Luxury Christ, Big Daddy ‘A’ & The Mervs reunite for Windsor shows

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They’re bringing back the grit, the glory and the grunge.

After nearly 20 years apart, iconic alternative bands Luxury Christ and Big Daddy ‘A’ & The Merves — veterans of Windsor’s nostalgic music scene of the ’90s and early 2000s — share the stage again for two gigs this weekend.

The reunion has longtime indie scene regulars clamouring to secure tickets — the shows were nearly sold out within three days of the announcement.

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“It’s actually kind of fun getting everybody back together we’re a bit older, obviously — but it feels like we didn’t miss a beat,” Luxury Christ vocalist and guitarist Nancy Drew told the Star on Tuesday.

“We were active for about 10 years, so it was like a family. We practised every Monday night for 10 years, and we gigged all over the place.”

Formed in 1988 by former Butthole Surfer band member Trevor Malcolm, Luxury Christ — known for sounds steeped in rock, punk, and noise influences — quickly built a reputation for risqué and uninhibited performances at area venues. The band’s present lineup includes Peter Burton, Mark Sikich, and Robert Brun.

“We kind of pushed the envelope a little bit. It was a time that you really could do that,” said Drew.

“We have this one particular song called Naked Animals. The guys would all take off an outer layer to reveal something underneath. That was part of the ‘shtick.’ Sometimes things would fall off, and ta-da, you’ve got nothing on.”

Luxury Christ
Mark Sikich, Trevor Malcolm, Peter Burton, Nancy Drew and Robert Brun (left to right) of the band Luxury Christ prepare to rehearse in Windsor on Monday, December 22, 2008, ahead of a reunion show. Photo by Brownbridge, Tyler /Windsor Star
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Luxury Christ is shown performing at the grand opening of the HMV music store in Devonshire Mall in Windsor. Photo by Photo courtesy of Luxury Christ /Windsor Star

Asked whether fans could expect any daring moments during this weekend’s revival show, Drew said — “That’s a secret, but we’ll see.”

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Luxury Christ regularly played at Windsor venues, many that are no longer standing, including The Spotted Dog, Stanley’s Tavern, The Blind Dog, The Loop, The Coach and Horses, and more. They also booked out-of-town gigs at Amherstburg’s Jimmy’s Pub, Detroit’s St. Andrew Hall, and Toronto’s Lee’s Palace.

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Members of Windsor alternative band Luxury Christ are shown playing a gig at Lee’s Palace in Toronto during the 1990s. Photo by Photo courtesy of Luxury Christ /Windsor Star
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Windsor alternative band Luxury Christ is shown performing at the Blind Dog during their 2009 reunion show. Photo by Photo courtesy of Luxury Christ /Windsor Star

Among the fans packing the local venues to watch Luxury Christ perform was Ted Dimoglou, who later became the bassist for Big Daddy ‘A’ & The Merves, a ragtag local rock ‘n’ roll group.

‘When I was 16 years old, they were my favourite band,” said Dimoglou.

“Back then, the bouncer put X’s on your hands, which meant you weren’t allowed to drink. We were front row at Luxury Christ for so many shows. Now and then we ended up doing shows together, and now we’re doing this reunion show.”

Dimoglou compared the upcoming performance to the likes of a high school reunion. He expects to see many familiar faces at the venue.

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Big Daddy ‘A’ & The Merves are shown in a 1996 photo taken just before the release of their 1997 album We Stole Your Wallet. Photo by Photo courtesy of Big Daddy ‘A’ & The Mervs /Windsor Star

Attending a Big Daddy ‘A’ & The Merves gig back then meant diving into a carefree party. The band was usually clad in outrageous costumes while belting out wild lyrics on stage. Their 1997 album release was titled We Stole Your Wallet.

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The band’s current members include James Brejcha, Jason Coulter, Jeremy Coulter, Mark Fleming, and Ed Leblanc.

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“It’s a childish excitement,” added Dimoglou. “There’s still a lot of good new talent coming out of Windsor, but back then, it was a whole lifestyle.

“When people saw that poster of Big Daddy ‘A’ & The Merves and Luxury Christ, I’m sure it brought back a bunch of good memories.”

The Rock Reunion

The reunion shows are at The Back Stage, 1530 Langlois Ave., on Jan. 16 and Jan. 17. Doors open at 8 p.m. and Luxury Show opens at 9 p.m. Tickets are $20 each at the venue — Saturday is sold out, but a few Friday tickets might remain.

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