Canadian Music Trade - December/January 2019 | Page 19

DAVE DYSART (FAR RIGHT) WITH UIC Classic Canadian Punk Outfit UIC, Featuring HHB’s Dave Dysart, Signs with Warner Warner Music Canada and Like 90 Records recently re-released two classic Canadian garage-punk albums – Our Garage and Live Like Ninety – from Southern Ontario’s UIC. For the Canadian MI and audio products indus- try, this is notable news because one of UIC’s newest members is HHB Communications Canada President Dave Dysart. Originally released in the 1980s, both albums are now available on all streaming services for the first time and were also re-issued on CD and vinyl. The band celebrat- ed the re-releases with a show at This Ain’t Hollywood in Hamilton, ON on Nov. 24. Originally formed in 1982 in a basement in Exeter, ON, UIC took its influences from Detroit radio where The Stooges, MC5, and Alice Cooper dominated the airwaves. The original lineup – Fred “Slack” Robinson, Dave “Smokin” Robinson, Murray Heywood, Ted Triebner, and Dan Preszcator – took their name from the Unemployment Insurance Commission (since rebranded Employment Insurance). After a few years of playing shows in the London area, the band moved to Toronto and became regulars on the bill at the Siboney, the Rivoli, the Horseshoe Tavern, and Lee’s Palace, playing alongside the likes of The Gruesomes, Teenage Head, The Dead Milkmen, and Deja Voodoo. The band’s cult-classic debut, Our Garage, was released in 1986 and has been re-mas- tered for this reissue. Live Like Ninety, which was recorded live at a sold-out Lee’s Palace show on Nov. 4, 1988, captures the group’s explosive live sound and was voted by NOW Magazine as one of the most influential To- ronto albums of the ‘80s. The album has been remixed and remastered for this reissue. By the time they disbannded in 1995, UIC had released three full-length albums (a fourth, The Wiseman Sessions, was lost for almost 20 years when the tapes were finally recovered, mixed, and released). Over the next few years, band members pursued vari- ous musical paths and in 1999 four of the five band members joined forces as The Chickens. By 2006, they all went their separate ways. Flash forward to 2016 and UIC, joined by Dysart on guitar, reunited to headline an Oshawa benefit in memory of local rock pro- moter and Star Records founder Mike Shulga. Spurred on by Dysart’s enthusiasm, the band marked the 30 th anniversary of Our Garage by playing their first Toronto show in 20 years. The success of those shows inspired a new sense of creativity and the band has since re-entered the studio to record new material to be released on their own Like 90 Records imprint. For more information, go to www.uiccanada.com. Drummer’s Hangout Named Aurora’s Best New Business Aurora, ON percussion shop Drummer’s Hangout has received the Best New Business award from the Aurora Chamber of Commerce. The award was handed out on Nov. 1 st after multiple rounds of voting, with all Aurora businesses that have been open for three years or less being eligible. Murat Baslamisli is a drummer and long-time percussion retail specialist. The idea of opening a store that he himself would want to visit was at the heart of his decision to open Drummer’s Hangout in the fall of 2015. As the name implies, he sought to of- fer more than just products for sale. “I wanted to create an environment for drummers and prospective drummers alike,” he tells Canadian Music Trade, “where they can hang out, have a drink, sit and watch drum DVDs from their favourite drummers, talk about them, compare them…” It’s that environment and overall experience that differenti- ates his shop from the many full-service MI retailers in the Greater Toronto Area. After winning the award, Baslamisli wrote online, “We cannot tell you how proud and humble we are for winning this prestigious award and it is because of all of you and the good people of the town of Aurora! Even to be nominated was surreal but actually winning this ... Madness!” For more information, go to www.drummershangout.ca. MURAT BASLAMISLI (MIDDLE) RECEIVING THE AWARD SEND US YOUR PERSONAL UPDATES TO SHARE WITH YOUR PEERS! Retailers, reps, suppliers, educators, and other trade professionals are encouraged to send us personal stories about themselves or their colleagues that we can share with your peers in the industry. Tips on weddings, anniversaries, major milestones, awards, births, new initiatives, and other achievements are all welcome and appreciated! Please send your stories to [email protected] and we’ll handle the rest! CANADIAN MUSIC TRADE 19