Wherever you’re at in your heavy metal progression, sit back and enjoy this interview. Langelier is a character you don’t want to miss.

Check out Bookakee on Facebook.

Video filmed and edited by King Hazard.

Rock Hard \m/

At first, the interview started off pretty awkward, but as soon as Chuck stopped talking about poop stories, things got really interesting. Actually, on a second thought, his poop story was the best part. Anyhow, Chuck talked about all sorts of fun stuff about the band such as, their process of making new music videos, the current state of punk, and working with the legendary Bill Stevenson, who served as record producer and audio engineer on the band’s newest album, Peace in Our Time.

Oh, and by the way, Chuck wanted to show us his moonwalk for some odd reason (because we asked). You get to see that epicness and Bill even creeps into our interview too, but only for a few seconds.

Lastly, since you’re here for Good Riddance, we wanted to give you guys their tour dates below.

Good Riddance Tour Dates

08/23 San Francisco, CA – Thee Parkside Outdors (Fat Wrecked for 25 Years)
09/24 Philadelphia, PA – First Unitarian Church *^
09/25 Baltimore, MD – Ottobar *^
09/26 New York, NY – Marlin Room *^
09/27 Asbury, NJ – Asbury Lanes *^
09/28 Cambridge, MA – The Sinclair *^
09/30 Quebec City, QC – Salle Multi *^
10/01 Montreal, QC – Corona Theatre *^
10/02 Ottawa, CA – Ritual *^
10/03 Toronto, ON – Lee’s Palace *^
10/15 Portland, OR – Hawthorne Theatre *#
10/16 Seattle, WA – Studio Seven *#
10/17 Vancouver, BC – Rickshaw Theatre *$
10/20 Calgary, AB – Marquee *$
10/21 Edmonton, AB – Starlite Room *$
10/22 Saskatoon, SK – Louis *$
10/23 Regina, SK – The Exchange *$
10/24 Winnipeg, MB – Pyramid Cabaret *$

* with Off With Their Heads
^ with Iron Chic
# with Western Addiction
$ with Fire Next Time

Playing a career-spanning set, Good Riddance made the younger crowd feel like true punks for a 17 straight-to-the-point minutes, and they made the older “kids” feel a healthy dose of nostalgia. In the end, both demographics were likely asking themselves, “why isn’t punk this good anymore?” And, “Why can’t we have more of this hardcore shit with a pop punk sensibility?” And you know, some of their political and societal lyrics feel as poignant today as they ever did.

We were thrilled to have the chance to interview bassist Chuck Platt, so be sure to check back for that video interview!

Good Riddance Amnesia Rockfest 2015 Setlist:

“30 Day Wonder”
“Disputatio”
“Last Believer”
“Weight of the World”
“Dry Season”
“Shit-Talking Capitalists”
“Fertile Fields”
“One for the Braves”
“Mother Superior”
“Shadows of Defeat”
“Yesterday’s Headlines”
“Half Measures”
“United Cigar”
“A Credit to his Gender”
“Libertine”
“Heresy, Hypocrisy, and Revenge”

Rock Hard \m/

Their sound is always perfect, meaning that the mix is excellent, the tone is spot on, and the levels are album precise. I don’t think that I’ve ever seen a fuck up in term of feedback or blown amps or dropped PA systems… and I’ve certainly never seen a band member correcting a sound guy.

Their show at Amnesia Rockfest 2015 was no different. Truly, Rockfest couldn’t go wrong booking these guys.

Sure, there’s not a lot of action going on up on the Slayer stage, but we’re not watching Slayer for a theatrical performance. The most theatrical I ever saw them, however, was back in 1998, at Ozzfest, when they had two big video screens showing graphic videos and images of surgical practices and actual war injuries. Theatrical is probably the wrong term for that… it was more shocking, morbid, and grotesque than anything.

The one thing I’ll say about Slayer’s show on Saturday, June 20th, is that for the first time the absences of Jeff Hanneman and Dave Lombardo were apparent. Don’t get me wrong, Paul Bostaph and Gary Holt are doing a fantastic job, especially Holt’s war on the Kardashians, but there’s a noticeable difference in sound.

Regardless, I don’t think these guys got much more mileage in the tank, so you better see them as often as possible while you can. And if you’ve never seen Slayer, what the fuck are you waiting for?

Slayer Amnesia Rockfest 2015 Setlist:

1. “World Painted Blood”
2. “Postmortem”
3. “Hate Worldwide”
4. “Chemical Warfare”
5. “Mandatory Suicide”
6. “Disciple”
7. “Seasons in the Abyss”
8. “Dead Skin Mask”
9. “Raining Blood”
10. “South of Heaven”
11. “Angel of Death”

Rock Hard \m/

But… there was none of that at Amnesia Rockfest 2015, well other than giant murals of some of the most famous faces in horror. For the most part, however, the show was about the music, and it’s a good thing that Mr. Zombie is more than just about the theatrics. Zombie, John 5, Piggy D., and Ginger Fish delivered a perfect show that spanned Rob Zombie’s solo career and beyond; yes, they hit up on two of White Zombie’s greatest hits: “More Human Than Human” and “Thunder Kiss ‘65,” and the crowd loved it! (It makes no sense, but who would like to see a White Zombie reunion?)

With or without the theatrics, a Rob Zombie show is a high-energy, turbo-charged rocket ride of pure fun. It touches the metal bone. It’s dance music for those who don’t like hip-hop. It’s outrageously intense for fans of horror and sci-fi. And, above all else (maybe), it’s raw sexual energy… and the chicas fuckig dig it. Yes, man or woman, there’s just something about the Rob Zombie groove that hits that carnal spot, and when it’s live, with that rumbling bass terrorizing your pelvic core, well… forget about it… it just gets everybody moving and shaking like they were James Brown.

There’s no way he needs the promotion, but if you’ve never seen Rob Zombie live, do yourself a favor and get to one of his shows.

Rob Zombie Amnesia Rockfest 2015 Setlist:

“Teenage Nosferatu Pussy”
“Superbeast”
“Get Up (I Feel LIke Being a) Sex Machine”
“Living Dead Girl”
“More Human Than Human”
“House of 1000 Corpses”
“Sick Bubble-Gum”
“Never Gonna Stop (The Red, Red Kroovy)”
“Blitzkrieg Bop”
“Thunder Kiss ‘65”
“Dragula”

Rock Hard \m/

Check out our interview with Candace Kucsulain!

If you’ve been following Walls of Jericho, then you know that they haven’t been the most productive band in recent years, their last album having been released in 2008. They are, however, working toward a new release, and they played “Relentless,” which will likely appear on said album. Now, this track is still being touted as new, but the band has been performing it for a few years now, and that’s totally fine because it is about cancer survivors and victims. The band is also very involved in raising funds for patients and their families.

But, WOJ is a very socially aware band and concern themselves with much more than just cancer. During their set, frontwoman Candace vocalized about sexual abuse, violence, and much more. The combination of her perfect warcry vocals with the powerful thrust and crunch of the band, she definitely rallied the heavy metal troops from the small stage.

It’s unfortunate, because this is a top-tier band, but the energy they gave outshone the energy they received from the crowd. Don’t get me wrong, the crowd that was there was there to see WOJ specifically, and they were energized, but given the time of day and the fact that Bad Religion was performing on one of the main stages, the draw just wasn’t that big. There’s no doubt that once WOJ releases a new album, they will command a bigger audience, especially since their music is so raw and aggressive.

If I have any bit of advice for you, go see this band live. They have some of the best raw energy I’ve seen from a band and it’s clear that they’re in this business to do more than collect a paycheck.

Rock Hard \m/

If, by chance, you’re unfamiliar with Down, Phil Anselmo is the legendary frontman of the former titans of metal, Pantera. Keenan and Bower have their own legacies steeped in the NOLA sound and genre of metal. Down plays a very loose, down-tuned bluesy brand of metal that borders on doom metal and shoegaze, but is neither. It is for stoners, but not exclusively.

As loose and free, and sometimes jam like, as Down sounds, there’s no denying that they’re tight, full of amazing riffs, and memorable melodies, and the pocket that they play in is deep and full. As a listener, once you find that groove, you’ll find yourself in a pocket that you don’t ever want to get out of. And at Rockfest, there’s no way that wanted the Down show to stop.

Down’s sound at Rockfest was impeccable, full, and rich. There was one problem, however, and that was with Phil’s PA system, which blew with an audible pop. Let’s just chalk that up to Phil’s general badassery.

Phil also enjoyed being a smartass and toying with the crowd between songs. But perhaps the crowd responded best to his joking about the French language and Quebec being a nation; very much appreciated days before Quebec’s provincial holiday, I’m sure. Phil is the first performer I’ve ever seen to address the Quebec crowd as Quebec rather than Canada.

Personally, i like Phil’s swagger and attitude when he says, “I got the mic, I can do what I want.” In his position, you gotta be that cocky.

A relatively short set, only seven songs deep, included five from Down’s debut LP, NOLA. The remaining two were pushes from the two most recent EPs. The crowd was pleased, but I would have loved to hear “Pillamyd.”

One thing’s for sure, I can’t wait to see Down again.

Down Setlist:

Eyes of the South (from NOLA)
We Knew Him Well (from Down IV – Part II)
Witchtripper (from Down IV – Part I)
Lifer (from NOLA)
Hail the Leaf (from NOLA)
Stone the Crow (from NOLA)
Bury Me in Smoke (from NOLA)

Rock Hard \m/

Other than that, we talked about Rockfest, cock cheese, the reception of recently released tracks from Rats in the Burlap and what’s been fan favorites so far, and the variation of punk that they play. As well, we were curious to know whom The Real McKenzies would like to collaborate with and whom Troy thinks is the nicest band they’ve toured with. We also chatted about Nova Scotia and local/tourist hotspot, The Lower Deck, but that didn’t really go anywhere so we cut it from the video interview above.

If you want to know what’s ahead for The Real McKenzies in the second half of 2015, pay attention to the video. And remember, when you see The Real McKenzies live, your top priority is to have fun!

Rock Hard \m/

Another year, another kick-ass Amnesia Rockfest! Last year we were promised a stellar 10th anniversary edition, and founder/organizer Alex Martel didn’t disappoint. Heck, even the local retailers and vendors stepped up their game with an eye toward logistics and ease of services.

For starters, we were blessed with amazing weather. With practically no humidity, no rain, sunny skies, and temps that sat comfortably around 77F (25C), we might have had the best weather the fest has ever seen… or at least that we’ve experienced in Montebello, Quebec. However, mild temperatures didn’t stop fans from dehydration, as that and excess libation were the two most common injuries according to one of the onsite medics. But to Rockfest’s credit, for the first time in my recollection, there was at least one watering station where fest-goers could have their water bottles refilled with some good, clean water. As well, there were more medics on site than I can remember there being in past years.

Despite the obvious increased safety measures, there was at least one incident on Saturday, around 3:30 p.m. that sent two people to hospital after falling out of a Ferris wheel carriage from a height of between 6 and 10 meters. Witnesses say that they saw the couple rocking their carriage back and forth before falling out of it. The injured couple fortunately didn’t sustain life-threatening injuries, and onsite medics responded speedily. The ride was shut down for the remainder of the festival, but the show went on… and boy was it killer.

Amnesia Rockfest included great performances all around, but main attractions on Day 1 included Mad Caddies, The Ataris, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Carcass, Down, Michale Graves, Bad Religion, Walls of Jericho, Deftones, The Exploited, Parkway Drive, Sublime, Skinny Puppy, Sick of it All, The Offspring, Ministry, Linkin Park, and, last but not least, the Descendents. Overall, there was a strong retro ’90s vibe happening everywhere, even with the day’s comedy act, Steve-O, despite his being an attraction from the ’00s. Day 2 attractions sprung forth with a bit more heavy metal, which seems to be Rockfest’s MO — punk heavy one day, metal heavy the other. So, the second day’s main attractions included Less Than Jake, Fear Factory, The Real McKenzies, Hatebreed, Melvins, GBH, Rancid, Good Riddance, Snoop Dogg, Rob Zombie, Tenacious D, All, Slayer, Pixies, and System of a Down.

Individual show reviews are to come, but not all of them, obviously; so many bands, so little time.

It was clear that organizers really paid attention to complaints and/or criticisms from previous years as they were corrected (for the most part). This means that there were plenty of porta potties, which reduced wait time and the number of people urinating beside fences. As well, those porta potties were being drained on a regular and frequent basis, so obviously they filled up, but they didn’t overflow as some reviews had claimed in years prior. So, win for Rockfest organizers this year. There also seemed to be a few more access points to the fest grounds this year, which made it easier to get in and out during the day. As usual, there were plenty of beer stands and food stands, and I believe that the food gets better and better every year, but pulled pork and poutine are tops in my opinion. However, if you wanted a wider variety and slightly lower prices, you had to leave the fest grounds, which is fine because life on the street during Amnesia Rockfest is something to see, from porn trailers to artisans, it’s all here.

The thing that still bothers me is that there is sometimes an overlap of bands on the two main stages, Loto Quebec and Jagermeister, which, if you’re standing in the wrong spot, leads to hearing both stages, and that’s just annoying.

Camping and parking also appeared to be organized much better. Every time we stepped out onto the main street there seemed to be a shuttle bus going to or from a camp location, so we can only assume that campers were satisfied with that aspect too.

Par for the course, because it’s what happens at these things, there were some people who had too much “fun.” Perhaps we’ll have to write another survival guide.

So, that’s it for the general recap of the two main days at Amnesia Rockfest 2015. All in all, it was a resounding success! Check back as we post our interviews, pics, and show reviews.

Rock Hard \m/

If you’ve had the privilege of attending the Amnesia Rockfest in Montebello, Quebec, in previous years, then you know you’re making a weekend of it (unless you live close enough to make the commute to and from home). If you have never attended this amazing festival, then you might be wondering what I mean by, “making a weekend of it.” Well, for maximum enjoyment, you’ll want to arrive early, pitch a tent, have a shit ton of fun, and have no where to go but your tent afterward. And while a lot of excessive behavior is tolerated, there is a heavy police presence, so don’t do anything butt-fuck stupid. Just have fun!

Below you’ll find camping and parking details.

Camping and Parking:

Camping and parking passes are on sale here!

Take note that there will be three camping zones this year: Regular Camping, VIP Camping (new) and RV Camping (new).

Here are some of the new VIP Camping perks:
-More spacious lots (20’x20′)
-Section closer to the festival grounds than the General Camping
-Private fenced off section
-Camp fire
-Private restrooms
-Security to control access
-Free showers
-Free bottled water
-Cleaning team dedicated to this section

Due to the growing attendance at the festival, the entire transportation and parking system has been reconfigured for 2015. All the info is available here.

Rockfest Party Buses:

New this year: there will be Rockfest party buses from many cities including Montreal, Quebec City, Gatineau, Ottawa, Toronto, Sherbrooke, Trois-Rivières, Rouyn, Saguenay, Laval, Terrebonne, St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, St-Jérôme, Ste-Thérèse, and Drummondville. All info here!

The goal for future years is to add more public transportation options, including by boat/ferry and by train.

Weekend Passes Now Available at Amnesia Stores:

Weekend passes are now on sale at all the Amnesia stores in Quebec! You can find the locations here.

When you purchase a Rockfest weekend pass at an Amnesia store, you get a 15% discount on Amnesia clothing!

Take note that two-thirds of the tickets are already sold, and there are only three months to go! The 2013 and 2014 editions were sold out and it will likely be the case for the 2015 edition

Other ticketing outlets:

-Online here!
-By phone: 1-855-416-8686
Soundcentral in Montreal (4486, rue Coloniale)
Bar Central in Montebello (521, Notre Dame)
Bar chez Mo’ in Papineauville (141, rue Henri-Bourrassa)
Metro in Papineauville (377, Rue Papineau)
Proson in Saint-André-Avellin (44, rue Principale)
Top Of The World in Ottawa (158, rue Rideau)
Exo in Quebec City (260, rue St-Joseph Est)

Rock Hard \m/