Profiling music from our own backyard.

A8

Chuck Teed

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Capital city punk

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Mike Parks' fondest teenage memories were attached to Fredericton punk rock shows. Now 28, Parks is creating similar memories for a new generation of concert goers.

The Saint Thomas University student is organizing Freddyfest, an all-day, all-ages event that features punk rock bands from around Eastern Canada. The show takes place at The Capital Winter Club August 26, and includes performances by 11 bands, including Hard Charger, EI, Left Hand Path, and The Sea Divides.

"I basically wanted to try and get as wide a representation of punk/hardcore/metal as I could," says Parks. "Originally it was going to be a five band show, but I added The Wishlist and Come Clean to the bill as they had a few nights fall through on them. As someone who's had that happen to them while on tour I know how much it sucks, so I decided I'd throw them on." Recently returning to Fredericton after a stint in Halifax, Parks hopes Freddyfest will revive the punk scene in the capital city. A long-time promoter and musician "" he performed in The Scapegoatz, Raygunnomics, and currently performs in Left Hand Path "" Parks notes that similar efforts gave the Halifax scene a shot in the arm.

"A few years back when the hardcore scene was on the wane in Halifax Mike Scarth [vocalist for Risky Business] decided to put on a big all-day show at the Pavilion featuring the best in punk/hardcore/metal bands in Halifax," recalls Parks. "That show was a huge success, and I think it was a contributing factor to the strong hardcore scene that exists in Halifax today." No matter what happens with the show, Parks will be happy if he shares some awe inspiring moments with Fredericton teens. Consider it giving back to the punk rock community.

"The first show I ever went to was an all-ages gig at the Pyramid Warehouse in the Wilsey Road Industrial Park," he says. "That show sold me on punk rock forever. I remember getting this feeling I'd found where I belonged. If this goes well I'd love for it to become a regular event."

Nuclear launch

The Nuclear's debut album is finally getting a proper release party. The Moncton punk trio dropped the disc in stores earlier this summer, but haven't had a chance to celebrate the launch until now. The shindig is set for August 22 at The Paramount, and guitarist/vocalist Marco Rocca can't wait.

"Although I've been playing in bands for years, releasing a CD on my own is pretty new to me," admits Rocca. "I'm still learning how to properly promote it. The album hit local stores early July, but by the time I knew it would be ready I wasn't able to get the venue I wanted, and I didn't want to hold off on selling the album any longer. Instead of a CD release show, I like to think of it more as a party to celebrate the fact that it's finally here."

Based on the band's MySpace previews, the disc is worth the wait. Completed by bassist/vocalist Pak Twisted and drummer Tommy Antle, The Nuclear mixes roots rock and four to the floor punk to create some of the tastiest songs coming out of New Brunswick this year. Rocca initially started the band as a solo project "" he also performs with heavy hitters Hope "" but says the songwriting has evolved into a collaborative effort.

"They're also both very creative," says Marco about Twisted and Antle. "I show them the songs and they help make the music. Me and Pak also seem to be connecting a little more on song writing. Sometimes we don't agree with where a song should go, but I can't think of a time when it ended up in a place we all didn't love." Rocca hopes fans love the CD release show. The Latefallen and MadCowBoys will open the festivities, and Rocca says a special surprise is in store for those who attend. Don't ask him for details, though.

"If I told you.....well, you know," he says. "It wouldn't be a surprise."

A foggy departure

John Mazerolle is relocating to Toronto at the end of the month, but the local comedian/reporter doesn't plan on going quietly.

Mazerolle stars in Faster, Higher, Stronger, Foggier, a 90-minute look at Saint John from an insider's perspective. Written by Mazerolle who has worked for just about every media outlet in the city, including [here], the performance will allow the 31-year-old rant comedic about the Port City before his big move.

"It's some of my CBC commentaries, some self-contained sketches, and my brother [Andrew Mazerolle of the Fedoras] is doing musical vignettes," says Mazerolle about the event, which takes place at A Khord August 21 and 22. "I guess the closest thing you could compare it to is the Vinyl Cafe, but the humour is nothing like it. I talk about the energy hub, the Irving family, and the fact that we're all fat and smoking."

The two nights of comedy will serve as a warm up for Mazerolle, who will spend the next two years knee deep in humour at Humber College. It'll be a welcome change of pace for the Telegraph Journal City Hall reporter, and he's looking forward to the move.

"For 10 years I was a freelancer for the most part, and I could make about half my wages on comedy," he says. "Then I got married and realized I needed to work five days a week, but I didn't like to do serious stuff all that much. I literally went to Google and typed in comedy school, and the only post-secondary school was Humber.

"I look forward to going. I need to go someplace where I can network and be around people who are better than me. I can feed off of them, and they can look me in the eye and tell me I suck.