In my last “Meet the Locals” article I introduced to you the local punk-rock band, The Mickies. Entertaining and controversial as they are, their loud music and provocative screams are not only serving the purpose of emanating a soul-riveting experience but is now being used to send one clear-cut message: 

“Hey, City Council! Stick The Mickies where your mouth is!”  

Fighting from the fringes of society, as everyday hard-working individuals embodying the punk philosophy of rejecting the status-quo and conformity - The Mickies have taken an activist stance by doing something about it. And they are doing so in the best way they can: through bold music and raw energetic performances. 

“About what?” You might ask. 

Well, the picture is clear: homelessness is on the rise, winter is in its prime, and political inaction remains a little too present. 

Punk politics is something you might not be too familiar with and just by the sound of it, it might sound irrational, but it is very much alive and more importantly, necessary. When the people in power and decision-makers fail to create change and actively improve the circumstances of those in need, a change from below has to take place. 

In an attempt to help raise funds for building supplies, winterized tents, and survival gear, The Mickies along with fellow artists DJ Big Slop and Down Goes Jasper have partnered with One City Peterborough to fight homelessness, one show at a time.   

“Two Nights for One City” is the musicians’ take on an activist initiative, created as a celebratory event for the birthdays of Adam Tario, The Mickies’ vocalist and James Mitchell, the band’s lead guitarist. 

How did you come up with this charity event as a way to celebrate your birthdays? 

“We want to test the limits on how much money we can make,” was Mitchell’s response. He continued, “Make some fucking music, drink some beer, and raise some money for a good cause. And more importantly, we just want to make people know how easy it is to do this.”  

As we sat there, Tario stood at the front left corner of McThirstys playing his guitar, singing his well-known “Ballad of Bethune” - a satirical, yet tragically honest ode to Peterborough. 

As Tario sang, the place fell silent for a split second and our conversation on the success of the first of two charity shows came to a synchronized sudden pause as we joined the rest of the half-drunken bar and raised our glasses to the song’s routine tribute. 

“Rest in Peace Andre and Dougie!” Tario shouted, his glass raised alongside the rest of us, as we toasted in honor the lives of two of the most beloved individuals by the community - both who, at different times, tragically passed away due to the daily struggles of homelessness. 

As of October 2022, 326 unhoused people are in the city and county of Peterborough.

Since December of last year when the new City Council began sitting, Sebastian Johnston-Lindsay, Arthur’s co-editor has been attending Council meetings and reporting on the motions that have been voted passed or defeated. Several conversations around homelessness have indeed taken place, with Town Ward Councillor Alex Bierk being the main, if not sole proponent of motions that would significantly improve the lives of homeless individuals and in the same vein, alleviate Peterborough homelessness. 

And yet, both motions requesting $100,000 in city funds to develop an Emergency Winter Response   in December of last year were outvoted, as well as his most recent bid to have staff write a report within thirty days estimating the cost to get toilets and garbage bins for tent encampments. One of the opponents of these proposals was Otonabee Ward Councillor, Lesley Parnell, who has previously used the dangerous and rather harmful rhetoric that poverty, homelessness, and criminal activity are directly correlated and mutually reinforcing. 

Bierk did manage to introduce and pass a motion allocating $200,000 to allow for the hiring of two new staff positions and greater supervision at the Wolfe Street overflow shelter.  

“Dougie’s death was a lack of awareness” said Mitchell, as he took a sip of his beer. Tario came and joined us seconds later, sitting down and placing his zero-alcohol heineken on the table. In a moment of swift emotion, our conversation turned into a political rant. As we discussed the homelessness crisis and the heavy toll winter takes on this population, we were equally disturbed by the inaction of our politicians. 

As we mutually fueled our rage, we reminisced on their previous show, the first show of Two Nights for One City. I congratulated them on their show’s success as I learned that they managed to raise over $1050 dollars. “Punk is a political stance. This is our political stance. All rage, no booze!”  Tario exclaimed, as he proudly expressed how he did the entire show sober. 

Costumes, ghost peppers, a ‘puke baptism’. Exciting stuff is in the works. Their upcoming show is set for next Friday Feb 10, 2023 at the Red Dog. Doors open at 9PM and there is a $10 cover - 100% of profits are being donated to One City. 

“It's for a good cause,” added Tario with a smirk.