By Glen Ess (The Cascade) – Email
Last Saturday saw the SUB play host to its first punk show. Following hot on the heels of Friday’s “Big Bang,” which also featured live music. The “I don’t know punk rock show” was organized by Red Tape productions, who have also been responsible for shows at the Church Basement in downtown Abbotsford, as well as CIVL radio and the Pride Collective.
The show featured performances by the Silent Screamers, Nic Fit, REDS, Like Bears, and to close the show, student rapper Josh Goodman.
With the Vancouver-based REDS being the only band from outside the Fraser Valley, the event served as an effective demonstration of the Valley’s punk rock scene.
Openers the Silent Screamers were evocative of metal / punk hybrids such as Discharge and the Misfits.
Nic Fit fell more in line with an earlier form of punk rock, such as Dead Boys and the Ramones. If Nic Fit lead singer Lex Icon had longer hair, he could have passed off as a Joey Ramone impersonator — Milne’s performance was eccentric, over the top, and highly enjoyable.
REDS were similar to Nic Fit, though their experience meant their approach to the show was more restrained, the quartet hardly breaking a sweat through their set.
Like Bears served as an interlude, as they followed the three more aggressive acts. With pop influences and a more happy-go-lucky vibe, the Chilliwack-based band featured an impressive cover of George Michael’s “Careless Whisper.”
The night’s closer, Josh Goodman, an aspiring hip-hop artist, also performed at the previous night’s Big Bang. While his act was very different from the rest of the night’s lineup, it was a reminder of the Valley’s musical diversity.
