Glen The Hamilton Kid

rolling along

The Steel Company of Canada

There has been some cool music stuff lately, but that's not really my headspace right now.
What's important is the Steel Company of Canada ("The Steel Company" to any of you oldtimers out there, or Stelco to the rest of us).
I wonder if people realise the importance of what has been happening there in the last 2 or 3 years. First the history lesson, then I'll bring it back to today.

The industrialist of the late 1800's and early 1900's was a bit different than the CEO's we know today. They were completely ignorant in their attidues to the working class, but at the same time they had achieved prosperity in very young countries. Building an industrial base went hand in hand with nation building. So, despite the disdain the likes of a Rockerfeller or a Huey Hilton in Stelco's case, might have had for the average Joe working man, they were still very patriotic. They wanted what was best for the country ( the number of industrialists — or their sons — in Hamilton that were war vets is astounding). In this same patriotic mindset, two steel companies were formed. In 1903, an amalgamation of smaller steel companies gave birth to the United States Steel Company in Pittsburgh. The first company worth a billion dollars in the world. This is a part of the heart that would form the economic powerhouse of the 20th century the we saw in the States. Up here in Canada, there were two ideas that were prevailing back then that are sadly lost today.

1. We are Canadians! We gained our independance in 1867. We started later as a country than the U.S., and there is a huge population disparity between the two nations. But every time we get around Canada Day the press is full of "what does it mean to be Canadian?", is it hockey or maple syrup? Is it bilingualism or health care? Before any of those things existed (except maple syrup), there was one defining thing that made us Canadian. We are not Americans! And implicit in that is that we are better than Americans. We stood by the Queen. I'm a descendant of United Empire Loyalists who were people who came up from the States that were on the losing side of the American Revolution.  We are better than that rabble. I know that when you get down to the bone we are all the same. But it was forces from Hamilton that stopped American regiments in Stoney Creek during the War of 1812. Out numbered 5 to 1, I might add. But we knew how to get things done. And it's only in modern times have we lost our way.

2. In 1903 we were a very young country, 36 years old in fact, and we needed to let go of Mom's apron and fend for ourselves. We needed an industrial base, to create wealth, and produce for ourselves what we had been importing from England and the States. One facet of this was the steel industry. To the best of my knowledge, steel manufacturing in Canada started in and around Montreal in the early 1800's ( Stelco still has ties with Lachine, Quebec). But due to Hamilton's prime real estate at the head of Lake Ontario, raw materials can be shipped here by boat much easier than most places, as well as our availability of running water and electricity early on, this became the home to the bulk of Canadian manufacturing. Seven years after the creation of US Steel, the Canadians responded with the Steel Company of Canada, an amalgamtion of various independent steel mills that had sprung up in Hamilton because we were on the vanguard of technology back then!  To me the 20" Mill is the best remnant of this time. As Stuart turns into Queen Street, down by Pier 4 Park, there stands the shell of old-timey steel making.
When it closed in 1990,  it was the oldest operating steel mill in North America. It started in in 1853, and was long before Stelco. It was also a manual mill, which is totally unheard of today. This means that a man with long tongs has to manipulate a piece of hot steel spagetti into a "mill", that will help shape it into the desired specs. On the west side of Queen, on what is now vacant land, was the 10" Mill and I believe the 4" Mill, predating even the ancient 20" Mill.

Now after the implosion of Stelco, that I am personally convinced was orchestrated from the inside. We open the doors to the Americans, and give up one of the companies that was (and is) vital to our nationhood. Stelco is closed for the first time in 99 years.  What does Canada have left? No more Stelco, Dofasco, or Hudson's Bay. Our major breweries have been sold off. No more canning of our Niagra fruitbelt produce. Borje Salming got into the Hockey Hall of Fame for pete's sake (Swedish, homosexual, men's underwear designer, who couldn't stay on his feet. That's why he got 500 stitches across his face.)! What's left Canada? And all this happened before the so-called Great Recession. The bigwigs in their suits have a huge hate on for us. The men with their curly moustaches and monacles never would have stood for this. It's their weaselly descendants that have made a mint selling off what Canadians had built. Now we are subservient to foreign overlords. And everyone has electricity and running water now. How will we ever reclaim our rightful position in this country? And how will this country retain it's rightful place in the world? Don't ask Harper, to him, everything is going according to plan.

Buy Canadian!

The Hamilton Kid

ps. Every Monday, there are boys from USWA Local 1005 at the corner of King and James. Last Monday, I was stuck in traffic near the intersection. There were a couple 20 year old girls stuck in their car a few lanes over. They were leaning out of their car yelling "1005 sucks!", and "we don't care about your pensions!" If I was ten years younger I would have snapped. It took all my strength to not get out of my Studebaker (made in Hamilton) and put that great big car jack through their windshield. I truly fear for our future.

Well, I've been out and seen some shows and talked to people, and went to the grocery store, and shovelled, just like the rest of you.

Punk Rods at the Absinthe were great on Hallowe'en. It's the first time that I've been there that the crowd behaved like I would want them to, chests crushed against the stage, fists pumping, and sweat flying. Great! Why can't it always be like that?

Had a pretty good time on New Year's Eve (otherwise known as my birthday!), made it out to the Casbah for the Sons of the Hammer. What I got to see was great, but too packed. I can handle crowds, but there was a point when we said to hell with this, and headed over to the nearly empty Lionshead. I would review Tim Gibbon's set from that night, but by the time we got to the Lionshead, I was sufficiently polluted, so we won't go there.

I missed the Magic Christian (old-time super group with members of Blondie and the Flamin' Groovies) show at the Absinthe, but heard it was a great time, and on a Tuesday night! I also made it to Martin Verrall and the Black Spring CD release at the newly opened Touche bar. Heavy weather lessened the turn out, but what a show. I spent most of it next to Johnny Blitz (Dead Boys), who has recently come back to town. One of the guitar players, Clint, was in his own little world, and part way through the third song pearl harbour jobbed everyone else in the band with the head of his guitar! Scattering the band, and causing a 15-minute break, as the rest of them tried to calm him down, and figure out what the hell was happening. I felt for Martin Verrall, but what a great thing to see. I purchased the CD "Escape Show", but have not really been able to get past the first song, "Song of Stone", it is so awesome!! Martin is what I think any Hamilton musician should be like. Depressed, angry, slightly off kilter. That's Hamilton baby! We ain't got much to be happy about.

Both the Lorrainas and the Poisoned Areos have reformed and will be playing the Hanky Panky Panty Party tonight at the Absinthe. But you won't have the pleasure of seeing me there, as I will be in the bowels of Stelco slugging away.

There are rumours floating around that Agent Orange will be playing Touche, and that the UK Subs will be coming too. I will let you know more as I find out, keep your ears peeled!

Strummer night will be upon us again soon, Good Friday, April 10th, as always. Venue hasn't quite been decided yet, as I've been hoping to take the show to an unusual room. Almost got it figured out, but not quite yet. And cheers to my protege Alex from Sunday Detox for taking over the "musician wrangler" duties from me.

If you can't wait until Good Friday, check out Los Mondo Bongo at the Casbah March 16th. They are a travelling Strummer tribute band with members from the Mescaleros, Simple Minds, and the Alarm. Should be pretty good.

In trying to find an interesting venue for Strummer night, I have entered several strange back rooms along James North. Bars and halls that are upstairs or way in the back (with old Portugese guys wondering "who the hell is this guy?"). Some of them are pretty neat, but have been scratched off the list for one reason or another. The one with a real airplane hanging from the ceiling would have been neat. But the one I had my heart set on is above the Harvest Moon Chinese restaurant just south of York. I'm told it was called the Red Mill theatre at one point. Very Victorian with twenty years of Asian touches added, pretty neat. Ok, this is what makes it so Hamilton, ha. And the guys who have it now don't have clue (oh please tell me how big a shot you are in toronto, all the bars and clubs you've owned there, what are you, 22 ? Get me outta here! sorry, anyway...).

Canada had prohibition before the States did, and in different eras, for different purposes, there have been many tunnels carved out under our formerly fair city. Rumour has it that there was a tunnel connecting the Tivoli to this Red Mill Theatre. I believe this would be for someone like Al Jolson to leave his legitimate performance at the Tivoli, and head over to the booze can/speakeasy up the street to play for a wilder crowd (and probably better money). Another rumour has it that there was a second tunnel that led from the Red Mill to the building on King William that now houses Thai Memory restaurant. Way back when, King William was our Chinatown. It is believed that on the second floor there was an opium den. This is pre- televison, pre-radio, just about pre-everything. A couple years ago, someone ripped down the ceiling in the upstairs of Thai Memory and found this great dome ceiling with all sorts of paintings on it. Hit the pipe, lay back in your chaise lounge, and stare at the ceiling. What a great end to a night of debauchery. Didn't have to go outside once. Cops would never know. Hah! That's pretty Hamilton if you asked me.

One last thing. Ever hear the phrase "He don't know shit from Shineola"? It's old, I don't know where I picked up, some older people seem to remember it, but no one really knows what it means. I always assumed that Shineola was a place. Well, in the course of my local history studies, I came across an entry for Edwin Dalley (Graham Crawford who runs HIStoryand HERitage lives in Edwin's old house). Edwin Dalley took over the family firm of F.F. Dalley that existed on James North where the Shopper's Drug Mart is now (Ughh, the present). They made all sorts of consumer products, but were best known for "2 in 1 shoe polish". I found that in 1925, F.F. Dalley was sold to the Shineola company from the States. Shineola certainly sounds like it was a shoe polish maker too. So, if you don't know shit from Shineola, you know what your shining your shoes with! HA!
Over and out! The Hamilton Kid

Hey hey Y'all! Hope your all doing all right. Well, I assume that just about anybody reading this is already aware of the passing of Mr. Frank Venom. I think that anybody growing up here as a teenager in the eighties rather than the seventies was either a Forgotten Rebels fan or a Teenage Head fan. Not to say you couldn't be both, but you liked one more than the other. I was, and am, a Rebels fan. I was already a Rebels lunatic long before I bought a Teenage Head album. I did get into them, and definitely enjoyed seeing them live, but, despite their critical acclaim, the Rebels spoke to me more because they seemed in a closer vein to the Sex Pistols than the Head. Anyway, no one can deny that Teenage Head were/are a great band and I think Frankie was an extremely good example (possibly the best) of a Hamilton rock star. Talented, angry, and kind of nuts. I wasn't really surprised when I heard that he had died, because ever since I started paying attention to him, I thought Frankie had a death wish, a slow burn out with a bottle. In a way I was kind of happy for him because he finally made it. But what stinks is that I will never get to seem him onstage again. He was good.

I got kicked out of a big Teenage Head show at Club 77 a few years ago (the last time I've been physically escorted out of an establishment, but hopefully not the last). I was right near the stage, when I hacked up a terrible loogie (thank god for cigarettes). I pushed a couple people near me away so I could spit it on the floor. I still don't know how it happened, but instead of it going straight down, it came out of my mouth on a 90 degree angle and hit Frankie in the thigh. He didn't notice, but some old geezer next to me did and waved at a bouncer. I might give a bouncer trouble, but not a whole mess of them. And before I knew it, I was on the sidewalk, with the former drummer of Spittle, who had also got kicked out for something.

 I had this thing where I didn't want to get to know the Head guys, or Mickey DeSadist, very well because I was afraid of becoming their friend. I didn't want to loose the fan admiration and be buddies. I have finally given up on that with Mickey, but Frankie was more of a serious deal. I think he could be very friendly if the mood struck him, but I knew he could also be a bastard, so most of the time I gave him a wide berth. I did speak to him a few times, even made him laugh. But normally, if I saw him at the bar I would order two or three beers, and send one over to him. He would look at me and I would give him a nod, and he would nod back, and we would just leave it at that.  My condolences to Gord, Steve, and Jack (and even Nick, wherever he might be). Frankie was, if nothing else, Something Else!

On a more positive note, lets talk about the scene. I attended the last James Street Art Crawl, largely because my friends Lynn "Buckshot" Bebee and Kerry Wade unveiled their clothing studio in the Sonic Unyon building to the public that night. We also caught the tail end of what seemed like a pretty crazy fuzzed out set at Mex-I-Can. I don't recall who the performers were. We stopped in at the new antique/collectible shop White Elephant (very cool old television, not for sale) and Mixed Media next store. You've got to hand it to Dave Kuruc, he's an extremely proficent instigator. He started this Art Crawl thing, and I saw a lot of bodies walking up and down James, even at 11 at night, that were obviously not the regular denizens. Kudos to Kuruc! The evening ended with about twenty of us taking over Copper John's karaoke night.

Now, this brings me to something else. Copper John's. Ugh. It is currently called Copper's Corner Bar and Bistro (I guess microwave pizza counts as a bistro), what a place! In my previous post I mentioned that a new punk friendly venue would be happening on James North and this is it. I'm not the kind who shies away from putting my money where my mouth is, and so here I go, taking the plunge as a entrepreneur.  As you should know, I hate the destruction of our older buildings downtown (the latest casualty was the building just south of Leon's Furs, now for sale as an empty lot, why?). So me, Lou Molinaro (fellow Jamilton blogger) and an unnamed party are purchasing the Copper John's building and turning it into a place for us Corktown ex-patriots. I have neglected to spill the beans before because there are hiccups that we are still dealing with, but suffice it to say, I think the deal will go through. It will be known as "This Ain't Hollywood" (a la Rebels) and we're in for a penny, in for a pound.

I think that if anyone else would buy it, it would be torn down (handyman's dream as they say). And I just can't stand my town being ripped apart. I am lucky enough to have friends that are willing to back me up and make a stand against the wrecking ball. As far as I know, the building has been a bar since it was built in 1893 (originally the Mackenzie House), and is the last of many old time bars that used to dot James North (ie. the International, and the Jamesville). Hopefully we get things figured out in time for Cheetah Chrome on Nov. 22nd.

Lastly, had a pretty good time at the Responsibles cd release party at the Absinthe on Saturday. It was my band's (The Steeltown Spoilers) first show since opening for D.O.A. in the spring, and it was our first show with new guitarist Chris Crash (surprisingly we broke our streak of aggro with each show, funny eh?). The Responsibles are way better than was indicated by the mediocre turn out. We did have to split our potential audience with the Zombie Walk and their subsequent show at the Casbah.

This entry is way too long already, so I am stopping now.

Cheers to all, and buy a beer from me in November!

the Hamilton Kid

Howdy dudes and dudettes!

Aren't you glad summer's over? Yeah me too. Now we can get back to the depressing weather that typifies our troubled post-industrial burg.
Fall is the best season for punk fashion, don't you know? And it means that Hallowe'en is coming! So anyway, I thought I would let you in on some of the shows I've seen lately.

As most of my aging punk rock ilk, I have never stayed at home as much as I have since the Corktown was mutilated. But, I am passed that now. It's just another business mistake to be added to the pile that has got us in our current mess. But I have ventured out recently to see a couple shows.

A couple weeks ago I went and saw the Responsibles at the Lionshead. I think the way the Responsibles are slowly evolving, that they will eventually become a wicked ska-punk band. Their regular saxaphone has been traded in for a deeper black baritone sax, and they have added a trombone to their line up. This expansion to their line up I thought was particularly funny since the Lionshead is so small, the horn players hardly had room to stand in the back corner of the "stage" area. But they keep getting better and better, and they have a new compact disc coming out in a month or so. So be sure to pick that one up, and check out their cd-release party.

I also went to see SNFU at the Casbah. As usual, I timed my arrival perfectly. I caught the last couple songs by the last opening band (Left Spine Down- from what I saw, not bad at all) then time for a couple smokes, and then the headliner. Mr. DeSadist and I were at a loss as to what we were to expect from SNFU, as we had never listened to them before, despite hearing about them for such a long time. I must say they did put on a good show, and made me think they would have really been something else back in their early '80's heyday. But, the singer is hands down the winner of the worst aged punk performer. Not to say that Mr. Chi Pig wasn't up to performing, it was just the look of him. He looked like a bum, literally. I swear I've seen this guy kicked out of Strath-Barton Mall, or drinking by the tracks behind the old CN station. Mickey said he reminded him of Colonel Sanders, but I think I pegged him better as looking like Bob Bryden's dad. Long white hair, long white goatee, and not a tooth in his head. I always find it a little disturbing when toothless people rub their gums together and their jaw goes up higher than it should. But, what should punk be if not disturbing?

I have always enjoyed the Winking Judge, even back to when I was 17, and sneaking beers in between the shoulder to shoulder crowd of uniformed dudes from the Armoury. Last Sataurday I was luckily able to attend their annual Beerfest, and "sample" various independent beers directly from the brewers. It was $40 for 4 hours of all you can drink. My competitive side came out, and I set out to win at Beerfest, and I think I did. No one else claimed to be the winner anyway. Afterward, I walked over to the Lionshead for a set by the Squids. I always kind of laugh when I think about the Squids, because Sammy Squid and I can crack each other up pretty good, but also because he is probably the only one in town that is more of a minimalist guitar player than I am. But after watching them play, I was reminded that less can be more, as the Squids pulled off a catchy rocking set of sixties inspired pop tunes like "I wanna be a roller girl". Pretty good for a two piece band, and only 2 strings on the guitar.

Then, last night was a bitter sweet one. Me and the Missus went up to Toronto (hack-patooey), to see the only Ontario gig of my friends the Gutter Demons (Montreal) farewell tour. It seems that after 8 years, Johnny Toxic can't take the toxic life anymore and has decided to move on. It's really too bad, not only will this mean I won't get to hang out with my buddy Flipper as much anymore, but it is the demise of probably the best psycobilly band in Canada. If you can find a copy of any of their 3 albums, snatch it up because you won't be disappointed. They were way better than the stupid Matadors to the power of ten. Their European following (who I think are responsible for the 250,000 hits on their myspace page) will be disappointed that they won't get to see the band perform their latest album "Misery, Madness, and Murder Lullabies".
We Hamiltonians know all too well that, all good things must come to an end.

No civic stuff this time around, except to say that you just have to hold your breath for another month or two for a new punk oriented music venue to open on James Street.

Keep on **ucking!

Glen,
The Hamilton Kid

Rotten to the Core

Hi everybody! (Hi Dr. Nick!). I just realised that I haven't talked to you since Strummer night so I figured I should drop you a line.
Quite a few things have happened since Good Friday. D.O.A. came to the Casbah and the Steeltown Spoilers opened. A night of good music, and the Spoilers kept their mosh-pit-bully-bashing streak alive ( 3 gigs, 3 tussles). D.O.A. used to have little flyers at the door explaining their outlook on mosh pit etiquette. Punks are  the outcasts of society, and yet there is always some dummy out there who wants to
stick it to us and make himself feel big by pushing other people around (excessively) in the pit. I have never tolerated this, I've been a Pit Policeman for almost 20 years now but the spring of dummies doesn't seem to dry up. I look forward to the Spoilers next gig (none scheduled at this point) as it will be Mr. Hammer's turn to take on the bullies, and he's the last one of us you'd want to cross. 
I also checked out Trash Gallery last night at the Absinthe, good guys who play really loud for their hard rock fan base. 

I missed the last Rebels show, heard attendance was light but a lengthy quality performance was enjoyed by those who did attend. Teenage Head played on Sataurday in (phhht!) Burlington, so I won't go.
I also went to the presentation put on by Harry Stinson at the Leander Boat Club. He is the guy who has bought the Royal Connaught and wants to build a giant glass tower next to it, approximately 80% of the size of the CN Tower. He made some pertinent and interesting points about the city, but he is definitely nuts! Not to say he shouldn't go ahead, just you'd \have to be crazy to do it. My favourite part was when he showed some current arial shots of downtown. All the parking lots were highlighted, the statement that there is no parking downtownis a myth. All sorts of our old factories used to be downtown, they got torn down to make parking lots.
Everywhere you see a vacant lot, there used to be something very impressive there that provided hundreds of families with an income. I can't think about it too much or I'll have a nervous breakdown.
Crash!
That was another building "Falling" down. The one next to the Lister Block on King William is our latest casualty No one is willing to prove it, but I'm pretty sure the LIUNA boys knocked it down. Thanks for nothing. Next in their sights is the skinny stone building to the north of the Lister Block on James. It was built in the 1880's,
there is nothing wrong with it. But you watch, it will be the next to "Fall down". Also, if you've driven by the Lister lately you should have noticed the scaffolding that has been put up to protect the sidewalk. Protect it from what? Nothing. Just LIUNA trying to trick everyone into thinking that it's falling apart. I've been all through it,
it's made of cement. It could sit there empty for the next 50 years and not fall down. Don't buy into LIUNA's tricks. They just want to destroy our history to turn a buck. Who owns the demolition company that put up the scaffolding?
The same guy who illegaly knocked down the Dynes Tavern on the Beach Strip. Only in Hamilton.
Speaking of Demolition City, another old time drinking hole has an appointment with a wrecking ball. The Derby Tavern will be knocked down and a pharmacy will be put in it's place. I made it to the on site auction where they were selling off a lot of the bar's contents. I didn't buy anything, but I found it sad that only one other guy was there for historical purposes. Everyone else just wanted cheap kitchen stuff.
Anyway, enjoy our old buildings while you can, because the powers that be are working against us.

Cheers!
The Hamilton Kid

ps. to Lou Molinaro, I wish I could have made it up to the 'Shwa and put in some time with you on the GM barricades.
And "Howdy" to Cal in Denver!

Spring in the City?

Howdy Y'all!

So Strummer night is over, and the weather is starting to turn around. We had a great night at the Casbah on Good Friday, sold out by 11pm!
I felt bad for the people who couldn't get in, maybe a bigger venue next year?
That's right, I said next year! Although I said I wouldn't do another one, one of my little droogies, Alex, from Sunday Detox has stepped up to run things next year. I don't think I can totally drop the reins, but he can deal with all the organising, and I'll just push a broom at the end of the night.
A week before the show I woke up with this huge cyst in the middle of my chest. You could see it poking through my shirt, about the size of a toonie. Went to the doc, and he said nothing to worry about. Then the day of the show, it was starting to  sink in that my shift was over and that Strummer night was upon me. As I was towelling off in the changehouse, I started gushing blood from this cyst.
I tend to think this was stress related. And when something makes you spew blood from the center of your chest, you should probably stop, or at least back off a bit, from whatever you are doing. Anyway, we raised a couple grand for the family of Tim Beck, and there will be a 7th next year!
On the more municipal side of things, I was told to pay a visit to the Museum of Steam and Technology on Woodward Avenue. I am trying to lobby around to save this giant steel painting at Stelco (I mean the former Stelce, sniff), and was told that the Steam Museum was salvaging pieces of old factories.
So, for $6 you can get a guided tour of the only Steam Pumphouse left in North America! They even turn it on for you. This pumphouse gave the city running water for the first time. Just so you know, we had, running water, electricity, and telephones before Toronto.
But what really turned my crank was that I got to see some of the salvaged stuff not open to the general public (I just flashed my "Hamilton Kid" badge, it opens a lot of doors). Just laying out in the sun were pieces of the original Gore Park fountain, and next to that were two steam hammers saved from Stelco's blacksmith shop before it was torn down. If that wasn't good enough, then the motherlode. My helper opened up the 1913 room (housed the 3rd stage of water pumping), and my jaw dropped. I wished this was my gagrage. All sorts of old engines and dynamos all taken from defunct Hamilton factories, many of the pieces actually built in Hamilton, including a Sawyer-Massey ashpalt steam roller. That was so cool.
Unfortunately, the man in charge wasn't around, so I couldn't talk to him about my Stelco sign.
Also, connected to our water history there are several original mancovers around the downtown core, from 1854. One is in everyone's favourite alley next to the Sirloin Cellar near King and James. Also, for the last 150 years has sat the only original Hamilton fire hydrant, just tucked around the corner in that alley. After the museum, me and the missus went to visit it. It's gone! I have alerted Paul Wilson of the Spec's Street Beat, but I still have not heard of it's whereabouts. Crikey! Our history cannot be replaced.
Stay on gaurd, pilferers are everywhere!
The Hamilton Kid

2008 in the Hammer, so far.

So kiddies, how have you been? I apologise for not writing to you lately, but what has been happening to write about? With a few exceptions, it seems to me that music in this city is in neutral right now, like it's 1986 again. I hate to harp on the Corktown again, but the punk community has not yet recovered from the loss of our headquarters. We are re-organising for a new attack I think. Some of the yocals are still playing (ie. Vapids, Trash Gallery, Punk Rods, Squids, Burnin' Ethyl, etc.), but due to my work schedule I have not been able to witness any of these shows. Many of the other bands have either broke up, or are creating splinter groups (ie. The Harbour Rats, Cannibal Girls,  Garburators, and my personal fave; The Hamilton Kid and the Steeltown Spoilers).
The clubs aren't as good as a year and half ago. No Cork, the Underground seems to have been relegated to high school bands (who have to give 1/2 the door to the club, don't do it kids), The Absinthe is ok, but needs to move that staircase out of the way.  I happen to know that that kind of renovation would run approximately $10,000 so I suppose that's why they don't. The Casbah seems to be the best, of what's left, but the building is too new and I can't shake the feeling of sterility it gives off.
Ok ok, enough negativity. 
One hangover from the good ole days, that has not gone away (yet), is the 6th annual Joe Strummer tribute night. Yes, I've been talked into putting on one more before possibly putting it to bed. Year after year the city's local musicians have helped me out in paying homage to our fallen hero Joe Strummer. I could be biased, but I think that the feeling that accompanies this show is unique. Everyone is there to have a good time, and to relive the times when the Clash affected their lives. Another thing that is an unexpected burst of creativity attached to the show is the creation of FUCT bands. Now, my terminology or history might be a bit off here (and I'm not talking about any line of clothing), but I believe I read in Joey Shithead's autobiography that a FUCT band is a group that is started from members of other bands, to sort of pass the time in between gigs or tours, etc.. They are never meant to amount to much but sometimes do (I'm thinking of Rude Norton, which was a band featuring members of DOA and the Subhumans). There have been several "pick up" bands like this involved with Strummer night in the past, and the tradition seems to be growing. These bands play Strummer night and Strummer night only. So if you want to see some of your local musicians put into situations they wouldn't normally be in, possibly playing with people you've never seen on stage before, this is the night that you should break out of your cocoon and witness a great night of music.
Joe Strummer was awesome, Strummer night is awesome, and this city can be awesome.
Don't miss out.

The Hamilton Kid

Demolition City

Howdy Y'all!

Been a little sparse in the posts lately so I thought I'd fire one off.
The Steeltown Spoilers debut, opening for the Forgotten Rebels at the Casbah, was a great night. I saw some faces I hadn't seen for a while, but spent most of my time outside because the bar was just too packed. I can't recall seeing so many people at a Rebel's gig. And I was doubly surprised at the size of some of the people in the crowd, around 20 per cent of the guys there were 6-foot-5 or bigger, and Big Kyle wasn't even there. I'm not used to feeling like a shrimp at a show.
Maybe that's why I was outside.

Due to a couple physical ailments that have cropped up lately I haven't been out a whole lot lately. My time out on the town lately has been split between the Vasco De Gama Portugese Fusball Clube on James Street North or the Lionshead if it's a Wednesday night.
Me and a couple friends discovered the Portugese bar while out on the James North Art Crawl a month ago. I loved this place — $2.50 pints, lots of free salty eats to keep your thirst up, and a hundred year old ceiling that threatened to cave in on us. I've been back a few times, and will return, but I was dismayed on my last visit to see repairs being done to the roof.
The Lionshead has kind of revitalized an old piece of the Corktown. They have started booking musical acts on Wednesday evenings. But due to the limited size of the bar, the artists are mostly singer/songwriters.
This reminds me of Sunday afternoons at the Corktown on the little stage. CR Avery was a pretty rowdy show for a single perfomer to pull off, and people like Tim Gibbons, Alfie Smith, Dave Rave or the Squids are typical performers for this room.

And now a message for City Hall. This is my Christmas wish, STOP THE DEMOLITION OF OUR OLD BUILDINGS!!!
Recent casualties are the former HMP, the house at the corner of James South and Charlton (both were from the 1850s) and the Balmoral Tavern. If you look at old pictures of downtown you may realise what we have already lost. Any parking lot or new building that you walk by replaced something that was way better. I am reading a local book sold to me by Dave Kuroc (go buy Christmas presents at his store, Mixed Media, on James) called Their Town, The Mafia, The Media and the Party Machine. It is a little out of date (1979), but it casts a scathing light on the deeply corrupt power brokers of Hamilton. In reference to our loss of old buildings, this book says that 290 businesses were shut down and demolished to create Jackson Square, the Art Gallery, and the Board of  Education. Eighty-eight per cent of these buildings were built in the 1880s or earlier. Geez, I wonder why downtown is in such rough shape? We have lost far too much already to allow any more destruction.
I have thus penned a song for Hamilton, Demolition City.

Merry Christmas and come check out the Steeltown Spoilers opening for the Mickey DeSadist show January 19th at the Casbah.

Cheers!
The Hamilton Kid

(Photo Ron Albertson, The Hamilton Spectator: Balmoral  Tavern, King East and Wentworth streets.)

assorted stuff

Well, let me see. It's been a little while since I've posted. Joey Shithead didn't end up coming to town a couple weeks back. I believe he was dealing with a new Ontario agent, who didn't really understand who he was, hence the opening slot on a bill of bands I've never heard of. I was one of the elite Grant Avenue dozen (as Lou Molinaro called us in his blog) that attended the afternoon performance/recording of Pere Ubu a couple weeks back. I thought they did better in the afternoon, when everyone proceeded to get drunk. Then a couple hours off, and back at it again that night. That evening I thought they performed well at the Absinthe, but I was not able to enjoy it as I began suffering the intial onslaught of that terrible cold that was going around.

 

A little more recently I attended Wanda Jackson's performance at the Casbah. It was pretty entertaining. As I mentioned to a couple people, "Nothing like listening to a 70 year old woman sing about having sex all night long".   I hadn't listened to very much of her stuff previous to her show, but was pleasantly surprised (especially by a song done in German!). My introduction to Wanda's music is pretty ass-backwards, but shows how important she is (or how smart the Clash were). I have in my small video library, footage of the Clash performing on television in Japan during their Asain tour, just prior to their Combat Rock release. During these performances, they bring out a female singer named Pearl Harbour ( an Asian- American who I believe was dating Paul Simonon at the time) who leads the Clash through a song called Fujiama Mama. Upon reading the Spectator article I realise that this was an old Wanda Jackson song that hit #1 in Japan. I believe it may also be responsible for the begininng of the Japanese rockabilly scene.  If you read the article in the Spectator announcing her return to Hamilton, then you would also know she had an amourous relationship with Elvis Presley way back when. And that he was the one who talked her into trying her hand at rock 'n roll. I had heard that Mickey DeSadist's comment to Ms.Jackson upon meeting her for the first time was "Have you seen Elvis lately?". At this most recent show, he continued with a couple heckles to the same effect.

 

At the Wanda Jackson show, I also mentioned to Mickey that someone had put up several video clips on Youtube of the Forgotten Rebels playing in London Ontario back in ' 83. I also mentioned I was surprised at some of the cover songs they did during this performance. At the time I couldn't place the song that struck me the most, it is incorrectly labeled "Danger". I have since found out it was "Ex- Lion Tamer" by Wire. Nice one Mickey.

 

I have also recently found out that the Rebels will be playing a show at the Casbah on Friday November 23rd. I know this for two reasons: 1. the Forgotten Rebels are one of my favourite bands, and I will go see them whenever I can. 2. Me and my new band will debut as one of the opening acts! I am excited. I don't try to use this column to expound my own exploits but I believe this might qualify as local punk news. As Lou Molinaro has mentioned on his blog, we decided to end my former band the Sam Lawrence 5 a couple months ago (Look for our last song on the C+C Music Factory compilation, it's called Gary, but it is not about local uber fan Gary Daley) . I have since been working on my new solo project "The Hamilton Kid and his Steeltown Spoilers".  I only just recently got the band line up figured out (Mark Hammer-Mickey DeSadist show and Deadly Romantics, Scotty Vapid and Robo of the Vapids and Horror Biz), but when you get the call to open for the Rebels, you respond  Yes sir!

 

And lastly, I missed the Punk Rods at the Absinthe this weekend because I have just returned from a road trip down to Philadelphia to help out and support the Hammer City Roller Girls all star team. I have driven in London England and New York City, but so far the worst drive I've had to make was the Penn turnpike at night in the pouring rain. They should really invest in some streetlights. Unfortunately, our local girls lost by 20 something points to the Penn-Jersey She Devils. But, in Hamilton's defence, the fact that the American team is coached by a roller derby hall of famer, and that they use an older form of rules, really put us at a disadvantage. Too bad, because the two teams were very evenly matched otherwise.I believe our local girls have one more game in a couple weeks in Fort Wayne Indiana, maybe you should go for a drive.

 

Cheers!

The Hamilton Kid

 

Ps. That cute dark-haired girl who was voted best local yoga instructor and had her face all over the View a couple weeks ago, incurred a spiral fracture to her tibia during the game. But, I figure she should heal pretty fast because she is so loose. Chin up Danger Mouse!