End of a Montreal Era
This coming week is the final week of CBC Radio 2’s Brave New Waves. BNW was an indie rock institution that has been on the air now for over 22 years. Produced and aired out of Montreal and on the air from midnight until the wee hours of the morning, was, for many, many years, the only place to get to hear new cool music.
With the advent of the Net and now Satellite Radio and Podcasts, indie rock is much more available.
When I was a student, back when Jesus was still a cowboy, I would stay up late, late studying and listening to Brent Bambury interview all kinds of indie weirdos who just seemed like some of the most interesting people on earth. Personal favorite was Jim Rose of the famed circus juggling chainsaws over Bambury ’s head.. on the air in the studio! Not only where the interviews fantastic, but the music even better so. Where else where you going to get to listen to New Order, Joy Division, Dinosaur Jr, Pixies and the rest of those bands that defined my generation.
It’s a shame that BNW is going, but I like to think it created a movement that allowed for better access of great indie music. Listen to this CBC Radio 3 Podcast. It’s gotta be the best 90 minutes of Canadian Indie music I have ever heard. Truly fantastic listening..
Subscribe to their podcast. It might help take the pain away of losing a Montreal institution: BNW.
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Wow that’s sad to hear, I grew up listening to that show as well. When I first heard it I was 14 and Augusta La Paix was the host… It was a life saver musically to anyone growing up outside of an urban center (for me it was Moncton). I used to make lists and go on once a year spending sprees at Record Peddler in TO.
I haven’t listened to it much in recent years, but it was a great show.
Same here.. I stopped listening a little after Patti took over.. It went really underground after Brent left. Patti gave the show a more serious, academic feel to it.. Which is fine, but I rather preferred Brent’s nuttiness.
As for Augusta, I remember when she left BNW and jumped over to the afternoon show with Bronstetter. In one show, she managed to convince a montreal city worker to let her drive one of those Bombardier Bombers that clear the sidewalks of snow.. She had charm. Great radio that was. I believe she runs a B&B in Le Plateau..
Hey there - you are picking up on the zeitgeist! I referenced your post and others about this on Midnight Poutine, but more importantly, I have been collecting peoples’ stories about the show. Have a look, and leave a comment, or a BNW anecdote:
http://www.midnightpoutine.ca/media/2007/03/this_week_in_blogs_for_march_21_brave_new_waves/
scott.