Information/Write-up
The Spark That Lit a Scene
Before Sloan made the cover of Rolling Stone. Before Sarah McLachlan was a household name. Before Halifax was crowned “the next Seattle.” There was Out of the Fog.
Released in the fall of 1986, Out of the Fog was the first compilation LP to document Halifax’s scattered underground music scene—a vibrant, ragtag constellation of punk bands, synth acts, goth experimenters, rockers, and misfits. At a time when there were few venues, barely-functioning campus radio, and almost no records coming out of Nova Scotia’s capital, this album was both a rallying point and a defiant declaration: Halifax had something to say.
Curated by the short-lived but influential Flamingo Records—an offshoot of the legendary Club Flamingo, then just opening its doors—the compilation gathered 13 local bands across a stunning variety of genres. From the hardcore sneer of False Security to the haunted tones of October Game (featuring a young Sarah McLachlan), from Jellyfishbabies' power-pop surge to Roland Blinn’s sardonic “Flamingos My Love,” Out of the Fog distilled a decade of basement shows, jam sessions, and Backstreet Amusements hangouts into one crackling 12-inch document.
Most of the recordings were cut live off the floor at City Studios in the Brewery Market, engineered by Mark Clifford. The record was financed DIY-style, through a string of fundraiser gigs under the “Metro Music Compilation Project” banner. Only 1,000 copies were pressed—and nearly 40 years later, original copies are holy grails among collectors.
What makes Out of the Fog so enduring isn’t just its rarity, or even the fact that it featured early tracks by artists who would later reach national fame. Its real importance lies in what it made possible. The LP signaled to the rest of Canada—and to Halifax itself—that there was a legitimate, original music culture here, even if it didn’t look like the mainstream. It laid the groundwork for CKDU’s rise as a tastemaker station, for subsequent compilations like Cod Can’t Hear and Never Mind the Molluscs, and for a fertile 1990s explosion of East Coast creativity.
Though many of the bands had already split up by the time the record hit shelves, Out of the Fog offered permanence to a moment that could have easily evaporated. Its influence is echoed in the lineage of bands and venues that followed—bands that knew they didn’t have to leave Halifax to be taken seriously, and venues that understood their role as cultural incubators.
Long before music was algorithmic and digital, Out of the Fog was a mix-tape for a city in bloom. It gave voice to the voiceless, visibility to the invisible, and stitched together a scene that still resonates today.
-Robert Williston
1. Basic English – ‘Love Don’t Wait’
Band notes
Basic English originally picked up instruments to emulate their earliest heroes, playing mid-seventies heavy rock. It wasn’t long, however, before they began to sense the spell of both the vitality of English punk and their astonishingly creative music of the 1960’s. Punk, being more suited to the band’s somatic approach, became the focus of their early music. With original songs and revamped ’60s classics came to the fore during performances in Halifax and Moncton, the band’s hometown. “Love Don’t Wait” contains traces of each of these various influences and defines the current artistic direction of Basic English.
Musicians
Tim Armour: vocals, harmonies
John Davis: guitar, keyboards, harmonies
John Graham: bass, harmonies
Roger Whyte: drums
2. Mark Wellner – ‘Who’s That Jerk She’s With’
Band notes
Well known locally as “that guy who plays outside the Seahorse”, referring to his reputation as a busker extraordinaire, Mark Wellner shows his song writing ability on “Who’s That Jerk She’s With”. A veteran of the Halifax scene, Mark combines influences ranging from the Rolling Stones to the Violent Femmes with his charismatic live presence to create his own roots flavoured rock ’n’ roll.
Musicians
Mark Wellner: vocals, guitar
Blair Seaboyer: bass
Jimmy James: drums
3. Jellyfish Babies – ‘Running Out of Time’
Band notes
The Jellyfish Babies are a four piece unit from Halifax, N.S. They’ve been together for well over a year and now have a record cut on Pilot Records and Filmworks, Halifax’s newest independent. As far as putting their music into a slot, they’d rather call it rock ’n’ roll and leave it at that.
Musicians
Peter Arsenault: guitar, vocals
Dave Schellen: bass
Scott Kendall: vocals
Colleen Brittain: drums
4. False Security – ‘Vietnam’
Band notes
Formed in November of 1984, False Security is the oldest punk/hardcore band in Halifax. Although typecast as a hardcore band, they resist such a label, and their current direction shows a departure from a straight hardcore sound. Currently they are working on a tape and hope to have an album released by early 1987.
Musicians
Mark McGuinnes: guitar
Gerard Waters: drums
Alfred Wooley: vocals
Jimmy MacKenzie: guitar
Doug Hines: bass
5. Karma Wolves – ‘Break the Silence’
Band notes
The Karma Wolves came together in the spring of 1986, united by a common interest in creative loud music. The band took inspiration from myriad sources, creating a music tapestry that delighted in its frayed edges. After a summer of mid- to high-energy gigs, the Karma Wolves passed into posterity, leaving this recording and a spraypainted wall as their sole legacy.
Musicians
Giles Osborne: guitar, vocals
John Francis: bass, vocals
Roger Marsters: drums
6. Dogfood – ‘Let It Go’
Band notes
Dogfood fell together with one common thread. They tried to raise the dead but the dead were buried too deep. They were pushed to the edge, where the sun sets, and it blew up in their faces. Their faces ain’t the same no more.
Musicians
C.D. Ashfault: vocals
S. Murphy: guitar
Catfish Grey: bass
Indebt Notalent: drums
G. Wally Beaver: sax
7. Ridge of Tears – ‘Antigone’
Band notes
The original lineup of Ridge of Tears (including Adam Cavill on drums) first practised on November 11, 1984. On the strength of several excellent performances at Dalhousie University, Ridge of Tears was soon a very popular band locally. The fall of 1985 saw the departure of Adam and the arrival of the ever popular drum machine. After a highly successful performance at the Art College, the band gradually phased out live playing to concentrate on studio work where they felt more at home creatively. Feeling more frustrated with their situation, Ridge of Tears informally broke up but got together to record their final song, “Awake in the Morning”. With lyric changes, that song appears here under the title “Antigone”.
Musicians
F. Charles Bayer: electric and acoustic guitar, vocals, string machine, mellotron
Chris Logan: drums
Mark W. Lunn: bass guitar
8. The Misery Goats – ‘Flamingoes My Love’
Band notes
The Misery Goats, formed in July 1985, currently consist of Paul Caldwell, vocals (formerly Euthenics), Dave Porter, guitar, Anita Lipohar, keyboards, Mark Lunn, bass (formerly Ridge of Tears), and Jim Moore, drums (formerly Flying Tigers).
— if Stokowski played rock ’n’ roll, he’d be a Misery Goat.
— if Elvis Presley avoided drugs, he’d sound like the Misery Goats.
— if Maurice Chevalier was into hardcore, he’d sound like the Goats.
The Misery Goats wish to thank Pere UBU, Night Gallery, Rod Serling, Sigmund Freud and the Fathers of modern psychoanalysis, and, oh yeah, Phollop Willing, P.A. (SVENGALI).
BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.
Musicians
Jim Moore: drums
Dave Porter: guitar
Anita Lipohar: keyboards
Paul Caldwell: vocals
Mark Lunn: bass
9. The October Game – ‘Grind’
Band notes
The October Game formed in October of 1985. In its first form, the Game consisted of Sarah MacLachlan on lead vocals, Barry Walsh on guitar, Jeff Semple on bass, Pat Roscoe on keys, and Chris MacLaren on drums. Their first single, “Grind”, produced by Jim Parker, topped local dance club Cabbagetown charts and CKDU’s Top 30. Following the departure of Jeff Semple and Chris due to changing interests, Jim Parker and Creighton Doane came to play the Game with bass and drums respectively. The newly formed band continues to write new material and plans to release an E.P. and make accompanying videos.
Musicians
Jeff Semple: bass
Sarah MacLachlan: vocals
Pat Roscoe: keyboards
Chris MacLaren: drums
Barry Walsh: guitar
10. Roland Blinn and the Fishermen – ‘Losing You’
Band notes
Off the Grand Banks of Newfoundland in late September of 1980, the sea was tossing and turning a small fishing vessel, the S.S. McSquid. Four desperate men were wretchedly clinging for their lives in the cabin. Captain Roland Blinn was suddenly inspired to placate the storm by giving a chant. “Hey, God, Give Us a Break,” using lobster pots, fishing lines, and oil drums as crude instruments. The scheme worked and the storm abated. This event inspired the group to tour the Maritimes singing songs of inspiration for all.
Musicians
Roland Blinn: vocals, guitar
God Adolph: keyboards
Ken Lewis: bass
Terence Wolverine: drums
11. I Want – ‘The Bower’s Song’
Band notes
Guitarist, keyboardist Brian Hiltz, drummer Chris Williams, and his bass-blasting brother Paul Williams each draw on many years experience in the pop music business. Brian was the founding member of the popular Realists, one of the original pop bands in Halifax. Paul and Chris were members of the Saint John-based rock band Hey Tyde. The band has recently moved to Toronto and is planning to release a single and an accompanying video on the Realist label. The future is full of promise for this young band.
Musicians
Chris Williams: drums
Paul Williams: bass
Brian Hiltz: guitar, keyboards
12. The Killer Klamz – ‘The Killer Klamz’
Band notes
The Killer Klamz formed in early 1984, jamming in a bomb shelter in North End Halifax. The band began performing locally in the fall of 1985 and in December of ’85 they recorded their 14 song cassette “The Shape of Things are Dumb.” The summer of 1986 saw the Klamz embarking on a two month coast to coast Canadian tour. Future plans include another Canadian tour and a 12-inch E.P. to be released in the spring of 1987.
Musicians
Steevo: vocals
Sean: guitar
Rob: bass
Lou: sax
Pat: drums
and special guest Lee Ehler on rhythm guitar
13. The Lone Stars – ‘Dying Town’
Band notes
Rising from the ashes of Registered Vote, a Clash-influenced punk band formed in the early 1980’s, the Lonestars have earned a reputation as one of Halifax’s best live bands during the last two and a half years. Lead singer, songwriter Mike Brennan continues on with the band after the departure of founding members Mike Belitsky and Tim Brennan. Like much of his material, “Dying Town” reflects his strong Cape Breton roots. Combining strong original music with covers by such artists as Lou Reed, Bob Dylan, The Ramones, Buddy Holly and Johnny Cash, Mike Brennan is one of the most respected musicians in the Halifax underground.
Musicians
Arthur Jacquard: guitar
Mike Brennan: guitar, vocals
Mike Phillips: bass
Jeff Arsenault: drums
Jork Milford: keyboards
Produced by Moritz Gaede (track A1); Mark Clifford (tracks A3 to B6); and Jim Parker (track B2)
Engineered by Mark Clifford at City Studios, Halifax, Nova Scotia
Recorded at City Studios, Halifax, Nova Scotia and Reel Time Recorders
Jacket design and artwork by Larry Burke
Photography by Catherine Hatt, J. MacFawn, Maya Swannie, Peter J. Rockwell, and Alex Murchison
Includes a folded insert
Liner notes:
This record is the first compilation of Halifax underground bands ever recorded. It contains thirteen artists and thirteen songs that represent the underground music scene as it existed during the summer of 1986. But there have been many, many others who have blazed the path for the current underground music scene in this city. Groups such as Nobody’s Heroes, The Trash Cans, The Survivors, Static Tanz, Agro, Registered Vote, The Euthenics, and The Hopping Penguins, to name but a few, are undocumented pioneers who helped make this compilation possible.
We hope that this record will increase the awareness, locally, nationally and internationally, of the vibrant, but still developing, Halifax underground music scene. The contents of this record include basic roots rock ’n’ roll, post-punk, hardcore, and pop, indicative of a music scene exploding in many directions.
The artists involved recorded these tracks during the summer of 1986 at City Studios. We would like to thank Mark Clifford, Edmond Chasson, Moritz Gade, Mark MacLeod, and Charles Blair for their support and for making it all possible. We would also like to thank CKDU–FM, Halifax’s voice of independent music, for their support of this project, and especially, for their support of local music. And, of course, we would like to thank the bands because without them there would be no record. If this record can help, in any way, to get them where they want to go, then it will have been well worth the effort.
The fog is finally lifting!
Flamingo Records
*Except “I Want” which was recorded at Reel Time.
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