May 12, 2024
It’s quite astonishing really, to think that the Bunchofuckingoofs are still around and kicking in the year 2024. Established back in 1983, the Bunchofuckingoofs are one of Canada’s eldest hardcore punk bands, and while they keep breaking up and playing final shows – they keep rising from the grave time after time for one more show, one more tour, one more reason to swill copious amounts of beer and hang out with likeminded people.
Here we are, at the Foufounes Electriques four decades later and while Crazy Steve Goof, the bands founder and singer, might be the only original member left – everything else is still pretty much as it has always been. Loud, raw and drenched in beer.
See Also: GWAR at Bronson Centre Music Theatre, Ottawa
I can’t remember when the last time I saw the Bunchofuckingoofs was – but whenever it was, it was too long ago. The older I get, and the older these bands get, I appreciate getting to see them all that much more. Will this be the last time I get to see whatever band is on stage before me? Who knows. I’m going to make sure to enjoy every moment I do get doing this is the best it can be. Life won’t wait.
Tonight was a night filled with local talent. Opening the night, was Montreal’s C.I.D.B — or Catapulting Infected Dead Bodies — which I have to say is one of the greatest band names from recent years. I almost left the show with a shirt, partially because they ripped off Bolt Thrower’s logo, and I love Bolt Thrower, but also for the name and fact they’re a fun band to see live. Instead, I decided to allot my measly pittance on beer instead. Tall boys of Pabst Blue Ribbon. Crazy Steve Goof would have wanted it that way. At least I think he would have.
On stage, singer Jay Mahjs stomped about in army boots and a ridiculous rimmed hat, sunglasses and a Hawaiian shirt and brought a lot of energy to the show whilst the rest of the band just sort of stood there, looking bored but doing their thing. The contrast was pretty amusing and while I’m not sure if it was planned that way, it sure added to what they do.
Following them, was High Anxiety, a three-piece out of Stone Mills, Ontario who also have a highly energetic singer. Playing a blend of crust punk with D-beat hardcore influences and maybe a wee tint of grindcore in there too, High Anxiety brought a more serious tone to the evening than that of C.I.D.B. At one point, the band’s singer wrapped her microphone cable around her neck and began to choke herself – which was pretty brutal to witness.
Capping their set off with a cover of Police Bastard by the great Doom was just what my upstart heart wanted to be fed on a night like this, and I sang along with them, then chugged the rest of my beer and throw the can on the floor. Then I picked up the can because it wasn’t nice of me to have thrown on the floor in the first place, and took it back to the bar and got myself another one. Why not.
For the second time in as many weeks, I found myself watching locals Unwanted Noise on this very stage. Last time, they were opening up Oi Fest where they played a solid set – and so they did tonight as well. Following the nights trend, Unwanted Noise too have a rather energetic frontman; a theme that continued all through the night. Unwanted Noise are always entertaining and fun.
The final local act of the night, The Ruffianz, took to the stage next and proved themselves proficient in their craft. The crowd in turn dashed into the mosh pit, causing a frenzy and further fueling the band. Symmetry. Like Unwanted Noise, The Ruffianz have been kicking about local venues for some time now, and are well known and liked in this city. Bands of this ilk prove that punk is alive and well in la belle province – even if it is kept to the underground secret spots like Traxide and Batiment 7 – and that is exactly how this sort of thing should be.
I was impressed by the level of song writing that The Ruffianz brought to the stage and found myself thoroughly emerged in their sound. This is one of the many local acts I’ll need to keep an eye on as they progress.
New Jersery’s The Parasitix played the penultimate slot of the evening, and sang a whole lot of songs about beer and being addicted to beer; which made me want more beer. So I had a few more beers. Because why not.
Frontman Knucklehead Tom spent a fair amount of their set chatting to the crowd and jokingly arguing with his bandmates which was as amusing change of pace between the breakneck speed of their tunes. Tunes about beer, mostly. We’ve established that already, I know.
I overheard Steve telling an audience member that he was official retired now, and had started collecting his pension having turned 65 years old recently – and that hit home. The bands I grew up listening to are senior fucking citizens now. Still, given the performance that Crazy Steve and his Goofs went on to perform, you wouldn’t have been able to tell this was a man closer to a retirement home than to a punk rock show – and I wouldn’t be brave enough to tell him that myself either.
On stage, the Goofs charged through their back catalogue, hitting tunes from throughout their notorious discography – and although there were no televisions smashed on stage as there would have been back in the day, the band looked, felt and sounded pretty much as good as they ever have. Still raucous, still loud and certainly still fun.
Their energy reflected about the stage, down into the crowd and up to the balcony where I like to perch myself these days. Maybe it was the copious amount of beers I had sunk throughout the night, but I was finding myself enjoying the crap out of this set – as I had every band that had played before them; which isn’t the case very often.
The generational gap between the bands that played tonight – and those that came out to watch them, probably spanned four decades, yet we are all united by similar ideologies, punk rock music… and beer. It’s a beautiful thing.
