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Music

The Sonics

THE SONICS at Yonge-Dundas Square, Saturday (June 20), 9:30 pm. Free. nxne.com.

IF YOU LIKE THIS BAND, BE SURE TO CHECK OUT Zoobombs at the Silver Dollar, Thursday (June 18), 1 am at Yonge-Dundas Square, 2:30 pm and the Velvet Underground, 11 pm, Saturday (June 20).


To get some tangible idea of how important the Sonics are in the evolution of rock ‘n’ roll and punk, look no further than the corner of Bloor and Bathurst. Sonic Boom, the largest independent record store in town, is named for the Tacoma combo’s highly influential second record, released in 66.

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“Boom” because the Sonics grew up in close proximity to aircraft manufacturer Boeing. Maybe the jets rumbling in the sky forced Larry Parypa to turn his guitar up louder, push the overdrive harder and invent a distorted fuzz sound that became the blueprint for so much in rock over the next 25 years.

And it wasn’t just the uncommon brutality of their proto-garage. It was twisted lyrics and howling vocals in stompers like The Witch/Psycho that had rigid radio jockeys running scared. Many consider the Sonics the cavemen of punk because of their primitive rock attack. Pick any popular garage rock band from the Black Lips to the White Stripes or the Hives and you can trace a line directly to the Sonics.

And if you think these cats are one of those critic bands that toiled in obscurity for a reason, think again. I caught one of their recent reunion performances in Austin (they broke up in 68), and it was hands-down one of the best jams at South By. Do not sleep on the Sonics.

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