On with The Action!
Ottawa 70s punk veterans The Action reform for a reunion concert, Saturday November 28 (w/ The White Wires; doors 9pm; $15) and Sunday November 29 (all ages; w/Suppositories; doors 3pm; $10) at the Dominion Tavern, 33 York St. in the Byward Market. Information and advance tickets: Birdman Sound, (613) 233-0999.
When Ottawa’s own The Action opened for The Stranglers at High School of Commerce in 1978 in what was the city’s second ever “big name” punk concert (predated by The Vibrators at Carleton University), I was hosting Canada’s first punk music radio program No Future Now on CKCU-FM. Action-penned tracks like “TV’s On the Blink” and “Do the Strangle” were mainstays.
Yet, as I discuss with original members Ted Axe and Paul Fenton in this interview taped last week just outside the band’s rehearsal digs at Irene’s pub, many at the time considered The Action to be “punks of convenience.” They came from comfortable backgrounds, could play their instruments a little too well, and The Rolling Stones was an influence equal to that of The Clash or The Sex Pistols. Then there was the matter of Ted Axe’s mock British accent…
At the same time, the Stranglers double bill and the group’s residency at the infamous Rotters Club were sparkplug moments in the evolution of alternative music in Ottawa, and their lone 4-track, 12” EP on the long-lost Montreco label remains one of Canada’s seminal ‘70s punk recordings. Ultimately, the group’s mix of “classic rock” and punk influences has worn better over time than many an original tuneless punk rant.
The Action has reformed for a reunion concert riding the wake of the just-released Complete Punk Recordings ‘77-’78 album (CD and vinyl), compiling vintage released and previously-unreleased material –including a live broadcast from the Rotters Club that originally aired on CKCU in 1978. You can almost smell the stale beer and sticky spit on the floor.
So, still opportunistic? Hell ya, but as Ted Axe claims in the interview, they intend to “kick the ass” of any younger kids who think they know what punk is all about. Don’t bet against them doing it.
(Note – this video contains coarse language and is not safe for work)
Photo credit: The Action opening for the Stranglers in Ottawa at High School of Commerce, 1978.
(c) Roch Photos.
Tags: 70s, ottawapunk, paulfenton, punk, tedaxe, theaction
