Who: Removal with Married To Music
What: The Punk Night
Where: Boot Pub
When: Sunday, May 23
A mainstay of Whistlers resilient Punk Night is coming back this Sunday. Vancouver-based instrumental band Removal will take the stage at the Boot Pub for another round of their signature fusion of organic punk-metal and electronic vocal and sonic samples.
Since forming in 1997 Removal has made regular trips up to Whistler about one or two every year, estimates one third of the elusive trio.
Its not exactly a frequency worthy of Wayne Newtons Vegas floorshow, but still, they havent exactly been strangers.
Yet, the band remains somewhat of an enigma.
Its of their own doing. Theyve deliberately shielded themselves from hype and self-aggrandizing, letting their music do all the talking.
"We dont really have a riding philosophy, but generally speaking, were not really into self-promotion," confirms band member Ernie.
Dont wait for the last name. Its just Ernie.
Maybe its an alias. Maybe not. Who knows? Who cares? Monikers be damned, all anyone needs to know hes Removals drummer and producer. More importantly, hes Removals original drummer and producer, an integral part of the current and original and only lineup Removal will ever have.
"This is the sort of band that wouldnt continue if any of the band members couldnt play," Ernie emphasizes. "Were pretty unique that way. We have a three-dimensional sound thats all based on the people in the band. No ones replaceable."
So tight they would rather self-destruct than initiate it makes sense the band has no distinct frontman. As the bands engineer and album producer, Ernies the best theyve got. Live shows feature slide show-style visuals of text, artwork and real life abstract photography to compensate for any real or imagined lack of a focal point.
From their first independent recording Remove All through to the appropriately titled fourth album the strong silent type , released just this past March, Removal has not yet deviated from their cyborg formula.
Any questions regarding progression should be referred to the bands Web site where the latest album is accompanied by the following statement: " the great thing about having a fourth album is that by now, you know what you are and what you want to make, thus we are removal and this is what we made enjoy."
Any urge they might have to incorporate vocals is quelled through their celebrated collaboration projects, a series of singles that so far have featured Nomeansnos Mr. Wrong, SNFUs Mr. Chi Pig, D.O.A.s Joey Shithead Keithley Hanson Brother Johnny Hanson, Danko Jones, and Mike Watt (the only American collaborator so far.) Waiting in the wings are projects featuring Snake from Voivod, Peaches, Devin Townsend from Strapping Young Lad, Chris from Propaghandi and more.
"We dont really fit into a genre, were not part of a clique or a scene. Theres not really any group of bands we align ourselves with," Ernie states matter of factly. "The band is in a heavy category, but its out in left field in its own little area."
So while the singles are pleasure projects they also act as the only type of self-promotion the band seems comfortable with "vanity pressings" Ernie deems them. By collaborating with well-known performers, new audiences are in turn turned on to Removal, which continues to be in a category all its own.
Removal takes the stage at the Boot Pub this Sunday night along with Vancouver indie hardcore band Married To Music.
For more information call 604-932-3338.