Although you might have never met Victor Beaudoin, you know him. We all do. Every scene has a young talented guitar player, willing to join or fill in for yet another band, no matter the style, despite already playing in a slew of bands of his own. For a few years, Victor seemed to be the glue holding many Montreal Punk and Hardcore bands together. While he may have slowed the pace recently but his current main project, new wave/80’s alternative influenced Mundy’s Bay, is perhaps his most intricate and accomplished band yet. But don’t count him out of the heavy music game either, there is too much of it in him. Could 2019 mark the return of Nuke? Time will tell.
-Ben F.
Name five songs that you consider “perfect songs” and explain why or what they mean to you.
Sonic Youth – Total Trash (Daydream Nation, 1988)
Everything i love about Sonic Youth in one song. Catchy and melodic guitars, sweet drums, and a crazy noise part. I got an even deeper connection to this track, but it will remain a mystery!
Bruce Springsteen – Atlantic City (Nebraska)
Nebraska is the only Springsteen record i listen to on a regular basis. This song is perfect. Simple instrumentation, catchy storyline and lyrics. Can’t really go wrong with that!
Nick Cave – Mercy Seat (Tender Prey, 1986)
My favorite Nick Cave song. The song grows with him, it’s awesome to see him perform it even today, it feels like he wrote it recently even though it’s over 30 years old now.
Ramones – Rockaway Beach (Rocket To Russia)
Of course the Ramones were gonna be up here. This is just one of their many perfect songs. I feel like i still relate to it, over a decade after hearing it for the first time. Pretty cool!
Total Control – Safety Net (Tropical System, 2015)
I wanted to put a more recent song on here because it warms my heart to remember that perfect songs are still written everyday. When Safety Net pops in at the end of Total Control’s Tropical System, it is the perfect ending for one of the best record to have come out post-2000. It might be the most simple song on the album, but the way it closes everything is just brilliant. Highly recommended band, if you haven’t check them out!
Which music genre do you listen to the most?
I am going to have a hard time answering this. I guess my main focus will always be somewhat related to Punk/Post-Punk, but it changes with the weather, the people I’m hanging out with and my general environment. Some friends of mine have been playing me old Disco songs all summer and i loved it. Some other friends introduce me to new Extreme Music, and i love it too. It’s all a matter of time and place for me. That’s the beauty of music, it can fit almost any mood or situation.
Top 5 favorite Montreal Hardcore demos/EP, post 2000
Omegas – Demo
OMEGAS hold a special place in my heart. I had recently got into hardcore and they were the first band in Montreal that really made me feel like i had found the shows i wanted to go to. Their gigs back then were always crazy, and that demo is a great representation of their sound that became somewhat legendary with the couple EPs and both LPs that came after.
Final Word – Fools Like You
Simple riffs, simple lyrics. The best record to go off to.
Plus Minus – Demo 09
The first time i saw PLUS MINUS, i didn’t get it. I did end up seeing them play so much that they became one of my favorite Montreal bands. The rawness of this demo is untouchable. They created what they wanted to hear, it was a special place and a special time. Reading the LIFERS zine also shaped my musical journey. I think they represented what was so special about Montreal, the music, the culture, everything. It will never be the same as any other city.
F.I.T.S – Demo
I could have put anything Max Gosselin has been involved in for the past 4 years, but i have to go with the F.I.T.S demo. These guys came FRESH with this tape a few years ago, and to me they kind of kickstarted a new wave of bands that make Montreal a real cool place for punk and hardcore right now. F.I.T.S is gone now but those guys play in a million bands, you probably won’t stop seeing them anytime soon.
Vile Intent – Demo
The first time i saw VILE INTENT was in a military legion in NDG, right by my current apartment. They were advertised as “Montreal’s New Powerviolence Sensation”. They were. From watching their shows and getting into their music, i discovered INFEST, DROPDEAD and so many others. I enjoyed every time i saw them and it still sounds good today!
What’s the album you’ve listened to the most in your life? Do you still listen to it?
I think the album i have listened to the most must be Harvest by NEIL YOUNG. A perfect record. I do not listen to it as much as i used to, but i do every now and then. I much prefer Zuma now, because i can get everything i love about Neil Young, the harshness, the beauty and the jams all in one record as opposed to Harvest which is more mellow. So yes I still do listen to it, but i try to vary my Neil Young records as much as I can so I don’t grow tired of listening to them.
Do you have an absolute all time favorite band or musical artist? What makes them so special to you?
I think Sonic Youth will forever be my favorite band now. They are such a vast and interesting band, more on the intellectual level than on the party tales. They were interested in everything happening around them, kept busy playing music with all types of people for all types of music and kept a good eye on the art scene as well. They didn’t go crazy on the drugs and everything, they kept creating and expanding their horizons. Following their history is a great way to discover interesting stuff from all over, and I don’t think I’ll ever grow tired of that.
What are your ten favourite albums of all time (all genres)? Name a standout track on each of these albums.
Sonic Youth – Evol (1986)
Standout track: Shadow of A Doubt
My favorite Sonic Youth record.
Iron Age – The Sleeping Eye (2009)
Standout track: Burden Of Empire
Riffs on riffs without being cheesy. This record is not getting older.
Discharge – Never Again (1984)
Standout track: Born To Die In The Gutter
It was very hard to pick a standout track of this absolute beast of a compilation. I got the artwork tattooed on me !
Neil Young – Zuma (1975)
Standout track: Drive Back
Picked this track because it wasn’t too obvious, but also because it rocks.
The Smiths – Meat Is Murder (1985)
Standout track: I Want The One I Can’t Have
Johnny Marr is one of my guitar-gods. His autobiography is a good read too!
New Order -Brotherhood (1986)
Standout track: Angel Dust
A great album that is much more than “Bizarre Love Triangle”.
Oasis – Definitely Maybe (1994)
Standout track: Slide Away
Somehow I come back to this record more than Morning Glory. Slide Away is such a powerful song, I never get tired of it.
The Velvet Underground & Nico – The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967)
Standout track: N/A this record is to be listened all the way through!
The Ramones (1977) – Rocket To Russia
Standout track: Rockaway Beach
Hard to pick a favorite Ramones album, but there it is.
Television – Marquee Moon (1976)
Standout track: Marquee Moon
Favorite 10 minute track? Maybe. Although technically 9:58…
What were you listening to in elementary school? then in high school? How have your musical tastes evolved since?
The band that really kick-started my music journey has to be NIRVANA. Even though I had already an interest in music thanks to my parents (they both took me to different shows, ranging from AUT’CHOSE to INDOCHINE and THE STRANGLERS at a very early age), Nirvana is the band that changed everything for me. The guitar playing seemed accessible and honest, the band looked cool, the tragedy surrounding it… it was a perfect match for a kid to nerd out, and then find out about different bands. Early on, reading Kurt Cobain interviews i got into SONIC YOUTH, BLACK FLAG, THE MELVINS and so many others. To this day I feel like this was my introduction to music, and the bands i love the most all come from that period of my life.
When I got into high school I became very interested in Punk music, almost ditching all I had learned from my “Nirvana years”. I quickly became obsessed with THE RAMONES, and then heavier stuff like DISCHARGE, GBH and most of the classic Punk records. Street Punk was also pretty big around my circle of friends, so I got into stuff like A GLOBAL THREAT, and got to see them at CBGBs before it closed, thanks to my mother who thought it was important that i visit a Punk landmark, which is pretty cool considering my relatively young age.
When I turned 16, a friend of mine lent me a RADICAL ATTACK CD and that blew my mind. How fast the music was, how the songs were so short, how direct the message was delivered, that was a new beginning. From then until my early 20s, all I wanted to do was play fast and hard, travel to gigs and live in this bubble where Hardcore was everything and anything. Hardcore gave me the best friends and the best times, it made me who I am today and helped me through the hard task of growing up.
I guess all this stuff is still pretty close to me today. I feel like music is a progression, you always get into newer stuff but I never really ditched anything out. Whatever I am getting nerdy about these days, I always come back to everything I once was deeply connected about.
What beloved music do you share with your parents? Any specifics memories?
I am very lucky to share some music with my parents. I got to see many cool shows from an early age thanks to my family. My mother got me into INDOCHINE from a very young age, and to this day this band fascinates me. They really became popular making music that is interesting, taking electronic elements to the masses. My dad introduced me to NEIL YOUNG, which is pretty awesome. The way I play guitar is heavily influenced by him, and he is probably one of the coolest artists I know of. His autobiography is a good read, I love that it seems like he’s never going to slow down, always working on new project in and outside of music.
Most memorable show you’ve ever seen? What makes it stand out?
So many! I made a list of 3 of them, but there’s many more. Seeing music being performed live is my favorite way to enjoy it, so hopefully the list grows and grows forever.
Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds – Kings Theater, Brooklyn, May 2017.
The Montreal show being sold out in minutes, my partner surprised me when she bought tickets to the Brooklyn date of that tour. The venue was amazing and sounded great, probably the best setting to see NICK CAVE for the first time. The setlist was great, the band was on point, and the energy surrounding that tour was pretty mystical. This was the tour that followed the record Skeleton Tree, probably the most emotionally driven Nick Cave record, and it showed through his connection with the crowd. A great concert, for sure.
Omegas/Bad Choice – Basement show, Toronto, 2009.
This was an after-show for the Radio Silence Book release in Toronto. It was my first time driving this far for a gig and the after-show was somehow more memorable than the actual NEGATIVE APPROACH, SUPERTOUCH, PULLING TEETH line-up that I had come to see. To me, it was a perfect hardcore show. It lasted about two hours, shampoo was being thrown in the air (and hair, ha!), people were going nuts, diving from the staircase, and OMEGAS had to alternate guitar players because there was only one amp! A beautiful mess. I felt like this was where I belonged.
Iron Age – Friendship Cove, Montreal, 2009
I remember everyone on the sizeemup message board (which was Montreal’s local online forum for everything hardcore and punk related stuff) getting hyped up on the release of IRON AGE’s Sleeping Eye. With the album being a masterpiece, their Montreal gig was awaited by many. The fact that it took place at Friendship Cove, a venue that I loved dearly, added to the gig. People lit up joints, moshed, headbanged. The band delivered a perfect set, and I still remember the atmosphere of that show like it was yesterday.
Is there any band that you’ve always wanted to see live but never had the chance to catch them? Any classic show that you wish you could have experienced?
So many! Of course I watched all those classic NYHC videos, like the “last” KILLING TIME show at CBGBs, and i would love to attend all of them. I also remember when AMEBIX played Foufounes Electriques and I could not go because i was underage. I also wish I got to see HIS HERO IS GONE or TRAGEDY in their prime, which would have been cool. The first time I was aware of SONIC YOUTH playing Montreal, I didn’t save up enough allowance (I was 12 at the time, ha!) to go, and had to miss the gig with GODSPEED YOU! BLACK EMPEROR. That kind of sucks, must have been legendary.
Do you have any controversial/unpopular music related opinions that you would like to defend?
Hard to say. I really love the No-Ca$h LP even though i know it’s pretty cheesy and childish, is that controversial? Not really, but i really wanted to drop it here, ha!
If you could create your dream band (with any musicians, dead or alive), who would play which instrument?
I don’t think I have a dream band, but i’ll listen to anything Steve Shelley plays on, forever. He is by far my favorite drummer and his very own special style fits with so many different musicians and I think he will be giving us quality music for as long as he lives.
What albums have been on heavy rotation lately?
In the last few months, i have been trying to keep up with newer artists and stay in the loop. Sometimes I fail and go for some more old stuff too….So here it is:
- Marie Davidson – Working Class Woman
- Meat Puppets – II
- Spiritualized – And Nothing Hurt
- The Rolling Stones – Exile On Main Street
- Kurt Vile – Bottle it In
- The Raveonettes – Lust Lust Lust
- Corbeau – Illégal (oh yeah, that might be weird)
- Cat Power – Wonderer
- Chris and Cosey – Trance
- Earth – Primitive And Deadly
- Lead Belly – Greatest Hits
- Hank Williams – Greatest Hits
- Parquet Courts – Wide Awake!
- The Velvet Undeground – Loaded
- Tony Molina – Kill The Lights
I would say i am about 50/50 on new releases and old, not bad!
What are some up and coming artists that you would recommend?
Some Montreal artists i really love:
Silver Dapple
https://silverdapple.bandcamp.com/
They put out a great LP earlier this year and play somewhat regularly. If you like The Breeders, get into it.
WAX
https://lscrecordsmtl.bandcamp.com/album/lsc014-wax-demo
Name-dropping some friends of mine. Real fans of the late 80s NYHC scene right here. Study your demos because they will probably cover something at every gig they play.
Le Vaisseau d’Or
https://levaisseaudor.bandcamp.com/
A true gem, don’t sleep on this if you’re into good music. Beautiful and effective. This project deserves way more recognition.
Is there a band that you’ve discovered live recently that blew you away?
KIKAGAKU MOYO. I got to see them early this year opening for EARTHLESS. I had been pretty enthusiastic of their records, but seeing them live was whole different experience. Rarely have I seen a band play with so much confidence: it seemed like we got to witness a group of musicians completely in their element. No crazy light show, no gimmick. They came, played their set, that balances the heavy and the beautiful perfectly, and went. For 40 minutes, they were my favorite band. I think good things should and will come to them, because what they project is simple, effective, good musicianship. Can’t really go wrong with that!
What are you listening to right now, while answering these questions?
Right now, the first MINISTRY record, With Sympathy. I’m not really into the metal-era Ministry, but the first two LPs are amazing. I recently found a decently-priced copy on a weekend trip to New York, so I’ve been enjoying that.
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