Groovy Aardvark - Promotional Demo '89

Tracks

Side 1

		Track Name	Length
	1	Summertime Again	04:40
	2	181 Degree Triangle	03:25

Side 2

		Track Name	Length
	1	Pull the Rope	02:33
	2	Ants Have No Chance	04:36

Photos

Videos

No Video

Information/Write-up

Groovy Aardvark formed in Longueuil, Quebec in 1986, emerging from the south-shore Montreal underground at a moment when hardcore punk, metal, and progressive rock were colliding in unpredictable ways. Built around the songwriting and vocals of Vincent Peake, the band’s earliest incarnation included Danny Peake (drums), Marc-André Thibert (guitar), and Stéphane Vigeant (guitar). From the outset, Groovy Aardvark distinguished themselves by refusing stylistic boundaries—shifting tempos abruptly, stretching song structures, and pairing confrontational energy with dark humour and social commentary.

The group documented its formative years through a series of self-released cassette demos recorded between 1987 and 1991, including One Fine Day (1987) and The Late Race to Zero (1991). These recordings capture a raw, exploratory phase marked by long-form compositions, aggressive dynamics, and a strong progressive undercurrent that set them apart from conventional punk or metal acts circulating in Quebec at the time. The demo period also coincided with heavy live activity, cementing the band’s reputation for intense, unpredictable performances.

Groovy Aardvark’s first full-length album, Eater’s Digest (1994), marked a turning point. Recorded and produced with a more focused approach, the album presented a sharpened alternative-rock sound while retaining the band’s off-kilter structures and abrasive edge. Songs like “Ants Have No Chance” revealed a growing interest in social systems, conformity, and control—themes that would recur throughout the band’s catalogue. The album established Groovy Aardvark as a rising force within Quebec’s alternative scene.

The follow-up, Vacuum (1996), proved to be the band’s breakthrough. Released on MPV Records, the album balanced heavy riffs with sharper hooks and a clearer production aesthetic, helping propel the group toward a wider audience. While still uncompromising, Vacuum streamlined the band’s songwriting without sacrificing complexity, and it remains one of their most influential releases. By this period, the lineup had evolved, with Martin Dupuis joining on guitar and the band settling into a more stable configuration.

Groovy Aardvark continued to expand their sonic palette with Orycterope (1998), an album that leaned further into texture, rhythm, and bilingual expression. The record showcased a confident, mature band comfortable moving between abrasive rock, groove-heavy passages, and more experimental arrangements. That same era is documented on the live album Exit Stage Dive (Live) (1999), recorded during extensive touring and capturing the band’s formidable onstage power, extended arrangements, and improvisational edge.

In 2000, Groovy Aardvark released Fast Times at Longueuil High, a re-recording and reimagining of material from their earliest demo years. Rather than a nostalgia project, the album reframed their formative songs through the lens of a seasoned band, highlighting how their musical instincts had evolved while preserving the original spirit and intensity.

The studio album Masothérapie (2002) marked the final chapter of the band’s original run. Incorporating additional musicians and broader instrumentation—including brass, strings, and guest vocals—the album reflected a group unafraid to continue experimenting late into their career. While still rooted in alternative rock, Masothérapie embraced variety and collaboration, closing Groovy Aardvark’s discography on an exploratory note.

Across their career, Groovy Aardvark maintained a fiercely independent identity, blending punk ethos, progressive ambition, and sharp-edged commentary into a body of work that remains singular within Canadian rock history. Their influence persists through both their recordings and their role in shaping Quebec’s alternative rock landscape during the 1990s and early 2000s.
-Robert Williston

Musicians
Vincent Peake: vocals, guitar
Danny Peake: bass
Stéphane Vigeant: guitar
Marc-André Thibert: drums

Production
Produced by Groovy Aardvark
Engineered by Guy Joulanger

Notes
The crew
Dave “The King” Royal
Andrew “Dead the Cat” Garby
Simon “East Coast Lobster” Dupuis
“Sex Metal” Dave Boisseau

Sound
Lights
Artwork
All-around bullshit and indispensable help
Supplier of energy in all its forms

We would like to thank the following people

Alain Bergeron
Michel-Fred
Gaston
Dominique Paul
Chris Petit
Laz 3 seconds
Stéphanie Pichard
Vincent
Samuel
Chantal Bouchard
Vincent
Nadine
Mélissa
François
Bouchard
Gilles Dupuis
Sylvain
Garon
Monique
Jean-Christ
Claude
Stéphane Morin
Daniel Proulx
Master CHAA (FM)
Frédéric
Raymond-FM
Paul Gôté
CKUT-FM
Henri Gardol
Ronny Eld-Kombid
Magl
Dave Busch (Toronto, Ontario)
Jill Heath
Claude Wolfe Records
Jenny Moss (Montreal Mirror)
Andrew Warren (Merciless Death)
in thing de Bloch
le Clap
Sylvain Guitargraphie org.
Pierre Lorain (Productions Show-case)
Nanci Jean-Pascalory
J. Bilvinstok
LOCO
EL Droux (Music)
Blacky Velous
Adam
Mike-Anghar
Wat
Jan-Auntold
Joan-Kawledge
John-Revent
Dad
Marty Krahe
Lila
Estelle
Gilles
Olivian
Ceramis
Treblinkle
Leparty
Infamous Bastards
Local Rebel Staff
Persons on Simple
Les Actes Sentin
DayGlow Absorb
Spontanely
The Groovy Aardvarks
Sadistic Vision
Crunchy Belligerent

Special thanks to Michel at L’OCTAVE MUSIC SHOPPE for lending us some of his guitars and to the THREE AMIGOS for their endless support

For merchandise
Groovy Aardvark
c/o Danny Pasko
P.O. Box 96
Station F
Montreal, Quebec
Canada
H3B 2K5

Booking agent
Sylvain “Butch” Bouchard
1-514-442-2046

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