04/12/2025
Hey Kids! (by kids, of course I mean immature seniors or well seasoned adults). Have you heard the news? There is indeed good rockin' tonight! Gerard Van Herk is playing at the House Of Targ tonight. Thursday night, December 4.
Gerard Van Herk was the singer and guitar player in the Montreal sludge-a-billy duo, Deja Voodoo (truly, one of the best band names ever!). Deja Voodoo not only introduced me to the music of Rosco Gordon and The Sonics (and the GVH has the gall to call me "rootsy"), albeit through the most stripped down, fuzzed out, D.I.Y. versions of their songs, but Gerard Van Herk and drummer Tony Dewald also rocked the Eighties with their label OG Music and the many independent bands they recorded. They put out a series of "It Came From Canada" compilations, of Canadian bands that they felt needed to be heard. For that alone they should have been given the Order Of Canada. (F**k, they introduced me to the music of U.I.C. for god's sake!) But they also put out releases by The Dik Van D***s, Terminal Sunglasses, The Asexuals, Jerry Jerry & The Sons Of Rhythm Orchestra, Condition, The Gruesomes and Deja Voodoo of course. It was a who's who of the Montreal punk/alternative scene. Gerard & Tony offered the antidote for Celin Dion, Cory Hart and Glass Tiger. And for that I will be ever grateful.
Gerard came out of retirement and is performing, recording and releasing (praise be) singles (with Chris Page), E.P.s (one solo and one with Bloodshot Bill) and a brand new album this year, "Martian Kiss". Not bad for an old geezer.
All of his music is available on Bandcamp & he's even starting up his own label, Subamacopter.
But why buy before you believe? Go see him tonight at the House of Targ, 1077 Bank Street (Bank & Sunnyside) and become a believer because Bloodshot Bill is on skins & Chris Page will be making an appearance. Eddie Gazell is also on the bill. It's a win, win, win scenario. These cats are primed and ready to go off at 9:00 TONIGHT!!!!!
