The Skitzos
Encyclopedia
The Skitzos were a punk rock
band from Calgary
, Alberta
, Canada
, but according to The Skitzos they play "rock and roll
". They performed around Western Canada
from 2005 until 2008 and are regarded as Calgary's "thrashiest and trashiest", and best contemporary punk rock
band. The band consisted of Aaron Arseneau (bass
), Josh Boley (drums
), Mark McLennan (guitar
) and Ryder Thalheimer (vocals
).
in 2004. Original guitarist Geoff Reynard quit just after releasing their independent demo 'Modern Youth' right before any local success was achieved. Mark McLennan then took over guitar and the band started making strides. Just months after the new addition The Skitzos began preparing to release what would become the Faster Louder Better!
EP.
The Skitzos then began a rigorous live schedule, playing almost weekly around Alberta
. The Skitzos were regarded as one of the best local live acts at the time, noted for their energetic and highly volatile performances. As well, The Skitzos were subject to much talk revolving around their offstage antics. This is best represented by their notorious run in with the police in the summer of 2006 while finishing the recording for their Longshot Music release. It has been rumoured that one of the members was knocked unconscious in a Junior High school field in northeast Calgary by a policeman while running from the police for an unknown offense.
Upon releasing their highly anticipated and well received debut EP Faster Louder Better!
which kick started a vinyl
resurrection in Calgary as well as a number of similar bands. The Skitzos then went on a brief tour of Alberta, most notable was their notorious weekend in Banff
. After being kicked out of Banff nightclub Aurora for nudity and disorderly conduct The Skitzos then got into a fight with a taxi driver who proceeded to notify the police. The Skitzos then had to bribe the hotel concierge, by purchasing marijuana from him, to tell the police that they had not entered the building. Front desk Fred reportedly had to stop the police from entering the hotel numerous times throughout the night after being called due to illegal drugs being used through a window looking out onto Banff Ave as well as noise complaints. It is not known what exactly took place in the hotel room that night.
The Skitzos headed back into the studio to record two new tracks. These tracks quickly became crowd favorites but were never released officially even though they received much praise from the local Albertan punk rock scene. They then only played a few shows before suddenly breaking up rather ambiguously. A small statement was released on their myspace blog.
Recently there have been rumors that the band would make a comeback.
sessions. The first is a cover of the Exploding Hearts classic 'I'm A Pretender', the other called 'The Terror Song' is a more hardcore influenced song, featuring the bands trademark energy and features an intense breakdown. Both of these songs were performed live numerous times but were never officially released.
Two new tracks appeared on The Skitzos myspace
in October 2007 entitled 'Let Loose' and 'Catch Me'. Both were recorded in one day, live to tape, at Calgary's Ear Candy studios. These tracks have a more Rock and Roll
sound to them and have yet to be released officially, though are critic, band and fan favorites.
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band from Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, but according to The Skitzos they play "rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
". They performed around Western Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
from 2005 until 2008 and are regarded as Calgary's "thrashiest and trashiest", and best contemporary punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band. The band consisted of Aaron Arseneau (bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
), Josh Boley (drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
), Mark McLennan (guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
) and Ryder Thalheimer (vocals
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
).
History
The Skitzos formed in north east CalgaryCalgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
in 2004. Original guitarist Geoff Reynard quit just after releasing their independent demo 'Modern Youth' right before any local success was achieved. Mark McLennan then took over guitar and the band started making strides. Just months after the new addition The Skitzos began preparing to release what would become the Faster Louder Better!
Faster Louder Better!
Faster Louder Better! is the first official release from Calgary's The Skitzos on Longshot Music. It was released October 2, 2007 to wide Albertan acclaim on red, white or black 7" vinyl...
EP.
The Skitzos then began a rigorous live schedule, playing almost weekly around Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
. The Skitzos were regarded as one of the best local live acts at the time, noted for their energetic and highly volatile performances. As well, The Skitzos were subject to much talk revolving around their offstage antics. This is best represented by their notorious run in with the police in the summer of 2006 while finishing the recording for their Longshot Music release. It has been rumoured that one of the members was knocked unconscious in a Junior High school field in northeast Calgary by a policeman while running from the police for an unknown offense.
Upon releasing their highly anticipated and well received debut EP Faster Louder Better!
Faster Louder Better!
Faster Louder Better! is the first official release from Calgary's The Skitzos on Longshot Music. It was released October 2, 2007 to wide Albertan acclaim on red, white or black 7" vinyl...
which kick started a vinyl
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
resurrection in Calgary as well as a number of similar bands. The Skitzos then went on a brief tour of Alberta, most notable was their notorious weekend in Banff
Banff, Alberta
Banff is a town within Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada. It is located in Alberta's Rockies along the Trans-Canada Highway, approximately west of Calgary and east of Lake Louise....
. After being kicked out of Banff nightclub Aurora for nudity and disorderly conduct The Skitzos then got into a fight with a taxi driver who proceeded to notify the police. The Skitzos then had to bribe the hotel concierge, by purchasing marijuana from him, to tell the police that they had not entered the building. Front desk Fred reportedly had to stop the police from entering the hotel numerous times throughout the night after being called due to illegal drugs being used through a window looking out onto Banff Ave as well as noise complaints. It is not known what exactly took place in the hotel room that night.
The Skitzos headed back into the studio to record two new tracks. These tracks quickly became crowd favorites but were never released officially even though they received much praise from the local Albertan punk rock scene. They then only played a few shows before suddenly breaking up rather ambiguously. A small statement was released on their myspace blog.
- "It's been a great couple of years. One of us is going somewhere down under. And hauling our equipment for 5-6 people hasn't helped much either.. A lot of blood, sweat and beers have gone into the Skitzos, but you'll see us around... Thanks again. We hope to see everyone come out and let goose at our last couple of shows. Sorry there won't be any good bands around. See ya soon."
Recently there have been rumors that the band would make a comeback.
EPs
- Modern Youth EP (2005)
- Faster Louder Better!Faster Louder Better!Faster Louder Better! is the first official release from Calgary's The Skitzos on Longshot Music. It was released October 2, 2007 to wide Albertan acclaim on red, white or black 7" vinyl...
EP (2007, Longshot Music).
B-sides
There are two unreleased tracks recorded during the Faster Louder Better!Faster Louder Better!
Faster Louder Better! is the first official release from Calgary's The Skitzos on Longshot Music. It was released October 2, 2007 to wide Albertan acclaim on red, white or black 7" vinyl...
sessions. The first is a cover of the Exploding Hearts classic 'I'm A Pretender', the other called 'The Terror Song' is a more hardcore influenced song, featuring the bands trademark energy and features an intense breakdown. Both of these songs were performed live numerous times but were never officially released.
Two new tracks appeared on The Skitzos myspace
Myspace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
in October 2007 entitled 'Let Loose' and 'Catch Me'. Both were recorded in one day, live to tape, at Calgary's Ear Candy studios. These tracks have a more Rock and Roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
sound to them and have yet to be released officially, though are critic, band and fan favorites.