Shmagpies

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In April of 2003 CHRW (Radio Western) and Call the Office (a local venue with a very long history) hosted a "Boot to the Head" CD Release party to celebrate the music of the early 1980's found at the Blue Boot/Cedar Lounge (a local dive venue at Talbot & King now long gone). Several bands reformed and played at this event including the Shmagpies pictured at left (click on the image for a photo album).

The Shmagpies has Mike Timmins on Guitar (also played with the Terminals), Dan Husband on Guitar (also played with Napalm Babies), Laurie Wedge on bass (also played with the Terminals) and Pete Timmins on drums (also played with the Terminals).

The picture at left has Daniel Rudbal joining in with the Shmagpies to sing a couple of tunes (probably from the Sex Pistols, Iggy Pop or maybe Black Flag). The CD has them doing Iggy Pop's "I Wanna Be Your Dog", there is a version of "Pretty Vacant"  with Dan singing and Pete DeKoker joining in on bass but it's not this event.  Later in the photo album you'll find Jamie Conyers (Baconhead) joins in to sing a couple of tunes. See also my blog page on "The Terminals".

Daniel Rudbal, Dan Husband (aka Danny Napalm) and Jamie Conyers were all in the Napalm Babies and Condo Christ. I understand that Dan Husband had organized the original "Boot to the Head" event (July 5-6, 2002) and a subsequent "Boot 2 the Head" event (June 17-18, 2005). I'm not sure who organized this CD release party in 2003.

Dan Rudbal has made quite an impression on fans. Marty Field writes, "Anytime hearing Mr. Rudbal sing is a blessing to me. I was blessed to hear and see October Crisis and Donnellys 4 in the 80s. I was blessed to have him at rehearsals for Donnellys 6. And I am blessed to call him a friend. Love you, Dan!"

I have photos of the Dead Rabbits and 63 Monroe at this event which I'll share in due course. 

I recall it being an incredibly fun night. A crowded, crazy time with people of all ages up front dancing and really getting into the music. That was the thing about the music, it was outrageously fun. And even occasionally musical!

At the time I was still shooting film but was having it scanned (they did a terrible low resolution job). One Friday morning shortly after the event I showed the pictures I had taken at work — the regularly scheduled talk about "Information Systems" had fallen apart so I filled in. 

At the time of this event Kate and I were long past punk music having immersed ourselves in Americana. However, we saw that these bands were playing and had fond memories of seeing some of them at the Blue Boot/Cedar Lounge and other venues around town when we were in London (e.g., we danced to NFG at the Cedar Lounge on our wedding night). We had left London for St Marys (I had left Western and was working at the University of Waterloo, Kate was still at the research park at Western). We were introduced to Dave O'Hallaran (What Wave Dave) at this event by a former colleague who worked with both of us at the Computing Center when I was at Western. It was really odd to discover that WWDave, we had collected his C90's and Zines, worked in the same department. With our noses to the grindstone we hadn't discovered our common ground!

I'm not sure of the exact date of this event; however, I know it was in April of 2003 and have filed it in my blog under an arbitrary date from that month.

Many thanks to the many music fans on the Facebook group "1980's Punk Rockers in London, Ontario", especially Dave O'Halloran and Daniel Rudbal, who helped to identify the band and players. You are appreciated!

This photo album and recollections composed during the pandemic lockdown of May, 2021.