On November 26th, Punk Rock took over Capital Ballroom and was led by Victoria’s very own Dead Bob, the solo project of ex-NoMeansNo member John Wright. Joining John’s return to his hometown was local acts Knife Manual and Pooched. The importance of NoMeansNo for Canadian music is undebatable and Dead Bob carries on this legacy as they toured through BC. Despite the name, punk rock is far from dead. It’s alive and Victoria’s Punk Scene has kept it that way in our city through the years. Feeling nostalgic yet? Hold tight as we look back at this unforgettable night.
Starting the night off was Pooched. Local favourites at this point as they are the sound of the modern Punk Scene in Victoria. The last time I caught them, they were playing a set at Lucky Bar with New York City’s Hotline TNT. From the bar to the ballroom, Pooched continues to show their talents through their music. The set with neat from beginning to end and was a great way to begin the night. Don’t take my word for it though, go see Pooched for yourself. It will be the best decision you made in a long time; I promise.
Performing in your 50s is no joke, but Victoria’s Knife Manual makes it look too easy. The lead singer opened the set by saying how this was his first set at the age of 50 and right from there, we were taken on a fast-paced punk adventure. The vicious vocals matched with the thrashing sound of guitar, drums, and bass, made for a strong performance. It’s no wonder that Knife Manual continues to open for top tier punk bands when they come to town.
With a selection of songs from NoMeansNo and some originals, Dead Bob showed no sign of slowing down. The energy on the stage was contagious and you could see the crowd get into the set very quickly. Songs like That Was Too Easy and Just Breathe off their Life Like album were some easy favourites of mine as it showcased how talented all the members are. Going back to their energy, I cannot fail to mention the keyboard player, Ford Pier. Seeing him jump around and still hit the right notes while providing some vocals had me exhausted for him. A truly powerful performance to end the night.
Victoria’s Punk Scene must be one of the most accessible scenes in our city. Beside some shows being 19+, many shows take place in houses, DIY venues, and wherever amps can be set up. This is how the scene became so strong and it’s how we have gotten to this point. Some of my first shows were Punk and Grindcore shows solely based on accessibility. Am I saying that all scenes should be the same way? Not necessarily, but we cannot miss the fact that shows like this are packed because of the way fans got to experience the music growing up. For a Sunday, this show at Capital Ballroom was well attended and hopefully more shows like this happen soon.
