FFWD Weekly
Copyright © 2000. All Rights Reserved
Street Sounds
by Aubrey McInnisIsle of Spight, the latest compilation from the Catch & Release recording collective, began as an opportunity for a group of friends to play together before going their separate ways. Not big fans of the compilation format where you get a limited taste of an assortment of diverse bands, Bob Keelaghan and Paul Coutts came up with an idea to make this compilation a snappy and mischievous recording to remember.
The inside joke is that the compilation is being presented as a "live festival" recording. Think Farm Aid and Woodstock without all the pigs. The best compilation from the label yet, not only are there 16 solid hits from six riveting bands, there are interspersed festival "highlights" including smartass announcements, cheering from a crowd of thousands and a witty parody of what makes real festivals (see: low moments on MuchMusic), well, blow.
"We thought it would be cool if it were some sort of concept where you could listen to it all the way through," says Keelaghan, guitarist for The Puritans. "It would be as much as a rock record as like a vaudeville piece or something. Y’know, you’re actually listening to an entire show or some sort of BS documentary where there are some yuks to be had in between some hot rock. So that was the idea, to make it more listenable than your average compilation.
"I just think that a lot of compilation records it’s kinda like, yeah, there’s stuff you like and there’s stuff you don’t like, but you never want to listen to it all the way through unless it’s a really good one. There’s very few that are like that and I think it’s just a better way of coaxing people to listen to the entire thing."
"We didn’t actually play. It was all stunt doubles," jokes Coutts, lead singer for The New 1-2, who have reinvented themselves for the CD release party. "This new band is The Sub 1-2 Microbes and we infiltrated The New 1-2 death mask, which was our last album. The Microbes are picking up the identity as a form of mimicry."
There’s another new spin on the Isle of Spight CD. Traditionally a label that releases exclusively local compilations, Catch & Release invited three out-of-town bands to submit music. Also appearing on the compilation is the new project from the ex-frontman from the Quadrajets called The Immortal Lee County Killers, a duo called The Mistreaters and Winnipeg’s Stagmummer.
Locally, The Puritans contribute three brand-spankin’ new tracks as do The New 1-2 and the Earthquake Pills, who are now regrettably calling it quits since lead singer Chris Temple is relocating to Toronto.
"We wanted to catch the Calgary rock heavyweights in their prime before they inevitably break up or move on to bigger and better things," says organizer Cam Hayden. "It does make for a good collector’s piece having the last ever recorded Earthquake Pills tracks and the last tracks recorded by The New 1-2 in its former incarnation.
"I think there is a bit of a Calgary curse or trend though as far as band breakups go.... Every comp we’ve put out has resulted in a band breakup. It’s kinda like Survivor on CD. Everyone voted the Earthquake Pills out because they couldn’t catch any fish and they’re clumsy runners."
It’ll be a teary night at The Night Gallery on Tuesday, July 25th as the Earthquake Pills play their last show ever and Chris Temple bids farewell to a scene and a club in which he has played such an enormous part. But, as another chapter in the local scene closes, the first line of another begins.
"Every performance should feel like a rebirth anyways, and that’s what keeps life in a band with no real financial support, you have to keep things interesting for yourself. It’s up to the bands to constantly reinvent themselves not for the times but for the sake of their own interest rather than for the market place," explains Paul.
"The institution isn’t as heavy ’cause rock is too old, so now it’s time... to introduce smaller viruses into the system to take on the advanced bacteria known as classic rock – it’s up to the little viruses to keep it interesting, to just keep things mutating properly."
Join the Catch & Release CD release party of Isle of Spight and get knocked off your feet by The Puritans, Earthquake Pills, The New 1-2 and The Triklact. And be sure to give Chris Temple a beer and a high-five. (You’ll be missed and fondly remembered, Chris.)
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