It was a Class of '77 reunion party down in the basement of the University of Toronto's CIUT radio station.  Zro4 was there to do a live session and interview for Equilizing X Distort, hosted by Stephe Perry, but they also brought along Xenia from the the B Girls to play 3 acounstic numbers and Liz Worth to read from her chapbook, Eleven: Eleven. And, of course, a couple of dozen fans, band members and scenesters from back in the day came along to fill the bedroom sized studio and make some noise.  Formed in 1978, Zro4's original line up was Zero on vocals, Dave Joudrey on guitar, Tony Brighton (stolen from the Ugly) on bass and Mike Bambrick on drums.  The band continued playing into the mid-1980s, opening up for the likes of Johnny Thunders and the Dead Boys.  They made a handful of recordings under different line ups throughout those years, but nothing was ever released.  In 2006, Zero got on stage for the first time in 20 years to play one song with the Screwed.  In 2008, two members from the Screwed, bassist John Borra and drummer Cleave Anderson, joined Zero, along with original guitarist Dave (known as "Nasty Dave Snot" in the 1970's), to play a couple of well received re-union shows.  ToBeScene covered those shows and today's live performance and interview session.

What better way to ease into Christmas than to spend a frosty afternoon listening to the Rizdales and friends at the small and cosey Graffiti's Bar & Grill.  The festivities were kicked off by Ancient Chinese Secret, featuring ex-Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet guitarist Brian Connelly.  Their amazing surf instrumental covers got everyone tapping their feet and dancing in their chairs.  Brian is accompanied by Rob Clarke (bass) and Mark Duff (drums) from the Rizdales.  After giving away free candy and chips, the rest of the Rizdales -- Tara Dunphy (fiddle, vocals), Tom Dunphy (guitar, vocals) and Brad Keogan (guitar) -- hit the stage and belted out their version of old time country.   

The Von Drats celebrated their 7 inch single release at the Cadillac Lounge by having the recently reunited Wayouts open the show for them.  The Wayouts, named after the Flintstones band, were playing their infectious power pop between 1977 to 1981 when members of the Von Drats were bearly out of diapers.  The Wayouts' 2008 lineup is the same as it was back then: guitarist Mike Andrechuk,  drummer Cleave Anderson and bassist Gerry Smith (then known as Johnny Bubblegum).  The band came together after Cleave's and Gerry's  previous band Tyranna broke up.  Tonight's festivities were set in motion by the Wayouts walking out on stage wearing a combination of spaceman/genie/shaman costumes, followed by the Wolfman singing the Wayouts' theme song.  Once the Von Drats filled the small stage with all five members and a go-go dancer, the party was set into high gear.  The entertainment value of their catchy garge-surf frat rock was more than enhanced by the fact that all the Von Drats were dressed up as members of the Adams Family -- mind you, a more grotesque version.  Aldo Erdic from ToBeScene and videographer Henry Martinuk were there to capture all the action.  You can view some clips on Henry's YouTube channel.