K-Town Beatdown in town to throw down
Feartilizer 1492, who describe themselves as being a “Mi’kmaq Indigenous-fronted Death Grind from Tiohtià:ke” band, is one of five groups who will take part in the K-Town Beatdown show at Kahnawake Survival School on March 13, raising funds for the school’s prom. Courtesy Feartilizer 1492 Facebook page
If you’re into loud music and getting in the pit, the show for you is coming to Kahnawake on March 13 – and it’s for a good cause, too.
Five punk and metal bands will be at Kahnawake Survival School (KSS) for the K-Town Beatdown, which will be raising money for the KSS prom and also collecting dry goods for the Kateri Food Basket.
“I’ve been in the Montreal scene for almost a year now, and I started connecting with a lot of bands. I’ve been wanting to bring a show here to Kahnawake,” said Thaiaiake “Buggy” Lazare, who put the show together.
The headliner of the show, Parapariah, was the first local show he went to, and he stuck around to talk to the band afterwards.
When one of the band members found out Lazare and his friends were from Kahnawake, he told them he was Inuk, and they hit it off from there, staying connected.
“It was the same with pretty much all the other bands, we just became friends,” said Lazare, with all five bands playing on March 13 – Parapariah, Feartilizer 1492, Honey, Ethereal Tomb, and Niivi – are Indigenous bands or have Indigenous members.
“I wanted to bring them here, and they’re super excited. They’ve always wanted to play shows here,” he said.
“I love them so much and I talk to them all the time and just tell them how grateful I am for them, because they helped me a lot with my mental health this summer. Getting to hear them play at my show and hearing how excited they are to play here is really nice.”
Being able to show people in the community who may be musically talented that there are Indigenous bands and musicians out there who play different kinds of music is another important reason for this show to Lazare.
“Just to show that there are more options than what is often told to you,” he said.
To him, you don’t need much more than a couple people to get together and have a good time to make music.
“That’s what music is all about. It’s about just enjoying yourself and enjoying that time with your friends,” he said.
There is no set ticket price for the show, instead relying on a “pay what you can” model, with a $10 recommendation.
“You could pull up with 25 cents in your pocket. I’m not picky, and it’s not about the money. That’s not what this is about. It’s about community and building bridges,” said Lazare.
He’s hoping this show, and the high interest it has already garnered online, will kickstart more shows in Kahnawake going forward, hardcore or otherwise, after some slow periods following the COVID-19 pandemic.
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“It’s nice to see it coming back, and I hope that it’s something that will continue to just carry on,” he said.
On March 13, he’s hoping for a packed house, a great time for everyone, and that bridges get built to the greater community outside Kahnawake.
