December 7, 2024 – Barfly, Montreal, Canada
A newcomer to the Montreal hardcore, composed of veterans of the discipline, played their first ever live show tonight in an absolute whole in the wall dive bar that is known as the Barfly. Although on looks alone, the Barfly looks to be absolute dump, but its place in Montreal’s vibrant live music scene goes back a hell of a long way, making it a key cog in an incredible music scene.
Along for the ride, were two other young Montreal bands that like Big Boss, are composed of scene veterans. Ain’t Right who have recently dropped their debut release through Pils Records, while Random Assault released their self-titled debut earlier this year. Tonight was to be an energetic romp in a small bar, consisting of bands that have yet to make their mark. Yet. Being the key word.
See Also: Soul Asylum at Bronson Centre, Ottawa
As is normally the case during the winter months, shows at the Barfly don’t start until the Habs game is over – which suited me just fine, as it gave me a chance to catch up with friends as well as watch the Montreal Canadiens. The home town heroes had taken a quick two goal lead, but then surrendered four straight goals in a lose to the Washington Capitals. Such is life.
Ain’t Right
Over on the small, shin-high stage, Ain’t Right were plugging in and getting ready to get the night started. Not to be confused with the Ain’t Rights, who were a fictional DC hardcore punk band that starred in the movie Green Room. Although, maybe the name was influenced by that movie; you’d have to ask them – either way, Montreal’s Ain’t Right are off on the right and bound to start making waves real soon. If their name is borrowed from Green Room, you have to admit that’s genius level marketing.
Up on stage, a few inches higher than the crowd, Ain’t Right rapidly ploughed through a frenetic set, leaving little time between tracks for anyone to catch a breath. Heavy on the dirty rock n’ roll, as if the Dead Boys had been an Oi band – a sound that is right up my alley. Both melodic and grimey, with sing-a-long choruses and a overall high-energy kick in the bollocks aesthetic, Ain’t Right are going places. Well, if there’s justice that is. (No justice, no peas… something like that.)
Random Assault
There’s a definite Cocksparer influence flowing through Random Assault – most notably through the guitar tone and chords. That high pitch twang that ‘Sparer did so well, you know what I’m talking about. And while I’m sure people reading this are sighing, because there are so many bands that have tried to follow on the Cocksparer sound (and let’s be honest, they have to be the most influential band the Oi scene has ever and will ever have) but listen, Random Assault make it their own and worth the time it takes to listen to what they’re doing.
Ending off their quick set with a ripping cover of Menace’s G.L.C (a song I somehow always thought was called Guilty, for some weird fucking reason) turned out to be a great decision, as it had all of us older types yelling the lyrics to the Oi classic back at the band. In all the years I have been coming out to shows at this tiny little whole in the wall, this was surely the loudest moment I have ever heard from it. If you’re curious, the G.L.C cover is also they last track on Random Assault’s self-titled EP which can be found on bandcamp (I’m such a nice cunt that I’ve linked it here for you.)
Big Boss
Big Boss is the brain child of Scott Golyardi, who wrote all the instrumental and lyrical aspects of the band’s debut EP, Skinhead Revenge, while his main band Offside were on a temporary pause. Now, if that name sounds familiar, that’s more than likely because Golyardi is behind many of the punk, hardcore and oi recordings that take place in this city; a prolific sound engineer. He’s also played in more bands than I can count, so there’s that aspect too.
On Skinhead Revenge, Golyardi took aim at things and people that irk him in the social construct of this city and in general – but live, to my amazement, Big Boss featured not one, but three vocalists on stage together. Well, one on the stage and two in the crowd, because the stage at the Barfly is pretty fucking small. Semantics. Golyardi took his time recruiting a variable who’s who of local Oi and hardcore stalwarts in putting together his new band, and the result is instantly recognizable.
Composed of current and former members of Offside, King Cans, Ain’t Right and more that I’m either too lazy or too old to recall at this minute (you pick), and Golyardi on the guitar and vocals as opposed to behind the drum set where you’d usually find him.
Things got a little rowdy, having two of the three vocalists in the crowd with the rest of us, and with very little room in the room as it is, you danced. No choice. The crowd moved and you went with it, doing your best not to spill your pint – because that’s a paddlin’.
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By the time the dust had settled inside, the first snow of the season had begun to fall outside – which, by far, was the worst thing that happened that night. What can you do when you live in the frozen North. Still, the lights were still on inside and the pints still flowing which meant that the party wasn’t over yet. Not by a long shot.
If you missed out on all the fun, that’s on you – but the good news is that Big Boss have been confirmed for the upcoming 2025 edition of Montreal Oi fest, alongside giants such as Peter And The Test Tube Babies, The Beltones and more. That’s a weekend you simply can’t miss.