On tonight's show we pay tribute to Jae Apple who passed away on March 2nd 2023. In honour of International Women's Day, Chris features some highlights for Yell Out Fest in Montreal next weekend. Andre looks at some of Rollins' deep cuts for a feature on discogs. Andre also does an audio show review for the recent Combust show that took place last weekend. Rob looks at the 90's garage punk scene. Stephen does a mod feature on the Chords. Chris features some new releases. And a demo feature by Obedient who are a west coast cross channel punk band out of BC.
A.P.P.L.E. - Peace is Possible (Vinyl Communications)
International Women’s Day - Yell Out Fest - Montréal (Chris)
The Chords commonly associated with the 1970s mod revival, were from South East London.
They formed in 1978 when singer/guitarist Billy Hassett and his bassist cousin, Martin Mason, advertised for musicians in the NME and found guitarist and songwriter, Chris Pope. By March 1979 The Chords were taking the stage. They gigged continuously over the spring and summer, headlining two mod festivals at London's Marquee Club and recording their first BBC Radio 1 session for DJ John Peel in early July. They also featured, along with some of their fans, on the cover of Time Out magazine. Amongst their early supporters were Paul Weller, who saw one of their first concerts, and Sham 69's Jimmy Pursey, who signed the group to his JP Productions company.
The quartet recorded a handful of demos for Pursey, before the relationship soured after he heckled The Undertones at a concert which the Chords had opened. Polydor then signed the band to a recording contract. For their debut single, the Chords chose one of the songs recorded for Pursey, "Now It's Gone", re-recorded it and had it released in September 1979. It rose to No. 63 in the UK Singles Chart.
Demo Feature
Friday, March 17th Evening @ Foufounes Électriques
LAURA KRIEG - Tout S’effondre Tout Va Bien (Detriti)
LAURA KRIEG - Tout S’effondre Tout Va Bien (Detriti)
OF THE VEIL - Wild Like Honey (Self released)
Saturday, March 18th Matinée @ L’Achoppe
DEADBOLT - Natural Born Hater (Ice Island Hardcore)
RATPISS - Bring Back 80’s Speed (Self released)
Saturday, March 18th Evening @ Foufounes Électriques
CELL DEATH - Pickpocket (Sewercide)
Rollins Deep Cuts
THE MOB - Witch Hunt (All The Madmen)
THE MOB - Witch Hunt (All The Madmen)
SOCCER TEAM - Lazy Colonist (Dischord)
THE SODS - Police (Medley)
Bands that played at the Combust show
THE FACT - Seein’ Red (Homie Shit Magazine)
BURNING LORD - Mirror Of Lies (Tribe Dream)
EXHIBITION - Can This Last Forever? (Triple B)
COMBUST - Why I Hate (Cash Only)
C4 - Real Estate Barons (Triple B)
SINGLE WOUND - Drop the Knife (Self-Released)
90s Garage (Rob)
THEE MIGHTY CAESARS - 1977 (Hangman)
NEW BOMB TURKS - Dragstrip Riot (Crypt)
TEENGENERATE - Let’s Get Hurt (Crypt)
TEEN CRUD COMBO - Wash Dish (Deranged)
Mod feature - The Chords (Stephe)
THE CHORDS - Don't Look Back (Polydor)
THE CHORDS - Maybe Tomorrow (Polydor)
They followed it up in January 1980 with "Maybe Tomorrow", which, bolstered by rave reviews in the press, shot in to the UK Top 40. A second Peel session was recorded in March, and the next month their third single, "Something's Missing", arrived. This taster for their debut album, So Far Away, reached No. 55. The album made No. 30 in the UK Albums Chart in May, bolstered by a UK tour.
THE CHORDS - Something's Missing (Polydor)
The album included two cover versions; Sam & Dave's "Hold On, I'm Comin'" and The Beatles' "She Said She Said". AllMusic gave So Far Away 4.5 stars, the second highest rating possible.
"The British Way of Life" single arrived in July and reached No. 54,
THE CHORDS - The British Way of Life (Polydor)
THE CHORDS - In My Street (Polydor)
"In My Street", released in October, topped out at No. 50. This song would go on to represent the band in many mod comps through the generations.
The group continued touring, until a show at London's Music Machine in November 1980. The Chords sacked Hassett, and the former Vibrators' singer Kip Herring stepped in. The old line-up was featured on the cover of their next single, "One More Minute", which arrived in May 1981. It was a flop, as was August's "Turn Away Again", and the Chords called it a day the following month.
In 1986, a live album entitled No One's Listening Anymore was issued, which was recorded at the Rainbow room in 1980.
A decade later, the double album compilation CD, This Is What They Want was released.
In August 2010, The Chords went back on the road with their original line-up, promoting the single, "Another Thing Coming", and playing gigs across the UK. They also toured Australia and Japan in 2012. A DVD, What Became of the People We Used To Be - The History of The Chords was available from May 2012, charting the band's rise to cult status. Here's a track from the live recording.
THE CHORDS - I'm Not Sure (Unicorn)
New Releases (Chris)
TIIKERI - Punk on mun elämä (Open Up and Bleed / Vox Populi)
TIO WISE - Bake A Cake (Dirtbag Distro)
SHITTY LIFE - Out of the Scheme (11PM / Budget Living / Lo-fi Lo-life)
SEX VIRGIN KILLER - Devil (Lilii Sound Loom)
RUM RUNNER - What's The Music Mean To You (Stumble)
IQ78 - Bring It Back (Self-Released)
THE LORRAINAS - Superman Garbageman (Mom’s Basement /Surfin’ Ki)
THE LORRAINAS - Superman Garbageman (Mom’s Basement /Surfin’ Ki)
OUT OF ORDER - Stay With Me (Self-Released)
2-PUMP LOUIE - Knockdown (Federal Dog / 2-Bone)
OBEDIENT refer to themselves as cross channel basement hardcore because one member is in Vancouver and another is in Victoria. The songs were originally recorded in 2019 and re-recorded in 2020. The vocals were laid down in January of this year.
OBEDIENT - Over It (Slow Death)
OBEDIENT - Dead to Me (Slow Death)
OBEDIENT - Black Out and Block (Slow Death)
OBEDIENT - Want to Die (Slow Death)