Around St. Albert music circles, Mattie Cuvilier is a leading indie punk rocker, not only as a vocalist for Brother Voodoo, but also as a creative, hard-driving promoter.
Although his main band is now Suicidal Cop, the St. Albert Catholic High grad reflects on a rollercoaster music career that has turned to successfully bridging the once estranged genres of punk and hardcore.
Tonight his promotion company, Clean Up Your Act Productions (CUYAP), an instrument in creating some of the rowdiest bar shows around, celebrates its landmark 100th show – the Hot 100 at Wunderbar just off Whyte Avenue.
As Cuvilier looks back, it’s difficult to believe he mounted 100 shows in three years with the help of assistant Sarah LaRocque and soundman Greg Boyd.
“I’m really proud of what I’ve accomplished. I don’t know anybody in Edmonton, outside of people who do it for a living, who have put on this many shows. It’s a life-changing experience.”
Along the way Cuvilier has discovered new things about himself.
“I’ve been able to start something from the ground up. I found I could adapt and make things work on little or no budget. I love the business and the public relations and this is the first concentrated effort where I was in charge. I also didn’t realize when I started how far it would go and how important it would be to people.”
For Cuvilier, an adult support worker at the Bissell Centre, the 100th show is momentous and he designed a no-holds-barred mix of different energies to fit a variety of ages. From 7 to 10 p.m. he’s scheduled an all ages show with punk band No Problem headlining. Also featured on the bill is pop punk band Nervous Wreck, ska band Feast or Famine and hardcore punk Point Break.
The concert takes a one-hour break and at 11 p.m. the 18 plus show starts. The evening’s headliners are post punk band Slates, just back from their European tour. Also on program is St. Albert pop punk band O Messy Life, hardcore punk band Suicidal Cop and garage rock band The Throwaways from Calgary.
Cuvilier always had a finger on the pulse of the music scene, even as a teenager. What disturbed him was that punks and hardcores were playing off each other and dividing instead of working together to build a stronger voice.
“Hardcore is very specific. It has clear expectations for what makes hardcore and the culture around it is more conservative, not as wild. It’s more of a rejection of punk.”
Punk, on the other hand, is layered with many different subgenres.
“It’s more hard-edged and political. But it’s still focused and remains independent. It’s not a sell-out and tries to stick to its punk roots, and the two don’t always mesh.”
In addition to straddling and linking the two genres, Cuvilier wanted to give newbie bands a place to ply their craft.
The first venue he located in 2008 was an abandoned laundry that held 60 people tops. The owner built a mini-stage at one end and a bar at the other. With borrowed equipment, the first show launched at Circles.
“It was teeny tiny, but it gave me a chance to get my feet wet, and it gave me a chance to promote shows that couldn’t find big venues.
After a year, Circles shut down due to liquor licensing irregularities. But at that point, CUYAP had developed enough punk credibility to stage bigger shows at community halls.
“The big focus was all ages shows and I had quite a few. In the past decade the punk scene had matured. They were less disrespectful, but getting past the stigma was the biggest challenge.”
Part of CUYAP’s mandate was to emphasize respect. Writing on walls, smashing toilets and any other destructive activities were verboten.
“It’s self defeating and that’s what Clean Up Your Act Productions is all about.”
Doors open at 6 p.m. at 8120 - 101 St. Tickets are $10 per show or $15 for an all-day pass. Call Blackbyrd Myoosik at 780-439-1273 or drop by 10442 - 82 Ave.
