DETAILS

DOA with The Jolts & Spastic Panthers
Palomino
Friday, September 9 - Friday, September 9

More in: Rock / Pop

When conversation arises about D.O.A. frontman Joey “Shithead” Keithley, it typically swirls around the easiest touch-points: For punk rock historians, he performed alongside early adopters such as the Minutemen and Black Flag. Debatably, he coined the term hardcore itself, birthing — etymologically, at least — a genre umbrella spanning between flipped-brim, amphetamine-driven wastoids and clean-cut, abstinent youth pastors. But when “Handsome” Dan Izzo is quizzed about the Vancouver punk rock legend, he recalls something else: The time his band, Spastic Panthers, caught Keithley with his pants down.

“We opened for D.O.A. last time they played the Gateway, at SAIT,” says Izzo. “And Niall [Werewolf, bassist] really wanted to give Joey our Rock ’n’ Roll Beast 7-inch. Thing is, Joey can be a pretty intimidating guy, and at this point, Niall’s had a few to drink.”

“When he finally [got the cojones] to go backstage, Joey was standing there with his pants down, changing. And Niall, who can be pretty self-deprecating, goes, ‘Uh, I’m sorry, Mr. Shithead, but here’s our 7-inch. Feel free to use it as a beer coaster or something!’”

Perhaps not the best introduction, but Izzo and co. will get a second chance at first impressions when Spastic Panthers open for D.O.A. yet again, this time at the Palomino. And for Izzo, that experience isn’t getting old any time soon.

It’s an ideal lineup, to say the least. Boasting an ex-members’ list built for sell lines on a Xeroxed-to-shit flyer — which could name-drop Anti-Social Club, the Browns and the Bloody Hells alum, while Izzo’s projects include skate thrashers Sheglank’d Shoulders and scum-garage act The Motherfuckers — the Panthers’ brand of sloppy, circle-pit ready hardcore slots seamlessly on a D.O.A. bill.

Still, while Spastic Panthers fills in its discography — which includes the aforementioned Rock ’n’ Roll Beast 7-inch, along with splits with The Throwaways and Teenage Rampage, all released via Izzo’s Handsome Dan Records — with gang-vocal inducing Cro-Mags, Body Count and Circle Jerks covers, it’s erroneous to label the project as rote historical revisionism. This ain’t 1981, and Izzo’s not pretending it is.

“Well, personally, I love ’80s American hardcore. But there’s a lot that sets us apart. The first thing people notice is Niall’s bass wanking,” says Izzo. “And now, we’re in an era where you can sing exclusively about energy drinks. Like Rockstar Recovery — I thought they were disgusting, but they cure hangovers instantly!”

It’s a telling comment. Izzo says for the band’s next release, a yet-to-be-titled cassette release on Vancouver’s Scum Buzz records, Spastic Panthers will stick to their well-worn themes of tequila, guarana and the opulence that follows when both are mixed — after all, it’s the formula that’s earned it accolades from tastemaking institutes such as Maximumrocknroll and Toronto radio show EqualizingxDistort.

That, and album cover art aping Body Count — as it did for its Throwaways split, with a cartoon panther sporting a “Dink Puncha” tattoo instead of the traditional “Cop Killa” — will certainly turn more than a few rager heads. But while Izzo says to expect more classic hardcore and rap tribute album covers from Spastic Panthers, he’s reticent to overuse the device.

“We thought of doing an Iceberg/Freedom of Speech cover, but two Ice-T ripoffs seemed a little excessive,” says Izzo.

Fair point. But then, what does the star of Leprechaun in tha Hood think of it? “Well, Ice-T hasn’t come to kill us for it yet,” laughs Izzo. “And I hear Body Count are doing a reunion. So, if they come to Calgary, I’m assuming we’ll open for them.”

And if that becomes a reality, hopefully they don’t catch T with his pants down. We suspect he might be crankier than Joey Shithead.