I'm surprised that a band so important in the history of noise does not have its own thread? They might also just be the most prolific when it comes to performances too...
QuoteThe NSB was formed in 1965 by a group of people who enjoyed music and wanted to play in a band. There was no desire to learn to play traditional instruments so kazoos were bought and assorted noise makers modified or built from scratch. The band started playing regularly every Monday night in 1966 and has just carried on .The personnel has stayed the same. John Boyle (artist) kazoo and drums, John Clement (MD) guitar and drums, Bill Exley (geezer/latinist) vocals, Murray Favro (artist) guitar and Art Pratten (pensioner/gentleman of leisure) Pratt-a-various and Waterpipe. Greg Curnoe (deceased), Hugh McIntyre (deceased) and Archie Leitch (permanently retired) play less often.
The band currently plays most every Monday night at The Forest City Gallery, 258 Richmond St., just south of under pass in London, Ontario, Canada. The atmosphere is informal. We play for our own enjoyment but an audience is welcome.
The only material by them that I own are their contributions to the No Music Festival 1999 box set (which are great!).
I also very much enjoyed the documentary that was produced about/for them (not despite, but rather because of the local news-level quality, which added a bit of charm):
The song "I Have Nothing to Say" is probably also one of the best take-downs of academic pretensions ever put to music:
QuoteI have nothing to say, but I can say it very well
These words are too simple
I don't want you to know that I have nothing to say
So I will sing to you with words you won't understand
With a paradigm shift into a matrix of dynamic activity
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With dialectical interactional parameters
With functional logistical hardware
With idealized signification and commonification
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With problematical notation and formulization
With a defined simulacrum of capability
With balanced empowering options
With systematized policiеs of specificity
With responsive monitorеd software
With functional differentiation of classification