Information/Write-up
1. Phil Sedore – ‘Rainbow Thieves’
Written by
Words and Music by Phil Sedore
Band notes
As a refugee from Southern Ontario, Phil Sedore has resided in the Halifax music community for the last seven years. Initially performing as a busker in the downtown core, he went on to play with The Guys at the Library, and later became one of the founding members of Blackpool. He now freelances as a composer and producer of soundtracks, while continuing his work as a songwriter, (and maintaining a strong disinterest, if not apathy, in the composition of his own biography).
Musicians
Phil Sedore: vocals, guitar
2. Thrush Hermit – ‘You Are Gone’
Written by
Words and Music by Thrush Hermit
Band notes
A young, fun, and heavy power pop band from Halifax who draw influences from the teen movie movement of the early 1980’s and different forms of transportation. Thrush Hermit’s ideal date is going for burgers, then to the drive-in, and finally to a romantic, moonlit walk on the beach.
Musicians
Joel Plaskett: vocals, guitar
Rob Benvie: vocals, guitar
Ian McGettigan: bass
Mike Catano: drums
3. Donner Party Reunion – ‘Tools’
Written by
Words and Music by Donner Party Reunion
Band notes
“You don’t say much, but I got a hunch that you have a lot to say.” Jonathan Johnson screams, as the punk rock rhythms of the Donner Party Reunion fill the sweltering 90° room. Nuff said.
Musicians
Jonathan Johnson: vocals
Dean Sheppard: guitar
Clayton Gibb: guitar
Brad Baxter: bass
Reg MacKaracher: drums
4. Salsa Picante – ‘Acuyuye’
Written by
Song by Johnny Pacheco
Arranged by Wayne Baker
Band notes
This ten piece band has been in action for the past two years spicing up the local music scene. Plans for an upcoming CD release are underway.
Musicians
Dan Martin: vocals, trombone
Henry Rojo: vocals, guitar
Dymphna Martin: vocals
Tom Roach: timbales
Matthieu Keiser: congas
Ross Billard: piano
John Cuming: trumpet
Mark Dhamaratanam: trumpet
Chris Mitchell: tenor saxophone
Bruce Dixon: bass
5. Too Many Daves – ‘Motorcycle Song’
Written by
Lyrics by King, Lipohar, Jennings
Song by Jennings
Band notes
Too Many Daves (whose name comes from a Dr. Seuss story) is a group whose members’ involvement in Halifax’s alternative music scene spans more than a decade. The band’s summer 1992 live performance of the song ‘1906’ for the Cod Can’t Hear CD has also been released as an independent video, and recent recording sessions at Halifax’s Soundmarket will lead to an EP release later this year.
Musicians
David Jennings: vocals
Anita Lipohar: keyboards
Sam King: guitar
Phil Secord: bass
6. Four the Moment – ‘Africville’
Written by
Lyrics by George E. Clarke
Music and arrangement by Delvina Bernard
Band notes
Performing since 1981, well recognized across Canada for compositions that tell the story of African-Nova Scotian history, women’s and Third World struggles. They have a 1988 album, We’re Still Standing.
Musicians
Kim Bernard: vocals
Delvina Bernard: vocals
Anne-Marie Woods: vocals
Andrea Currie: vocals
7. Jeremy Robinson and Friends – ‘Get Out of Jail’
Written by
Words and Music by Jeremy Robinson
Produced by Jeremy Robinson and Phil Sedore
Band notes
Jeremy Robinson has attracted an enormous amount of attention in a short period of time in Halifax. Jeremy has completed a five song cassette EP entitled Miner and a recently released CD Open Sky.
Musicians
Jeremy Robinson: vocals, guitar
Mark MacMillan: guitar
Phil Sedore: mandolin, piano
Catherine MacKinnon: fiddle
Sherri Morrison: vocals
8. Laura Smith – ‘Clean Up Your Own Backyard’
Written by
Words and Music by Laura Smith
Band notes
Well recognized for writing and performing award winning folk, jazz and blues music, Laura has a self-titled CD and a new CD expected in the fall of ’93.
Musicians
Laura Smith: vocals
Paul Cram: tenor saxophone
George Antoniak: guitar
Bill Stevenson: grand piano
David Burton: drums
Bruce Dixon: bass
Eugene Smith: harmonica
9. Tall Poppies – ‘Fall Well’
Written by
P. Kimball, G. MacCulloch
Band notes
Tall Poppies made their debut live appearance at the Flamingo in late August 1992, on open mike night. Since then the band has begun pre-production on a seven song EP set for release in the late spring. The band is currently working on a video for ‘Fall Well’.
Musicians
Mark Savoury: vocals
Paul Kimball: guitar
Mike Riley: bass
Glenn MacCulloch: drums
10. Chucks Wagon – ‘Chameleon’
Written by
Words and Music by Warren Wesson and Kevin McCann
Band notes
The band originally lined-up in spring 1991 and have a 3 song demo available. The band has been Mike MacKinnon, Johnny MacKenzie, Jess MacGillivray, Chris Mueller, Kevin McCann, Paul Skeffington, Jason Amey, Jody Reid, and Warren Wesson.
Musicians
Warren Wesson: vocals
Kevin McCann: guitar
Paul Skeffington: bass
Chris Mueller: drums
11. Adrenalin – ‘Origin of Disorder’
Written by
Words and Music by Adrenalin
Band notes
Together for four years and from Halifax, Adrenalin has a four song and a two song demo tape available.
Musicians
Todd Zannie: vocals
Bill McPherson: guitar
Craig Langille: bass
Dean Rhynold: drums
12. Phollop Willing, P.A. – ‘Mad About You’
Written by
Words and Music by Phil Walling
Band notes
Phil Walling came to the music scene in 1979 and has worked extensively ever since in both live performances and in the studio with many, many musicians. Phil is currently planning a solo CD release and producing demos.
Musicians
Phil Walling: vocals
Synths: ARP 2600, DX-100, QX-7, MT-32
Out of the Fog (1986) bonus tracks
The following tracks are from the 1986 recording of Out of the Fog, Halifax’s first independent local compilation. The credits and notes are taken from that compilation.
13. 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
14. 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
15. 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
16. The Misery Goals – ‘Back to the Fall’
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
Production
Tracks 1–12 recorded at Salter Street Digital, Brunswick Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia, except ‘Clean Up Your Own Backyard’. All tracks DDD.
‘Clean Up Your Own Backyard’ recorded live at Saint Mary’s University Art Gallery and mixed at Sound Market Recording, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.
Tracks 13–16 recorded at City Studios and appear courtesy of the artists. All tracks ADD.
Engineered by Allan Scarth
Second engineer: Neal Gaudet
Executive producers: Keith Tufts and Derick Honig
Artwork
Cover design by Burke & Burke, Halifax
Cover illustration by Larry Burke © 1993
Notes
Laura Smith appears courtesy of Cornerstone Productions.
Four the Moment appears courtesy of Just a Minute Productions.
Thanks to Michael Donovan, Alan MacGillivray, and Rene Beaudry for making this project possible and believing in it.
Thanks to all the bands for creating the need for this album. We hope that it serves you well.
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