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Review: The Nads Album: A Smile for Capitalism. By Sam Sutherland - www.exclaim.ca - June 01, 2005

One of the most offensive and interesting acts currently making the rounds through Ottawa’s growing punk scene, Jason Ramone, aka the Nads, has yet another disc of ready-to-offend tracks with this recording of a live performance on Carleton’s CKCU-FM 93.1. Ramone’s schtick is his one-man show, aided by a small collection of cheap-sounding electronics that conjure images of Sid Vicious tripping through the music section of Toys“R”Us. His songs are about things like proportional representation and kids who stare at their shoes and sing emo songs, but whatever the subject matter, they still end up sounding like Atom and his Package tracks on speed — a fact that is brought into stark clarity on his cover of “Hats Off To Halford.” Occasionally un-listenable, but always in a way that somehow makes you want to keep listening, The Nads’ sound is not for everyone, but it certainly holds an important place in the world of difficult, challenging music.

Article: Soundbites by Jennifer Tattersall of The Ottawa Xpress -March 9th 2005. 

More Shows... Rising local punk/rock/art-rock hub, the Agora/Universe City Lounge is throwing a benefit on Saturday March 12 to rasie funds for a new PA system. Leading their support are local punkers Sofa King Addicted, Take One for the Team, The Nads, For the Fallen, Finkelstein Shit Kids, and Tanya Janca.

Article: Nightlife by Fateema Sayani in The Ottawa Citizen -Thursday Feb 10th 2005

Calling It A Day: Moral Hazard goes out with a bang. They broke up a long time ago, but forgot to do a send-off show (most of the members came together again as Four Stroke). The underground punk bands’ last show is Saturday at Mavericks, with guests Roll Gypsy Roll, The Nads, and Russell’s Big Day. The evenign show with the Longtimers, Harshey and ManPower starts at 9pm at the same venue.

Article: Nightlife by Fateema Sayani in The Ottawa Citizen -Thursday Jan 27th 2005

A Night of Punk: Radar Hate, featuring ex-members of The Vapids, Casual Fridays, the Indruders and Punk Drunk Love, come out to celebrate Nads frontman Jason Ramone’s birthday. The Nads, Radar Hate, and others at 8pm Saturday at The Agora.

Hipster and Poser - December 2004 Issue
In Concert: The PG-13s Surf-style punk rockers the PG-13s join a host of ottawa punk acts to support Amnesty International. The Grey, The Nads, Take One for the Team, and BlackBall pitch in to keep music lovers in the loop about the work of the human rights organization. In addition to helping a good cause, the first 50 people through the door get a copy of the Sir Punkly CD with songs by Buried Inside, No Other Way, and The Transit. The benefit show takes palce December 3 at Club SAW...

Article: "The Scene" by ALLAN WIGNEY - Ottawa Sun Article - www.canoe.ca/ - Wed October 20th 2004

“When the choice is dumb or dumber,” the ever disgruntled Jason Setnyk says, “demorcracy is totalitariansim.” Bush vs. Kerry? Try the most recent Canadian federal election. Or the next one. Setnyk a.k.a Jason Ramone, is as the sole member of guerilla-rock outfit The Nads an increasingly rare phenomenon: The politically-conscious punk. And he’ well aware of the fact - as the FBI, whom he insists have at least visited his website. (It seems likely as Setnyk’s Ottawa Underground website is linked to Indymedia.org, an international information service recently infiltrated by the paranoid U.S. bureau.) “There’s a very conservative attitude creeping into the punk scene,” Setnyk observes. “It’s a rebellion agasint the better elements of punk. When I go to a punk show these days I feel like I’m in a Gap commerical.” Setnyk, meanwhile, is fighting the good fight, organizing Rock the Vote events and sponsoring bands in his native Cornwall, compiling a fine local punk sampler (Ottawa Underground) and unleashing a suitably vitriolic followup to his brilliant and disturing Bin Laden for Prez CD, Eyes of a Nation. The new CD whose primitive electronic pop deconstructions effectively couch rallying cries against everything from homophobic evangelist to Disney, paves the way for a transiton, Setnyk claims to a more industrial sound. And if denouncing the Wal-mart and Old Navy society seems almost too easy, Setnyk reminds us that too few voices are questioning our brave new world. “You can talk about preaching to the converted,” Setnyk concedes, “but how many punk bands deal with serious
issues? “People don’t want to be burdened by thinking. If they hear a band that rally stands for something, it reminds them that they’re not doing enough”.

Saturday, August 7, 2004
Article: Rocking the Vote in Lamoureux Park by Sultan Jessa 
of the Standard-Freeholder

“Organizers expect scores of people to attend the annual Rock-The-Vote, a festival of music and politics being held today in Lamoureux Park. This is the second year for the festival, sponsored jointly by the local riding association of the New Democratic Party and The Cornwall Underground... Bands participating in the festival include Lost Faith, In Another Voice, Richomnd, The Dan Martin Band, Knockoffs, The Nads, Riptides, and Pianosarus Rex. Except for the Riptides, of Ottawa, the other bands are all local. Jason Setnyk of the Cornwall Underground Web site, an MacDonald will co-host the event.

Seaway News, Friday August 6 2004
Article: Rock The Vote 2

Much has been made lately of our disenchanted youth, who are apparently ignoring the polls in large numbers. The local NDP riding associatinon and the music and issues website “The Cornwall Underground” are attempting to counter the trend and popularize political activity though their second annual music and politics festival on Saturday, August 7, 2004, at the Lions Club Bandshell. Organizers Jason Setnyk, the young man behind the Cornwall Underground website and NDP party president Elaine MacDonald hope the program will impress participants with the ideas that politics isn’t just about voting (or not) every for or five years. Politics is about community building and using every opportunity to make the world, or at least your own small corner of it, more responsive to people’s needs... Two elected members of Cornwall City Council, Huguette Burroughs and Joel Cote will open the festival... The Festival gives a special place to Tran Cappuccino, who will speak on behalf of his father, Fred Cappuccino (co-founder of Child Haven International and Member of the Order of Canada)... Denise Latulippe found of PFLAG... other speakers are students Rashidah Ahmed, Liam Lynch, and Alex Gatien, Agape Director Judy Dancause, Kim Fry of the Ontario Coalition for Social Justice, Rolland Seguin of the Worker’s Health and Safety Centre, Dave Lipton of the Steel Workers of America, Rev. Kate Gregory of Knox-St. Paul United Church, and Maggie MacDonald, touring musican and political activist.

Nepean this Week - Friday March 26th 2004
Article: Punk band backs up wild birds by Natalie Hanson

Nepean’s injured feathered friends are getting a boost from a determined punk rock chick. When Angela Neatby, drummer with the punk rock band David and Michaud heard Nepean’s Wild Bird Care Centre was having $50,000 it receives from the city plucked from the budget, she decicided she would hold a benefit to help them out... “It’s gong to be fun, an old fashion punk show,”Neatby said, Astrobilly’s, The Nads and Forty Cent Fix will join David and Michaud on the bill for the concert she has dubbed Flippin’ The Bird. With the support of Jason Ramone of The Nads, the show has come together. Neatby just hopes people come out and join the party at Babylon....

Thursday, March 11, 2004
Arts in the Ottawa Citizen Article by Wes Smiderle

The Nads: Anyone who makes an album called Osama Bin Laden for Prez clearly isn’t afraid of offending people. Jason Setnyk (aka Jason ramone, the one and only member of The Nads) is quick to point out that he isn’t simply provoking outrage. There’s satire lurking in his home-crafted tunes. The Cornwall native compares the war on terrorism to the daily terrorism a large portion of Americans feel trying to pay their mortage or put food on the table. Besides, most punk fnas are far more likely to be offended by the 83 Dead Kennedy covers that appear at the end of the album. Setnyk admits his minimalist style alienates as much as it attracts. his albums feature a loopy conglomeration of computer and synthesizer, while his live performance are built around the “Star Guitar,” a jury-rigged toy keyboard/drum machine in the shape of a guitar. during live shows, Setnyk often feels as though he’s playing more for the other musicans than the audience. “If you take me more seriously than I take myself, you’re probably not going to like me,” says Setnyk. “What I say is serious. How I say it is funny.”... The Nads open up for Famous in Vegas at 10pm Saturday at The Pita X... The Nads also perform Wednesday, March 31... for a benefit show for the local Bird Sanctuary.

Article: "Another Top 10 list" by ALLAN WIGNEY 
- Ottawa Sun Article - www.canoe.ca/ - January, 2004

And so to the list, from 10th place to first: 
- The Nads: Osama Bin Laden for Prez ... Now it is 2004. 
- Andrew Vincent & the Pirates: I Love the Modern Way. 
- Sixtoo: Antagonist Survival Kit. 
- The Blow: The Concussive Caress ... 
- Hi Lo Trons: Hi Lo Trons. 
- M. Ward: Transfiguration of Vincent. 
- Chris Page: Decide to Stay and Swim. 
- Jim Bryson: The North Side Benches. 
- Busdriver w/ Radioinactive & Daedelus: The Weather. 
- Kate & Anna McGarrigle: La vache qui pleure. 
At last, the definitive 2003 top-10 list. Now I can rest easier. You?

Review: The Nads Album: Osama Bin Laden For Prez!
By Sam Sutherland - www.exclaim.ca - November 12, 2003

The toy guitar yin to Wesley Willis’ Casio keyboard yang, the Nads plays lo-fi punk rock in the dirtiest fashion possible. With nothing but “The Star Guitar” as a beat box, Jason Ramone, the sole member of the band, has created one of the strangest, potentially offensive, and arguably most brilliant albums you will here all year. From the opening computerised punk rock beat of “Mall Punks Fuck Off,” to the blatant rip-off “Sk8er Grrl,” Ramone lays waste to all that he finds offensive in the world, including Toronto’s the Hidden Cameras and Fugazi’s Ian MacKaye. On “The Hidden Cameras Gave Toronto SARS,” a very Cameras-esque bell line rings out, while maniacal laughter is heard in the background. The highlight of the album, however, comes in the form of “The Nads Tribute to the Dead Kennedys” — 72 tracks of DK covers, performed with only a generic computer drum beat and a dictation-style female voice. While some may certainly find such songs as “The World Trade Centers Are Falling Down” offensive, there is no doubt that those with an ability to look past some bizarre social commentary will find a hidden genius in the madness which is the Nads.

CKCU FM 93.1 Ottawa, Ontario Canada
Album Charts for the week of September 21, 2003.
Weekly Top 40 Album Chart

1. Jim Bryons “The North Side Benches”
...
11. The Nads “Now it is 2004”

Radio 200 for station CHUO September 16th 2003
1. Jim Bryons “The North Side Benches”
...
18. Cornwall Underground Vol.3 - Various Artists

Xpress - Spins - September 11 2003
The Nads (Now it is 2004) Three Stars

It’s Jason Setnyk dishing out a curt twist on current events, with the help of some computer music-making programs and his Star Guitar beat box. It’s fun, creative stuff, though the recording doesn’t capture the vocals well, leaving some words too muffled even for punk standards. Still 99 songs in 52 mins? Is that a world record? The first 16 tracks are original Nads tunes, and the later 83 are a tribute to The Dead Kennedy’s. (Jennifer Tattersall). The Nads CD release party at Bumper’s Thursday, September 11 at 8pm. $5.

Article: The Scene by Allan Wigney.The Ottawa Sun, Wednesday, September 10, 2003

Has Issues: Jason Setnyk - aka - Jason Ramone, aka The Nads Nads - has issues with the local punk and hardcore scene as well, and sounds off against everything from mall punks to a certain senior scenester on The Nads new CD. But while his minimalist synth-driven songs are a reaction against a scene that says, “you have to be in a band and play ‘real’ music,” the scope of Setnyk’s 16 songs (well, 99 songs if you count the complete Dead Kennedy’s catalogue as performed by a computer generated voice) takes on much broader issues. That’s apparent from the CD’s
provocative cover image, which depicts Osama Bin Laden campaigning for the U.S presidency. “A vote for George W. Bush is essentially a vote for Osama Bin Laden,” Setnyk opines “because people are voting out of fear of terrorism, not for the needs of the American people. “Americans face a daily terror - the terror of trying to pay the rent or the mortgage, or getting food on the table. Why aren’t we fighting a war on this daily terror? It’s tragic that 3,000 people died on Sept 11, but millions and millions of Americans face this terror everyd day”. The serious issues tackled on Now it is 2004 are brilliantly offset by an electronic backing that often seems better suited to a video game than a call to arms. But in concert, Setnyk eschews the synths and computers in favour of a unique instrument created from a toy guitar. “About three years ago mysel and a friend were at Radio Shack and we saw this thing called a Star Guitar,” Setnyk explains. “It was basically a drum machine and a keyboard all n the shape of a guitar - 15 drum beats, change of tempos, effects, and you could play all the major notes and chords on it. So we
opened the sucker up and did an operation on it. And, to make a long story short, I can now plug it into an amp and blow the roof off with the Star Guitar.” Jason Setnyk, reactionary. But outsider that he is, Setnyk, like Solomonian (Solly of the Transit in the first half of the article), cares not for the cliquishness of the local punk scene. And he notes The Transit and The Nads can both be heard on scene-boosters The Riptides Kick’em While They’re Down 2 compilation. Also on that sampler of local bands, Setnyk reminds us, is No Other Way, who will be on the bill for tomorrow’s The Nads CD release at Bumpers in addition to hosting their own CD-Release show at Club SAW Saturday - with guest that include The Nads. Perphaps such comps and shared bills can be seen as a return to the co-operative nature that once defined the punk scene. Certainly, the politically charged lyrics of artists like The Nads and No Other Way are a step in the right direction. “Even mainstream music gets better during a time of political tension,” Setnyk says. “I would argue that White Stripes are a huge improvement over Oasis.”

Monday August 11 2003
Local Youths have say in Spoken Word event
by Kathleen Hay - Cornwall Standard Freeholder

Local Youths gathered to voice their opinoins during the Spoken Word held Saturday evening at the Cornwall Regional Art Gallery. The event was co-organized by the New Democratic Party of Stormont Dundas Charlottenburgh, along with Jason Setnyk, a local performer. Setnyk said it was a follow-up to Rock the Vote which was held in July at the Cornwall bandshell in Lamoureux Park. “Cornwall isn’t a very artsy place,” said Setnyk. “It’s important to have an event like this because young people don’t have an outlet”. He said the evening was an opportunity for youth to
share an express their feelings in a democratice manner. “If you don’t exercise democracy, it becomes weak, like when you don’t exercise a muscle.” Setnyk was promoting a recently recorded electronic-punk CD, NADS at the event... “ (The Nads) It’s about individual versus group idenity and trying to find your own” he said. “But it’s not just about music here tonight. It’s a more quiet and intimate atmosphere that people can expres themselves in easier”.

Saturday July 5 2003
Mayor Set to Rock the Vote
by Sultan Jessa of the Cornwall Standard-Freeholder

Mayor Brian Sylvester will be one of the guests at the “Rock the Vote” concert... The special guest at the concert will be the new federal NDP leader Jack Layton. This will be Layton’s first visit to Cornwall... The concert is sponsored by Stormont Dundas Charlottenburgh NDP, the Cornwall and District Labour Council and the Cornwall Underground Web site. The concert will feature 12 local bands, including Freudhammer, Misunderstood and the Nads, an activst act which stars Jason Ramone, a student working on the labour history in Cornwall....

Seaway News: Friday, July 4, 2003
Jack Layton to Appear

The Stormont Dundas Charlottenburgh NDP, the Cornwall and District Labour Council and the Cornwall Underground Website are hosting a Rock-the-Vote free concert in Lamoureux Park, at the band-shell on Saturday, July 5th, 2003. The concert features 12 local bands, including recording artists Freudhammer, the very popular Misunderstood and the Nads, an activst act that recently performed at Pedro’s in Cornwall, and which stars Jason Ramone, the student who is
working on the labour history of Cornwall....
 

Exclaim and EarShot Top 50. May 2003 Issue #72
35. Various Artists - Kick’em While They’re Down Vol.2 - Goblin Records
 

Xpress Article - April 24th 2003 by Fateema Sayani
Riptides Boost Their Punk Kingdom

Area punks The Riptides have always been home boosters, and this time around they’ve decdied to throw a few big names on their comp, Kick’em While They’re Down Vol.2, to give a hand to their beloved locals. In addition to songs from the Bitchin’ Camaros, Uninspired Empire, the Skanktanks, and the Nerve Ends, there’s music from th big leagues: Dayglo Abortions, The Queers, and the Dwarves - just an extra boost, punk hunk and co-compiler Andy Vandal says....

“Dissenting Adults, a compilation CD of all Ottawa area bands, is now available”
Manufacuting Dissent Article Fall of 2002 by Meagan Butler:

“The Nads post-modern music is hard to classify, but draws influences from Atom & His Package and Wesley Willis. The Dissenting Adults CD is a great example of the diverse range of music currently available in the Ottawa-area”.

punkottawa.com - Sunday February 24, 2002

Thanks to Jason Ramone of The Nads for organzing tonight’s punkottawa.com benefit show - a grand total of $160 was raised to help cover the costs of the phone line and the website. Thanx as well to the bands who played and Nancy from the Underground for hosting the show!

-Shawn Scallen (punkottawa.com)

Do you have any reviews or articles of The Nads? EMAIL ME!