Not Yer Buddy Productions’ Seamus McGrath first saw the Rebel Spell at a house party in Abbotsford. He figures it was around 2003, shortly after the release of their debut, Expression in Layman’s Terms.
“I had a hand in putting it together, but it wasn’t really my show,” McGrath recalls. “Someone said, ‘We’ve gotta put this band on the bill,’ kinda last minute – we already had four bands! But we put them on second, and I just remember 80 kids being crammed together in a basement, and everyone’s jaw was just on the floor when they were done, because they were just so powerful.I remember seeing a couple of my buddies in the band that had to play next, the look on their face was just too priceless, because they were like, ‘Oh my god, we’ve got to follow that?’”
McGrath became an ardent follower, and also promoted several gigs by the band, including frontman Todd Serious’s 40th birthday party, which the band celebrated at the Russian Hall in May, 2013.
“That was one of the happiest times I’ve ever seen him – the least serious,” McGrath recalls.
As with any friendship, there were moments of disagreement between McGrath and Serious.
“We had a lot of challenging debates – the most challenging debates, and some of the most fascinating ones, that I’ve ever had with a friend, were with Todd.”
Asked to give an example, McGrath considers. Will he talk about veganism? His friend’s strong position on aboriginal rights? His anarcho-communist politics?
With a small grin, McGrath finally settles on “the”.
Serious, you see, was a stickler for the definite article in his band’s name. “He would only let a few people know how utterly enraged he would get when people would say ‘Rebel Spell,’” McGrath says with a chuckle. “The article ‘the’ was intensely important to him, and I felt like I was one of the few people he really unleashed that upon. Ah man – he was a strong-willed guy, he was a particular guy.”
McGrath, talking to Westender at Lanalou’s, pauses to let emotion pass. “I miss that guy, I miss that guy very much.”
Less than two years after the Russian Hall gig, in March 2015, Serious – also known as Todd Jenkins – died of injuries sustained in a fall while rock climbing in Nevada, leaving many of his friends reeling. Now, punks from around the world have come together, with the help of Not Yer Buddy, Harvest King, and Rebel Time Records, among others – to put out a “100 per cent not-profit” double album of covers of songs by the Rebel Spell.
The album kicks off with Manitoba political punks Propagandhi, whose cover of “I Am a Rifle” begins with a sample of Serious shouting out the title phrase.
It is one of many faithful punk covers on the album. There are also some daring re-workings. McGrath picks Drum & Bell Tower’s cover of “Pride and Prejudice” (sometimes misrepresented as “Pride and Privilege”) as a standout – a kind of folk-meets-dub interpretation.
Other surprises include the ukulele-and-violin based, female-fronted take on “Last Run” by Ancient Grains, who sound more like the Moldy Peaches than the Rebel Spell; and Jesse LeBourdais’ chilling acoustic take on “Sit With Me Anger.” The folk context does nothing to diminish the power of Serious’s lyrics.
The record release this Friday, Sept. 30 at the Rickshaw, will include both locals – such as Reds, Selfist, ATD, Jesse LeBourdais and Jeff Andrew – and visitors, like Edmonton’s Reckless Rebels, Kamloops’ Soundcity Hooligans, and Regina’s Soiled Doves, all of whom appear on the tribute album. McGrath hopes that the show will be a success, and do something to finish paying for the album itself, but he doesn’t seem that concerned if he doesn’t break even.
“It’s worth it, no matter what you go through on a project like this,” says McGrath. “It’s not just honouring Todd and the band – because there were people who were so loyal to him, and a community that has rallied around them… they need this, it’s cathartic for them. It’s gotta be there. And a portion of those people are people who are on the album, and a lot of those bands have never been on wax, so it’s a big thing for them.”
