Artist description Blank Stare are a hardcore punk rock band from Toronto. Together for two and a half years, they have managed to accomplish a lot in a very short period of time. They are made up of Hai Vu on guitar, Matt Wesley on vocals, Todd Binstock on Drums and Jeff Hanaford, aka Catfish on Bass. Blank Stare have two releases, only one of which is still in print. Their first demo tape went out of print in only six shows, so they decided after a few more shows with nothing to sell, that they’d better put out another record. The full length record Burned and Betrayed is that record. It was done independently by the band with no help from anyone but themselves. Blank Stare have covered most of Southern Ontario and Quebec in their travels. Mini tours with Down By Law and Misconduct (from Sweden) are under their belt, as well as shows with the Suicide Machines, DOA, Trigger Happy, Bad Blood, Kill the Man Who Questions and Marilyn’s Vitamins. Blank Stare will be coming to your town soon to eat your food and sleep in your bed, as well as rock out in the process. A follow up record to Burned and Betrayed will be recorded in the near future, followed by a world tour with Alice Cooper. Not everything you just read is true. Figure it out yourself.

Music Style Skate Punk

Musical Influences Trigger Happy, Suicidal Tendancies, Descendents, ALL, Straight Faced

Similar Artists Fat Wreck/Epitaph influence but with originality and musical diversity.

Artist History December 1996Appears as its earliest incarnation by Todd Binstock and Hai Vu. March 1997Blank Stare officially is "a band" under the name 'No Fixed Address'.May 1997Matt Wesley replaces original singer. July 1997 Name officially changed to Blank Stare. Summer 1997 Summer spent practicing three times a week, racking up many hours in a hot, stinky and poorly ventilated room. September 1997Jeff Hannaford replaces original bass player. Band visits Al Nolan at his home on September 11, 1997. Friendship between Trigger Happy and Blank Stare begins what will be a great relationship between both bands. October 1997 First show, October 14, 1997 with Down By Law and Anti Flag. December 1997 First Demo Tape recorded with Al Nolan (Trigger Happy) and Simon Head (SNFU) and put out by the band. February 1998 First Release hits the streets. March 1998 First out of town show, March 20, 1998 in Oshawa, ON with Trigger Happy and Figure Four. Spring 1998 Spring spent playing shows and writing new songs in the same stinky room. Summer 1998 Blank Stare plays Ring N’ Ears: Wrestlmusicfest with Trigger Happy and Bad Blood. Friendship with Bad Blood that will lead to some crazy road trips established. August 1998 First release goes out of print on August 19, 1998. November 1998 First Full Length CD recorded in November 1998 with Al Nolan and Simon Head. March 1999 Burned and Betrayed by Blank Stare released by the band. Blank Stare makes it’s first appearance at Canadian Music Week 1999 on March 6, 1999. March/April 1999We gig around Ontario with Misconduct from Sweden. Summer 1999 www.blankstare.net goes online. July 1999 Blank Stare gets on the Sony Playstation Skate Space tour in Ontario and Quebec. Summer 1999 Many extended weekend road trips with Down By Law, Astream, Bad Blood, Notoriety, Marilyn’s Vitamins and Closet Monster. August 1999 Blank Stare plays the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) on August 28, 1999. Winter 2000 Blank Stare are writing new material, building up their press kit and doing the odd show. They plan on recording in early 2000.

Group Members Matt Wesley - VoiceHai Vu - GuitarJeff Hannaford - BassTodd Binstock - Drums

Albums 1999 - Burned and Betrayed

Press Reviews Exclaim! (September 1999) Blank Stare - Burned and Betrayed With surprisingly few good punk bands coming out of Toronto these days, it's encouraging to hear from a band like Blank Stare. Under the guidance and tutelage of Trigger Happy vocalist and professional shit disturber Alan Nolan, this quartet's nine-track debut disc is a scrappy and unexpectedly mature-sounding effort. Although young in their years, the band, and particularly singer Matt Wesley have a pretty good handle on what it is they are railing against. In other words, the emotions expressed through the songs sound genuine, not like they've been cobbled together from a bunch of other bands' songs. Expect even better things from these guys in the future. - Stuart Green Unrestrained! (November 1999)Blank Stare - Burned and Betrayed Straight out of every hard core nightmare you've ever had, Toronto's Blank Stare know that they can kick your ass at 50 paces. Injecting a strong emo influence into the mix, many songs on 'Burned and Betrayed' have the muscle and groove favoured by any Agnostic Front fan, but also display monumental musical diversity. Standard fare these are not. 8/10. - Keith Carman

Location Toronto, Ontario - Canada

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