Moncton's most underrated band is back and meaner than ever.

 TJ Milburn | [Here] Magazine.

If you don't go to local shows for fear of disappointment, let The Mean assure you: your fears are over.

Together on-and-off for the last nine years, The Mean are back in true form as one of Moncton's best and most underrated bands. Formed in 2000 in the upstairs of the now-defunct Blast Off! Records shop on Main Street, The Mean began with a clear goal: to sound unique.

"The point is to sound like yourself," Nathan Sanford, the band's lead guitarist and vocalist, says.

Over the years, the band has gone through numerous incarnations, notably with Ray 13 of Bad Luck 13 fame on bass, Marc Doucet on drums and, after Ray 13's departure in 2005 and before a hiatus in 2008, Eric Daigle of the Varsity Weirdos and Fear of Lipstick. The line-up now features Sanford, Matt Mean on guitar and vocals, Dave Steen on bass and vocals, and Fred Hetu on drums.

The end product is both homage and reinvention. Sanford's vocals carry the snot, pout and sass of early American punk, but without sacrificing conviction for posture. Musically, the band gives off a strong MC5 or Rope-era Clash vibe, combining punchy, hanging power chords with down-strummed one-chord goodness, all without falling into repetition or predictability. The guitars are crunchy, but clear and defined; the bass digs and rolls along like a 390 big block, while the drums punctuate the one-two punk rock stomp with gunshot tightness. The Mean are a testament for those who despise intricate sub-genres and prefer to call it all rock and roll.

Being a true old-school punk band might seem lonely in a city recognized for its metal and hard rock, but The Mean don't seem to notice.

"I don't think we're an anomaly or obscure," Sanford says. "If your record collection looks like ours, it makes sense."

And no offense, but your record collection probably pales in comparison to The Mean's.

"We're like record archivists playing in a band," Sanford says.

Such is true. Asking The Mean to describe their sound launches both Sanford and Matt Mean into High Fidelity-esque one-upmanship. The two spout off obscure bands like household cola drinks and seem to know every intimate detail of every rock and roll record from the last forty years.

For a band that's been playing for nine years, The Mean's schedule isn't as jam-packed with hometown gigs as one might assume. The members have been passionately involved with the local scene for many years and recognize the problems with over-exposure.

"I think the unfortunate part about The Mean is that we had an audience by default," Matt Mean says. "The more we play, the less people to tune into us."

Finding the sweet spot between over and under-exposure is a real concern for bands in Moncton. Playing too much can make audiences dwindle, especially once your show becomes a weekly event. Add to that the temptation of venues booking shows every night of the week and a chance to gig weekly becomes tantalizing bait.

"Back in the day, we had maybe one or two shows a month [come through Moncton]," Sanford says. "That made it an event."

"Now, you've got metal on Wednesdays, Thursday's stoner rock, and Friday's whatever touring band is in town," Mean says. "Not playing Moncton often enough is our choice, and also our curse. It doesn't look like we're putting in our 24 hours per day as rock stars. People would look at us as being lazy."

"We just sort of existed unto ourselves," Sanford says. "We play, we do it 'cause we like it, and if people dig it, that's cool."

Like other veteran bands in town, The Mean are taking a quality-over-quantity approach to shows. The new Parkton Preservation Society, a promotional brand created by the band, is a label intended to identify quality shows featuring what they see as quality bands.

"It's like 'certified organic'," Mean says of the Society.

"If you see that, you get what you'd expect," Sanford adds. "It's a party with the cool kids, and you're invited."

The Mean next play Moncton on September 25th with Billy Ray Cyborg and the Bad Motels. Check their website, www.meanmeanmean.com, for details.