This list is arranged in alphabetical order by band, with label and date provided if known, plus a brief synopsis of each band.
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING (Halifax, 1995?-1997?)
Absolutely Nothing (cassette) (1996?)
Absolutely Nothing (cassette) (1997?)
Fast, poppy, and the songwriting rules! These tapes are both really cool. The first has some sweet originals and a rockin cover of "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun," but the second is even better, I think. Yeah, they're both self-titled but they're two different albums, no overlapping songs. Derrick from the Chitz played on the second tape. The singer and drummer of this band are now pursuing the brass ring as members of Plumtree.
ASSCRIBED (Cape Breton, sometime- present)
Cassette
CD (1999)
Emo-hardcore from Industrial Cape Breton. First they had a tape out, and now they have a CD. I don't know much about these guys but they were pretty good at the one show I saw them at.
THE BUILD-UPS (Dartmouth, sometime- present)
Super Woofer (cassette) (1997?)
Seems like these guys have been around forever, but I've never seen them play. Judging by the tape, they're a solid skate-punkish kind of band with a tight, polished sound and talented players.
THE CHITZ (Halifax, 1993- spring '98)
Not the Shits, Moron (cassette) (1995?)
Split 7" with the Moaning Lisas (1996?)
Split LP with the Readymen (1996?)
Break the Cycle (LP) (Sub Profit, 1997?)
Split 7" with Existench (1998)
One of the most popular Halifax bands ever, the Chitz did quite a bit of recording and touring, and left behind a pretty solid recorded legacy. The first cassette is something of a Nova Scotia classic, hard and fast but more melodic than their later releases, and has some of their best songs. The split with the Moaning Lisas has four really good songs, while the split LP with the Readymen has some songs from the first tape plus some new ones. After that they began exploring more hardcore territory, with the dark, angry Break the Cycle LP and the final split with Existench. The band's core line-up was singer Cara MacDonald, guitarist Richard Lafortune (owner of Sub Profit Records), bassist Ian Hart (later with Equation of State) and drummer Derrick Hiltz.
THE DEAD ROADS (Halifax, 1999-present)
Murder in the Trees (cassette) (1999)
Super raunch beer and weed rock. One of the best, strangest and most original bands I've ever seen. The tape rules too, even though it's not too well produced. Somebody said they were a spinoff of the Holiday Snaps? Is this true?
THE DEEP THROATS (Mahone Bay, 1997?-present)
Slide Down My Pole (cassette) (1998?)
Raunchy porno punk from the South Shore. You just gotta love these guys, especially live. The tape has got some wicked songs, but the production values are pretty low. However, I think they have a CD coming out, and I'll be first in line.
DONNER PARTY REUNION (Halifax, early 1990's)
When I Was Young (cassette) (No Records, 1994?)
Legendary melodic punk band, who among other sings did a wicked cover of "Farewell to Nova Scotia." The earliest Halifax punk band I know about, which basically serves to illustrate the fact that I don't know much about anything before 1996. I never saw them but the tape rocks out. I wonder what they're doing now.
DRY LEAF (Halifax, 1994?-present)
Three Bucks and a Can of Food (cassette EP) (1995)
We're Serious (cassette) (1997)
On the Road Again (1 song on comp) (Raw Energy, 1997)
The Day the Turkeys Took Over (CD) (Labeled, 1999)
A long-serving, melodic punk band from Cole Harbour. The two cassettes are fun, poppy, catchy and well-produced. The song "Nothing to Say" from the second tape appeared on a Raw Energy CD comp. I haven't heard the CD but I've heard them play some of the songs live, and they're by far the best stuff that Dry Leaf has done, in my opinion.
EQUATION OF STATE (Halifax, fall '97- spring '99)
Exploded View (CD) (Sub Profit, 1998)
During their brief existence, Equation of State ruled the NS hardcore scene and brought legions of new fans to the genre before breaking up suddenly in the spring of 1999. They toured all over the place (including Nictaux) and always put the message before the music. Included former members of FYM and the Chitz.
F.Y.M. (Halifax, 1996?-1998?)
7" (1997?)
A much-loved, superb skate punk band. They broke up and re-formed a couple of times, but this is the only release I know of. It's really cool. Members of Equation of State, but a totally different sound.
HECTIC (Greenwood, fall '97-fall '99)
Hectic (cassette) (1998)
Ska punk from the Valley. These guys were all Greenwood scene veterans who were really good, but never got the recognition they deserved. There's a couple of Op Ivy covers on this tape to go with the half-dozen or so originals.
JELLYFISH BABIES (Halifax, 1980's)
Jellyfish Babies (LP) (1986)
The only NS punk band of the 80's that I've ever heard about (I'm sure there were tons more...) I haven't heard anything by them, but the fact that they released an LP attests to their potential significance... Anybody who knows more about them, feel free to send me some email.
LAST FEW YEARS (Halifax, 1999- present)
And We Thought We Were (cassette EP) (1999)
A Second to Explain (CD) (2000)
A very cool, darkly melodic emo-ish band who are quickly building a following in the Halifax punk scene. Formerly known as Kids on Coffee.
LED BY REGRET (Halifax, 1997?- present)
CD (1999)
I haven't heard this CD and don't know what it's called but I've seen them a few times...Led by Regret are a popular and talented emo-harcore band with a strong local following.
THE LEWINSKYS (Middleton, fall '98- present)
Stop, Drop and Rock n' Roll (CD) (Nov 1999)
The Lewinskys have risen to become one of the most important bands in the NS pop punk scene. They bring a unique approach to their fast, fun teenage anthems.
THE QUAHOGS (Halifax, early 90's)
Glaze (7") (1993)
I know nothing about the Quahogs except that they once existed, and have a
7" to their credit. Sounds interesting. Anybody know more?
SAWBELLY (Greenwood, 1992?-1995)
Insulted (cassette) (1994)
Philip (cassette EP) (1994)
Possibly the first Valley punk band, definitely the first punk band I ever saw live, and absolutely a cool group. These guys really had their own sound, sorta like the Nobodys meets late period Minor Threat, I guess. They also opened for NOFX at Cafe Ole (the Punk in Drublic tour, I think). "Insulted" has ten listed songs plus some hidden stuff. "Philip" has less songs but is slightly better in my opinion, and has two alternate versions of their most popular song, Fly Girl. (Insulted contains the original version). They broke up when a couple of the members moved to BC or somewhere.
THE SETBACKS (Halifax, 1998?- present)
Information Libre (CD) (1999)
These guys rock out completely and everybody should go see them 'cause they rock, and all their songs rule. There, I'm done.
77 IMPALA SPECIAL (Cape Breton, ?- present)
Split cassette with Tilted (1999)
Punk rock from Cape Breton. Judging from the tape, they sound pretty cool.
SLUMP (Kentville, 1998?- present)
CD (Nov 1999)
A new-school band from the Valley who released their first CD in November of 1999. I haven't heard it, but judging by their live show, it should be cool.
TILTED (Cape Breton, 1994?- present)
Split cassette with 77 Impala Special (1999)
Skate punk from CB, I saw them once and they were very impressive. The tape is cool though not overly well produced.
THE YOUNG OFFENDERS (Middleton, fall '97- summer '99)
First Offense (cassette) (Artificial Life, Mar 1998)
First Offence (CD) (Magnetic, Dec 1998)
Former pop punk band from the Valley, of which I was a member. The cassette and the CD are completely different recordings. Some of the songs on the tape were re-recorded for the CD, along with some other songs. The CD is better than the tape, for what it's worth. Some people seem to like this stuff, personally though, I'm movin on.
