independent music will still continue to flourish in the city of Calgary and other operations will recognize the value of promoting live entertainment. But the worst part is, now we gotta field calls from every shitty band this side of Kenora."
· David Veitch (entertainment editor and music writer at The Calgary Sun): "Loved the Pavement and Wilco shows. And, if I could go back in time, I would've gone to that infamous Our Lady Peace show where the band had to cancel due to Raine Maida's back problems and were replaced by Fire Engine Red, whose Lorrie Matheson referred to Sony Music's beloved CanCon acquisition as ‘Our Lady Piece of Shit’ with members of said band and said record company in the audience. God, I would have loved to have seen that.
"But, in the end, I'll never forget going to see Cheap Trick. I didn't expect the band to be any good. I thought they'd just go through the motions. But they were amazing – loud, crunchy, flamboyant, tuneful – it was like Budokan all over again and I was a foot away from the front of the stage, close enough to catch a few Rick Nielsen guitar picks and a few errant elbows in the gut. An unforgettable time, then...."
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