After a fairly successful CD launch in Montreal, Phÿcus started the mostly disastrous “Trans-National Disembraining Tour”. The first leg consisted of three Maritime dates: St. John’s, Halifax and Sydney.
The Maritime leg was the more fun half of the tour, as it featured the return of Bruce X and Bill Abominog, and also because our expectations were pretty low. The tour was done “punk rock” style, driving in Brian’s mom’s car and charging everything on credit.
The tour kicked off in Bruce’s hometown of St. Johns (June 6 1995). Travelling to St. John’s was certainly the most ridiculous length we had ever gone for a gig, but it was totally worth it. Phÿcus can proudly say that we are one of the very few industrial bands to ever play The Rock.
Brian brought his four track and Moog MG, and Bruce’s rig consisted of a "new" white Westone guitar that was smashed later at the Sydney show then rebuilt, repainted gold and taken on the Hungary tour and some effects of distortion. The toys were Star Trek TNG spacecraft with phaser samples played through the mics and the guitar.
On the drive back to the ferry, Brian drove as fast as possible while Bruce was on moose lookout. And yes, he did spot one lurking at the side of the road.
For this show, Phÿcus consisted of Bruce X, Brian Damage, and two of Bruce’s friends: Ren “33 Second Delay” Squires (from the band Sheavy) and Jeff “E.V.” Churchill. The mix is a bit weird, with the levels randomly adjusted and things panned in unconventional ways, but a good soundboard recording none the less.
From the St. John's show:
01 Mental Illness (TNDT St. John's)
02 Your Claim (TNDT St. John's)
03 Night Flight To Phÿcus (TNDT St. John's)
04 Tottering Structures (TNDT St. John's)
05 Destroy The Earth (TNDT St. John's)
06 The Missing Foundation (TNDT St. John's)
07 This Is The Burn (TNDT St. John's)
Halifax (June 8 1995) was the second stop of the Maritime leg of the Trans-National Disembraining Tour.
There was a small crowd, which the organizers blamed on the cleanup job of posters that the city did for an upcoming G-7 meeting. Also, it was 6 years since Phÿcus last played in Halifax, so most of the people that knew the band had probably moved on. Just as well. Anyone expecting “Don’t Worry Be Happy” or “Be My Naber” would have been disappointed.
The show was plagued with technical difficulties: a mysterious humming noise, a bad electrical connection on the four track which we were using to play the backing tapes and low levels on Bruce’s mic (repeatedly!). The Khyber has a really tall stage, like 7 or 8 feet from floor level, which we jumped from during the concert. Nice to be young and indestructible like that!
Opening Acts: Column (James Hamilton) and Steb Sly. Live sound by Phil Walling (Phollip Willing P.A.)
From the Halifax show:
08 Phÿcus Sector (TNDT Halifax)
09 Pig Stories (TNDT Halifax)
10 Grandmaster Phÿcus (TNDT Halifax)
11 The Missing Foundation (TNDT Halifax)
12 Phil Walling Fixed The Noise (TNDT Halifax)
13 Scars And Meat For Evil (TNDT Halifax)
14 Re-Tox (TNDT Halifax)
15 No (More!) Pain / Endorphinate (TNDT Halifax)
Playing in Sydney (June 8 1995) was quite a trip. First of all, it was a well-attended all-ages show. For sure, Phÿcus warped a few minds that night, with none of the conventional displays of musicianship, playing a style of music that had never been played in Sydney before, and saying things that no local band had ever said.
A couple years after the Phÿcus show, there was even a “Sydney scene” of punk bands with keyboards, which Phÿcus certainly had a hand in inspiring.
And it was great for Brian, Bill and Art – who had been outcasts and freaks when living in Sydney – to be the “cool kids”, if only for one night.
Also, the sound was great and the band sounded tight. The Halifax show sounds like a rehearsal in comparison. And the evacuation: classic Phÿcus moment. Opening act: Tilted.
From the Sydney show:
16 Night Flight To Phÿcus (TNDT Sydney)
17 Tottering Structures (TNDT Sydney)
18 Grandmaster Phÿcus (TNDT Sydney)
19 What A Day (TNDT Sydney)
20 Destroy The Earth (TNDT Sydney)
21 Scars And Meat For Evil (TNDT Sydney)
22 This Is The Burn (TNDT Sydney)
23 Evacuation (TNDT Sydney)
24 No (More!) Pain / Endorphinate (TNDT Sydney)
Phÿcus was a Canadian industrial / experimental band that existed from 1988 to 2000. Phÿcus transformed from the traditional
band format into a network that included over 50 contributors in a dozen locales, with Montreal as its centre of operations. Phÿcus' success was minimal, but their output was prodigious. Now in 2020, Phÿcus is back with a new release, "CrowleyWood"....more
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