She Said Boom: The Story of Fifth Column screens at Hot Docs Cinema on June 14

Kevin Hegge's "She Said Boom" documentary about Toronto trailblazers Fifth Column gets a rare local screening at Bloor Hot Docs Cinema on June 14.

She Said Boom: The Story of Fifth Column 

Bloor Hot Docs Cinema

Saturday, June 14 at 1 pm

Tickets: $15 (members $10) available here. 

"She Said Boom: The Story of Fifth Column is the story of a group of young female artists from Toronto in the early 1980s. They united to use music, film and self-publication to defy conventions of art practice and gender ideas, and to challenge homophobia. These endeavours snowballed into global art and political movements. This film looks at their work and explores why you may not have heard of them, despite their impact." – Kevin Hegge

Don Pyle launches new photo book, Shot in a Mirror @ Two Twos, Saturday

Don Pyle's Shot in a Mirror, includes rare photos of Lou Reed, David Bowie, Fifth Column, Soft Cell, Gary Floyd, Matmos, etc.

Here's the scoop...

Midnight Mass Press and Susto are very poised to present a double launch for two (plus) new publications by Don Pyle! A release event will happen on Saturday (November 26th) at 7pm, in the Two Twos room at Toronto's Annex Hotel (296 Brunswick Ave). A select collection of photographs will be displayed and Pyle will give a slideshow/talk at 8pm. We are thrilled to be joined by Martin Sorrondeguy who will be our guest DJ for some fun before and after the talking part.

Shot In A Mirror is a new 100-page collection of 50 intimate portraits, and is the second book from Don Pyle. 

Spanning 1977 to 2016, this edition of colour and black and white photographs is published by Midnight Mass Press, 2022. 

Also launching that evening is a Don Pyle edition of Susto. Susto is a 24” x 30” double-sided screen-printed portfolio/poster of select photos, designed and printed by Martin Sorrondeguy, encased in a custom-screened envelope. Photographer, filmmaker, artist and vocalist, Sorrondeguy is the sassy front-man in Los Crudos, Limp Wrist and his latest Chicago-based outfit, Canal Irreal. The wildly successful Susto series has traditionally featured Sorrondeguy’s own work, but he has expanded that base to include new editions by LA photographer Dawn Wirth, with the latest one focusing on Pyle’s punk photos, including rare shots of the Dead Boys, The Cramps, The Dils, Divine, Tyranna, Teenage Head and Johnny Thunders/Heartbreakers.

Shot In A Mirror features pictures of Stephen Andrews, Martin Sorrondeguy, Paul Henry, Paul and Miki Zone, Piano Rain, Dax Pierson, Bruce McCulloch, Kirby, Matt Wobensmith, Jess Scott, Diane Anastasio, Marc Manning, Matmos, Caroline Azar and Beverly Breckenridge of Fifth Column, Bryan Fisher, George Salmoni, John Teaves, The Reds, Kevin Hegge, Extra Fancy, Soft Cell, Fred Schneider, Christeene, KP Kendall, David Bowie, Lou Reed, The Dishes, The Runaways, Long Branch, Lisa Myers, Gary Floyd, Shary Boyle, Arno Kazarian, Richard Gullo, Meg Hewings, Patti Schmidt, Edmund White and Wendy Coburn.

Each book is accompanied by a companion volume, Reflections In A Mirror, featuring an interview with Don Pyle conducted by Chris Colohan and Matthew Finner. Pyle provides images relating to the conversation from his photo and personal archive. Risograph printed, 8.5” x 11”.

Each set includes a deluxe colour postcard portrait of Gary Floyd from 2016, and a Shot In A Mirror bookmark designed by Ashley Hohman. Cover of Shot In A Mirror was designed by Ashley Hohman. Interior of both volumes designed and laid out by Ali Qadeer.

Admission to the launch is free and with a cash bar.

Writes Don Pyle: 

"At long last, I have a site to sell books and photos. There will be copies of Shot In A Mirror and Susto at the launch, along with a selection of 13" x 19" prints from the two publications. You can order both from here along with some favourites from Shot In A Mirror, Susto and Trouble In The Camera Club." 

Visit Don Pyle's merch site here: https://donpyle.bigcartel.com/

That time Phono-Comb w/Dallas Good & Reid Diamond played the Tarragon Theatre

In 1996, Phono-Comb was Reid Diamond & Don Pyle from Shadowy Men, Dallas Good and Fifth Column's Bev Breckenridge.  

First-ever Fifth Column documentary hits Hot Docs

Once again, the annual Hot Docs festival program has a strong music component with She Said Boom, Kevin Hegge's revealing look at Toronto's trailblazing post-punk heroines Fifth Column being among the most anticipated premieres of the 10-day extravaganza. She Said Boom: The Story Of Fifth Column screens at the Cumberland 2 on Tuesday (May 1) at 9 pm and again at the Fox Theatre on Friday (May 4) at 7 pm. Check out the interview with Hegge below. Hot Docs 2012 continues through to May 6, for more information about films and times, visit their site.

Interview with She Said Boom director Kevin Hegge