Truth From Facts are a political punk band. That doesn’t mean they espouse dogma or badger their audience into adopting their world view. Instead the band tries to lead by example, conducting themselves and their band according to principles of respect, equality and mutual aid – ideas which do not require soap-box proselytising to back them up.

Part of their philosophy includes playing all-ages house shows alongside more traditional pub venues. Not only does playing in somebody’s lounge room remove the barrier that bands often perceive between themselves and the audience, it also democratises sound. In the absence of such bourgeois contraptions as an elevated stage and foldback speakers, performers and viewers literally hear and see the same thing. Well, in theory anyway, as those people craning their necks to catch a glimpse of the band from the hallway and the kitchen might point out.

With lyrics reduced to impressionistic phrases that resonate more as minimalist poetry than political rants, Truth From Facts are all about the communication between three musicians. Blake’s scattershot drumming in turn drives and reigns in the songs, while Alain and Chris’s twin guitars sound alternately pummeling and intricately entwined in fragile sonic constructions. While there is a hint of math-rock in their stop-start song structures, proceedings never get too cerebral. At the root of the music is a punk spirit that insists that music be physical rather than intellectual.

As Blake catches his breath between bursts of frenzied drumming, the guitarists joke with the audience, many of whom will also play in other bands later in the evening. Chris tells of being mugged and beaten up by 15 year old kids – 20 of them – the previous night. He doesn’t seem angry or upset about it. Maybe he sees it as an inevitable product of late-period capitalist society? I don’t know. Maybe I should’ve asked.

One of the ways Truth From Facts communicate to people beyond the insular hardcore scene is by playing with a wide variety of likeminded independent bands. At this house show, for example, several of the bands played improvised noise music. What is incredibly positive about these shows is a willingness on the part of audiences to embrace many different forms of expression. Organised by the bands themselves, house shows are a fine alternative to pub gigs which are generally driven by the commercial considerations of the venue.

In the spirit of non-profit-driven enterprise, Truth From Facts are currently making their demos available from their website, but Alain informs the crowd that an album is due to be recorded in the immediate future. On the evidence of this afternoon’s performance, it promises to be pretty impressive.

by René Schaefer