"If you can't get lost...get saved."
April 15, 2025 5:35 AM Subscribe
Meet Ron Hawkins, Toronto's most prolific prickly political rock star. Painter, activist, and of course, world class musician, Ron Hawkins has always done it his way (more or less.)
Hawkins rose to fame with his band, The Lowest of the Low, in the early 90s. (Fun fact: they are still touring and I am seeing them in May.) Their debut album, Shakespeare My Butt, was, for a brief time before it was usurped by the Barenaked Ladies, the best-selling independent release in Canadian history.
From that album: "Salesmen, Cheats, and Liars"
After the initial disbandment of the Low, he went on to form Ron Hawkins and the Rusty Nails. They dissolved once a reunion with the Low came knocking.
From the Rusty Nails album Crackstatic, the title track: "Crackstatic"
Did I mention he's prolific? His third band, Ron Hawkins and the Do-Good Assassins, released two albums. Their sound is more rich and less raucous (though they do rock).
From my favourite Do-Good Assassins album, Rome: "Fire Alarm"
And of course, he has solo albums galore! His single, "Peace and Quiet," was featured for a time as playing before Toronto Maple Leafs games. The song itself is a love letter to Toronto (Kensington Market in particular) and the ghosts of the past.
But wait - there's more! Hawkins is also a very accomplished painter. He creates political art, celebrity portraits, and whatever catches his interest. I have a portrait of Tom Waits by him, and he was going to deliver it to my house personally, but Shepherd said he didn't have to do that. (Shepherd commissioned it for me.)
And if you're in Toronto or visit Toronto, outside the infamous Sneaky Dee's, there is a lyric from the Lowest of the Low on a street post in front of the bar:
“Well, I don’t mean to be a preacher/ And give a sermon from the church of Sneaky Dee’s/ But one more jug of beer and that point that I was reaching/ Will hit me like a vision and make me fall on my knees.”
Thus endeth your CanCon for the day!
Hawkins rose to fame with his band, The Lowest of the Low, in the early 90s. (Fun fact: they are still touring and I am seeing them in May.) Their debut album, Shakespeare My Butt, was, for a brief time before it was usurped by the Barenaked Ladies, the best-selling independent release in Canadian history.
From that album: "Salesmen, Cheats, and Liars"
After the initial disbandment of the Low, he went on to form Ron Hawkins and the Rusty Nails. They dissolved once a reunion with the Low came knocking.
From the Rusty Nails album Crackstatic, the title track: "Crackstatic"
Did I mention he's prolific? His third band, Ron Hawkins and the Do-Good Assassins, released two albums. Their sound is more rich and less raucous (though they do rock).
From my favourite Do-Good Assassins album, Rome: "Fire Alarm"
And of course, he has solo albums galore! His single, "Peace and Quiet," was featured for a time as playing before Toronto Maple Leafs games. The song itself is a love letter to Toronto (Kensington Market in particular) and the ghosts of the past.
But wait - there's more! Hawkins is also a very accomplished painter. He creates political art, celebrity portraits, and whatever catches his interest. I have a portrait of Tom Waits by him, and he was going to deliver it to my house personally, but Shepherd said he didn't have to do that. (Shepherd commissioned it for me.)
And if you're in Toronto or visit Toronto, outside the infamous Sneaky Dee's, there is a lyric from the Lowest of the Low on a street post in front of the bar:
“Well, I don’t mean to be a preacher/ And give a sermon from the church of Sneaky Dee’s/ But one more jug of beer and that point that I was reaching/ Will hit me like a vision and make me fall on my knees.”
Thus endeth your CanCon for the day!
AARGH! I forgot that Ron Hawkins and the Do-Good Assassins also had a documentary made about them in 2014, Luck's Hard. I saw it in 2015 at the KCFF (Kingston Canadian Film Festival); it was followed by a Q&A plus an intimate performance by Hawkins and former Do-Good bandmate, Steve Singh.
Y'all, it was my first time hearing him and I have been hooked ever since.
posted by Kitteh at 6:04 AM on April 15
Y'all, it was my first time hearing him and I have been hooked ever since.
posted by Kitteh at 6:04 AM on April 15
“It’s like watching murder through your fingers at the theatre
Like finding out Klaus Barbie was your neighbour, only weirder”
Such great lyrics always.
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 7:04 AM on April 15 [1 favorite]
Like finding out Klaus Barbie was your neighbour, only weirder”
Such great lyrics always.
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 7:04 AM on April 15 [1 favorite]
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The Only is the only place I've seen someone physically, forcibly ejected from. It was Cheap Craft Beer Bottle night (when about-to-expire craft bottles get sold of for $1 or so). I'd seen a dude lurking on the sidewalk outside, looking almost comically furtive. I went in, and was enjoying a cheap Fraoch when furtive dude charges in and somehow gets behind the counter. The barkeeper grabs him, levers him over the counter and flings him out the door (I'm still not sure how this was done: it was very quick). Dude lies on the sidewalk for a bit cussing the barkeeper out, but eventually slinks off.
The Only is also the only place I've sat (and passed) an amateur radio examination. It contains multitudes.
posted by scruss at 8:32 AM on April 15 [4 favorites]
Let's take a walk down to the Only
The Only is the only place I've seen someone physically, forcibly ejected from. It was Cheap Craft Beer Bottle night (when about-to-expire craft bottles get sold of for $1 or so). I'd seen a dude lurking on the sidewalk outside, looking almost comically furtive. I went in, and was enjoying a cheap Fraoch when furtive dude charges in and somehow gets behind the counter. The barkeeper grabs him, levers him over the counter and flings him out the door (I'm still not sure how this was done: it was very quick). Dude lies on the sidewalk for a bit cussing the barkeeper out, but eventually slinks off.
The Only is also the only place I've sat (and passed) an amateur radio examination. It contains multitudes.
posted by scruss at 8:32 AM on April 15 [4 favorites]
Let's not forget his tremendous work in mentoring The Band back in the early days in Toronto!!!!!!!?!!!
/s
posted by stevil at 9:07 AM on April 15 [1 favorite]
/s
posted by stevil at 9:07 AM on April 15 [1 favorite]
Is he boycotting The Horseshoe?
posted by Jessica Savitch's Coke Spoon at 10:15 AM on April 15
posted by Jessica Savitch's Coke Spoon at 10:15 AM on April 15
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And drink until our kidneys fail.
I loved this band so much back in the day but have not delved into Ron Hawkins solo and related work and I'm off now to do so. Thx.
posted by whatevernot at 5:46 AM on April 15 [3 favorites]