For a handful of years in the mid-90s, I dedicated a bunch of my energy to preach the wonders of a Toronto band called Pretty Green. Lead by a quirky fellow named Ed Blocki, they started as a folk band and put out an early album on Nettwerk (when Skinny Puppy held court before being dethroned by an east coast new romantic named Sarah) in the 80s. By the early 90s, Blocki had turned the band into the greatest free-improv, post-Velvets, guitar rock experience since Television. Every single show I saw them play (and I saw every single show) was devastating. I made pleas on my radio show for people to go to their concerts, I interviewed them for the university newspaper, I dragged friends to see them live and I thought seriously about starting a record label to release their music since Ed never got beyond cassette recordings of insanely great four-track tunes made in his backroom. But then I moved away and they turned into a stoner metal power trio with pyrotechnics and Ed split with his wife and I stopped paying attention and at some point they stopped playing. Now nothing remains except my memories and a slowly disintegrating bootleg cassette in my basement. Matthew Grimson seems to be the Ed Blocki of Halifax but someone was smart (and stubborn) enough to put out his CD. (Terence Dick)
CD, Lord Sir Skronk Records, www.lordsirskronk.com