tracks The Scenics are gathering from Punk Haiku chapters 16-20, which will be collected as PUNK HAIKU album 4, in the spring of 2012. Confusing? Yes. Just listen.
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PUNK HAIKU 4/The Scenics

"Dead Man Walk Down Bayview, the Scenics’ first studio affair since the ‘70s, is one of the best new-album-by-older-rockers I’ve heard in years. The band’s simple, lo-fi sound has the essence of everything sweet, innocent, and daring that inspired or came out under the New Wave umbrella (the Modern Lovers, early V.U., early Talking Heads, Human Switchboard)...The Scenics have the fresh feel of the Loaded-era VU in a way that Lou Reed hasn’t, for decades – whether he’s said he wants to or not. The Scenics’ inspired guitar weavings, crisp trap beats, and vocals intuitively mixing dissonance with melody to deliver from-the-heart songs are, quite simply, a joy." Mary Leary, Punk GLobe 

Dead Man Walks Down Bayview

All the Tracks from The Scenics live CD, recorded 1977-81 in various punk dives in Toronto, released 2008.  "Top 10 CDs of 2008"  Jeffrey Morgan, The Village Voice, NYC. 
 “the best VU tribute album ever. The Scenics don't ape the Velvets, they     enhance them”   Jeffrey Morgan’s “Sizzling Platter of the Week.                                      
"Stunning in the way that the Byrds playing Bob Dylan was so stellar...A must-have. 8/10"  Johnson Cummins, Montreal Mirror   
“hearing these high intensity, innovative, sincere, lofi recordings is magnificient... an essential record”    Roctober  (Chicago)

available as a free/by donation download at dreamtowerrecords.com/free_downloads-- limited time offer!

Top 30 Canadian national campus radio, Top 10 various U.S. campus stations

How Does it Feel to be Loved: The Scenics Play the Velvet Underground

Highlights from The Scenics' free/by donation digital album FACE IT AGAIN, coming June 7 2011. Recorded live in Toronto 1977. available June 7@ dreamtowerrecords.com/free_downloads. "The Big Takeover" Magazine: "from their first 3 gigs, & the amount of conception/rehearsal they’d already invested shows in how together they are...From slower art rock (the previously unheard “I’m Sad”) to faster neo-Modern Lovers verve of “Face It Again,” it reminds that the “Canada’s Velvet Underground” shorthand was a start in appraisal—they do a slower “What Goes On,” plus a cool Roxy Music cover—but The Scenics had grander designs"

FACE IT AGAIN (Punk Haiku3) Live 1977

“what the band does with songs like "I'm Beginning to see the Light" and "Here She Comes Now" is what is remarkable. They manage to inject warmth into dark tracks, and sarcasm into Lou Reed's more hopeful tunes; in a way, they expose deeper meanings to the songs, while maintaining a seeming reverence for the original material. Pretty gutsy for 1977....”Mike Wood, musicemissions.com
“hearing these high intensity, innovative, sincere, lofi recordings is magnificient...an essential record”Roctober(Chicago)
how does it feel to be loved: the scenics play the velvet underground-Dream Tower Records-distributed by:
Revolver USA /Carrot Top (USA)Scratch/Sonic Unyon (Canada)/Shellshock (UK)


Beginning to See the Light/ How Does It Feel to be Loved

“Stunning in the same way that the Byrds playing Bob Dylan was so stellar. The Scenics use Lou Reed’s songs merely as a jumping off  point and quickly make them their own. ..This is a must...8/10”  Johnson Cummins  The Montreal Mirror

Here She Comes Now/ How Does It Feel to be Loved

Happy 80th Birthday, Bob!
This version is very early Scenics, Oct or Nov '76, when Bob was 35!
From the first day the Scenics played with a drummer. (Think his name was Mike Brown.) At this point, on this song, lineup was:
Andy Meyers guitar and vox
Ken Badger bass and BGs
Dave Moore wah wah guitar
Mike Brown Drums.

Too Much Of Nothing

Recorded March 25, 1981 at Larry's Hideaway, for beer league ballplayers. from the Scenics Album "How Does it Feel to be Loved: The Scenics play the Velvet Underground".

Heard Her Call My Name/ How Does It Feel to be Loved

At The Edge, Toronto. May 27, 1980.  This is the third and last time we ever played this song.

I'll Be Your Mirror

The Scenics live at Toronto's Horseshoe Tavern, June 19, 1978, on a bill with The Troggs and the Viletones.

Real Good Time

“Don’t know why no-one gives me a ride- I look fine, maybe just a little crazy. Check ‘em over twice to make sure i ain’t lazy, can’t find anyone any use to me. All Belts and Shoelaces taken- loose shoes flopping on the school gymnasium... Standing down looking down at cold linoleum, if anyone asks you know i’d help ‘em. If you asked for my shirt I’d give you my pants if you don’t say please I still say thanks. Just trying to find everybody someone- but they all get stuck on the initial impact”........The Scenics Live at the Beverly Tavern August 28/1977. Written by Andy Meyers, gtr n vox, with Ken Badger bass and Brad Cooper drums. thescenics.com/punkhaiku1

All Belts and Shoelaces Taken(PunkHaiku#3)

Please relax- we’re in no hurry to present no point of view. What we find underneath the tables- goodness knows, absolutely nothing. Enjoy the time we spend together, for we will be gone too soon. Turn the lights down, all the way down, it’s a special feeling, not a show.  
I’m sad, I’m sad, but I don’t really mind- I’m sad, and I don’t know why. In love, In love, and I don’t know why. I’m sad, in love, so what. So what.
A fav Ken Badger song- otherwise unavailable, live at the Beverly Tavern  August 1977. Available June 7 as Free Download at dreamtowerrecords.com/free_downloads 

I'mSad (PH3)

The Scenics' twisted take on David Bowie's "Panic in Detroit". Live at David's in Sept 1977.
Hear all about it at thescenics.com/punkhaiku16, coming Tuesday Oct 25. Vox/Gtr Andy Meyers, who also supplied the new lyrics. Bass/Vox Ken Badger Drums Bradley Cooper.
You can download this thru soundcloud. It is also available at dreamtowerrecords.com/i'msetfree4

Panic In Detroit (PH16)

Track one from the scenics "best of live 2016" playlist ONE CHORD LIVE. Download it here: http://dreamtowerrecords.com/live2016

Do The Wait The Scenics: Buffalo

Track 11 from the scenics free "best of live 2016" playlist ONE CHORD LIVE. Download it here: http://dreamtowerrecords.com/live2016

Western Hills The Scenics: Cleveland

Track 10 from the scenics free "best of live 2016" playlist ONE CHORD LIVE. Download it here: http://dreamtowerrecords.com/live2016

In The Summer The Scenics: Buffalo

Track 9 from the scenics free "best of live 2016" playlist ONE CHORD LIVE.  Download here: http://dreamtowerrecords.com/live2016

One Chord Song The Scenics: Toronto

Track 8 from the scenics free "Best of live 2016" playlist ONE CHORD LIVE. Download here: http://dreamtowerrecords.com/live2016

Here She Comes The Scenics:Cleveland

Track 7 from the scenics free "Best of live 2016" playlist ONE CHORD LIVE. Download here: http://dreamtowerrecords.com/live2016

I'm Set Free The Scenics: Buffalo

Track 6 from the scenics free "Best of live 2016" playlist ONE CHORD LIVE. Download it here: http://dreamtowerrecords.com/live2016

Candys Says The Scenics: Toronto

Track 5 from the scenics free "Best of live 2016" playlist ONE CHORD LIVE. Download it here:  http://dreamtowerrecords.com/live2016

So Fine The Scenics: Cleveland

Track 4 from the scenics free "Best of live 2016" playlist ONE CHORD LIVE. Download it here:  http://dreamtowerrecords.com/live2016

Younger Version The Scenics: Chicago

Some sorta garage-rock group hallucination The Scenics had on October 10 1977 while preparing to go into the recording studio to finish recording the Sunshine World CD (which you can hear them discussing). Never played again, as you can well imagine. : )

Hey Gloria Sings 96 Tears For You

About as far from punk as a protopunque band could get in October 1977. Written on bass by Andy Meyers, who also sings. Ken Badger providing stellar guitar and Bradley Cooper nailing it all down on the drums. This was a new Scenics song, still figuring out the words. This was about the first time we got it and made it hang together all the way through.  This track is download  enabled and will also be part of  The Scenics' fourth "Punk Haiku" album in May 2012, available at http://dreamtowerrecords.com/imsetfree4

Younger Version (PH18)

First track from Upcoming Scenics Album-- first studio recordings in almost 30 years!!! 
"Dead Man Walk Down Bayview, the Scenics’ first studio affair since the ‘70s, is one of the best new-album-by-older-rockers I’ve heard in years. The band’s simple, lo-fi sound has the essence of everything sweet, innocent, and daring that inspired or came out under the New Wave umbrella (the Modern Lovers, early V.U., early Talking Heads, Human Switchboard)...
 The Scenics’ inspired guitar weavings, crisp trap beats, and vocals intuitively mixing dissonance with melody to deliver from-the-heart songs are, quite simply, a joy.
Believing in fairies as I do, I hope the band comes to my town soon. Really soon. " Mary Leary, PUNK GLOBE

Dark Cave/ Dead Man Walks Down Bayview

Scenics play Syd. Recorded on a two track reel-to-reel we dragged down to our basement under the toy shop. Available as part of the new free/by donation album "I'm Set Free", all vintage protopunk recorded 1977. download mp3s or flac at http://dreamtowerrecords.com/imsetfree4

See Emily Play

The first time we played this musical idea Ken brought in. After this pass at it, it went back in hibernation and surfaced a year later as "Timmy Takes a Bath", a kinda thrilling seven minute song-suite.  This version doesn't sound much like that one did, but it's cool and loose and questing. We were preparing to hit the recording studio at this point, and we were balancing a lot of hard and focused rehearsal with this sort of loose, right-brain play. available as part of free/by donation flac/mp3 album 'I'm Set Free' at  http://dreamtowerrecords.com/imsetfree4

Timmy Nouveau

Dead Man Walk Down Bayview, the Scenics’ first studio affair since the ‘70s, is one of the best new-album-by-older-rockers I’ve heard in years. The band’s simple, lo-fi sound has the essence of everything sweet, innocent, and daring that inspired or came out under the New Wave umbrella (the Modern Lovers, early V.U., early Talking Heads, Human Switchboard)... The Scenics have the fresh feel of the Loaded-era VU in a way that Lou Reed hasn’t, for decades – whether he’s said he wants to or not. The Scenics’ inspired guitar weavings, crisp trap beats, and vocals intuitively mixing dissonance with melody to deliver from-the-heart songs are, quite simply, a joy.  Mary Leary, PUNK GLOBE

When You Come Around / Dead Man Walks Down Bayview

Side 2, song 1 from the "Dead Man Walks Down Bayview" LP by The Scenics.' The highlight is Miami, which finds a way to merge the Velvets, Television and Guided By Voices into a dark, boiling psych maelstrom, the band casually singing, “This city is the biggest thrill” without an once of conviction.' The Vancouver Sun
"The stylistic variety is everywhere, but stays within their classic graceful, brooding, minimalist anarchy, as evidenced by "Growing Pains," an epic, psych-drone pop track with memorable, melodic hooks at every turn, and "Miami, "a majestic driving song with a snotty punk edge." 4.5/5 musicemissions.com  dreamtowerrecords.com

Miami

From 1978 in the Scenics basement... we only played this one a couple of times, never made it to a gig. Have no idea why. Andy guitar (including a stompout on Ken's Morley PowerWah) Ken bass Brad drums. Andy singing and he writ the song. "When you are nowhere/Where can you go?"

World Around Me

Newly written soul ballad with teeth from Ken Badger. " The band quickly shifts gears with "A Fox, Her Fur, and Where She Parks It," a slow shuffle with a whimsical/scatological wisdom made all the more subversive by its comforting delivery." Mike Wood, Music Emissions.com From the Scenics' new album "Dead Man Walks Down Bayview", at  dreamtowerrecords.com

A Fox, Her Fur And Where She Parks It/Dead Man Walks

"Growing Pains has a gentle touch, a crooning vocal yet ragged edges.  It's a hymn for the street underdog.  The two guitarists play a mix of skewed and beautiful sounds throughout, often one noisy and the other jangly, and it's oddly comforting mix, a controlled out-of-control sound if you get my drift." Bob Mersereau, author of  "The Top 100 Canadian Singles".
"The Scenic's  "Dead Man Walks Down Bayview" is a great album. It should almost be a crime for an album to be this good. It's a gorgeous, passionate, slightly off tune collection of pure genius. rustzine.com



Growing Pains/Dead Man Walks Down Bayview

Latest LP/CD/Digital- "In The Summer"  at http://thescenics.bandcamp.com/album/in-the-summer : 

“It wasn't so much that The Scenics were ahead of their time in 1977, it's more that almost everybody else didn't even know what time it was. The Scenics were on top of it though, grabbing the freedom promised by punk's first blush...  New York had Talking Heads, and England was blessed with XTC, but here was their equal in Toronto  and they never got the necessary push and support. It's fabulous we finally have the evidence, but it's a drag we haven't been able to enjoy it the past 30 years.” Bob Mersereau, author of "the Top 100 Canadian Albums" 

"Brainy crackpot art-pop with an ear for off-kilter melody, a headful of magic and twitchy grooves to burn. It's a sin the Scenics have left such a faint mark on punk-rock history...  but now we can start to make things right: the reborn cult starts here.”  Ben Rayner, Toronto Star                                   

“The world's premier Velvet Underground interpreters are back with a new sizzling platter of original studio songs recorded in 1977/78... their poppy art rock & trippy jazzbo excursions will leave you sonically sated & wondering why most of today's bands are incapable of sounding half as good!  Jeffrey Morgan authorized biographer of Alice Cooper/The Stooges
                                 
“If a band makes an album and nobody hears it, does it still rock? It sure does. Three decades after the fact, recently reunited Toronto punks The Scenics have finally issued a sophomore disc — this long-lost batch of wiry Television guitars, black Velvets art-rock, Pere Ubu yelping and the freakiest Tommy James cover you’ve ever heard.     Daryl Sterdan the Winnipeg Sun

‘I don’t know much about this Canadian New Wave band that made these brilliant recordings in ’77 and ’78. Why they aren’t legends is hard to say.’   Roctober (Chicago)

...  sounds as fresh and daring today as it did back then, when few were listening. The Scenics may not hit the big time this second go-round, but this peek into their past shows that they belong there... it’s a surprisingly tight and well produced group of songs that fans of proto-punk should investigate. ..."Do The Wait" is one of the great unheard singles of the era (think Mink Deville covering "Sweet Jane") & "Wild Trout" isn't too far off from what Television was doing in their early years." David Mansdorf losingtoday.com

 "One of Canada's unsung heroes of first-gen punk...with their sublime understanding of pushing boundaries without sacrificing grooves, their low-fidelity creations are tight, post-garage accomplishments.  Celebrated on this first ever compilation of their studio works, (In The Summer) provides another case in point as to why The Scenics deserve merit for being as innovative as they were- (and now are, given their reunion)- impressive" Keith Carman, Urban Male Magazine

"Largely Unappreciated when they originally existed between 1976 and 1981, these underground icons merge Pere Ubu's dementia, Television's panoramic guitar work, Big Star's pop prowess and the Ramones' urgency"  Montreal Mirror

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