MEXICAN POWER AUTHORITY

SILVER MONSTER ON BLACK T-SHIRT $15
HAIKU...GESUNDHEIT 2xLP $15
100 YEAR OLD SHACK EP $5
FINAL COPIES - MAIL US FOR DETAILS
MPA will be performing this summer + autumn, and then entering the studio to record over an hour of new songs planned for a 2010 release!
In September 2007, we regrouped after a decade hiatus and began rehearsing material spanning our original six-year existence to prepare for our first performances in ten years. The first show was opening for Black Mountain, the next was us headlining; both shows were met with very favourable response. During 2008, we focused exclusively on composing new material, with legendary local drummer Jon London completing the line-up in February 2009.
Biography 1991-97:
Mexican Power Authority, hailing from Victoria BC, were a "progressive hardcore" band whose style evolved continuously over their existence from 1991 to 1997, and were responsible for coining the stylistic title of ‘strang’ music which many groups worldwide now claim to play. Principal songwriter and guitarist Kev Smith was formerly in the legendary NEOS and the earlier MPA material bears some resemblance to the NEOS style, particularly in terms of speed, impact, sense of humour and brief song duration. Much of the early MPA material ("More Discipline", 1991) references a hardcore style while also incorporating more diverse ideas. Vocalist Jason Flower contributed some of the more melodic material, particularly on "Salmon Mask McTallica" (1992), along with a healthy dose of metal; bassist James Nadeau and drummer Doug MacMinn wrote as well. Later the band experimented with the fusion of jazz and grindcore, adding clarinetist Jeff "Cruiser" Kruys ("Haiku...Gesundheit", 1992). These first three cassette-only releases were later compiled, along with many bonus tracks, on the "Haiku...Gesundheit" CD/2LP.

Right before Christmas 1993, just after recording demos of new “larger-scale” material for a planned full-length studio effort, Doug left the band. Early in the new year, veteran skinsman Dan Beer was recruited, bringing new rhythmic possibilities and a more controlled and solid rhythm section. But the necessity of teaching a mass of somewhat complex material to a new drummer threw the band’s timetable off, and it wasn't until a full year later they entered Great Wave studio to record the "I Just Want It To Be Easy" CD/LP, which included a lot of two or three-year-old, well-rehearsed material, and also featured the Cruiser's last stand on "metal clarinet".Just before going on tour across Canada in May 1996, Dan left. Luckily Jeremy “Jer” Turner stepped in, learned the whole set in five days, and saved the tour. Late that September the band went into a disused shack and laid down some final sessions, which became their swansong “100 Year Old Shack” EP. The group continued to perform up until spring of 1997.- Frank Matchem, Disc Echo Unit.discography: ‘more discipline’, cassette 1991 (Break Even) 250-300 copies.
‘salmon mask McTallica’, cassette 1992 (Break Even) 250-300 copies.
‘haiku...gesundheit!’, cassette 1992 (Break Even) 250-300 copies.
‘haiku...plus 84’, cassette 1994 (Break Even) 2000 copies.
‘split w/ yesmeansyes’, cassette 1994 (Break Even/Freak Animal) 100 copies.
‘strang from endville’, 7” EP 1992 (Scratch/Break Even) 1000 copies.
‘eiskonfekt’, split 7” EP 1992-93 (Break Even) 1100 copies.
‘mikrovivace’, split 7” EP 1992-95 (Malarie/Break Even) 500 copies.
‘haiku…gesundheit’, 2xLP/CD 1991-93 (Ragamuffin Soldier) 1000 copies.
‘i just want it to be easy’, LP 1995 (Manufracture/k.a.z.) 500+ copies.
‘i just want it to be easy/100 year old shack’ CD (Break Even) 1000 copies.
‘100 year old shack’, 7” EP 1996-97 (View Beyond/Abnormal) 300 copies.
‘plan-b’, unauthorized virtual web bootleg best-of (JoseMaki)
‘drop the femur’, demo 2008 UNRELEASED...and staying that way!
- innumerable cassette, vinyl, and cd compilation appearances."MPA remain one of the least understood and most underrated bands from the '90s underground. Their style was entirely unique, borrowing from hardcore and grind, yet adding so many off the wall elements that the end results never quite equated with their contemporaries. Imagine Muppets who studied free form jazz playing punk rock songs with the RUINS at a high school music recital with students playing recorders. Odd clarinet sounds and yipping vox offset the spastic punkiness that abounds. Kev from the almighty NEOS is in this band, but don’t go expecting straight forward thrash. Maybe someday MPA will get the recognition they deserve, but for now check out this cult favorite if you want something completely beyond the radar." - Short Fast + Loud"MPA threw it all together seemlessly, more often than not in a minute or less. With no exaggeration, this is easily one of the highlights of Canadian music EVER, underground or otherwise… seeing them live was easily one of the highlights of the entire 90's." - wordpress.com/2009/04/20