Noo'z

Well it's been super quiet around BananaHQ lately. My cash flow has dried up quite a bit and other things in life have had to take precedent, so I haven't been able to commit to any new projects. The immediate future isn't looking a whole lot brighter to be honest; I wouldn't expect to see the Black Banana insignia plastered too much in 2013, but never say never.

The OBACHA/ CHETWRECKER split has predictably taken much longer than anticipated, but I should have my copies when PRISON VIOLENCE return from their west coast jaunt at the end of April. I'll be looking to trade them fucks when I get 'em.

Updated the tours page for the first time in donkeys. Rad bands crossing the bad lands.

Despite the label crickets I've still managed to get involved with some other cool shit. I'm still (kind of) involved in the SCREAM// WRITHE distro. Taylor's been getting shit done and launched a new site, beefed the stock up like a motherfucker, and generally made everything pretty damn legit while I stood by making snide comments and bitching about postal rates.

Beyond that I started singing for a new band called SUBSIST, we've played a handful of shows thus far and are working on a tape release. I'll toss a link up once we establish some kinda online presence. Of all the bands I've ever been in, this is the closest to what I've hoped to realize.

I've also been involved in a new punk space/ venue/ infoshop in east Vancouver. The first handful of events have been awesome and there's lots more rad shit to happen. If you're in Vancouver keep your ear to the ground.

Till neck's thyme!

Up next

Should probably bother to announce that the next release will be the OBACHA/ CHETWRECKER split 7". Obacha is fast as fuck power violence from Squamish, ex-BB superstars WAR HERO. CHETWRECKER is equally gross PV from Oakland, ex-MISANTHROPIC NOISE. This came out on tape a couple months ago but now you can buy it all over again. Listen to the Chetwrecker shit here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUhcUBe0n_k&feature=player_embedded

Speakin' of them Chets, check they'z tourdates.

New jams

AHNA/ BRIDGEBURNER and VIOLENT RESTITUTION LPs are out now! Both records came out amazing. Why is DIY extreme music so fucking good in BC right now? The lowdown on both is here, and can be snagged here.

Speaking of Ahna, they're on their way to Europe for a lengthy tour with Iskra! Check the tours page for the finer details.

FUCK THAT CIRCUS GRIND SHIT

SIX BREW BANTHA LPs are finally in! I'm fucking amped to have helped out with what I really think is one of the best grind records in recent years. Read about it here, order it here. I have very few copies so act fast.

VIOLENT RESTITUTION tests sound kill as fuck. Artwork is equally sick, this should be out in time for their Canadian tour next month.

'Nother release? Hold the phone! bbr019 will be a split 12" between Vancouver drone violence duo AHNA and Kamloops' own PV fast-fuck derangers BRIDGEBURNER. Tests are approved already, hopefully not too long before this is out. Check the BRIDGEBURNER tourdates too.

Doin's

SIX BREW BANTHA have gotten a new van and are back on the road. Rest of the dates are a go, check 'em on the tour page.

VIOLENT RESTITUTION Canada tour dates are up. The LP was recorded last weekend, should be ready for tour. Couple other releases planned for the year, details forthcoming if they actually materialize. Sick local shows all weekend for TAUR-ASS FESTY, I will be resting from eye surgery but I reckon the Scream//Writhe distro will be there for your plundering.

R'uh R'oh

Unfortunately Six Brew Bantha's come into some really shitty luck on the road. The back tire blew, causing the van to flip 3 times, totalling the van and landing Mark in the hospital for a torn ligament. They've canceled a few shows while they figure out what the next step is. The gear and records apparently made it out okay (I'll have my copies when they return, it's a rager). All things considered it coulda been a lot worse. Send some positive thoughts their way.

In better news... maybe a bit early to hype it already, but the next release will be a 12" by Vancouver's best new band VIOLENT RESTITUTION. They're heading out to record with Code Tron in Victoria, who did a mighty fine job with the Six Brew LP so you know their blasts are in good hands. We're scrambling to have this ready for their tour in August. Van city folk, come see them tonight with HONDURAN at the Moon Tower. Scream//Writhe distro will be in the kitchen so bring some extra bucks.

IT BEGINS

All Black Banana and distro stock is now being handled by SCREAM//WRITHE, the new co-op distro project of yours truly and ABSURD EXPOSITION. "Like" http://www.facebook.com/screamandwrithe
Info at http://screamandwrithe.blogspot.com/ and check out the online store at http://screamandwrithe.storenvy.com/

Wake the Machines/ Ocksen split 7" out now!

Self explanatory, this shit is ready! Wicked split, get in touch for orders and trades. Read about it h'yaw.

Ahna LP out now, more updates

Ahna LP repress is finally ready to go! I realize I announced this project 9 months ago, but it had to be carried to term for all 9 of those months. Read about it here. Really happy to be involved with this one, seriously one of the best bands going right now, and awesome friends to boot. Catch them on tour this April with Squamish PVVIPs Prison Violence.


Speaking of tours, our friends in Invasives are going to Europe again, in support of the Hanson Brothers. Dates are on the tours page.

Couple new distro items, them being the Sea of Shit 7" and the Obacha/ Stillbirth split 7". I'm working on an online store at the moment so ordering will be less of a hassle, hope to have it launched in a not very long while.

Wake the Machine/ Ocksen split 7" is starting to creep into some distros, but I don't have my copies yet. Hopefully I'll have them before too long. Sixbrewbantha LP is at the plant, it'll be out in time for their massive US/ Canada tour this spring.

First off, just got a bunch new powerviolence and assorted speedy rex in the distro.  BASTARD NOISE, BLACK HOLE OF CALCUTTA, DEAD LANGUAGE, HUMMINGBIRD OF DEATH/ TITANARUM, NO COMMENT, EXTORTION/ COMPLETED EXPOSITION, SEX PRISONER, SICK-FUCKIN-O, GET DESTROYED, LIFE OF REFUSAL and XBRAINIAX/ LETTUCE VULTURES. For the most part I only have one copy of each, so yeah.

Wake the Machines/ Ocksen split 7" is on the way, should have these pretty damn soon now. It rips, it does it does. Get in touch for trades and wholesale, whydon'tcha.

Black Banana will be releasing the SIXBREWBANTHA LP alongside a bunch of other cool labels. Probably out in spring? New recordings slay all their other releases, which slay pretty hard in and of themselves, so you know the slay factor is pretty damn slaying.

AHNA are in Europe I think, go see them if you come by a poster or somehow know where they're playing.

Deeeeestro

More 7"es in, DISLECKSICK/ DECHE-CHARGE, new VILE INTENT 7", DISCIPLES OF CHRIST, ARCHAGATHUS/ ONANIZER, and NEON HOLE/ SUFFERING MIND. Maybe the AHNA repress will be out by the end of the year so I can say I released something this year. Either way, no more 'out soon's' on my end. I'm going to the VACANT STATE LP release at 360 Glen tonight, let's get drunk and talk about starting a powerviolence band that will never happen.

HAGGATHA LP and 7" added to distro. LP was one of my most played albums last year, this is the repress on Choking Hazard. 7" is killer too. Vancouver, I'll have the distro at the GYIBAAW show at the Moon Tower tonight. Show up early for DEAD TERROR, evil noise from AHNA and BLEEDER members.

Wee update

War Hero/ Ummm split 7" is gone, couple distros might still have it if you look around. 7"es from BLACK HOLE OF CALCUTTA, VILE INTENT, ARCHAGATHUS/ SAKATAT, and KNIFETHRUHEAD/ CASKET BLASTER added to the distro.

bbr016...

Overhauled the whole blog, added distro, releases, and tours pages. Also laid everything out a bit more logically.

bbr016 will be an unholy split 7" between California noize-grinders WAKE THE MACHINES and Liverpool pv extremists OCKSEN. Co-release with Midnight Sea Records. Shit's gonna be epic, details coming soon. Shouldn't be too long for this one.

Finally updated the distro, no new items but some outs. Waiting on slip covers for the AHNA LP repress, but out soon, I swears it. CIRCLE THE WAGONS canceled the recording session due to line-up hell, but writing has resumed. Expect sometime maybe eventually. Vancouver gang, I'll have the 7" part o me distro to the ISKRA/ SIX BREW BANTHA/ NO EULOGY/ VIVID SEKT/ AHNA show at the Moon Tower tonight.

My friends NUN UN and HOLE IN MY HEAD are doing a west coast tour in a couple weeks. Fans of jangly disturbed punk take note. Datesez-

Sept 21 - Vancouver, BC
Sept 22 - Seattle WA
Sept 23 - Portland OR
Sept 24 - Sacramento CA
Sept 25 - Bakersfield CA
sept 26 - Los Angeles CA
sept 27 - Long Beach CA
sept 28 - San Diego CA
sept 29 - Los Angeles CA
sept 30 - Oakland CA
Oct 1 - Portland OR
Oct 2 - Olympia WA
Oct 3 - Squamish BC

OSK dates

OSK are doin' a quick tour to Arson Fest in Winnipeg with HAGGATHA and HAND OF THE HORSEWITCH.

August 1 - Kamloops - @ Pogue Mahones
August 2 - Calgary - @ The Area 1119 10 Ave SE (No Osk)
August 3 - Edmonton - w/Cygnus, Mahria@ Inglewood hall 12515 116ave
August 4 - Saskatoon - w/ State of Minefields @ Maguires 32-2105 8th st E
August 5 - Arson Fest - Party Time
August 6 - Arson Fest - Osk/ Haggatha
August 7 - Arson Fest - Hand of the Horsewitch
August 9 - Calgary - Osk w/Punch (No Haggatha or Hand of the Horsewitch)
August 10 - Kamloops @ LpBvHdoom

"I'm not close minded about shitty bands like Anthrax."

I'll have the distro at the pre- and post- Fastcore Fest shows tonight and Sunday in Vancouver. Tonight's OSK, OBACHA, BRIDGEBURNER, SKUFF and WAUZTED @ the Alf House. It will frackin' kill. Sunday's RAPE REVENGE, ORDSTRO, NEGATIVE STANDARDS, STARES, UNLEARN and AHNA @ the Chateau. I'll also be at Fastcore Fest in Squamish on Saturday if you can't make it to either of those shows but want me to bring you some vinyl goodies. Mailorder back up n running since the Harper majority thwarted any bargaining power Canada Post may have had by legislating them back to work so they can continue to be miserable delivering you shitty grind records from my stupid distro. Speaking of shitty music and my stupid distro, added some items from HUMMINGBIRD OF DEATH, KALI, ULTIMATE BLOWUP, QUATTRO STAGIONI, TRIAC, DEFEATIST, ASRA, and LOW THREAT PROFILE. Dropped the price of CDs to $5 cause let' face it, when was the last time you bought a fucking CD? Snap that shit up and sell it to cheap Charlie for all I care.

In other news, the AHNA LP repress should be out right quick. Perfect music for when you're reflecting on just how many poor choices led you to this exact moment in your life. CIRCLE THE WAGONS has studio time booked early September, size undetermined but it will be vinyl. If anyone wants to help out with its release, holla.

SIX BREW BANTHA are touring western Canada this summer with fellow Victoria bands ISKRA and NO EULOGY. Check deez dates and help fill any days off if you promote shows and are swell. Trying to get the SBB 7" repressed in time for the tour, pending the plant actually getting back to me.

Thursday August 18th Victoria, BC
Friday August 19th Vancouver, BC @ The Chateau Noir
Saturday August 20th Kamloops, BC @ Shred The Loops Fest
Sunday August 21st Kelowna, BC
Monday August 22nd Camping
Tuesday August 23rd Calgary, AB
Wednesday August 24th Edmonton, AB
Thursday August 25th Edmonton, AB
Friday August 26th Saskatoon, SK (NEED HELP!)
Saturday August 27th Winnipeg, MB @ Foul Copse Fest
Sunday August 28th Winnipeg, MB @ The Death Trap
Monday August 29th Camping/possibly Dauphin, MB?
Tuesaday August 30th Saskatoon, SK/anywhere in Saskatchewan (NEED HELP!)
Wednesday August 31st Calgary, AB
Thursday September 1st Kamloops, BC @ Little Big House
Friday September 2nd Squamish, BC
Saturday September 3rd Vancouver, BC
Sunday September 4th Campbell River, BC

AHNA on tour

WED JUNE 8th - Quebec City, L'Agitee
THURS JUNE 9th - Montreal, Death Church
FRI JUNE 10th - Kingston, Mansion
SAT JUNE 11th - Kitchener, The Jamhole DAY SHOW
SAT JUNE 11th - Toronto, the 460
...MON JUNE 13th - Hamilton, 68 St James
TUES JUNE 14th - London, Top Secret House
THURS JUNE 16th - Kamloops, Little Big House
FRI JUNE 17th - Edmonton, TBA
SAT JUNE 18th - Calgary, The Area

Plus some local shows
SAT JUNE 25th - Vancouver, Pat's Pub
SUN JULY 3 - Vancouver, Chateau

bbr015... Distro updates...

Back in Vancouver, thanks a lot to all the promoters and friends and bands and Dayglos that made the DAYGLO ABORTIONS/ CIRCLE THE WAGONS tour such a frickfuckin' blast. CIRCLE THE WAGONS is writing for a new LP to be out this year, first album in 6 years and I dare say, the new
stuff is sounding pretty tasty.

So bbr015's on the way, first release in a year, ulp. Have I said a damn thing about it yet? Oh shit, that's right! The AHNA LP repress will be on Black Banana! If you're a smart smartypants you already own this but if you're collector scum you're gonna need this too, since it comes with awesome new screened artwork. AHNA hail from Vancouver, and Vancouver hails AHNA. Two piece bass/ drums/ noise drone violence that is harsh and unsettling. The album held semi-permanent residence on my turntable, and I'm downright giddy to help with the repress.This record is the most disturbing and ugly thing to be adorned with the shameful Banana crest. While your jonesing for the second issue of this vinyl noose,  go find a copy of their new split 7" with SHEARING PINX, cuz that shit will also fist your brain hole. Scope 'em on MySpace and Facebook and concede that music was indeed a cute fad.

Finally added a few items to the distro I picked up months ago. Shit from PUNCH, WADGE/ ENDLESS BLOCKADE, ICE NINE, and SUFFERING MIND now available for your blind hoarding.

Hold'er tight

Shutting down operations until I get back from the CIRCLE THE WAGONS tour with the DAYGLO ABORTIONS. All Black Banana titles and possibly the 7" distro will be available at the shows. There's still a couple dates we're waiting on, but so far tour looks like this

April 14th- Vancouver @ Funky Winker Beans
April 15th- Vernon @ Club 29/29
April 16th- Revelstoke @ Outabounds Nightclub
April 17th- Canmore @ Drake Hotel
April 18th- Regina @ Gaslight Saloon
April 20th- Edmonton @ The Pawn Shop
April 21st- Calgary @ Dickens Pub
April 22nd- High River @ Gruvstone Lounge
April 23rd- Lethbridge @ Tattoo Convention venue TBA
April 24th- Innisfail @ The Zoo
April 25th- Medicine Hat @ The Royal Hotel

Also, Canuckleheads, don't forget to check out INVASIVES and THE KETTLE BLACK as they forge their way through Canada. Check the dates in the blog post below or go to their website for the updated tour schedule. 

Wheels finally starting to spin for a couple new releases, more on that later.