Political Punk

Victim 77 performed political punk rock that put them in first place at Battle of the Bands, Jan. 29.

"We write music that we love and sing about stuff we believe in," said Chad Gale, band's guitar player.

At the competition they sold demos of their music with proceeds going to Haiti where countless people suffered from a massive earthquake.

"We just felt that even if it makes a small difference, it all helps," said Gale.

They also performed one of Gale's favourite songs, Tired Hands In Modern Age, at the Battle of the Bands. He said that it is about how sweatshops are looked upon negatively in Canada, but people have no problem buying things made in a sweatshop outside of the country.

Some of the other issues their songs tackle include child labour, equal wages, human rights, and racism.

Gale said that if they're watching TV and see something they don't agree with, singing is a great way to say something about it.

He adds that they're greatly influenced by bands like Strike Anywhere. They're a punk rock band from Richmond, Virginia known for fast tempos and emotionally-charged vocals with lyrics about police brutality, capitalism, globalization, human rights and animal rights.

"We've changed a lot since we started," said Gale. "It's gotten a bit more complicated. Different influences and different bands we've gotten into changed the way we write music."

They got together as a band about five years ago. According to Gale, Travis Lawrence (guitar) and Patrick Byrne (bass) were friends who talked about starting a band much like he was with Ryan Higdon (drums). Then they all started jamming together.

Behind the name

He adds that there are two stories behind their band name: one that it stands for 1977 as the year punk music started, and the other that it just came out of an Internet band name generator.

Recently, their drummer, Ryan Higdon, went away to study Recording Arts at CNA (College of the North Atlantic) in Stephenville, so Chris Reid took over drums for the Battle of the Bands, said Gale.

He will also be playing drums at the provincial Battle of the Bands in Grand Falls - Winsor, March 6, but Gale said that Higdon might come to see them perform.

Gale is happy that they finally won first place in the local competition after coming in second for the past two years.

He said that it's not really the type of show they play with their style of music. He added that they are pretty energetic and like to get the crowd more into it.

Setting sights high

"We're going to practice a lot and do our best, for sure, but it's just a chance to get out and play, and show what our music is like," said Gale about the upcoming provincials. "When it comes to placing, it really doesn't matter at all."

He said that they're planning to do some recording this summer after Higdon finishes school. It would be a follow up to their first CD, Suicide Channel, which according to Gale is about how fake images in the media are driving people to feel like they don't belong.

He predicts that their new material will be a bit faster and heavier.

He also adds that they are looking into doing a show locally before or after the provincials.

In the long term, according to Gale, Rebel Time Records has expressed interest in helping them tour in Ontario.