Aug. 23, 2006 - Issue #566: Fractal Pattern

Kenny Seldom now a Bastard

When two people of the opposite sex get together and haphazardly bump uglies, the result is woefully predictable: smelly diapers, child support payments and a vow never to buy discount condoms again.

But when bands get together, the outcome can be something you can pay money to watch without getting arrested, without a dirty diaper in sight (usually).

Bastard Son is the aptly named progeny of several seminal Edmonton punk bands, including Death by Dawn, Committed Jockstrap and the Franklins. Bassist Kenny Seldom (formerly of those, I presume, loveable turtles the Franklins) took the time to speak with Vue in the middle of his day gig picking up trash at the Fringe.

According to Mr Seldom, Bastard Son is still taking its first few steps. “We’ve been together, uh, maybe a couple months,” he admits. “This is our first show.”

Describing their sound as “a mix—punky, some metal, more rocky than the Franklins,” he admits that naming his band took somewhat less thought than the naming of a baby.

“Well, we had a show coming up and we had to have a name, so ... ” Eventually, Kenny let it slip that the band’s name pays homage to infamous bastard Freddy Krueger.

While his new band may be the, ahem, bastard son of the local music community, Seldom is excited to be a part of Edmonton’s burgeoning scene.
“It’s amazing, it’s diverse,” he enthuses. “There’s so much neat stuff coming up everywhere.”

In particular, Seldom singled out ex-Franklin Clint Frazier’s new gig Shout Out Out Out Out as “not only the biggest thing in Edmonton, [but] maybe the biggest thing in Canada.” He also gave props to his favourite local band, London Disturbance Force.

As for future plans, Bastard Son ain’t got none. “We might have a show sometime in September, but I don’t know,” Seldom admits, stressing that he’s just focused on his upcoming gig, admonishing Edmonton music fans to “Be there or be square.” V

Mon, Aug 28 (8 pm)
Bastard Son
With In Haste, the Pervs, Blacklisted
Nikki Diamonds, $5

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