When punk emerged in the mid 1970s as a new rock music genre, its staying power faced a challenge as it battled for both chart prominence and album sales in the face of the rising disco music tide.
Come later that decade, as disco withered on the vine only to peter out, punk hit its stride, with commercial success coming the way of the likes of The Ramones, The Clash, and The Sex Pistols. And then there was the distinctive “punk look” featuring T-shirts, ripped jeans, leather jackets, and boots, typically Doc Martens.
Over the years that followed, punk bands came and punk bands went, but the genre, and those who loved it, hung in there. The 1980s brought punk-inspired New Wave to the fore, and, with the help of MTV and the like, a number of singers and bands rose to prominence before that too ran its course.
But there were punk purists and they weren’t quite ready to wave the white flag. Quite the opposite in the case of Tom Thacker and Theo Goutzinakis who, in 1993, formed Gob in Langley, BC.
With Patrick Paszana on drums and Kelly Macauley on bass, Gob released its self-titled debut album in 1994, serving notice that punk was indeed alive and well, and there was indeed still an audience for its rebellious, no-holds-barred sound and high-energy presence. “Soda,” a single from that inaugural studio effort, arguably remains the band’s most popular song.
Continuing its objective of satisfying the wants of all music fans, Peterborough Musicfest brings Gob to Del Crary Park on Saturday (July 19). Admission to the 8 p.m. concert is free, the summer concert series being supported by numerous sponsors, kawarthaNOW among them.
VIDEO: “Soda” – Gob
Following its studio album debut, Gob followed up with Too Late … No Friends in 1995, followed by How Far Shallow Takes You in 1998 and, three years later, The World According To Gob. The band’s most successful album to date featuring the singles “I Hear You Calling,” “For The Moment,” “That’s The Way,” and “No Regrets,” the album was Music Canada-certified gold for sales on it way to a peak Canadian chart position of 30.
The record received widespread acclaim, MTV play, and slots on major tours like the Vans Warped Tour. In addition, the video for “I Hear You Calling” was nominated for a 2002 Juno Award.
A tough act to follow, for sure, but Gob came through in 2003 with Foot In Mouth Disease. Also certified gold, it gave the band a hit single with “Give Up The Grudge” rising to number 11 on the Canadian rock chart.
After a brief hiatus and side projects, Gob returned with Muertos Vivos in 2007, heavily influenced by hard rock and, in 2014, their sixth and latest record Apt. 13. While neither matched the commercial success of the prior releases, both albums’ songs provided the springboard for touring.
Gob arrives in Peterborough with Thacker and Goutzinakis still standing, joined by Gable Mantle, whose experience with Vancouver punk band Brand New Unit saw him replace Paszana in 1998, and Steven Fairweather who, after several bassists came and went, joined the Gob lineup in 2003.
Of note, Thacker found time to tour in 2009 with Ajax-based Sum 41 and was afterwards confirmed as a permanent member, contributing to the band’s final three albums. This past January, Gob performed at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena at the final show of Sum 41’s farewell tour.
VIDEO: “I Hear Your Calling” – Gob
Gob has made clear its intention to, at some point, record and release a seventh album. Where that project is at exactly is unknown, but the band still has a busy touring schedule.
Following its Musicfest appearance, a concert the next day at Festival Générations in Nicolet, Quebec will be followed by a European tour with stops in The Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Slovenia, and Italy. Clearly, Gob’s catchy punk hooks and raw stage energy still have a sizable audience.
During a 2014 interview with Tori Bilcik of The Daily Slice, Thacker chatted about Apt. 13, which had just been released and remains the band’s last album to date.
“Now that some years have gone by, I think it’s easier to see what’s good about our early records,” he said.
“Back then it was more apparent what we needed to improve about our music. We try not to overthink things. We just want to keep every new record fresh for ourselves and for our fans.”
“The most surprising reaction was when an interviewer asked if I took singing lessons,” Thacker replied when asked about the response to the record. “He said I sound like a proper singer now. Fair enough, I guess. I used to basically bark into a microphone.”
VIDEO: “Give Up The Grudge” – Gob
Thacker also reflected on the band’s beginnings on the West Coast.
“There’s a pretty rich punk rock history on the west coast: DOA, No Means No, Subhumans, SNFU, Dayglo Abortions, to name a few. But we weren’t really in a scene with those bands. They came before us. Back when we started our band, we were considered the shithead kids of the scene. Now, 20 years later, we are sort of considered the elder statesmen for Canadian pop punk. It’s a metamorphosis, if you will.”
More than a decade after this interview, Gob still retains that title, and the Musicfest audience will have a chance to find out why on Saturday night.
Peterborough Musicfest is presenting 16 free-admission concerts during its 38th season, each staged on Wednesday and Saturday nights until Saturday, August 16th.
Overseen by executive director Tracey Randall and staff, a board of directors, and numerous volunteers, Peterborough Musicfest’s stated mission remains “to provide diverse, affordable live music to enrich cultural and economic prosperity in our community.”
For more information on this concert or the 2025 season, visit www.ptbomusicfest.ca or phone the Peterborough Musicfest office at 705-755-1111.
kawarthaNOW is proud to be a headline sponsor of Peterborough Musicfest’s 2025 season.
