T-O's Creepshow join the hordes at Vans Warped, and the Union Label's love of D-Tox
The Creepshow is primed to grab the second half of 2008 by the throat and not let go. This is not in dispute. Also indisputable is how much of this is indebted to the straight-shooting, eyes-on-the-prize focus of its lead vocalist, Sarah Sin.
"I think if you’re starting a band, you have to know what you’re going to play," she says from her home in Hogtown. "It’s like getting a tattoo – you have to know what you’re going to get, and you have to like it, because you’re going to be stuck with it."
"There’s a lot of people who start bands and complain about shit all the time, but it’s just because they’re not playing the music they want to be playing."
Born "three years or so" ago in Toronto, with roots firmly planted in the stalwart Burlington, Ontario rock and punk scene, The Creepshow’s blend of punk rock, psychobilly and horror flick moxie will be prominently displayed on the D-Tox/Union stage at this year’s Warped Tour stop in Montreal. And, though that’s nothing to sneeze at, it’s just one of many exciting things happening in Creepshowland.
Currently putting finishing touches on their upcoming LP, Run for Your Life (scheduled for release in August), the band is also preparing to support Anti-Flag on a national tour this fall. This, of course, leads to the question: Are they ready to assume the burdens of coast-to-coast fame and/or notoriety?
"I don’t feel that kind of pressure," says Sin, smartly. "We just play music. We just play songs that we like and we record them and we put them on records."
[UNION/D-TOX STAGE]
Sarah Sin and her Creepshow crew are just one reason to spend your day camped out at the D-Tox/Union stage. Pressed to give me others, Mike Magee, "label douchebag" for Montreal’s Union Label Group, makes quick with name-droppage.
"Of course The Planet Smashers will be there, because they’ve been there every year. It wouldn’t be the Union stage without them," he starts, before rattling off his stage’s other bands quicker than a hiccup. "The Saint Alvia Cartel will be there for sure. The Flatliners, Johnstones, One Night Band, Subb, The Real Deal and The Riptides."
This year is the eighth year that the Union stage has set up shop at the Warped Tour, and many people (including myself) believe it to be the best and most consistently good stage going. Magee, obviously, agrees with this statement, but takes the time to explain why.
"Honestly, besides the bands being the fuckin’ awesomest bands in the world, it’s our crew that runs with it," he says. "D-Tox being a sponsor is just huge for us. The main reason it sounds so fuckin’ good is because Sennheiser comes in and backs us up like crazy. They provide that system for free."
In addition to the bands, the Union stage will feature a veritable horn o’ plenty of consumables, with Union at least partly following Sennheiser’s lead where generosity’s concerned.
"There’ll be merch central, sponsors, the usual hoopla," says Magee. "We’ll be giving away free shit too, but mostly we’ll be trying to sell shit. We’ll have our legendary toonie tent back, [which is] where we try to clean out the basement."
Vans Warped Tour
w/ The Creepshow, Against Me!, Pennywise, From First To Last, Every Time I Die, Angels & Airwaves and more…
At Parc Jean-Drapeau, July 20
Lineup info: www.warpedtour.com/warpedtour/bands.asp
2 comments
Here’s the scoop. I went to this concert because I had won tickets here on Hour & not because I would have purposely went & bought tickets on my own, simply because I’m a classic rock type of guy & not necessarily a punk rock guy. Nontheless, I appreciate all types of music, this since my body is RHYTHM driven!
Well, the music was kinda okay I guess but there was one band that was F’ing incredible (didn’t get the name as I was too busy partying). These guys were tight like mad and even blasted out an excellent horns type sound with at least 2 of the guys on horns during many of their last songs. They were bloody good! In fact, if they didn’t get invited to the Jazz Fest next year, I wouldn’t be surprised… that’s Montreal for you.
One thing I MUST mention was how I observed people were being treated here at the concert by the front gate staff. Firstly, even though everyone knew it was going to rain and still bought tickets to support and come and see the show… and of course brought their umbrellas… our umbrellas were being confiscated / denied entry as the gate staff were telling us that they were weapons. So, needless to say… although Montreal tries very hard to promote such events (to attempt to portray to the world that Montreal is an open and people friendly city…) you can come here as a tourist and support our economy by spending your hard earned dollars here… but remember one thing… IF YOU COME TO MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA – BE READY TO ALLOW US TO BURST YOUR BUBBLE ENTIRELY, this as we throw you outside for an event / concert or otherwise and FORCE you to enjoy the show… WHILE RAIN POURS DOWN SOAKING YOU COMPLETELY! No matter your age (old and fragile…) OR gender, be prepared for our hospitality AS IT IS IGNORANT AND NARROW MINDED!
WHILE THE GATE STAFF TOOK AWAY EVERYONE’S UMBRELLAS AS THEY ENTERED … THE GATE STAFF DID SO WHILE BEING PROTECTED FROM THE RAIN BY THEIR OWN UMBRELLAS THEY WERE USING THE ENTIRE TIME TO KEEP THEM DRY!
I am from Toronto and The Creepshow are great altough our fair city doesn’t show them the appreciation they enjoy in Europe. They are like NO DOUBT from Hell.
I included a song from THE CREEPSHOW on my podcast, devoted to Canadian content on Warped Tour and a listener was just asking me who was that band and what was that song?
http://www.indiecan.com/94IndieCanRadio.mp3
Also, there’s some great pictures of Vans Warped tour (Toronto show) at http://www.indiecan.com/reviews.htm
The Creepshow are on the road, so check their web site and get out and see them. It’s a treat.
And John, the band with the horn section might have been Montreal’s ONE NIGHT BAND, one of Canada’s great Ska bands.
Cheers,
Joe C