I will do early on, my favorite band from Canada, going to do this one in a few parts.. this is part 1, focusing on the early years and BYO releases.

SNFU

Formed in 1981 in Edmonton, AB... one of their first songs being a critique of Quincy, an episode called "Next Stop, Nowhere" about the dangers of punk rock.

"Don't be Fooled by the Media hype, actors on coke don't know what its like, so don't come to our gigs looking for fights, go grab a brain, the medias insane!"


can watch the episode here if so inclined
https://vimeo.com/11340437

Another song soon after, being from the BYO compilation, Something to Believe in, called "Womanizer", a song that fought macho sexism and its culture, one of the first songs written by the band to tackle this...



another few compiltion songs (such as Poor Poor Pitiful Me, a Warren Zevon cover, from the It Came from the Pit comp) they released their debut album "And No One Else Wanted to Play" on BYO Records, the original cover featuring Grenade Boy from a picture by Diane Arbus, who would send a cease and desist, causing them to change it a few times, a total of about 4 covers are available, the last one being most famous now.


Next album for BYO was "If You Swear You'll Catch No Fish", the title coming from a fortune cookie that Ken "Mr. Chi Pig" got while eating at an Edmonton chinese restaurant, and after this started the seven word title for full length albums. The album was a departure from the first, being more experimental, but featured some of their best moments for me, Dave Bacon and Jon Card in the line up was great. They released a video for "Black Cloud", but I would go with this song as my favorite cut


This would be their last album for BYO, before moving to Cargo Records on the next few releases.


Also known for ther amazingly energetic and crazy live shows, here are a few things to view




and an audio only performance with a few songs played live, not on albums

I first heard these guys on a compilation album back in 1981 or 82. Can't remember the title of the album or the song (or songs) but they stuck in my mind for some reason...

Propagandhi were well-respected in the “scene” during my punk days.

ah yes, out of Hamilton, Ont, maybe the most well known after Teenage Head.

I like them as time went on, How to Clean... was my introduction, liked it at the time, but kinda seems like they were going for a NOFX sound, while aftert that they came into their own.

This song makes some reference to my city though, Parkland Mall is a mall here..

Another big name band, obvious

Dayglo Abortions

Formed in Victoria, BC.. they released their first "Out of the Womb" in 1980


This song later covered by Guttermouth as well, under the title I Used to be 20


From there they played around, before releasing their maybe most famous album, "Feed Us a Fetus"


Soon after they would release "Here Today, Guano Tomorrow" which added a more metal approach to their previous album, longer songs and different production, though stull having some of their trademark lyrics, also had some more serious stuff as well..

Then even made a video for the title track


This album also lead them to have their records seen as obscene, and a local story came out, where they tried to have it banned, record siezed and obscenity charges were filed against the label and band


Their next album "Two Dogs ****ing" followed and they even lampooned this on the track "Isnt this Disgusting"


This song also covered by GWAR for a tribute album




From here they would release a fair bit more of material, Murray leaving the band for a time and being replaced by Gymbo, who released a few albums with the band, and carried it on, I liked his era, but not as much as Murray


They put out a few albums and then Murray returned to the band, even doing one album with Gymbo as well. They still continue to tour and record.

Easily one of my favorite bands as well to come out of Canadian Punk.

I got to see Dayglo Abortions live once

They are good guys, Murray took me outside to smoke bubble hash once and was really friendly and cool. He is a smarter guy than some give him credit for.

I was gonna mention Dayglo

Curious George

Not really a lot to say about them, they were short lived, and put out one album, but oh man what an album! a super fun Punk album with good humor and interesting lyrics (though I can live without the Pink Floyd cover tbh).

Dirty Kurt was a member of this band, he would go onto playing with The JP5, The Real McKenzies and SNFU, though he never appeared on any studio recordings for the latter.

Well worth the time to listen to this one, the opening track "Pitbull Attack" is one of the classics, as well as the song "Safe Sex", which is a fun song with some hilarious lyrics. Give it a listen and see how it treats you.






Bonus of Kurt from his SNFU days, playing the guitar here


and a couple Real McKenzies song for good measure