Pool Boy

Bio-Engineers, Swamp Monsters, And Serial Killers

The second night of INCLINEΔDECLINE began with an all noise-math-punk lineup at Silence. I arrived just in time to see Baby Labour play their last two songs. These cats were so frenetic and crazed it was giving the crowd a case of the giggles. Pool Boy followed things up with some inspired 90’s pop-punk scuzzed out with psycho-fected vocals. I Smell Blood played their signature math-scum, at once blowing minds and eardrums. Badminton Racquet is a new band from Guelph and deliver math crust laden with psych-pop hooks. They unleash alien freakuencies from another dimension–the product of writing songs while donning tinfoil hats. Their last song sounded like an NES alien boss fight from Contra.

Then it was off to Van Gogh’s for another noise attack, starting with some Guelph hardcore from Boar. Second up was VCR. I knew next to nothing about them, other than the one tune I heard on the IΔD compilation. They were a huge surprise–one of those delightful discoveries you only find once in a while. Dressed like bio-engineers, swamp monsters, and serial killers, this band delivered one of the best sets of the festival so far. Between their no-wave punk blasts and schizophrenic banter, I just couldn’t keep my eyes off this crew of freaks. VCR, please be a band forever.

The crowd really opened up for Hamilton’s Black Baron. Their drummer absolutely rips. He hits so hard, he broke his snare drum in the first song. TV Freaks came up to the stage to wrap up another night of Guelph depravity. It’s always a pleasure seeing the freaks do their thing. The crowd was going bonkers while the boys blasted through a killer set.

We’ve got a long day ahead of us– take care of yourselves, and see you at Brian Schirks’ mom’s house!

Kevin Brasier recently moved to Ontario from Sackville N.B., and is currently working for Weird Canada. Check out the record label he co-founded in Sackville, Killer Haze Records. - Kevin Brasier/