par'iah, n. Member of a low caste; (fig.) social outcast; ~-dog, yellow vagabond dog of low breed in India. - The Concise Oxford Dictionary.
Twenty-some years ago, fueled by alcohol, testosterone and no small amount of attitude,
The Pariahs were born – and the Canadian music scene has never quite recovered.
The intervening two decades have done nothing to civilize the Pariahs. These musical miscreants have survived grunge, metal, rap-rock and emo - mostly by drowning them all out. One has lost teeth in an onstage collision, another lost fingers to a table saw and a third has twice been mistaken for a homeless person.
In spite - or because - of all this, the band has become a mainstay of Toronto's indie-rock scene. Their eccentric marriage of balls-to-the-wall punk and arena-rock histrionics makes them a favourite in the city's most elite grungy dives. Their shows are always tight, packed, loud and beer-soaked.
Over the years, The Pariahs have also managed to make a ton of friends and fans beyond the confines of their beloved Toronto haunts. They willingly subjected themselves to two bruising yet successful UK tours and have enjoyed tons of supporting slots for the likes of The Ramones, Billy Talent, The Deftones, Teenage Head, The Forgotten Rebels, The Sinisters, The Headstones, Therapy?, The Tragically Hip, and, well, probably every single other Canadian rock and shock act ever to rumble across this fair land.
The Pariahs continue to gig frequently in their hometown of Toronto. Bars will be surfed, fans will be soaked, ears will be rung and fingers will be bloodied – another typical night for one of Canada's most atypical (and long lived) rock and roll confabs. Come out, come out wherever you are!
Twenty years – that's gotta count for something in this ‘here today, gone tomorrow’ world.
You bet your sweet ass it does.
Contact info & praise:
'Grizzled vets of the Toronto bar circuit, The Pariahs are a gang of filthy, Ramones-lovin' malcontents who never met three chords they didn't like…they're at their finest when they're at their roughest.' Chart Magazine
ChartAttack 20th Anniversary article: http://www.chartattack.com/damn/2007/10/1701.cfm
'Their soul-tinged, boot-boy punk rock sound is all about energy, passion and huge hooks; the ramshackle fury of The Saints welded brutishly to the feral bite of The Bronx. They also have a song called 'Joan Jett' which is about as cool as it gets.' Kerrang
'The songs do all the talking, in a language derived from The Wildhearts, Ramones and Teenage Head.' Rock Sound
'There's an old SCTV commercial spoof about a roadhouse diner called Beef and Booze, where a nerdy Dave Thomas gets his ass kicked for ordering a salad. Were the place real, The Pariahs would have a weekly residency.' Eye Weekly
'A beer-spilling rock 'n' roll experience not for the faint of heart.' Now Magazine
Media inquires and interview requests can be directed to Mike Pariah at mike@youthography.com or Sean Pariah at hoopsmcan@yahoo.com.
