Broccolifest set to benefit local underground bands

By Theresa N. Roach

April 30, 2009, 7:47AM

Courtesy photoLocal punk rockers Guilty Bystanders will host Broccolifest at Churchill's on Saturday.

It's been quite a while since the last Broccolifest, the multi-band bash occasionally hosted by local punk rockers the Guilty Bystanders. But now one of Flint's most enduring underground bands has found some good reasons to do another one.

"They were really informal," said Guilties frontman John Vamossy, who along with his cohorts will host the latest gathering Saturday at Churchill's. "The first one was in '85, and I think the last one was in '87. They were usually outdoors, and whoever wanted to play could show up and play."

That's also the spirit behind this weekend's fest, which will serve as a release party for the CD debut of the group's first album, 1985's "Broccoli Rules."

Classic Guilty Bystanders tracks like "Hardcore Alphabet" and "Politics Made Simple" have finally made their way to the digital age, and Vamossy said he's pleased with the results.

"We're doing it ourselves," he said of the reissue, which also includes a bonus disc of outtakes and live performances. "(Guilties guitarist) Steve Reddy and my youngest brother Paul are getting it ready to go. Luckily, we have the original master tapes from Toxic Studios, from back in the day.

Courtesy photoA new band with familiar faces, Super Shock Control brings covers and original tunes to Broccolifest.

"Paul was able to use some digital programs to make it sound great," Vamossy said. "I was amazed the first time I heard it on CD."

Proceeds from this year's Broccolifest will benefit the Flint Underground Music Archive, a Web site developed by local musician Aaron Stengel. The extensive site, located at www.takenoprisoners.info, showcases vintage band recordings spanning more than 20 years.

"I like what Aaron's been doing with the site," Vamossy said. "He's been putting a lot of time into it, so I thought it would be great if we could help him out."

Here's a look of some of the other acts taking the stage for Broccolifest this weekend:

• Super Shock Control: Plenty of veterans from the downtown music scene will be on-hand Saturday, and many of them will be debuting new bands. Longtime Smiling Sacrifice vocalist Brian Orr is now fronting Super Shock Control, a heavy quartet he assembled late last year.

The group, which also features guitarist Tom McMurray, bassist Brian O'Leary and drummer Keith Fish, has spent the last few months honing cover versions of songs by the Supersuckers and the Hellacopters, along with a few originals. "It's straightforward, big guitar, punk rock stuff," Orr said.

• Drat: "We're doing weird, wobbly punk stuff," Reddy said of his other band, which also includes fellow Guilty Bystander Fido Kennington and members of the Freakies. The group proudly sports a wide variety of influences, with everyone from Kiss and Black Sabbath to the Plasmatics and the Knack receiving the Drat treatment. "It's a pretty eclectic mix," Reddy said.

• Amigo: A newcomer on the scene, Amigo refers to himself as a "percussionist extraordinaire." The drummer, who prefers to be addressed by his stage name, claims to be a native of Iquitos, Peru, but was inspired to move to Michigan after checking out some of the bands at www.takenoprisoners.info. While Broccolifest will be his first proper Flint show, Amigo said he's performed a few brief sets at open mic nights around town, with mixed results. "Sometimes people don't like it," he said. "But I don't let it get to me. Even if they start throwing stuff, it just makes me try that much harder."

• Big Deal: Also keeping things a bit mysterious is Big Deal, an abrasive three-piece conglomeration formed by Stengel back in his high-school days. "It's pretty much like a noise band," Stengel said. "Lots of keyboard loops and feedback. Lots of noisemakers. It's kind of out there."