As the previous blog mentioned I've created a tour booking agency, this is going to end up being my primary focus for the bulk of 2009 as we already have a number of really cool projects in the works and I expect many more will come through as the year goes on. As a result most if not all of our events next year will be built around existing Leafburner projects.

That being said feel free to contact me to inquire about any event we have posted, or any tour dates you might need filling for Hamilton or Toronto. We love working with new bands and will continue to work with those we have in the past. NoC is by no means done, just taking a laxed outlook on the future, which I think will end up being better for the health of the scene as a whole (aka less shows is a good thing).

You can reach me at brent@noofficialcapacity.net

OR

brent@leafburnerbooking.com

------------

In 2008 NoC promoted about 86 shows in and around Hamilton and Toronto, I can't thank everyone enough who came out to party with us, or those who sweat and bled on one of those stages, you make this thing we call metal the level of awesome that it currently is around these parts.

See you all in '09

- Brent & The NoC Crew

New project I've started with Maxime Bélanger (Ex-Deathbound Booking), primary focus will be tours spanning from Ontario to Quebec, and eventually across Canada, it's something I've wanted to try for a while now and we're well under way with working on a whole mess of projects for 2009.

If this is a service you require give us a shout:

http://www.leafburnerbooking.com
http://www.myspace.com/leafburnerbooking

No Official Capacity will remain active...ish, we'll be running a limited schedule for at least the next 6 months.

Thanks,

- B. 

Just Call Us A Bunch Of Grizzly Bears:

NoC will effectively cease operations for an as yet undetermined amount of time starting December 17th, 2008.

If you're a tour searching for a show or something along those lines we'll of course check this site for messages but you'll probably be better off sending an e-mail to Brent at brent@noofficialcapacity.net he will direct you to someone who can better assist you during the downtime.

Booking Inquiries:

Due to a number of miscommunications involving messages not received via this site for some parties we've done business with resulting in failed projects, hurt feelings and other unpleasantness will be not be accepting or responding to any further business or booking inquiry via this site starting on January 1st, 2009. Please send all related messages to brent@noofficialcapacity.net or booking@noofficialcapacity.net we'll be able to assist you there.

Thanks to everyone who supported us this year, see you at the shows.

- Brent

Well if your all wondering, im the guy whos gonna help out Brent with updating the site (shows) hes gonna be up for mostly everything else...im maintaining the facebook NOC too, be sure to check that too if you dont use this but (you are reading this) so yea, im gonna be trying to keep you guys posted on things asap and w/e so feel free to add me on facebook, myspace, be a friend, say hi if you see me (i dont bite) .. and yea.. Im not really one for posting blogs at all but this one is just to keep people updated on whats going on

be sure to add the facebook group too!!!

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2422452263


Matthew Kryla (youll rarely hear from me on here.. in terms of blogs, but once again, say HI at shows! )

So we did our first metal gig at Savage Garden on Thursday, was an amazing show, the club has way too much potential and is perfect for the scope of things that we do.

I rarely do this as usually out shows are sort of almost like "invite only" that being that I usually design them with a theme in mind or something that at least puts some creativity into it.

But I'm going to open up one Thursday a month for completely new blood, if you havn't played Toronto and want to on one of those Thursdays give us a shout and we'll make it happen :)

brent@northernstormrecords.com

The first of these nights will be January 17th.

E-mail or message here if you're interested in playing.

cheers!

- Brent

Ok so the hiatus predictably didn't last long, before anyone yells at me (put the brick DOWN Don), understand that while operations are back in full swing we probably won't be as active as we usually are (see crazy workaholics) for the rest of the year.

Couple things to announce though.

1.) NoC is pleased to announce that we will be acting as management for Nefastus Dies. This has just been a long time coming and I can't wait to start working in closer with the guys. They have recently signed to S.O.A.R Records and will deffinately be making their mark soon, like or hate em I guarantee you will not soon forget them.

2.) A couple days ago I got the most pecular phone call from the booker at Savage Garden asking me if NoC would be interested in doing a series of metal nights at the club, we've always been one to do the unexpected and such so why not. we've been given access to Thursdays and Sundays, we're really proud to get underway with this project and the dates will be posted soon. The first announced one is December 23rd with our good friends Warmachine.

3.) As most of you know Dan Malette has been working with us as a door person the last half of the year, in that time he's shown an insane ability to adapt and conquer any challenge he's faced, a lot of which has to do with me and my health issues and just not being able to be at some shows leaving him to run them, he's shown great ability to organize things in my absense. As a result Dan has been promoted to head up our new division that will handle Hardcore and Metalcore bands exclusively, he's a lot more in touch with that scene then I am, and I KNOW he's going to do an incredible job, so for bands in those genres his contact listed on the site. we've already got a few projects in that division already but more will be added as the year goes on.

I wanted to thank any and all bands we've worked with in 2007, was a hell of a year for NoC, had it's ups and downs but I thank you for playing on any stages we've provided. and of course thank you to all the people who supported us in any way. We'll be announcing the first shows for 2008 starting... probably as soon as next week really, tons of stuff in the works. our goal is 2008 is to show you people something you have never seen before with the focus on touring more then anything else... but we'll see where the road take us.

This is a profile that was done on Brent a short time ago by Jamie for a journalism project at Ryerson U, personally I love it so I wanted to share...

Brent Lockman paces the ten metres back and forth between the stage and the door, bopping his head in time to the music.

Occasionally, he breaks it up by strumming a few chords on his air guitar.

Onstage, the lead singer for Divinity Devoured tears out another song, singing what could loosely be characterized as lyrics, in a sort of impossibly deep, rasping scream.
The air in the bar is saturated with unintelligible "singing," brutally fast drums, and shrill thrashing guitar.

Lockman is clearly enjoying himself; along his path between stage and door, he stops to cheerfully bellow a word or two into someone's ear, competing to be heard over the music.

There are about 25 people in the room, ten or so fans, a couple of bartenders, members from the three bands on the bill, and Lockman.

This is an underground metal show, in every sense. The band onstage – average age: 16 – were driven in from Ancaster by the drummer's father, and at the end of the night, left without saying goodbye, assuming they weren't getting paid.

The Metal Bar itself is literally underground, situated on Dundas St. West, in the basement of a Sleep Country mattress store. Looking around the room, the first thing someone wonders is how anyone could possibly be making money in a situation like this; ten paying customers, at eight dollars each, plus whatever they might spend on beer. Whoever the organizer of a situation like this ought to be fired. Or at the very least, they should yell and scream at Brent to man the door to take the money on the off chance that someone wanders in to see the show.

As it turns out, Lockman won't be getting fired. The company doing promotions for the show is No Official Capacity, and as Lockman told the drummer from one of the bands earlier, "I am No Official Capacity … sort of."

Lockman said he would be at the Metal Bar (official capacity: 193,) by 7 p.m.
At 7 p.m. the doors were locked, the lights were off, and there were no signs of life.
By 7:20 p.m. Dave Victoria, the owner, had opened up, and along with Colin Attlesey started setting up for the night.

Victoria and Attlesey were dressed in standard subterranean metal garb – loose jeans, band shirts. Both men had ponytails running halfway down their backs.
Playing in the background, naturally enough, was heavy metal – loud, fast, and indecipherable.

Both men nodded their heads and unconsciously moved to the music. By 7:40, the mic cables have been run and the beer fridge has been stocked, and Attlesey and Victoria settled in front of the TV over the bar in time to watch the puck drop. the Toronto Maple Leafs are playing the New Jersey Devils. Lockman arrives at about 8 p.m. Setting up for him means putting his cash box on a chair near the door. After that he settles in a couch in the corner to eat the dinner he bought at 7-Eleven.

Wearing the metal attire, with a shaggy beard, glasses and portly physique, he would look as comfortable at a Star Trek convention or playing World of Warcraft. He tends to end sentences with a high-pitch giggle, not because he thinks he said something funny, just because he doesn't take what he says too seriously.

"People stand around and complain that there's no good shows in the city," Lockman says between gulps of his drink. "I got sick of people complaining and did something."
That "something" was founding No Official Capacity, Lockman's music promotion company, through which he books underground metal shows in Toronto, Hamilton, and occasionally parts of southern Ontario.

"I mostly just put up bands I want to see," he said. "You find a venue, you find a couple bands, and you advertise the hell out of it." No Official Capacity was originally an e-zine, which still exists and garners a respectable readership, for an Internet heavy metal site. "I'm not a musician, I'm not musical in any way," Lockman said. "I started writing about it but I'm not good at that either."

"The first show was kind of a way to promote the web zine and then I just liked putting on shows." In two years, No Official Capacity has put on some 70 shows, 22 since the beginning of 2007, most of them do better than this one, with anywhere from 50 to 100 people showing up. Despite that, and despite the fact that Lockman sometimes spends more than 40 hours a week doing promoting, he insists that this is more of a hobby than a job or a career.

"You can't make a living doing this; you just can't," he said. "I have to find another job." At 10:00 p.m. about 10 people had shown up, and the crowd around the TV had grown. The Leafs were leading in the third period. In the dying minutes of the game, the Devils tied it up. Just after 10:00 p.m., the lead singer of Divinity Devoured approached Lockman and said, "It looks like there won't be any more people showing up, so I think we'll just start."

Lockman shrugged and agreed.

If no one else showed up, he wouldn't break even on the night. The band climbed onstage, took their positions, and Tano Posterano, the guitarist, strummed a few chords experimentally – silence.

The sound guy was still watching the game.
A short, terse meeting later, it was made clear that the show would start when the game ended. Half an hour later, the Leafs won in a shootout; Divinity Devoured also played a pretty good set.

The final band of the night is Dr. Wily and The Robot Masters, a band from Ottawa that almost exclusively plays covers of Nintendo video game songs. Forty-five minutes earlier he'd said, "if three more people show up, I don't have to work the door."

Just before Dr. Wily and The Robot Masters went on, a group of four or five people walked in the door and Lockman waved them through. "I'm not going to charge anyone $8 for one band." By the time the band went on, the pacing had stopped; the door was abandoned. Lockman sat in the front row, nursing a beer, and cheering to the theme from Donkey Kong.

"I don't really know what a promoter does, I just do it."

------

- Brent

These have kind of been a long time coming, for any bands working with, and wishing to work with NoC in the future, following these steps will ensure a better and more organized experience for all involved.

1.) So you've decided to play a show for us:

+ Upon confirmation that you will be playing a gig for us, please e-mail the following information and or items to brent@noofficialcapacity.net
- A copy of the band logo, .jpg or .gif is preferred, for promotional use (posters, flyers, website etc)
- A cell phone contact number for any member of the please (please specify who we would be speaking with)

2.) Loading in and you:

+ Load in for the shows is traditionally 2 hours prior to door time, please ensure that at least one member of your band is present at this time. Unless you are playing first in which case the entire band should be present, if this isn't the case expect a phone call to the number your band provided as per above.

+ All equipment your band will be using must be within the venue by the time the doors open, loading gear in through a crowd is chaotic and possibly disruptive to the show, you will be provided with space in the venue in which to store your gear. If this is not possible please inform us that you'll be arriving late and we'll be sure to accommodate.

+ It's not a common practice for NoC shows but sometimes gear sharing is a necessary evil amongst the bands due to some of the venues we use, if you have agreed to lend out any piece of gear to a band before you this needs to be at the venue at load in time, we don't want to have to run around asking bands to use their gear cause you and did not follow through on what you agreed to, it's never fun, and usually results in us not calling upon you again.

3.) "Can we get more guitars in the monitors please?"

+ NoC traditionally runs shows that usually consist of about 4-5 bands, so in that respect you can see giving every band on the bill a sound check is basically impossible. Usually we just sound check the headlining band, and give the first band a quick check before they hit the stage. We employ very competent sound techs who are quite capable of thinking on their feet so this should not be an issue.

4.) Alright let's get this shit started... SHOWTIME!

+ A schedule for the show will be sent to your band no less then 1 week prior to the gig, this will outline how much of a set we have given you, setup times and whatnot. These schedules are strictly enforced, we give bands 15 minutes of setup time, this should be more then enough for any band, we would also ask that you set up your drums alongside the stage DURING the band that plays before you; this will shorten the time you need and make the change run smoother.

+ If you happen to not use the 15 minutes you're given and finish before, feel free to add the extra time into your set (you'll be informed if you can add an extra song by us), at the same time if you go over that will be deducted from your set, pretty much common sense there.

+ Upon completion of your set clear the stage as quickly as you can and make room for the next band, and of course stick around and enjoy the other bands and party with us, it's a basic level of respect.

5.) "I'm on the list":

+ Generally we don't use guestlists for shows, if you've deemed this necessary however please ensure we have the names 24 hours prior to the gig so we can make arrangements, coming to us at the show and adding people to the list usually will not be accepted or allowed as we'll have show expenses calculated by then and that will just toss a wrench into the gears so to speak.

+ We would ask that you keep this list to 1 person per band member; we would also ask that you keep names on the list to people like photographers, merch people, label and or industry folks, or anyone who's assisted the band or done promotion for the show. Please note it won't be acceptable to just toss friends on the list, if you wish to throw a party for your friends I am sure that your backyard is an option you might want to explore. The only exception to that rule is girlfriends of the band members, we don't charge them.

6.) That equipment... thing:

+ It's pretty simple, bring everything you need to play, NoC will provide all mics & cables for those mics, if you have any special requirements like DI boxes or other forms of gear don't hesitate to ask and we'll accommodate you to the best of our ability. Other then that you will be responsible for your own gear to play the show, if you can't bring something out let us know as soon as you find this out and we'll ask one of the other bands to share with you, ether that or feel free to contact the band and ask them yourself... you know ether way.

7.) Want paid!

+ The way we usually do things at NoC is unless your band has negotiated a guarantee prior to the gig, we simply split the door amongst the bands and NoC at the end of the evening.

+ Guarantees in excess of $400 come with a free annoying legal document called a contract which will be provided by NoC. This contract must be returned to NoC and signed one week prior to the gig, if your band has any rider requirements please attach them to the contract or send them to us by other means.

- The Management

We're proud to announce that our first enslaved souls... errr.. the first band to sign to the newly created NoC Management Divison, headed by Em and myself is none other then [MOD]ified. We're extremely proud to be representing such a talented and up and coming group of musicians and I expect big things from them in the future.

Em will handle a bulk of the day to day management duties and I will handle any and all booking responsibilities. Looking forward to it, although I have already begun working on dates for the guys. Look for them in a city near you sooner then later.

Over the last few months or so I've been operating as the Ontario booking agent for Nefastus Dies out of Montreal as well, it's been a blast and I can't wait to see where that goes in the future.
Here be the bands:

[MOD]ified

Nefastus Dies

Cheers!.